In this review, we will be comparing XT60 and Bronze 200, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Polk Audio and Monitor Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT60 and Monitor Audio Bronze 200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk XT60 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer
- 38-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-200watts
- Weight:9.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 929.0" x 9-1/16" x 9-15/16"( 929.0 x 231.0 x 253.0mm )
Monitor Audio Bronze 200 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" C-CAM Woofer
- 35-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-120watts
- Weight:12.84kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 915.0" x 9" x 12-1/8"( 915.0 x 229.0 x 308.0mm )
What size room are the Polk XT60 and Monitor Audio Bronze 200 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 XT60 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 200 |
| 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 Polk XT60 and Monitor Audio Bronze 200 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 XT60 and Bronze 200 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk XT60 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 200 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
XT60 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer . On the other hand, the Bronze 200 features a 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" C-CAM Woofer .
Frequency Response
XT60 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas Bronze 200 has a frequency range of 35-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Bronze 200 can go slightly deeper then the XT60's min frequency of 38Hz.
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
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
XT60 and Bronze 200 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. XT60 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Bronze 200's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 200 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT60, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
XT60 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Bronze 200 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the XT60.
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 200 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. XT60 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 XT60's and Monitor Audio Bronze 200's external dimensions. Polk XT60 has external dimensions of 929.0 x 231.0 x 253.0mm ( 36-9/16 x 9-1/16 x 9-15/16inch) whereas Monitor Audio Bronze 200 has external dimensions of 915.0 x 229.0 x 308.0mm ( 36 x 9 x 12-1/8inch) .
Monitor Audio Bronze 200 is 2mm narrower and 14mm shorter than Polk XT60 but it is also 55mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk XT60 and Monitor Audio Bronze 200 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk XT60 and Monitor Audio Bronze 200 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 XT60 is approximately 584.4cm2 / 90.6inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze 200 is approximately 705.3cm2 / 109.3inch2. The XT60 requires 17% less surface area than the Bronze 200 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 Polk XT60 weighs 9.09kg / 20lbs and the Monitor Audio Bronze 200 weighs 12.84kg / 28.2lbs. This makes the Bronze 200 41% heavier than the XT60.
Here is a comparison of how XT60 and Bronze 200's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk XT60?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT60:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 200?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 200:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outrigger feet (w/ 4 adjustment dials and locking-nuts)4 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)4 Rubber feet4 Large course-thread screws4 Small machine screws2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)2 Foam port plugsHex-keyQuick Start GuideImportant Safety Instructions