In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 50 and R-51M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Bronze 50 and Klipsch R-51M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Bronze 50 | Klipsch R-51M |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" C-CAM | 5.25" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-30k Hz | 62-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 93 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-80 watts | Up to 85 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 5.00kg / 11lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.0" x 6.5" x 10.4"
281.0 x 166.0 x 265.0mm | 13.3" x 7.0" x 8.4"
338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Bronze 50 and Klipsch R-51M 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 50 |
Klipsch R-51M |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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 50 and R-51M are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Bronze 50Klipsch R-51M
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 50 |
Klipsch R-51M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Bronze 50 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the R-51M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1660Hz.
Frequency Response
Bronze 50 has a frequency range of 40-30k Hz whereas R-51M has a frequency range of 62-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Bronze 50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-51M's min frequency of 62Hz.
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 50 and R-51M have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Bronze 50 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the R-51M's is at 93 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-51M a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 50, 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.
R-51M can handle a max power of 85 watts RMS, whereas Bronze 50 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the R-51M.
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 50 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R-51M has a Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-51M's Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Bronze 50 and R-51M 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.
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 50's and Klipsch R-51M's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Bronze 50 has external dimensions of 281.0 x 166.0 x 265.0mm (11.0 x 6.5 x 10.4inch) whereas Klipsch R-51M has external dimensions of 338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm (13.3 x 7.0 x 8.4inch).
Monitor Audio Bronze 50 is 12mm narrower and 57mm shorter than Klipsch R-51M but it is also 50mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Bronze 50 and Klipsch R-51M in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Bronze 50 and Klipsch R-51M 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 50 is approximately 439.9cm2 / 68.2inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-51M is approximately 382.7cm2 / 59.3inch2. The Bronze 50 requires 15% more surface area than the R-51M 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 50 and Klipsch R-51M 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 50 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the Klipsch R-51M weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs.
Here is a comparison of how Bronze 50 and R-51M'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 50?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Bronze 50:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-51M?
Here are the items that come with the R-51M:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
62 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
281mm
vs
338mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
85 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Base Surface Area |
382cm2
vs
439cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
359USD
vs
550USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Bronze 50 |
Klipsch Reference R-51M |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-80 watts |
Up to 85 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
93 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
40-30k Hz |
62-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
1660Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
281.0mm (11.1") |
338.0mm (13.3") |
| Width |
166.0mm (6.5") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
265.0mm (10.4") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Urban Grey |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-32" |
24-28" |
| 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 50 digs deeper - 40Hz against 62Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-51M is more sensitive (93dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (80W vs 85W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 50: bi-amping. Monitor Audio Bronze 50 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch R-51M is cheaper - $359 against $550, about 35% less. |
A Monitor Audio Bronze 50 B Klipsch R-51M
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 50 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 53% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Klipsch R-51M looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Monitor Audio Bronze 50 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 62Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch R-51M much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch R-51M is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.