In this review, we will be comparing XT20 and Bronze 50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT20 and Monitor Audio Bronze 50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk XT20 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer
- 38-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-200watts
- Weight:5.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 332.0" x 7-9/16" x 11-1/16"( 332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm )
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 )
What size room are the Polk XT20 and Monitor Audio Bronze 50 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* |
Polk XT20 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 50 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk XT20 and Monitor Audio Bronze 50 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 XT20 and Bronze 50 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk XT20 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
XT20 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer . On the other hand, the Bronze 50 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
XT20 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas Bronze 50 has a frequency range of 40-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the XT20 can go slightly deeper then the Bronze 50's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
XT20 and Bronze 50 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. XT20 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Bronze 50's is at 85 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk XT20 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.
XT20 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Bronze 50 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 120 watts less than the XT20.
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 50 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. XT20 has a 5-Way 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 Polk XT20's and Monitor Audio Bronze 50's external dimensions. Polk XT20 has external dimensions of 332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm ( 13-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 11-1/16inch) whereas Monitor Audio Bronze 50 has external dimensions of 281.0 x 166.0 x 265.0mm ( 11.0 x 6.5 x 10.4inch) .
Polk XT20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 27mm wider, 51mm taller and 16mm deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze 50.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk XT20 and Monitor Audio Bronze 50 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk XT20 and Monitor Audio Bronze 50 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 Polk XT20 is approximately 542.3cm2 / 84.1inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze 50 is approximately 439.9cm2 / 68.2inch2. The XT20 requires 23% more surface area than the Bronze 50 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Polk XT20 and Monitor Audio Bronze 50 on a Media Console