Monitor Audio Bronze 6G: acclaimed entry-level speaker series enters sixth gen

Monitor Audio Bronze 6G: acclaimed entry-level speaker series enters sixth gen
(Image credit: Monitor Audio)

Following an initial announcement in February, Monitor Audio has officially launched the next generation of its renowned Bronze series of budget speakers. 

The sixth generation of the line, called Bronze 6G, comprises eight models: two standmounters (Bronze 50 and Bronze 100) and two floorstanders (Bronze 200 and Bronze 500), with a centre speaker (Bronze C150), surround speaker (Bronze FX), Dolby Atmos speaker (Bronze AMS) and subwoofer (Bronze W10) rounding out the range for AV use. 

Pricing for the range starts at £260 with the Bronze 50s, with full pricing below.

Monitor Audio says the range takes both performance and build quality further to make the best Bronze Series yet – an expected but nevertheless bold claim considering how successful the range has been. 

Earlier generations of Bronze speakers have picked up many What Hi-Fi? Awards and five-star reviews over the years, with the three-time-award-winning Bronze 2 from 2015 even included in our list of the best 13 Monitor Audio products of all time

Boldly (perhaps riskily), given that success, Monitor Audio has opted not to simply upgrade the existing Bronze models, but to design new speakers from the ground up.

(Image credit: Monitor Audio)

Even the dimensions are new, with the new cabinets generally a little larger than the equivalents from the previous generation. The Bronze 100, the bigger of the two standmounters and arguably the core model in the range, is in fact dimensionally identical to the Silver 100, so a fair bit larger than the Bronze 2 it replaces. It features a larger driver, too – an 8in, single-piece C-CAM dome rather than the 6.5in unit of before. Monitor Audio is keen to point out that this isn't a cost-reduced Silver driver, but a custom, bespoke Bronze driver.

The entry-level Bronze 50 is bigger and more of a 'proper' stereo speaker than the outgoing Bronze 1, too, which was often thought of as more of a satellite speaker for surround systems.

The C-CAM gold dome tweeter also now features a uniform dispersion waveguide for greater dispersion of sound. It sits behind a new version of the honeycomb-speckled grille first seen on the Silver range. Monitor Audio is keen that its speakers be instantly recognisable, and it seems that this tweeter grille is key to that.

It certainly gives the new Bronze speakers a very smart appearance, particularly when combined with the clean lines, lack of a front-facing reflex port (it's now been moved to the rear), and new finishes, which consist of white, black, walnut and a very fetching 'urban grey'.

(Image credit: Monitor Audio)

The new Atmos topper is an exciting addition. Surprisingly, it's the first speaker of its type that Monitor Audio has produced, and is designed to dimensionally match the 6in-driver speakers - so the Bronze 50 standmounter and Bronze 200 floorstander. It has its own, upward-firing 4.5in driver.

We briefly heard the new Bronze 100 as part of the Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2020, our first impressions of which are documented in our Monitor Audio Bronze 100 hands-on review. We expect to have review samples very soon.

In the meantime, here's the full line-up and pricing:

Bronze 50 standmounter - £260
Bronze 100 standmounter - £325
Bronze 200 floorstander - £570
Bronze 500 floorstander - £770
Bronze C150 centre - £175
Bronze W10 subwoofer - £525
Bronze FX surround - £300
Bronze AMS Atmos topper - £300

The speakers will be available in black, white, urban grey and walnut finishes, save for the Bronze FX and AMS, which are limited to black or white colourways.

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Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her 10+ years in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices. In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.

  • lacuna
    I think it's disappointing that the reflex port has been moved to the back. The Bronze 2 was the ideal choice for our kitchen setup because they are in the alcoves either side of the chimney breast. Probably wouldn't work with the new models unfortunately.
    Reply
  • scene
    I know what you mean, having the reflex port on the front made placement on, or near a wall easier. Though, having said this, I've got a pair of rear ported q3020i sitting on a bookshelf, very close to the wall, with the ports not bunged, and they sound fine. So rear ports don't 100% preclude near wall placement, but probably do stop mounting on a wall. I seem to remember MA have always recommended positioning the bronzes 25-30cm from a wall...
    Reply