[Sound Battle] Polk Audio Reserve R200 vs Monitor Audio Bronze100 Speakers w/Arcam SA10 Amplifier

[@quananginh9446]

Reserve R200 is on a different level from the Bronze 100. It's worth the double price. I don't mind if Bronze 100 sounds thin. But compared to R200, Bronze 100 sounds "cheap" with the emphasized high-mid due to distortion.

[@DougMen1]

The Bronze is almost the same price as the R200 here in the US, $675 vs. $750

[@DougMen1]

The R200 is clearly a better match with this amp, more well behaved and much more balanced. The recessed upper midrange of the Bronze is clearly more evident here than with other amps, but not necessarily on the songs I always expected it to be. It's most evident on the jazz tune, on the brass, and on the vocals of Time Traveller, but not as much as I expected on the classical piece or the acoustic guitar tune at the end, although it's extremely noticeable on the metal songs. However, that might not be such a bad thing if you listen to a lot of really agressive rock and metal, as the Bronze might be a lot less fatiguing on extended listening sessions. And, maybe because I'm old and my ears rolloff faster than younger folks on the high end, but the sweet treble of the Arcam seemd to me to tame the bright highs of the Bronze somewhat. I much prefer the Polk, but if someone gave me the MAs, I could live quite happily with them. I'd just buy a nice affordable EQ to smooth their response, something like the 4 band Rolls Bellari EQ570 for $119. But, if I were going to spend $600 or thereabouts on a speaker, I'd get the 12.2, R100, or spend a little more on the R200 or Q350. I'd be willing to bet the Bronze 50 is much more balanced than the 100. MA didn't do themselves any favor moving from a 6.5" woofer to an 8" one. I'm also curious about the 3 way Wharfedale Linton, and the Dali Opticon 2, both of which are the same price as the R200 and Q350, at $749. Also the Elac UB52 is on sale at Crutchfield right now for $450, which seems a very good deal too. And the $999 Dynaudio Emit 20 is also on sale for $749

[@eprojectEllie]

Great! thanks for the info and about the prices, it is very tempting

[@DougMen1]

@@eprojectEllie I was wrong about the Linton and the Dali, they're $749 each! So, the same price as the LS50. Crutchfield is confusing, listing some speakers at the price for a pair, and some at the price for "each". However, the Dali Oberon 1 is $599 a pair

[@Torulv]

Thank you. Prefer the bronze. More open / clarity. Whats your top 3 bookshelfs?

[@williammiebach1798]

The MA's mids sound like they're being called in from another state with the Arcam (albeit on a very clear line) and the sharpness of their treble and hardness of their bass is excentuated by the defined sounding SA10, more than with any other amp you've paired it with. That sound style may be for someone, but not me. The R200's not absolutely perfect with it, but it's much better.

[@williammiebach1798]

E, I'm hoping on a comparison of the R100 with the 12.2 particuarly..and the Meta. I figure you have those planned, but thought I'd mention it. We havnt heard those two with the SA10 yet, but it's all your choice of course. Thank you 🙂

[@eprojectEllie]

Thanks, it will come shortly.

[@ПавелСтекольщиков-ы5л]

Reserve R200❤️

[@Carlordau]

I wonder how the R200 compares to the Silver 100 7G's? Where I am, the Bronze 100's are $400 cheaper then the R200's. The R200's are $400 cheaper then the Silver 100's. I am wondering how much of an upgrade the Silvers are over the Bronzes when compared with the R200's?

[@thomasward00]

I would love to see the SA10 VS Audiolab 6000A with the LS Meta's.

[@eprojectEllie]

thanks, unfortunately, my 6000A was broken recently, It's not working right now. You will not hear the 6000A for now, sorry..

[@AryanSingh2512.]

For some reason Monitor Audio seems to have wider sound stage.

[@HasNiHassaan]

"Wider" soundstage over a KZbin video 😂

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

Recessed mids on the Arcam and recessed mids on the Bronze spells disaster. Lucky the Arcam did something good to the Bronze by taming that lifted top end or else that midrange would sound like its coming from the remains of the Titanic. As sweet as the Arcam may sound, its not an amp I would buy for myself as I prefer the least coloured amp I can find and afford. The R200 definitely needs some warmth as its a quite an analytical speaker. Here is my take on the R200 and 12.2 as I own both, the R200 with a warm amp will sound nearly the same as the 12.2 with a neutral amp, not exactly, but close. IMO, IF anything was to be coloured in a system, it should be the speakers and nothing else. And this is exactly why I personally prefer the 12.2 over the R200. The R200 with a neutral amp can sound lean and bright (not to be confused with revealing) sometimes. We want the sparkle, not the brightness.

[@thomasward00]

I find my SA10 to much more neutral over my 2 Cambridge Amps, which are on the warmer side, in all of the reviews the Bronze 100 is described as V shaped.

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

@@thomasward00 if the arcam is more neutral than the cambridges that means the cambridges are more far off. I like everything about the sa10 except those stepped back mids. And yeah, the Bronze is V shaped, just not the classical V shape that we usually think off. Many types of V shape, and even a slightly different variation will make it sound different but all will sound recessed in the mids. In all the SA10's comparison vid it sounds like its mids or what I like to call lower treble is recessed. Unless these arent conveying the real story.........

