In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 2 and A130, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Bronze 2 and JBL A130 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Bronze 2 | JBL A130 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" C-CAM | 5.25" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-30k Hz | 55-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.30kg / 11.7lbs | 5.46kg / 12lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.7" x 7.2" x 11.0"
350.0 x 185.0 x 281.0mm | 12-11/16" x 7-1/2" x 9-13/16"
323.0 x 191.0 x 250.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 and JBL A130 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 2 |
JBL A130 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 2 and A130 are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Bronze 2JBL A130
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 2 |
JBL A130 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Bronze 2 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz. On the other hand, the A130 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
Bronze 2 has a frequency range of 42-30k Hz whereas A130 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Bronze 2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A130'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 2 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A130 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Bronze 2 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the A130's is rated at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A130, 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.
A130 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas Bronze 2 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the A130.
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 2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. A130 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL A130's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Bronze 2 has a front firing port whereas A130 has a rear firing ports. Monitor Audio Bronze 2's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to JBL A130 with its rear-firing 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 2's and JBL A130's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Bronze 2 has external dimensions of 350.0 x 185.0 x 281.0mm (13.7 x 7.2 x 11.0inch) whereas JBL A130 has external dimensions of 323.0 x 191.0 x 250.0mm (12-11/16 x 7-1/2 x 9-13/16inch).
JBL A130 is 27mm shorter and 31mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze 2 but it is also 6mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Bronze 2 and JBL A130 in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Bronze 2 and JBL A130 Size and External Dimensions
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 2 is approximately 519.9cm2 / 80.6inch2 and base area of the JBL A130 is approximately 477.5cm2 / 74.0inch2. The Bronze 2 requires 9% more surface area than the A130 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Monitor Audio Bronze 2 and JBL A130 on a Media Console
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 2 weighs 5.30kg / 11.7lbs and the JBL A130 weighs 5.46kg / 12lbs. This makes the A130 3% heavier than the Bronze 2.
Here is a comparison of how Bronze 2 and A130'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 2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Bronze 2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Hex-key
- Owner's Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of JBL A130?
Here are the items that come with the A130:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
90 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 |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
323mm
vs
350mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
477cm2
vs
519cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
379USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 |
JBL Stage A130 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-30k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| 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 |
3100Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
350.0mm (13.8") |
323.0mm (12.7") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
| Weight |
5.30kg (11.7lbs) |
5.46kg (12lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
30-31" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
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 2 digs deeper - 42Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | JBL A130 takes more power (125W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 2: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | JBL A130 is cheaper - $300 against $379, about 21% less. |
A Monitor Audio Bronze 2 B JBL A130
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?
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. JBL A130 is the one to take if it does not. 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 JBL A130 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Bronze 2 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and JBL A130 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.