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Monitor Audio Bronze 500 vs KEF Q550 Comparison

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Monitor Audio Bronze 500

Passive Floor-standing | 32-30k Hz

Monitor Audio Bronze 500
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KEF Q550

Passive Floor-standing | 58-28k Hz

KEF Q550
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Monitor Audio Bronze 500 Monitor Audio Bronze...
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KEF Q550 KEF Q550
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Monitor Audio Bronze...
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KEF Q550
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Monitor Audio Bronze 500 vs KEF Q550 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 500 and Q550, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Monitor Audio and KEF.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Monitor Audio Bronze 500 and KEF Q550 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Monitor Audio Bronze 500 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide Tweeter
  • 2 x 8" C-CAM Woofer
  • 32-30k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:60-200watts
  • Weight:18.05kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 977.0" x 11-9/16" x 14-3/8"( 977.0 x 294.0 x 366.0mm )

KEF Q550 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
  • 58-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:15-130watts
  • Weight:14.55kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 894.0" x 11-5/8" x 12-5/16"( 894.0 x 296.0 x 313.0mm )

What size room are the Monitor Audio Bronze 500 and KEF Q550 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 500 KEF Q550
Near-field Bad Bad
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Poor 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Monitor Audio Bronze 500 and KEF Q550 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 500 and Q550 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Monitor Audio Bronze 500 KEF Q550
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 2 x 8-inch 2 x 5.25-inch

Bronze 500 features a 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" C-CAM Woofer . On the other hand, the Q550 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.

Frequency Response

Bronze 500 has a frequency range of 32-30k Hz whereas Q550 has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the Bronze 500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q550's min frequency of 58Hz.

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 Floor-standing class in our database.

Low Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Bronze 500
Q550
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Monitor Audio Bronze 500
KEF Q550
Min
Average
Max

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 500 and Q550 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Bronze 500 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Q550's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 500 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q550, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

Bronze 500
Q550
Min
Average
Max

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 500 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q550 has a max power handling value of 130 watts RMS, 70 watts less than the Bronze 500.

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

Bronze 500 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q550 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

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 500's and KEF Q550's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Bronze 500 has external dimensions of 977.0 x 294.0 x 366.0mm ( 38-7/16 x 11-9/16 x 14-3/8inch) whereas KEF Q550 has external dimensions of 894.0 x 296.0 x 313.0mm ( 35-3/16 x 11-5/8 x 12-5/16inch) .

KEF Q550 is 83mm shorter and 53mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze 500 but it is also 2mm 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 500 is approximately 1076.0cm2 / 166.8inch2 and base area of the KEF Q550 is approximately 926.5cm2 / 143.6inch2. The Bronze 500 requires 16% more surface area than the Q550 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 500 weighs 18.05kg / 39.7lbs and the KEF Q550 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the Bronze 500 24% heavier than the Q550.

Here is a comparison of how Bronze 500 and Q550's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Bronze 500
KEF Q550
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 500?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Bronze 500:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Outrigger feet (w/ 4 adjustment dials and locking-nuts)
  • 4 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • 4 Large course-thread screws
  • 4 Small machine screws
  • 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
  • 2 Foam port plugs
  • Hex-key
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Important Safety Instructions
  • What's in the Box of KEF Q550?

    Here are the items that come with the Q550:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • 2 Outrigger feet
  • 4 Spikes
  • 6 Screws
  • 6 Washers
  • 4 Rubber inserts
  • Hex-key
  • Owners Manual
  • Warranty Information

  • Reasons to choose Monitor Audio Bronze 500 over KEF Q550
    Max Input Power 200 watts vs 130 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 90 dB vs 87 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 8 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 32 Hz vs 58 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 30k Hz vs 28k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections

    Reasons to choose KEF Q550 over Monitor Audio Bronze 500

    Passive Radiator 2 x 5.25-inch vs None Increases the bass performance
    Height 894mm vs 977mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 926cm2 vs 1076cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 1400USD vs 1496USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    Monitor Audio Bronze 500 vs KEF Q550 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Monitor Audio Bronze 500 KEF Q550
    Brand Monitor Audio KEF
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 60-200 watts 15-130 watts
    Sensitivity 90 dB 87 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance n/a 3.5 ohms
    Frequency Response 32-30k Hz 58-28k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 8" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition C-CAM Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency n/a 2500Hz
    Firing Direction n/a front
    Physical Specs
    Height 977.0mm (38.5") 894.0mm (35.2")
    Width 294.0mm (11.6") 296.0mm (11.7")
    Depth 366.0mm (14.4") 313.0mm (12.3")
    Weight 18.05kg (39.7lbs) 14.55kg (32lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Passive Radiator
    Finish MDF/Vinyl MDF/Wood-grain vinyl
    Available Colors Black Walnut
    Grille Yes n/a
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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