In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 1 and Aria 906, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and Focal Aria 906 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 )
Focal Aria 906 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Inverted Hard Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Flax Woofer
- 55-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 89.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:8.64kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 391.0" x 8-15/16" x 11-5/16"( 391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm )
What size room are the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and Focal Aria 906 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 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and Focal Aria 906 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 Aria 906 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
Focal Aria 906 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 Aria 906 features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium Inverted Hard Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Bronze 1 has a frequency range of 55-30k Hz whereas Aria 906 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz.
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 and Aria 906 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 Aria 906's is at 89.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 906 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 1, 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 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Bronze 1 has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Aria 906.
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 Binding post type posts and Aria 906 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Bronze 1's Post terminals
Focal Aria 906's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Bronze 1 and Aria 906 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
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 Focal Aria 906'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 Focal Aria 906 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm ( 15-3/8 x 8-15/16 x 11-5/16inch) .
Focal Aria 906 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 63mm wider, 131mm taller and 83mm 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 Focal Aria 906 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2. The Bronze 1 requires 48% less surface area than the Aria 906 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 Focal Aria 906 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Aria 906 147% heavier than the Bronze 1.
Here is a comparison of how Bronze 1 and Aria 906'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 Focal Aria 906?
Here are the items that come with the Aria 906:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Cloth grilles User manual
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
260mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
338cm2
vs
656cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-70 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-30k Hz |
55-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Inverted Hard Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
260.0mm (10.2") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
205.0mm (8.1") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black |
Walnut, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
30-31" |
24-28" |
| 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 |