In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 300 7G and C 97 II, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Monitor Audio and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G and Jamo C 97 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G | Jamo C 97 II |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" C-CAM | 3 x 6" Composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-30k Hz | 32-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-150 watts | 50-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.63kg / 34.4lbs | 24.55kg / 54lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 39-3/4" x 10-5/8" x 15-7/16"
1010.0 x 270.0 x 393.0mm | 42-1/8" x 9-3/4" x 15-13/16"
1070.0 x 248.0 x 402.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Bronze 300 7G is a 2-way design whereas the C 97 II is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7GJamo C 97 II
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 300 7G |
Jamo C 97 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
3 x 6-inch
|
Bronze 300 7G features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6" C-CAM Woofer. On the other hand, the C 97 II features a 1" Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6" Composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
Bronze 300 7G has a frequency range of 34-30k Hz whereas C 97 II has a frequency range of 32-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the C 97 II can go slightly deeper then the Bronze 300 7G's min frequency of 34Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 300 7G is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the C 97 II which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Bronze 300 7G sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the C 97 II's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Jamo C 97 II a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
C 97 II can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas Bronze 300 7G has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the C 97 II.
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.
Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Bronze 300 7G and C 97 II features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Jamo C 97 II's Posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 300 7G's and Jamo C 97 II's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G has external dimensions of 1010.0 x 270.0 x 393.0mm (39-3/4inch x 10-5/8inch x 15-7/16inch) whereas Jamo C 97 II has external dimensions of 1070.0 x 248.0 x 402.0mm (42-1/8 x 9-3/4 x 15-13/16inch).
Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G is 60mm shorter and 9mm less deeper than Jamo C 97 II but it is also 22mm wider.
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 300 7G is approximately 1061.1cm2 / 164.5inch2 and base area of the Jamo C 97 II is approximately 997.0cm2 / 154.5inch2. The Bronze 300 7G requires 6% more surface area than the C 97 II 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 300 7G weighs 15.63kg / 34.4lbs and the Jamo C 97 II weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the C 97 II 57% heavier than the Bronze 300 7G.
Here is a comparison of how Bronze 300 7G and C 97 II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Bronze 300 7G:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Outrigger feet
- 8 Spikes
- Eight M10x25mm hex-screws
- Eight M4x15mm hex-screws
- 4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Foam port plugs
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety
What's in the Box of Jamo C 97 II?
Here are the items that come with the C 97 II:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)
- 4 Rubber feet
- 8 Machine screws
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Hex-key
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1010mm
vs
1070mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1249USD
vs
1378USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
997cm2
vs
1061cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G |
Jamo Concert 9 Series C 97 II |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-150 watts |
50-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
34-30k Hz |
32-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
Composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1010.0mm (39.8") |
1070.0mm (42.1") |
| Width |
270.0mm (10.6") |
248.0mm (9.8") |
| Depth |
393.0mm (15.5") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Weight |
15.63kg (34.4lbs) |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (34Hz vs 32Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 180W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G: bi-amping; Jamo C 97 II: bi-amping. Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,249 vs $1,378 a pair). |
A Monitor Audio Bronze 300 7G B Jamo C 97 II
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 300 7G has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.