In this review, we will be comparing RP-5000F II and Bronze 500, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-5000F II and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-5000F II | Monitor Audio Bronze 500 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 8" C-CAM |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-25k Hz | 32-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 95 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 60-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.50kg / 38.5lbs | 18.05kg / 39.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 36-1/8" x 8-3/16" x 14-5/16"
918.0 x 208.0 x 364.0mm | 38-7/16" x 11-9/16" x 14-3/8"
977.0 x 294.0 x 366.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-5000F II and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 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* |
Klipsch RP-5000F II |
Monitor Audio Bronze 500 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* 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 RP-5000F II and Bronze 500 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-5000F IIMonitor Audio Bronze 500
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch RP-5000F II |
Monitor Audio Bronze 500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
RP-5000F II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1900 Hz. On the other hand, the Bronze 500 features a 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" C-CAM Woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-5000F II has a frequency range of 35-25k Hz whereas Bronze 500 has a frequency range of 32-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the Bronze 500 can go slightly deeper then the RP-5000F II's min frequency of 35Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
RP-5000F II and Bronze 500 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-5000F II sensitivity is rated at 95 dB and the Bronze 500's is at 90 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-5000F II a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 500, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Bronze 500 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas RP-5000F II has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Bronze 500.
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
Both RP-5000F II and Bronze 500 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-5000F II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Klipsch RP-5000F II's and Monitor Audio Bronze 500's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-5000F II has external dimensions of 918.0 x 208.0 x 364.0mm (36-1/8 x 8-3/16 x 14-5/16inch) whereas Monitor Audio Bronze 500 has external dimensions of 977.0 x 294.0 x 366.0mm (38-7/16 x 11-9/16 x 14-3/8inch).
Monitor Audio Bronze 500 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 86mm wider, 59mm taller and 2mm deeper than Klipsch RP-5000F II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-5000F II and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-5000F II and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 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 Klipsch RP-5000F II is approximately 757.1cm2 / 117.4inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze 500 is approximately 1076.0cm2 / 166.8inch2. The RP-5000F II requires 30% less surface area than the Bronze 500 which gives it a small advantage 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 Klipsch RP-5000F II weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs and the Monitor Audio Bronze 500 weighs 18.05kg / 39.7lbs. This makes the Bronze 500 3% heavier than the RP-5000F II.
Here is a comparison of how RP-5000F II and Bronze 500's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-5000F II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-5000F II:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Stabilizer feet (pre-installed)
- Grille
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Rubber cap (pre-installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 500?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 500:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet (w/ 4 adjustment dials and locking-nuts)
- 4 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Large course-thread screws
- 4 Small machine screws
- 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
 Sensitivity |
95 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
918mm
vs
977mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
757cm2
vs
1076cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1496USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-5000F II |
Monitor Audio Bronze 500 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
60-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
95 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-25k Hz |
32-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
C-CAM |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1900 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
918.0mm (36.1") |
977.0mm (38.5") |
| Width |
208.0mm (8.2") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Depth |
364.0mm (14.3") |
366.0mm (14.4") |
| Weight |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
18.05kg (39.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 500 digs deeper - 32Hz against 35Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-5000F II is more sensitive (95dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 500 takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch RP-5000F II is easier to place; Monitor Audio Bronze 500 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch RP-5000F II: bi-amping and Atmos drivers; Monitor Audio Bronze 500: bi-amping and Atmos drivers. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-5000F II is cheaper - $1,198 against $1,496, about 20% less. |
A Klipsch RP-5000F II B Monitor Audio Bronze 500
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: Monitor Audio Bronze 500 measures better, Klipsch RP-5000F II costs about about 25% 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 Klipsch RP-5000F II the better fit for a small room, and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 for a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Monitor Audio Bronze 500 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Klipsch RP-5000F II 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.