In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 1 and A120, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and JBL A120 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 | JBL A120 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.5" C-CAM | 4.5" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-30k Hz | 60-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-70 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.50kg / 7.7lbs | 3.82kg / 8.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.2" x 6.4" x 8.0"
260.0 x 165.0 x 205.0mm | 11-1/4" x 6-3/4" x 7-7/16"
286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and JBL A120 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 |
JBL A120 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Bronze 1 and A120 are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Bronze 1JBL A120
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
JBL A120 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-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 A120 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
Bronze 1 has a frequency range of 55-30k Hz whereas A120 has a frequency range of 60-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Bronze 1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A120's min frequency of 60Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Bronze 1 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A120 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 A120's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A120, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
A120 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas Bronze 1 has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS, 55 watts less than the A120.
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
Bronze 1 features 5-way post type posts and A120 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Bronze 1's Post terminals
JBL A120's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Bronze 1 and A120 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
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 Monitor Audio Bronze 1's and JBL A120'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 JBL A120 has external dimensions of 286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm (11-1/4 x 6-3/4 x 7-7/16inch).
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is 7mm narrower and 26mm shorter than JBL A120 but it is also 16mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is 16mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. JBL A120 is 26mm taller.
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 JBL A120 is approximately 325.1cm2 / 50.4inch2. The Bronze 1 requires 4% more surface area than the A120 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 1 weighs 3.50kg / 7.7lbs and the JBL A120 weighs 3.82kg / 8.4lbs. This makes the A120 9% heavier than the Bronze 1.
Here is a comparison of how Bronze 1 and A120'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 JBL A120?
Here are the items that come with the A120:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam plugs
- 4 Brackets
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Screws (M6 x 8mm)
- Owner-feets Manual
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 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
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
260mm
vs
286mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Base Surface Area |
325cm2
vs
338cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
250USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
JBL Stage A120 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-70 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-30k Hz |
60-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-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") |
286.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
172.0mm (6.8") |
| Depth |
205.0mm (8.1") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
| Weight |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
3.82kg (8.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyholes w/ bracket |
| Recommended Stand Height |
30-31" |
26-28" |
| 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 |
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 | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 digs deeper - 55Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | JBL A120 takes more power (125W vs 70W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | JBL A120 is cheaper - $250 against $299, about 16% less. |
A Monitor Audio Bronze 1 B JBL A120
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 1 measures better, JBL A120 costs about about 20% 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL A120 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Bronze 1 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and JBL A120 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.