Triangle BR04: the new bookshelf speaker that elevates the BOREA range

The French brand Triangle has just expanded its BOREA range with a new bookshelf speaker model, the Borea BR04. Strategically positioned between the Borea BR03 and the BR07, this newcomer pushes the limits of its predecessor while retaining the DNA that made the series so successful. Designed to deliver a richer and more detailed sound experience, especially in the low frequencies, the BR04 stands out as an accessible audiophile solution for modern living spaces.

Optimized Technical Design

Redesigned Sound Architecture

The BR04 is a two-way bookshelf speaker that builds on the fundamentals that made the BOREA range successful, while perfecting them. It retains the 25 mm silk dome EFS (Efficient Flow System) tweeter, now paired with an optimized waveguide that ensures even sound dispersion throughout the room. This tweeter works in perfect harmony with a 16 cm mid/bass driver featuring a natural cellulose pulp cone.

The design of the mid/bass driver cone has been completely reworked to reduce distortion during large excursions, resulting in clearer sound even at high volumes. This technical improvement significantly enhances vocal reproduction quality, offering remarkable clarity combined with the natural warmth characteristic of cellulose cones.

Acoustic Innovations

One of the major improvements of the BR04 is its front-firing bass-reflex port, which has been completely redesigned to optimize airflow. This new design reduces turbulence and allows for more precise low-frequency reproduction. Combined with a larger cabinet, this port extends the bass frequency response, offering a sound range from 44 Hz to 22,000 Hz with a sensitivity of 90 dB/W.

The front position of the port also provides a considerable practical advantage: it allows the speaker to be placed against a wall without compromising sound quality. This feature offers greater installation flexibility, especially appreciated in modern living spaces where optimizing space is often a major concern.

DVAS System: Mastering Vibrations

The BR04 incorporates the DVAS (Driver Vibration Absorption System), a technology exclusive to Triangle that significantly reduces unwanted vibrations. This system relies on the clever integration of the drivers into the speaker structure, improving overall rigidity and dampening parasitic frequencies.

This sophisticated process absorbs vibrations generated by the movement of the mid/bass driver, resulting in sound reproduction that gains in clarity, detail, and dynamics. This technology makes a significant contribution to the BR04’s sonic precision, a feature particularly valued by demanding audiophiles.

Performance and Technical Specifications

Extended Frequency Response

With a frequency response ranging from 44 Hz to 22,000 Hz (±3 dB), the BR04 offers a remarkably wide sound range for a speaker of this size. Its sensitivity of 90 dB/W/m allows it to be easily driven by modestly powered amplifiers, while maintaining impressive dynamics.

The BR04 is designed to fill rooms from 10 to 40 m², making it suitable for most modern living spaces. It handles a continuous power of 110 watts RMS at a nominal impedance of 4.4 Ω / 8 Ω, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of amplifiers.

Audiophile Connectivity

A major innovation of the BR04 compared to its predecessor is the adoption of dual binding posts, allowing for bi-wiring and bi-amping. This evolution comes with a completely redesigned crossover architecture, which separates the processing of mid-bass and high frequencies.

This approach ensures more precise and faithful sound reproduction, particularly appreciated by audiophiles seeking every detail. It offers a sound experience of exceptional purity and precision, allowing the most demanding users to customize their setup to their preferences.

Dimensions and Weight

The BR04 measures 220 × 425 × 314 mm (W×H×D), placing it in the medium-sized bookshelf speaker category. With a net unit weight of 8.6 kg, it offers a good balance between compactness and sound presence. These physical characteristics allow it to integrate easily into various environments, whether on a dedicated stand or a shelf.

Aesthetics and Integration

Elegant and Contemporary Design

The BR04 draws inspiration from the distinctive aesthetics of the BOREA range, combining elegance, authenticity, and a return to natural materials. Its clean, timeless design allows it to blend harmoniously into a variety of interiors, from the most classic to the most contemporary.

The front of the speaker is dominated by the silk dome tweeter and the mid/bass driver, complemented by the tubular bass-reflex port that adds a distinctive touch to the whole. The cabinet’s clean lines contribute to the product’s overall elegance, reflecting Triangle’s French expertise in acoustic design.

Wide Range of Finishes

The BR04 stands out with a particularly rich selection of finishes, offering six different options: Ash Black, White, Chestnut, Light Oak, Light Blue Oak, and Green Oak. This variety allows each user to find the finish that will perfectly match their interior.

The magnetically attached fabric grilles add a touch of refinement while protecting the drivers, combining careful design with functionality. They also allow the drivers to be concealed when the speaker is not in use, for even more discreet integration into the living space.

Innovative Mounting System

The BR04 features a new dual-function rubber foot system. These feet effectively dampen vibrations generated by the speaker and reduce unwanted resonances, ensuring better acoustic clarity. Their clever design also keeps the speaker securely in place on its stand, regardless of the model chosen, preventing any slipping or imbalance.

