In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 1 and Carina BS243.4, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Bronze 1 and Carina BS243.4 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
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 Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Bronze 1 has a frequency range of 55-30k Hz whereas Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 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
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Carina BS243.4 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Bronze 1 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Carina BS243.4's is rated at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, 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. 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 Carina BS243.4.
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
Carina BS243.4 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Bronze 1 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Bronze 1 has a rear firing port whereas Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing ports. ELAC Carina BS243.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 1 with its rear-firing 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 ELAC Carina BS243.4'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 ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) .
ELAC Carina BS243.4 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 40mm wider, 61mm taller and 42mm 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is approximately 338.3cm2 / 52.4inch2 and base area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2. The Bronze 1 requires 33% less surface area than the Carina BS243.4 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 ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs. This makes the Carina BS243.4 91% heavier than the Bronze 1.
Here is a comparison of how Bronze 1 and Carina BS243.4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
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 ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that come with the Carina BS243.4:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled) Operating Instructions
Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Height |
260mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
338cm2 (165x205mm)
vs
506cm2 (205x247mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
General |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Brand |
Monitor Audio |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-70 watts |
30-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
88 dB |
85 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
55-30k Hz |
46-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
260.0mm (10.2") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
Depth |
205.0mm (8.1") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
Weight |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Polymer |
Available Colors |
Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black |
Satin Black,Satin White |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
30-31" |
24-28" |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |