In this review, we will be comparing ES35 and Bronze C150, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Polk Audio and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES35 and Monitor Audio Bronze C150 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk ES35 | Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" High-res dome | 1" vented dome with waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance | 5.25" aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 66-40k Hz | 66-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.36kg / 14lbs | 7.01kg / 15.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4-3/16" x 24-7/16" x 6-1/16"
107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm | 6-9/16" x 17-13/16" x 8-15/16"
167.0 x 453.0 x 228.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk ES35 and Monitor Audio Bronze C150 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 ES35 |
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both ES35 and Bronze C150 are 2-way speakers.
Polk ES35Monitor Audio Bronze C150
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk ES35 |
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
6 x 3-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer. On the other hand, the Bronze C150 features a 1" aluminum vented dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz whereas Bronze C150 has a frequency range of 66-30k Hz.
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
ES35 and Bronze C150 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES35 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Bronze C150's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk ES35 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Bronze C150, 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.
ES35 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Bronze C150 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the ES35.
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
ES35 features Binding post type posts and Bronze C150 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES35's 5-Way post terminals
Monitor Audio Bronze C150's Binding post terminals
Polk ES35 Port
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 Polk ES35's and Monitor Audio Bronze C150's external dimensions. Polk ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm (4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch) whereas 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).
Polk ES35 is 60mm shorter and 74mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze C150 but it is also 168mm 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 Polk ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze C150 is approximately 1032.8cm2 / 160.1inch2. The ES35 requires 7% less surface area than the Bronze C150 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 ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs and the Monitor Audio Bronze C150 weighs 7.01kg / 15.4lbs. This makes the Bronze C150 10% heavier than the ES35.
Here is a comparison of how ES35 and Bronze C150'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 Polk ES35?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ES35:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze C150?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze C150:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
6
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
107mm
vs
167mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
956cm2
vs
1032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
395USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
Monitor Audio Bronze C150 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
66-40k Hz |
66-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
6 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
3" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
High-res dome |
vented dome with waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
107.0mm (4.2") |
167.0mm (6.6") |
| Width |
621.0mm (24.4") |
453.0mm (17.8") |
| Depth |
154.0mm (6.1") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Weight |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
7.01kg (15.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| 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 66Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Polk ES35 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk ES35 is easier to place; Monitor Audio Bronze C150 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($399 vs $395 a pair). |
A Polk ES35 B Monitor Audio Bronze C150
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?
Polk ES35 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, Monitor Audio Bronze C150 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk ES35 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.