Over the past few months I've been fortunate to audition several speaker ensembles in the $1,300 to $1,800 range. And the scores indicate that I have generally been impressed with the ensembles I have reviewed. While some yield a higher score based on build quality, others may have received higher marks for utilizing a better driver selection, bottom or top end, etc.

Additional Resources
• Learn More About Monitor Audio Speakers from HomeTheaterReview.com.
• Read other high end audiophile floorstanding speaker reviews from the likes of Monitor Audio, KEF, PSB, Paradigm, Bowers & Wilkins and others.

I tend to be wary of companies who seem to focus their product development towards the aesthetics, and perhaps even roll over model numbers once a year. While I appreciate a unique design if it compliments the performance of a product, I cannot help but be wary.

Then again, there are a handful of companies who rarely make changes to the look and feel of their product (and then only if the occasion warrants it). This "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach is common with many English companies (i.e., Land Rover), and Monitor Audio is no exception.

Unique Features
In the case of the Monitor Audio Bronze Series ensemble, it's what's left alone that makes them different from many other speaker offerings. The Bronze 4 towers (33.5" x 7.25" x 10") are true two and a half way (more on that later) speakers that encapsulate two new Metal Matrix Polymer (MMP) 6.5" woofers and a single 1" Gold Dome tweeter. The Bronze Center (10.25" x 18" x 6.5") features a pair of MMP 5.5" mid/woofs flanking a single 1" Gold Dome tweeter in a sealed cabinet. For the rear channel components in this audition, I chose the larger Bronze 2 bookshelfs over the smaller Bronze 1. The Bronze 2 (13.75" x 7.25" x 10") feature a single 6.5" MMP woofer and single 1" Gold Dome tweeter in a frontward ported enclosure. The cabinet is slightly larger than the Bronze 1 and, with the larger woofer, yields an increased bass response. The subwoofer I matched with the series is the Monitor ASW100 (12.5" cubed). This sub features a frontward firing, 10" long-throw woofer and 120-watt amp in a compact dual rearward firing enclosure complete with all the ins and outs (plus phase shifting) you'll need to get going.

I mentioned that the Bronze 4 towers are "two and a half-way" speakers. And actually so is the Bronze Center. What this means is that Monitor has effectively detuned one of the pair of MMP woofers to compliment the performance of the other rather than work against it. This is done through managing the driver in the
crossover network which, by the way, is comprised of quality components worth mentioning. All of the speakers in the Bronze Series are very simple and straightforward in design. Unplugged with the grilles on they are indeed very boring. (Kinda reminds me of a girl I used to date.) But, once properly set up and roken in, look out, friend.

Read more on Page 2.