Loudspeakers

Considering its position as both a hi-fi and home cinema speaker brand, and the sizable catalogue of models that it's typically offered, Monitor Audio has been rather slow to step into the Dolby Atmos arena. Now, however, it's selling an upfiring module for 3D audio lovers, and keeping the price low too.

Considering its position as both a hi-fi and home cinema speaker brand, and the sizable catalogue of models that it's typically offered, Monitor Audio has been rather slow to step into the Dolby Atmos arena. Now, however, it's selling an upfiring module for 3D audio lovers, and keeping the price low too.

Currently the only Dolby Atmos speaker in Monitor Audio's stable, the Bronze AMS is just one part of the recently relaunched Bronze Series. And you don't need to be a metallurgist to know that Bronze is one of MA's more affordable propositions. Ranked below the Silver, Gold and Platinum lines, and above the entry-level Monitor Series and compact Mass models, Bronze is positioned as a high-quality option for those still shopping on a budget ('democratically priced' is the Brit brand's description). True, the full package price of the 5.1.2 system reviewed here approaches £2,000, but remember you're getting eight cabinets – including a pair of handsome floorstanders.

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We're now into the sixth generation of MA's Bronze Series, and there have been quite substantial revisions since the 5G range. These include the positioning of bass reflex ports on the rear, rather than the front of cabinets (but still the distinctive, rifled HiVe II designs), a new 'modern profile' look, where front baffles are a different tone to the rest of the speaker, and, naturally, upgraded drivers.

For those familiar with the Bronze 5G, it'll be these speakers' tweeters that first catch the eye. Or, rather, the 'hexagonal dispersion pattern' flush-fit grille in front of them. This both aims to improve the tweeter's dispersive characteristics and protect it from damage. Behind it sits the 1in C-CAM (Ceramic-Coated Aluminium Magnesium) 'gold dome' HF unit, now fitted with a UD (Uniform Dispersion) waveguide, which also aims to improve off-axis response and aid time alignment with MA's bass/mid and mid-range drivers.

These drivers are also new, and benefit, we're told, from an FEA-designed geometry that better integrates cone and surround for a smoother response. 5.5in versions are used on both Bronze 200 floorstander and Bronze C150 centre (which at 16.6cm high and 22.5cm deep isn't too much of an awkward install). Meanwhile, the Dolby Atmos-certified Bronze AMS upfirers (£300p/p if purchased on their own), fit a 4in C-CAM mid-range and 1in tweeter within their angled chassis. The cabinets are a perfect fit for the top of the Bronze 200.

Monitor Audio gives this affordable range its own subwoofer, which means it's one of the brand's less advanced models. There's none of the Silver Series' mic-assisted automatic room EQ on the Bronze W10, but the 10in driver/10in passive radiator design, trio of sound presets, and claimed 220W grunt, make it far from a basic bass-bin.

Rounding out this 'AV' package is a pair of Bronze FX dipole/bipole speakers for surround channel duty. I do wonder if partnering the rest of the system with MA's conventional standmount Bronze 50 models might be a better move, as not only are these likely to be a more straightforward install than the wall-hugging FXs, they're also designed to accommodate the AMS Atmos speaker on top. This would provide an upgrade path to a 5.1.4 setup. Furthermore, purely from a standards point of view, Dolby is a bit sniffy about the use of dipoles in Atmos systems, saying its format works best with precise direct-radiating models.

It would be wrong of me to brush past how gorgeous these speakers look. Between the silver cone drivers, detailed tweeter cover and their smart finishes, they pull off the trick of appearing more expensive than they actually are. In addition to the white livery featured here, all are available in black and – except the FX speakers – urban grey and walnut.

Made For Movie Night
Factoring in this system's design style and agreeable pricing, it becomes hard to fault. The soundscapes created are the kind to have you keenly anticipating movie night.

A quite striking facet of the overall characteristic is the feeling of unconstrained treble. The front L/R floorstanders in particular have an open, spacious HF sound, which really comes into its own with film scores; the string orchestration of Hans Zimmer's Widows soundtrack (4K Blu-ray), for example, sounded fluent and expansive.