Brilliant Bargain Bookshelf speakers (Monitor Audio Bronze BR2)

Member Name: davey_26

Product:	Monitor Audio Bronze BR2
Date:	05/09/09 (100 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bass is deep and detailed, terrific presence, lively and engaging

Disadvantages: Mid range could be more open

As seen on Ciao

Before I bought these speakers I was somewhat new to the hi fi scene having only listened to a few systems and certainly hadn't heard of this particular manufacturer. All of that changed when a friend of mine took the plunge into hi fi speakers and demoed these speakers along with four other pairs including MA, B&W and Wharfedale. After a long listening decision it was obvious they were outstanding and my friend quickly snapped them up without a moments hesitation. Shortly afterwards I purchased these speakers to and was suddenly able to truly enjoy my speakers as opposed to liking the vocal range of my previous speakers but never feeling truly happy with other aspects of the sound..
The first thing that strikes you about these speakers visually is their design, it's very attractive and belies their price tag. However where these speakers really shine is in their sonic performance across all genre ranges; from rock to rap, to reggae to dance and indeed classical. These speakers possess a great deal of presence and this makes for a very lively listen so if you live in a small semi you might want to keep the volume down as tempting as it is to turn things up. You are particularly appreciative of this when the music presents wild transients in the music, from a sudden thump of a bass drum, to a slam of the guitar it handles it with aplomb.

The bass while obviously not offering the same kick as a floorstander is plentiful particularly for a bookshelf speaker. It controls the bass well, never threatening to become too lumpy and adds a precision which is rarely seen in this price tag. This is obviously particularly necessary in rap music where a heavy emphasis is placed upon basslines. The mid range is detailed allowing you to pick out layers of the music and therefore keeps you very much engaged. Whilst it could be said that it can sound a little veiled, it needs to be put into context with the type of speakers which do excel with midrange, but who fall short in so many other areas.
The high end notes and female voices are also handled very well. Thankfully steering away from harshness and instead conveying depth and feeling. Happily these speakers allow you to enjoy music at low volumes and at much higher ones which gives you the reassurance that later at night you can still truly appreciate the quality of the sonic delivery.

In short this is a terrific speaker which purely in terms of it's lively sonic qualities puts some speakers twice it's price tag to shame. The one area for improvement is the midrange but as noted, for around 200.00 this is a fantastic bargain. Both these and the new Wharfedale 10.1's illustrate the very best of what the budget speaker market has to offer and it's sure to impress. What also displays just how highly regarded these speakers is the fact that we have not witnessed a price drop. Which is also excellent news for those who are considering buying these now and perhaps selling them at a later date.

Summary: A bagain bookshelf which really brings the thrills of music to life

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