In this review, we will be comparing Bronze C150 and Q250c, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Monitor Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Bronze C150 and KEF Q250c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Bronze C150 | KEF Q250c |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" vented dome with waveguide | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" aluminum | 5.25" aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 66-30k Hz | 68-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-120 watts | 10-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.01kg / 15.4lbs | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-9/16" x 17-13/16" x 8-15/16"
167.0 x 453.0 x 228.0mm | 7-1/8" x 20-11/16" x 8-1/2"
181.0 x 526.0 x 216.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Bronze C150 and KEF Q250c 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 C150 |
KEF Q250c |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 C150 and Q250c are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Bronze C150KEF Q250c
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 C150 |
KEF Q250c |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Bronze C150 features a 1" aluminum vented dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the Q250c features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Bronze C150 has a frequency range of 66-30k Hz whereas Q250c has a frequency range of 68-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 66Hz, the Bronze C150 can go slightly deeper then the Q250c's min frequency of 68Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 C150 and Q250c have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Bronze C150 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Q250c's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze C150 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q250c, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 C150 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Q250c has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Bronze C150.
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 C150
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Bronze C150 features Binding post type posts and Q250c has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Bronze C150's Binding post terminals
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 C150's and KEF Q250c's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Bronze C150 has external dimensions of 167.0 x 453.0 x 228.0mm (6-9/16 x 17-13/16 x 8-15/16inch) whereas KEF Q250c has external dimensions of 181.0 x 526.0 x 216.0mm (7-1/8 x 20-11/16 x 8-1/2inch).
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 is 73mm narrower and 14mm shorter than KEF Q250c but it is also 12mm deeper.
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 C150 is approximately 1032.8cm2 / 160.1inch2 and base area of the KEF Q250c is approximately 1136.2cm2 / 176.1inch2. The Bronze C150 requires 9% less surface area than the Q250c which gives it a small advantage 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 C150 weighs 7.01kg / 15.4lbs and the KEF Q250c weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Q250c 7% heavier than the Bronze C150.
Here is a comparison of how Bronze C150 and Q250c's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Monitor Audio Bronze C150
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze C150?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Bronze C150:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of KEF Q250c?
Here are the items that come with the Q250c:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
66 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
167mm
vs
181mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1032cm2
vs
1136cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
395USD
vs
600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Passive Radiator |
one 6.5-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
| General |
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
KEF Q250c |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
10-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
66-30k Hz |
68-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum |
aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
vented dome with waveguide |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
167.0mm (6.6") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Width |
453.0mm (17.8") |
526.0mm (20.7") |
| Depth |
228.0mm (9") |
216.0mm (8.5") |
| Weight |
7.01kg (15.4lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Satin White, Satin Black, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
optional |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (66Hz vs 68Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Passive Radiator. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Monitor Audio Bronze C150 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Monitor Audio Bronze C150 is cheaper - $395 against $600, about 34% less. |
A Monitor Audio Bronze C150 B KEF Q250c
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Bronze C150 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and KEF Q250c for near-field listening and a small room. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $205 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.