In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 1 and Diamond 11.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and Wharfedale 11.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 | Wharfedale 11.2 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.5" C-CAM | 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-30k Hz | 48-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-70 watts | 25-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.50kg / 7.7lbs | 9.00kg / 19.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.2" x 6.4" x 8.0"
260.0 x 165.0 x 205.0mm | 14" x 8-3/4" x 12-5/8"
356.0 x 223.0 x 321.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 and Wharfedale 11.2 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 |
Wharfedale 11.2 |
| 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 Diamond 11.2 are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Bronze 1Wharfedale 11.2
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 |
Wharfedale 11.2 |
|
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 Diamond 11.2 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Bronze 1 has a frequency range of 55-30k Hz whereas Diamond 11.2 has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Diamond 11.2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Bronze 1's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 and Diamond 11.2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 88 dB.
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.
Diamond 11.2 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 Diamond 11.2.
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 Post type posts and Diamond 11.2 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Bronze 1's Post terminals
Wharfedale 11.2's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Bronze 1 has a rear firing port whereas Diamond 11.2 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale 11.2'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.
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 Wharfedale 11.2'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 Wharfedale 11.2 has external dimensions of 356.0 x 223.0 x 321.0mm (14 x 8-3/4 x 12-5/8inch).
Wharfedale 11.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 58mm wider, 96mm taller and 116mm 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 Wharfedale 11.2 is approximately 715.8cm2 / 110.9inch2. The Bronze 1 requires 53% less surface area than the Diamond 11.2 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 Wharfedale 11.2 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs. This makes the Diamond 11.2 157% heavier than the Bronze 1.
Here is a comparison of how Bronze 1 and Diamond 11.2'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 Wharfedale 11.2?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 11.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User-feets Manual
- Installation Guide
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
260mm
vs
356mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
338cm2
vs
715cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-70 watts |
25-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-30k Hz |
48-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foam |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
260.0mm (10.2") |
356.0mm (14") |
| Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
223.0mm (8.8") |
| Depth |
205.0mm (8.1") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Weight |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale 11.2 costs roughly 1.7x what Monitor Audio Bronze 1 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Wharfedale 11.2 digs deeper - 48Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale 11.2 takes more power (125W vs 70W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is easier to place; Wharfedale 11.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Monitor Audio Bronze 1 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is cheaper - $299 against $499, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Monitor Audio Bronze 1 B Wharfedale 11.2
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: Wharfedale 11.2 measures better, Monitor Audio Bronze 1 costs about about 67% 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 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Monitor Audio Bronze 1 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 Wharfedale 11.2 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.