Monitor Audio Bronze 1 vs Cambridge SX-50 Comparison

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Monitor Audio Bronze 1

Passive Bookshelf | 55-30k Hz

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Cambridge SX-50

Passive Bookshelf | 50-22k Hz

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Monitor Audio Bronze...

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Cambridge SX-50

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Monitor Audio Bronze...

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Cambridge SX-50

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Monitor Audio Bronze 1 vs Cambridge SX-50 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 1 and SX-50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Cambridge Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and Cambridge SX-50 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

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 )

Cambridge SX-50 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Dome Tweeter

5.25" Treated paper Woofer

50-22k Hz Frequency Response

90 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:10-100watts

Weight:3.00kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 225.0" x 6.3" x 9.4"( 225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm )

What size room are the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and Cambridge SX-50 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*	Monitor Audio Bronze 1	Cambridge SX-50
Near-field	Good	Average
Small Room	Good	Good
Mid-size Room	Average	Average
Large Room	Poor	Poor
Very Large Room	No way	Bad

(* 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and Cambridge SX-50 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 Bronze 1 and SX-50 are 2-way speakers.

Driver	Monitor Audio Bronze 1	Cambridge SX-50
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 5.5-inch	1 x 5.25-inch

Bronze 1 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz. On the other hand, the SX-50 features a 1" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Treated paper Woofer .

Frequency Response

Bronze 1 has a frequency range of 55-30k Hz whereas SX-50 has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the SX-50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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

Bronze 1

SX-50

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Monitor Audio Bronze 1

Cambridge SX-50

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

Bronze 1 and SX-50 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Bronze 1 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the SX-50's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Cambridge SX-50 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Bronze 1

SX-50

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.

Bronze 1 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 SX-50.

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

Bronze 1 features 5-way post type posts and SX-50 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Monitor Audio Bronze 1's Post terminals

Cambridge SX-50's 5-way post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Bronze 1 and SX-50 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.

Monitor Audio Bronze 1 Port

Cambridge SX-50 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 1's and Cambridge SX-50's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Bronze 1 has external dimensions of 260.0 x 165.0 x 205.0mm ( 10.2 x 6.4 x 8.0inch) whereas Cambridge SX-50 has external dimensions of 225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm ( 8.8 x 6.3 x 9.4inch) .

Cambridge SX-50 is 4mm narrower and 35mm shorter than Monitor Audio Bronze 1 but it is also 35mm deeper.

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 Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is approximately 338.3cm² / 52.4inch² and base area of the Cambridge SX-50 is approximately 386.4cm² / 59.9inch². The Bronze 1 requires 12% less surface area than the SX-50 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 1 weighs 3.50kg / 7.7lbs and the Cambridge SX-50 weighs 3.00kg / 6.6lbs. This makes the Bronze 1 17% heavier than the SX-50.

Here is a comparison of how Bronze 1 and SX-50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

Monitor Audio Bronze 1

Cambridge SX-50

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 1?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Bronze 1:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

2 Foam port plugs

Hex-key

Owner's Manual

Important Safety Instructions

What's in the Box of Cambridge SX-50?

Here are the items that come with the SX-50:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

8 Self-adhesive feet

2 Foam port inserts

Installation Guide

Reasons to choose Monitor Audio Bronze 1 over Cambridge Audio SX-50

Woofer Size	5.5 inches vs 5.25 inches	Larger woofer
High Frequency Response	30k Hz vs 22k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Base Surface Area	338cm² vs 386cm²	Takes less floor space

Reasons to choose Cambridge Audio SX-50 over Monitor Audio Bronze 1

Max Input Power	100 watts vs 70 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Sensitivity	90 dB vs 88 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Low Frequency Response	50 Hz vs 55 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Height	225mm vs 260mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Monitor Audio Bronze 1 vs Cambridge SX-50 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Monitor Audio Bronze 1	Cambridge Audio SX-50
Brand	Monitor Audio	Cambridge Audio
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	20-70 watts	10-100 watts
Sensitivity	88 dB	90 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Frequency Response	55-30k Hz	50-22k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	5.5"	5.25"
Woofer Composition	C-CAM	Treated paper
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Dome	Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Crossover Frequency	2700Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	rear	rear
Physical Specs
Height	260.0mm (10.2")	225.0mm (8.9")
Width	165.0mm (6.5")	161.0mm (6.3")
Depth	205.0mm (8.1")	240.0mm (9.4")
Weight	3.50kg (7.7lbs)	3.00kg (6.6lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF/Wood-grain vinyl	MDF/Woodgrain vinyl
Available Colors	Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black	Black
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	30-31"	28-31"
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