Versatile Use

Adaptability for Hi-Fi and Home Theater Setups

The BR04 stands out for its high fidelity in reproducing the timbre of human voices, thanks to its cellulose pulp driver that brings real intensity to all dialogues. This feature makes it ideal for both stereo hi-fi setups and home theater systems.

Whether used as a front or rear channel, the BR04 delivers rich and detailed sound reproduction, perfectly suited to the demands of both music and film content. Its ability to faithfully reproduce vocal nuances makes it a particularly interesting option for fans of vocal music and cinema.

Integration into the BOREA Ecosystem

The BR04 integrates perfectly into the BOREA ecosystem, which now includes 10 different models. This comprehensive range allows you to create a custom audio system, whether it’s a minimalist stereo setup or a sophisticated home theater system.

The sonic consistency between the different models in the BOREA range ensures acoustic homogeneity, whatever configuration you choose. This compatibility makes it easy to gradually upgrade your audio system, allowing you to add components over time without compromising overall sound balance.

Positioning in the Range

Positioned between the BR03 (compact bookshelf) and the BR07 (2.5-way floorstander), the BR04 offers an ideal compromise between reduced footprint and sound performance. Its price of €549 per pair places it in an accessible market segment for speakers of this quality, true to Triangle’s philosophy of offering excellent value for money.

This strategic positioning makes it a particularly attractive option for audiophiles seeking superior sound quality without the space required for floorstanding speakers, or for those looking to upgrade their existing system without excessive investment.

Distinctive Sound Characteristics

Triangle Sound Signature

True to Triangle’s sonic DNA, the BR04 delivers a lively, energetic, and articulate sound that adapts to all musical styles. It is characterized by an open soundstage, beautiful dynamics, and natural timbres, especially in the midrange where it excels at reproducing voices.

The BR04 maintains this ability to convey micro-details and subtle nuances that make the difference between simple listening and true musical immersion. This precision does not come at the expense of musicality, as the BR04 manages to combine analysis and emotion with remarkable balance.

Bass Performance

One of the most notable improvements of the BR04 over the BR03 is its performance in the low frequencies. Thanks to its larger cabinet and optimized bass-reflex port, it delivers deeper and better-controlled bass, without the sluggishness sometimes found in speakers of this category.

This extended bass allows the BR04 to convincingly reproduce the fundamentals of low string instruments and percussion, providing remarkable foundation and authority for a speaker of this size. This feature makes it particularly versatile, capable of faithfully reproducing anything from chamber music to rock or electronic music.

Clarity and Precision

The BR04 stands out for its exceptional clarity, especially in the midrange where it excels at reproducing voices. This quality is enhanced by the work done on the profile of the mid/bass driver cone, which significantly reduces distortion during large excursions.

The DVAS system also contributes to this clarity by limiting unwanted vibrations that could color the sound. The result is sound reproduction of great purity, where each instrument and voice finds its place in a well-defined soundstage, with remarkable precision in source placement.

The BR04 represents a significant evolution in Triangle’s BOREA range, offering superior sound performance while maintaining a compact format and accessible price. Its numerous technical improvements, particularly in the bass-reflex port and dual binding posts, make it a particularly interesting option for audiophiles seeking a bookshelf speaker capable of delivering rich and detailed sound. Its versatility allows it to adapt equally well to hi-fi use or integration into a home theater system, while its six different finishes make it easy to fit into any type of interior.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the specific advantages of the EFS tweeter in the BR04?
The EFS (Extended Frequency Spectrum) tweeter in the BR04 offers an extended frequency response up to 40kHz, enabling more faithful reproduction of harmonics. Its treated silk dome design reduces distortion and improves sound dispersion, creating a more precise and immersive stereo image. The integrated waveguide optimizes directivity for better integration with the midrange.

How does the DVAS system improve sound quality?
The DVAS (Dynamic Vent Acoustic System) dynamically adjusts the driver’s ventilation according to listening volume. At low volume, it optimizes bass response, while at high volume, it controls cone excursion to reduce distortion. This technology ensures balanced performance in all listening conditions, delivering deeper bass without compromising clarity.

What is the difference between bi-wiring and bi-amping in the BR04?
Bi-wiring uses two pairs of cables from the same amplifier to the separate bass and treble terminals of the BR04, reducing interference between sections. Bi-amping employs two separate amplifiers, one dedicated to bass/midrange and the other to treble, providing optimized power for each section and eliminating electrical interactions. The BR04’s dual binding posts support both configurations.

Why has the new cone profile been optimized for low frequencies?
The new cone profile of the BR04 features a specific curvilinear geometry that maximizes rigidity while minimizing unwanted resonances. This design allows for greater excursion without deformation, improving transient response and bass accuracy. The composite material used combines lightness and internal damping for more natural and detailed bass reproduction.

What are the advantages of the redesigned front bass-reflex port?
The redesigned front bass-reflex port of the BR04 significantly reduces air turbulence thanks to its flared profile and rounded edges, eliminating unwanted port noise. Its front position allows for more flexible placement near walls without compromising performance. The precise sizing of the port optimizes bass extension and improves impulse response for faster, more articulate bass.