In this review, we will be comparing Chorus 706 and Bronze 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Chorus 706 and Monitor Audio Bronze 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Chorus 706 | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polyglass | 5.5" C-CAM |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-28k Hz | 55-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25 - 120 watts | 20-70 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.20kg / 18lbs | 3.50kg / 7.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.4" x 8.7" x 10.4"
390.0 x 220.0 x 263.0mm | 10.2" x 6.4" x 8.0"
260.0 x 165.0 x 205.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Chorus 706 and Monitor Audio Bronze 1 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* |
Focal Chorus 706 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Chorus 706 and Bronze 1 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Chorus 706Monitor Audio Bronze 1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Chorus 706 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
Chorus 706 features a 1" TNV2 AI/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polyglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the Bronze 1 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Chorus 706 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz whereas Bronze 1 has a frequency range of 55-30k Hz.
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Chorus 706 and Bronze 1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Chorus 706 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Bronze 1's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Chorus 706 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 1, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Chorus 706 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Bronze 1 has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Chorus 706.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Chorus 706 features Post type posts and Bronze 1 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Bronze 1's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Chorus 706 has a front firing port whereas Bronze 1 has a rear firing ports. Focal Chorus 706's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 1 with its rear-firing port.
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 Port
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 Focal Chorus 706's and Monitor Audio Bronze 1's external dimensions. Focal Chorus 706 has external dimensions of 390.0 x 220.0 x 263.0mm (15.4 x 8.7 x 10.4inch) whereas Monitor Audio Bronze 1 has external dimensions of 260.0 x 165.0 x 205.0mm (10.2 x 6.4 x 8.0inch).
Focal Chorus 706 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 55mm wider, 130mm taller and 58mm deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze 1.
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.
Focal Chorus 706 needs about 71% more floor or shelf area. Focal Chorus 706 is 58mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Focal Chorus 706 is 130mm 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 Focal Chorus 706 is approximately 578.6cm2 / 89.7inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is approximately 338.3cm2 / 52.4inch2. The Chorus 706 requires 71% more surface area than the Bronze 1 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Focal Chorus 706 weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 weighs 3.50kg / 7.7lbs. This makes the Chorus 706 134% heavier than the Bronze 1.
Here is a comparison of how Chorus 706 and Bronze 1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Chorus 706?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Chorus 706:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Cloth grilles (attached)
- User manual
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 1?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Hex-key
- Owner's Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
260mm
vs
390mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
338cm2
vs
578cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
439USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Chorus 706 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25 - 120 watts |
20-70 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
55-28k Hz |
55-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polyglass |
C-CAM |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
390.0mm (15.4") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Width |
220.0mm (8.7") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
263.0mm (10.4") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Lacquer/Leatherette |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Rosewood, Walnut, Black |
Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
30-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is the newer design, against a 2012 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (55Hz vs 55Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Chorus 706 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Focal Chorus 706 takes more power (120W vs 70W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is easier to place; Focal Chorus 706 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Monitor Audio Bronze 1 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is cheaper - $299 against $439, about 32% less. |
A Focal Chorus 706 B Monitor Audio Bronze 1
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Focal Chorus 706 measures better, Monitor Audio Bronze 1 costs about about 47% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Focal Chorus 706 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Monitor Audio Bronze 1 for near-field listening and a small room. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Chorus 706 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.