In this review, we will be comparing R-34C and Bronze C150, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch R-34C and Monitor Audio Bronze C150 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch R-34C | Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix horn | 1" vented dome with waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 3.5" copper spun IMG | 5.25" aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 82-21k Hz | 66-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.91kg / 13lbs | 7.01kg / 15.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4-15/16" x 26-1/16" x 6-1/4"
126.0 x 662.0 x 159.0mm | 6-9/16" x 17-13/16" x 8-15/16"
167.0 x 453.0 x 228.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch R-34C and Monitor Audio Bronze C150 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 R-34C |
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| 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 R-34C and Bronze C150 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch R-34CMonitor Audio Bronze C150
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 R-34C |
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 3.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
R-34C features a 1" aluminum Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 3.5" copper spun IMG Woofer. On the other hand, the Bronze C150 features a 1" aluminum vented dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
R-34C has a frequency range of 82-21k Hz whereas Bronze C150 has a frequency range of 66-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 66Hz, the Bronze C150 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-34C's min frequency of 82Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
R-34C and Bronze C150 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R-34C sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Bronze C150's is at 88 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-34C a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Bronze C150, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 C150 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas R-34C has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Bronze C150.
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.
Monitor Audio Bronze C150
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R-34C features Binding post type posts and Bronze C150 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-34C's Binding post terminals
Monitor Audio Bronze C150's Binding post terminals
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 R-34C's and Monitor Audio Bronze C150's external dimensions. Klipsch R-34C has external dimensions of 126.0 x 662.0 x 159.0mm (4-15/16 x 26-1/16 x 6-1/4inch) whereas Monitor Audio Bronze C150 has external dimensions of 167.0 x 453.0 x 228.0mm (6-9/16 x 17-13/16 x 8-15/16inch).
Klipsch R-34C is 41mm shorter and 69mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze C150 but it is also 209mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch R-34C and Monitor Audio Bronze C150 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch R-34C and Monitor Audio Bronze C150 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 R-34C is approximately 1052.6cm2 / 163.2inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze C150 is approximately 1032.8cm2 / 160.1inch2. The R-34C requires 2% more surface area than the Bronze C150 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 Klipsch R-34C weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs and the Monitor Audio Bronze C150 weighs 7.01kg / 15.4lbs. This makes the Bronze C150 19% heavier than the R-34C.
Here is a comparison of how R-34C and Bronze C150's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Monitor Audio Bronze C150
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-34C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-34C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze C150?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze C150:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Height |
126mm
vs
167mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
3.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
66 Hz
vs
82 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1032cm2
vs
1052cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
395USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-34C |
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
82-21k Hz |
66-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
3.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
copper spun IMG |
aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix horn |
vented dome with waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
126.0mm (5") |
167.0mm (6.6") |
| Width |
662.0mm (26.1") |
453.0mm (17.8") |
| Depth |
159.0mm (6.3") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Weight |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
7.01kg (15.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
textured wood grain viny |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
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 C150 digs deeper - 66Hz against 82Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch R-34C is more sensitive (96dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Klipsch R-34C is easier to place; Monitor Audio Bronze C150 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Monitor Audio Bronze C150 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Monitor Audio Bronze C150 is cheaper - $395 against $499, about 21% less. |
A Klipsch R-34C B Monitor Audio Bronze C150
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 82Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch R-34C the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Monitor Audio Bronze C150 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.