Monitor Audio

mantis

Hey guys,
Out of curiosity what do you guys think of the Monitor Audio line? We carry them and I think they are fantastic. They are very similar to B&W's in the sense that they have a killer mid range, beautiful top end with crystal clear highs and a tight clean pure bottom end that doesn't seem to ever bloat or boom.
I think the Silver line is beautiful affordable and a gem. The cabinets are also extremely well built for the money. I think they are one of those speaker lines out there that excel at price to performance ratio.

We have a few pairs on our showroom floor and I keep wanting to grab a pair bring them home and do a weekend in home demo and VS with my forever owned Mythos ST's.

dolbyd

Nice speakers.
The silver 500 in white is on my list for my new basement room.
I spent about 2 hours with them when I was in SoCal last month. I almost took them home. The room is about 18 months out so why not keep looking at the options.

Take a pair home and give us an update.

Clipdat

Wasn't impressed by their Bronze 2 bookshelf speakers, despite all the reviews online where people love them.

Maybe their Silver line is where things start getting good.

Mikey081057

Funny I was just looking at a pair of Monitor Audio Studio Compact Monitors in the AA catalog. And then looked at the Silver Series 50's too,

I would like to hear them and some comparables. I also hear good things about the SVS Prime Bookies.

Also interested in the KEF LS 50's.

Montoya

I sell them in my store they are great speakers not too fussy about setup.

erniejade

If you can get in home demo, why they heck not try them. Thats part of the fun! The few monitor audio speakers i heard. I did like.

Mikey, if your going to try the ls50, check the wireless version out. I preferred the ls50w over the regular ls50

mantis

I'm absolutely re visiting this idea. Since my ST's broke I've been eager to figure out what the next chapter in my audio life is going to be.

classic carl

I've had a pair of Silver RS8 towers in my main system since about 2011 that I bought new. They aren't going anywhere. I haven't heard any of the newer models though.

mantis

I'm way into the Silver Line they impress me each and every time I listen.

tonyb

classic carl wrote: »

I've had a pair of Silver RS8 towers in my main system since about 2011 that I bought new. They aren't going anywhere. I haven't heard any of the newer models though.

Do you find the tweeter on the silver line a touch hot ? Some RS6's by me for 5 bones, I may have to check out.

F1nut

tonyb wrote: »

classic carl wrote: »

I've had a pair of Silver RS8 towers in my main system since about 2011 that I bought new. They aren't going anywhere. I haven't heard any of the newer models though.

Do you find the tweeter on the silver line a touch hot ? Some RS6's by me for 5 bones, I may have to check out.

From another forum.

Next, I like the slight warm / dark signature of the Harman that tames the slight brightness of my speakers (Monitor Audio RX6).

tonyb

Thanks Jess, ears I trust keep telling me they can be a tad bright.

mantis

I do not, I find them to be warm inviting and very natural sounding.

mlistens03

I had Radius 90s, I think? Nice little speakers for the money and size. I have yet to own another Monitor Audio speakers, but those little bookies left a good impression.

Dan, have you thought about Martin Logan/Magnepan electrostats? I've never heard Magnepans, but even in Best Buy the MLs completely floored me. They're the reason I have LX16s today.

pitdogg2

Most maggies need a lot of room to breathe, I've heard the bigger models and they need to be way out away from boundaries. But they do sound pretty darned good.

ZLTFUL

I never fell in love with the Monitor Audio lines until I spent some time with some Platinums. That ribbon tweeter fixes a lot of what I feel is lacking in the lower lines.

mantis

mlistens03 wrote: »

I had Radius 90s, I think? Nice little speakers for the money and size. I have yet to own another Monitor Audio speakers, but those little bookies left a good impression.

Dan, have you thought about Martin Logan/Magnepan electrostats? I've never heard Magnepans, but even in Best Buy the MLs completely floored me. They're the reason I have LX16s today.

Nah not my style. I like them don't get me wrong but they are not the kind of sound I can listen to for long periods of time.

mantis

ZLTFUL wrote: »

I never fell in love with the Monitor Audio lines until I spent some time with some Platinums. That ribbon tweeter fixes a lot of what I feel is lacking in the lower lines.

