In this review, we will be comparing Carina BS243.4 and Bronze 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ELAC Carina BS243.4 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 46-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:6.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 321.0" x 8-1/16" x 9-11/16"( 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm )
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" C-CAM Woofer
- 42-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:5.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 350.0" x 7.2" x 11.0"( 350.0 x 185.0 x 281.0mm )
What size room are the ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Carina BS243.4 and Bronze 2 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the Bronze 2 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz.
Frequency Response
Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz whereas Bronze 2 has a frequency range of 42-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Bronze 2 can go slightly deeper then the Carina BS243.4's min frequency of 46Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Carina BS243.4 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Bronze 2 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Carina BS243.4 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Bronze 2's is rated at 90 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Carina BS243.4 and Bronze 2 has the same power range of 30-100 watts.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Carina BS243.4 and Bronze 2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
ELAC Carina BS243.4's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing port whereas Bronze 2 has a front firing ports. Monitor Audio Bronze 2's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ELAC Carina BS243.4's and Monitor Audio Bronze 2's external dimensions. ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) whereas Monitor Audio Bronze 2 has external dimensions of 350.0 x 185.0 x 281.0mm ( 13.7 x 7.2 x 11.0inch) .
ELAC Carina BS243.4 is 29mm shorter and 34mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze 2 but it is also 20mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is approximately 519.9cm2 / 80.6inch2. The Carina BS243.4 requires 3% less surface area than the Bronze 2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 on a Media Console
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs and the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 weighs 5.30kg / 11.7lbs. This makes the Carina BS243.4 26% heavier than the Bronze 2.
Here is a comparison of how Carina BS243.4 and Bronze 2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Carina BS243.4:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled) Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 2?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 2:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 2 Foam port plugs Hex-key Owner's Manual Important Safety Instructions
 Height |
321mm
vs
350mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
506cm2
vs
519cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-30k Hz |
42-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
C-CAM |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
3100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Width |
205.0mm (8.1") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
247.0mm (9.7") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
5.30kg (11.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Polymer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White |
Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
30-31" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |