In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 50 and Bronze 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Bronze 50 and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Bronze 50 | Monitor Audio Bronze 2 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" C-CAM | 6.5" C-CAM |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-30k Hz | 42-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-80 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 5.30kg / 11.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.0" x 6.5" x 10.4"
281.0 x 166.0 x 265.0mm | 13.7" x 7.2" x 11.0"
350.0 x 185.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
Bronze 50 and Bronze 2 are members of Monitor Audio's Bronze series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Monitor Audio Bronze Series
History
What size room are the Monitor Audio Bronze 50 and Monitor Audio Bronze 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 50 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 |
| 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 Bronze 2 are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Bronze 50Monitor Audio Bronze 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 50 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 Bronze 2 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz.
Frequency Response
Bronze 50 has a frequency range of 40-30k Hz whereas Bronze 2 has a frequency range of 42-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Bronze 50 can go slightly deeper then the Bronze 2's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 Bronze 2 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 Bronze 2's is at 90 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 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.
Bronze 2 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas Bronze 50 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Bronze 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
Both Bronze 50 and Bronze 2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Bronze 50 has a rear firing port whereas Bronze 2 has a front firing ports. Monitor Audio Bronze 2's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 50 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 50's and Monitor Audio Bronze 2'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 Monitor Audio Bronze 2 has external dimensions of 350.0 x 185.0 x 281.0mm (13.7 x 7.2 x 11.0inch).
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 69mm taller and 16mm deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze 50.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Bronze 50 and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Bronze 50 and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is approximately 519.9cm2 / 80.6inch2. The Bronze 50 requires 15% less surface area than the Bronze 2 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 50 and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 2 weighs 5.30kg / 11.7lbs. This makes the Bronze 2 6% heavier than the Bronze 50.
Here is a comparison of how Bronze 50 and Bronze 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 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 2?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Hex-key
- Owner's Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
281mm
vs
350mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
439cm2
vs
519cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Price per pair* |
379USD
vs
550USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Bronze 50 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-80 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
40-30k Hz |
42-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
C-CAM |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
3100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
281.0mm (11.1") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Width |
166.0mm (6.5") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
265.0mm (10.4") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
5.30kg (11.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White, Urban Grey |
Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-32" |
30-31" |
| 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 |
Siblings in Monitor Audio's Bronze series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (40Hz vs 42Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 2 takes more power (100W vs 80W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Bronze 50 is easier to place; Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Monitor Audio Bronze 50: bi-amping; Monitor Audio Bronze 2: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is cheaper - $379 against $550, about 31% less. |
A Monitor Audio Bronze 50 B Monitor Audio Bronze 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?
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Monitor Audio Bronze 50 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. In a large or open-plan room, Monitor Audio Bronze 2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Monitor Audio Bronze 50 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Monitor Audio Bronze 2 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.