[@davidcarr2216]

So you prefer the 12.2s over the R200s with your Rotel Pre/Power combo ? Or with something else ? I imagine that the R200s are very much like a studio monitor and some measurements even show a rising treble response.

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

@@davidcarr2216 definitely prefer the 12.2 over the r200 in most cases. The 12.2 is no slouch even when it comes to clarity when paired with a neutral and revealing amp. The 12.2 sounds so damn tuneful with the Rotel combo, so much more ummmph in the lower parts of the spectrum. The r200 sounds lean in comparison and very sterile up top. The only time I like the r200 is when I want to really listen to intricate details, and even so they are not detailed enough to reveal micro details like some other (more expensive) speakers can. I like the r200 for midnight listening, the 12.2 sounds dull at very low volumes (55 - 65db) but who listens at these volumes any way? Lol!

[@markovlasic1978]

Hollow sound on Polk Audio.something is wrong with the mids. Bronze 100 ... oh my... that harsh treble.

[@kingie66]

hollow is accurate, r200 is monitor in its veins, it is kinda far from traditional fun speakers that enhance things to bring joy, it brings details instead.

[@mietekkowalski935]

🤔🎧🎶🎶🎶🎶R200 ✌🏻👍👍👍👍👍✌🏻🙂🇵🇱

[@higobatman]

As Polk casarem melhor com o Arcam. Mas as MA Bronze 100 também ficaram ótimas. As Polk tem mais agudos e pode cansar mais. As MA são zero de cansaço e fadiga. Pode ouvir em volume mais alto que incomoda menos. As Polk já podem ficar um pouco agressivas nos agudos. O casamento das Bronze 100 e 200 é melhor com o Rotel A11 Tribute e Audiolab 6000A. Também devem ficar bom com o Marantz PM-6007.

[@williammiebach1798]

You really think the Polks are more harsh and fatiguing than the MA's??? Very few will agree to that, bro. But like I said, someone will like it..even with this amp.

[@higobatman]

​@@williammiebach1798 Nessas novas Bronze 100 e 200 sim. Mudarem bem em relação as caixa antigas Bronze 2, 5 e 6. Essas eram bem brilhantes e causavam fadiga. Eu ouvi as Bronze 100 e 200 com Rotel A11 Tribute e adorei o resultado. Até estou pensando em montar um sistema para mim com as Bronze 200 + Rotel A11 Tribute. É zero de fadiga. Mesmo em volume alto. Pode ouvir de tudo. Pop, Jazz, Country, Rock, Heavy metal e etc... As Bronze 200 são melhores que as Bronze 100. Compensa gastar a mais nelas. Possuem melhores graves, médios e agudos. Tudo nelas é superior. São mais refinadas também. MA Bronze 200 + Rotel A11 Tribute possuem um custo benefício excelente. Só mesmo indo para as MA Gold 200 5G ou Dynaudo Evoke 30 + Marantz Model 30 para ter um Upgrade consistente. Achei as Bronze 200 melhores que as Silver 100 e 200 6G. Ainda não ouvi as Silver 7G.

[@williammiebach1798]

@@higobatman Higo, I'm sorry, but all the Monitor Audio speakers are too bright and sharp for me.(most speakers with metal tweeters are). Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium..(kidding)..but it doesnt matter. They are not natural sounding (wich is subjective) or very accurate (that is really not subjective).Their midrange is often withdrawn and vague sounding, and their alluminum bass drivers are controled, but not supple or musical to me. All music, especialy acoustic music really sounds artificial to me. They're not my taste. I would never spend the kind of money they ask for any of them. The old Bronze's were much brighter than the current ones, you say? Oye! And the current ones sounding anything close to natural with the Rotel A12 ? ? ? Not to me. No freakin way! But, it is what YOU enjoy that really matters. Not anyone else. That's why there are so many choices out there for people to enjoy music their way!

[@DougMen1]

@@williammiebach1798 Having owned the 2nd gen award winning Bronze 1 and 2 20 years ago, they were NOT brighter than more recent MAs. They had a warm and full midrange and a sweet treble that wasn't nearly as bright as most other metal dome tweeters. I'm sorry to say that I think MA has been designing lately to pander to buyers, to grab more market share, 'cause they see how well B&W and Klipsch do in the marketplace with models having sucked out mids and tipped up treble, and they seem to be heading down that route. And, making a blanket staement that "all metal drivers are inncaurate and too bright" is supremely ignorant and smacks of bias confirmation at the highest level. Driver material doesn't have a "sound". It's how it's implemented, and the overal design of driver, box, and crossover that give a speaker its sound quality. There are smooth and sweet speakers with metal drivers, and harsh and shrill ones with paper and silk ones. It's the overall design, not the materials used

[@williammiebach1798]

@@DougMen1 So the older generation MA's treble are less sharp and the mids more filled in, not less? Ok. I gather your guess that the Bronze 50 is better balanced because it has a smaller woofer may be partly right. It takes great care to design a 2 way with an 8" woofer, and get the mids smooth. I've owned three in the past and only one really had it right. However since MA seems to be going for that V presentation these days it's probably a bit V'd too. All of the recent ones I've heard kind of are. I was wondering why you stated that the 100 may be less fatiguing with heavy metal in long listening sessions. That made me say.."What"? I think that would give a migrane the size of Texas.😁