In this review, we will be comparing MR5 and Bronze 100, two Bookshelf speakers from Edifier and Monitor Audio. The main difference between these two speakers is that the Edifier MR5 is a Powered speaker which means that it has a built-in amplifier inside the speaker body so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp whereas the Monitor Audio Bronze 100 is a Passive speaker so has to be matched with an amplifier to get any sound from it.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Edifier MR5 and Monitor Audio Bronze 100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Edifier MR5 | Monitor Audio Bronze 100 |
|---|
| Brand | Edifier
China · founded 1996 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 110-watt RMS | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 3.75" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" | 8" C-CAM |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-40k Hz | 37-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | — | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | — | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | — |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 6.0 | — |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | — | 7.80kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.4" x 6.3" x 11"
264.0 x 159.0 x 280.0mm | 14.8" x 9.0" x 12.7"
376.0 x 231.0 x 325.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that MR5 is a 3-way design whereas the Bronze 100 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Edifier MR5Monitor Audio Bronze 100
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Drivers drawn to scale and directly comparable. Cabinet outlines are indicative: full dimensions are not published for both. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Edifier MR5 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 100 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3.75-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
MR5 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 3.75" Midrange and 1 x 5" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 155Hz, 2600Hz. On the other hand, the Bronze 100 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
MR5 has a frequency range of 46-40k Hz whereas Bronze 100 has a frequency range of 37-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the Bronze 100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the MR5's min frequency of 46Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both MR5 and Bronze 100 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Edifier MR5's and Monitor Audio Bronze 100's external dimensions. Edifier MR5 has external dimensions of 264.0 x 159.0 x 280.0mm (10.4 x 6.3 x 11inch) whereas Monitor Audio Bronze 100 has external dimensions of 376.0 x 231.0 x 325.0mm (14.8 x 9.0 x 12.7inch).
Monitor Audio Bronze 100 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 72mm wider, 112mm taller and 45mm deeper than Edifier MR5.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Monitor Audio Bronze 100 needs about 69% more floor or shelf area. Monitor Audio Bronze 100 is 45mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Monitor Audio Bronze 100 is 112mm taller.
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 Edifier MR5 is approximately 445.2cm2 / 69.0inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze 100 is approximately 750.8cm2 / 116.4inch2. The MR5 requires 41% less surface area than the Bronze 100 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 100?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 100:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions