In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 2 and L200, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Bronze 2 and Polk L200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Bronze 2 | Polk L200 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" C-CAM | 6.5" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-30k Hz | 46-38k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 85.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 30-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.30kg / 11.7lbs | 10.00kg / 22lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.7" x 7.2" x 11.0"
350.0 x 185.0 x 281.0mm | 15-11/16" x 8-3/8" x 13-5/16"
399.0 x 213.0 x 339.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 and Polk L200 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 |
Polk L200 |
| 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 L200 are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Bronze 2Polk L200
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 |
Polk L200 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 L200 features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
Bronze 2 has a frequency range of 42-30k Hz whereas L200 has a frequency range of 46-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Bronze 2 can go slightly deeper then the L200's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 L200 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L200 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Bronze 2 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the L200's is rated at 85.5 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L200, 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.
L200 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Bronze 2 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the L200.
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
Both Bronze 2 and L200 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Polk L200's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Bronze 2 has a front firing port whereas L200 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 Polk L200 with its rear-firing port.
Polk L200 Enhanced Power Port 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 Polk L200'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 Polk L200 has external dimensions of 399.0 x 213.0 x 339.0mm (15-11/16 x 8-3/8 x 13-5/16inch).
Polk L200 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 28mm wider, 49mm taller and 58mm deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze 2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Bronze 2 and Polk L200 in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Bronze 2 and Polk L200 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 Polk L200 is approximately 722.1cm2 / 111.9inch2. The Bronze 2 requires 28% less surface area than the L200 which gives it a small advantage 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 Polk L200 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 Polk L200 weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs. This makes the L200 89% heavier than the Bronze 2.
Here is a comparison of how Bronze 2 and L200'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 Polk L200?
Here are the items that come with the L200:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Cleaning cloth
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
350mm
vs
399mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
519cm2
vs
722cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
379USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 |
Polk Audio Legend L200 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
85.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-30k Hz |
46-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3100Hz |
2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
350.0mm (13.8") |
399.0mm (15.7") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
213.0mm (8.4") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
339.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
5.30kg (11.7lbs) |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black |
Brown Walnut, Black Ash |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
30-31" |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Polk L200 costs roughly 4x what Monitor Audio Bronze 2 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 | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 2 digs deeper - 42Hz against 46Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| 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; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Polk L200 takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is easier to place; Polk L200 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Monitor Audio Bronze 2: bi-amping; Polk L200: bi-amping. Monitor Audio Bronze 2 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is cheaper - $379 against $1,499, about 75% less; arguably a different class. |
A Monitor Audio Bronze 2 B Polk L200
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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Polk L200 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Bronze 2 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Polk L200 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Polk L200 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.