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KEF Q150 vs Monitor Audio Bronze 1 Comparison

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KEF Q150

Passive Bookshelf | 51-28k Hz

KEF Q150
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Monitor Audio Bronze 1

Passive Bookshelf | 55-30k Hz

Monitor Audio Bronze 1
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KEF Q150 KEF Q150
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Monitor Audio Bronze 1 Monitor Audio Bronze...
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KEF Q150
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Monitor Audio Bronze...
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KEF Q150 vs Monitor Audio Bronze 1 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Q150 and Bronze 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Monitor Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF Q150 and Monitor Audio Bronze 1 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF Q150 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
  • 51-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:10-100watts
  • Weight:5.60kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 303.0" x 7.0" x 10.9"( 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm )

Monitor Audio Bronze 1 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 5.5" C-CAM Woofer
  • 55-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-70watts
  • Weight:3.50kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 260.0" x 6.4" x 8.0"( 260.0 x 165.0 x 205.0mm )

What size room are the KEF Q150 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* KEF Q150 Monitor Audio Bronze 1
Near-field Average Good
Small Room Good Good
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Poor Poor
Very Large Room Bad 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Q150 and Monitor Audio Bronze 1 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Q150 and Bronze 1 are 2-way speakers.

Driver KEF Q150 Monitor Audio Bronze 1
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 5.25-inch 1 x 5.5-inch

Q150 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. 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

Q150 has a frequency range of 51-28k Hz whereas Bronze 1 has a frequency range of 55-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the Q150 can go slightly deeper then the Bronze 1's min frequency of 55Hz.

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

Q150
Bronze 1
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

KEF Q150
Monitor Audio Bronze 1
Min
Average
Max

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

Q150 and Bronze 1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q150 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Bronze 1's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q150, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Q150
Bronze 1
Min
Average
Max

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.

Q150 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Bronze 1 has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Q150.

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

Q150 features Post type posts and Bronze 1 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

KEF Q150 Terminals
KEF Q150's Post terminals

Monitor Audio Bronze 1Post Terminals
Monitor Audio Bronze 1's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Q150 and Bronze 1 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.

KEF Q150  Port
KEF Q150 Port

Monitor Audio Bronze 1  Port
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 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 KEF Q150's and Monitor Audio Bronze 1's external dimensions. KEF Q150 has external dimensions of 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm ( 11.9 x 7.0 x 10.9inch) 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) .

KEF Q150 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 15mm wider, 43mm taller and 73mm deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze 1.

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 KEF Q150 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is approximately 338.3cm2 / 52.4inch2. The Q150 requires 48% 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 KEF Q150 weighs 5.60kg / 12.3lbs and the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 weighs 3.50kg / 7.7lbs. This makes the Q150 60% heavier than the Bronze 1.

Here is a comparison of how Q150 and Bronze 1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
KEF Q150
Monitor Audio Bronze 1
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of KEF Q150?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q150:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Foam port plugs
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • Owner's Manual
  • Warranty Registration Card
  • 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

  • Reasons to choose KEF Q150 over Monitor Audio Bronze 1
    Max Input Power 100 watts vs 70 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Low Frequency Response 51 Hz vs 55 Hz Generates deeper bass

    Reasons to choose Monitor Audio Bronze 1 over KEF Q150

    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 86 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 5.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    High Frequency Response 30k Hz vs 28k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 260mm vs 303mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 338cm2 vs 500cm2 Takes less floor space
    KEF Q150 vs Monitor Audio Bronze 1 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General KEF Q150 Monitor Audio Bronze 1
    Brand KEF Monitor Audio
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 10-100 watts 20-70 watts
    Sensitivity 86 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.7 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 51-28k Hz 55-30k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5.25" 5.5"
    Woofer Composition Aluminum C-CAM
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Dome Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2500Hz 2700Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 303.0mm (11.9") 260.0mm (10.2")
    Width 180.0mm (7.1") 165.0mm (6.5")
    Depth 278.0mm (10.9") 205.0mm (8.1")
    Weight 5.60kg (12.3lbs) 3.50kg (7.7lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Vinyl-wrapped MDF/Wood-grain vinyl
    Available Colors Black, Walnut, White Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 18-24" 30-31"
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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