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.
Monitor Audio Bronze 50 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" C-CAM Woofer
- 40-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-80watts
- Weight:5.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 281.0" x 6.5" x 10.4"( 281.0 x 166.0 x 265.0mm )
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" C-CAM Woofer
- 42-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:5.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 350.0" 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Monitor Audio Bronze 50 and Monitor Audio Bronze 2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Bronze 50 and Bronze 2 are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. 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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Bronze 50 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Bronze 50 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the Bronze 2.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 an 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 |
| 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 |