In this review, we will be comparing Lumina I and Bronze 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sonus faber and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Lumina I and Monitor Audio Bronze 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus Lumina I | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.15" high definition DAD | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.75" paper cone | 5.5" C-CAM |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-24k Hz | 55-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 20-70 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs | 3.50kg / 7.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11" x 5.8" x 8.4"
280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm | 10.2" x 6.4" x 8.0"
260.0 x 165.0 x 205.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sonus Lumina I and Monitor Audio Bronze 1 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* |
Sonus Lumina I |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
No way |
(* 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 Lumina I and Bronze 1 are 2-way speakers.
Sonus Lumina IMonitor Audio Bronze 1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Sonus Lumina I |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.75-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
Lumina I features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the Bronze 1 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Lumina I has a frequency range of 65-24k Hz whereas Bronze 1 has a frequency range of 55-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Bronze 1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Lumina I's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Lumina I is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Bronze 1 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Lumina I can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 88 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Lumina I can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas Bronze 1 has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Lumina I.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Lumina I features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Bronze 1 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sonus Lumina I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Monitor Audio Bronze 1's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Lumina I has a front firing port whereas Bronze 1 has a rear firing ports. Sonus Lumina I's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 1 with its rear-firing port.
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 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 Sonus Lumina I's and Monitor Audio Bronze 1's external dimensions. Sonus Lumina I has external dimensions of 280.0 x 148.0 x 213.0mm (11 x 5.8 x 8.4inch) whereas Monitor Audio Bronze 1 has external dimensions of 260.0 x 165.0 x 205.0mm (10.2 x 6.4 x 8.0inch).
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is 20mm shorter and 8mm less deeper than Sonus Lumina I but it is also 17mm 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 Sonus Lumina I is approximately 315.2cm2 / 48.9inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is approximately 338.3cm2 / 52.4inch2. The Lumina I requires 7% less surface area than the Bronze 1 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 Sonus Lumina I weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs and the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 weighs 3.50kg / 7.7lbs. This makes the Lumina I 26% heavier than the Bronze 1.
Here is a comparison of how Lumina I and Bronze 1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina I:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Fabric dust guards
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 1?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Hex-key
- Owner's Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
315cm2
vs
338cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
4.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
260mm
vs
280mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Lumina I |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
20-70 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-24k Hz |
55-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.75" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
C-CAM |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
280.0mm (11") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Width |
148.0mm (5.8") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
213.0mm (8.4") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Weight |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real multilayer wood |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
30-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Sonus Lumina I costs roughly 3x what Monitor Audio Bronze 1 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 digs deeper - 55Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is more sensitive (88dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Sonus Lumina I takes more power (100W vs 70W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Sonus Lumina I: bi-amping. Monitor Audio Bronze 1 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is cheaper - $299 against $899, about 67% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus Lumina I B Monitor Audio Bronze 1
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?
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Sonus Lumina I if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Bronze 1 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.