They start with a ribbon the gold line

ZLTFUL

mantis wrote: »

ZLTFUL wrote: »

I never fell in love with the Monitor Audio lines until I spent some time with some Platinums. That ribbon tweeter fixes a lot of what I feel is lacking in the lower lines.

They start with a ribbon the gold line

I realize this but the gold line is still meh, IMHO.

gudnoyez

Paging through the latest Audio Advisor, The Monitor Audio Silver 500 with the new C-CAM tweeter looks interesting. Priced at $ 1375.00 ea I wouldn't mind hearing a pair the price is very reasonable I've read good things about them.

classic carl

tonyb wrote: »

classic carl wrote: »

I've had a pair of Silver RS8 towers in my main system since about 2011 that I bought new. They aren't going anywhere. I haven't heard any of the newer models though.

Do you find the tweeter on the silver line a touch hot ? Some RS6's by me for 5 bones, I may have to check out.

Not at all. I can listen to them all day long.

mantis

ZLTFUL wrote: »

mantis wrote: »

ZLTFUL wrote: »

I never fell in love with the Monitor Audio lines until I spent some time with some Platinums. That ribbon tweeter fixes a lot of what I feel is lacking in the lower lines.

They start with a ribbon the gold line

I realize this but the gold line is still meh, IMHO.

Interesting I have found the Silver and up to be fantastic. I have really little to no experience with the Bronze line as we haven't sold any for me to check out.
For the money I'm finding the Monitor line to be a fantastic line and I'm gonna start bringing home model to demo.

mantis

classic carl wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

classic carl wrote: »

I've had a pair of Silver RS8 towers in my main system since about 2011 that I bought new. They aren't going anywhere. I haven't heard any of the newer models though.

Do you find the tweeter on the silver line a touch hot ? Some RS6's by me for 5 bones, I may have to check out.

Not at all. I can listen to them all day long.

That's kinda how I feel when I sit down and listen to them. The Silver line is really nice well balanced and for the money amazing. The Gold line is something I have to dig into more and figure out that tweeter.

Montoya

The new Gold line is way better than the previous gen. We are still a dealer and the speaker lineup is fantastic.

mantis

The Gold's Tweeter is interesting.

mantis

I plan on spending some time at home with both of these. Floor standing or Bookshelf moving forward. My heart tells me to stay with floor standing speakers but there is something magical about a killer pair of bookshelf speakers.

mantis

In the Shop we have been putting some hours on these Silver 300's. They now have over 6 days of continuous playback with a Bluesound amp and 24/196 content.

So Friday I decided to measure the distance between the speakers and set a chair in the optimal position to evaluate them. I level the speakers from side to side and them gave them a nice tilt back to fire the Tweeters slightly upwards to give them a spacious response in room. The Positioning of the speakers are more for show then perfect stereo playback but with some tweaks and proper seating position you can create a very inviting presentation.

The Silver 300's are a remarkable speaker. The fit and finish is second to none at this price point. The Cabinets are solid tight and flawless. The Leveling feet are excellent and you can tweak to your hearts desired.

These speakers breath air into the room. They have an ability to play music that you would want a full bottle of wine next to you so you don't have to get up to refill your glass. The Sound is un cluttered and detailed. The bass extension is warm inviting and level. Never bloating or booming. Now granted I port plugged both ports on the back to tighten them up to the max. If I decide that the Silver 300's are for me I will run them always with a sub in small crossed over somewhere between 40-80hz.

Monitor Audio for me never dissapoints me. I always walk away pleased. I think I gotta get the Silver 500's and a few Gold's to make a decision but if I stopped here I think I could be happy for a very long time.

deronb1

They are sexy as hell. Love the outriggers. Would like to hear a pair someday.

mantis

I powered them with a Blue Sound Digital amp Streaming Tital.
https://www.bluesound.com/products/powernode/
Speaker wire I'm using Audioquest Rocket 88's. I gotta tell you Blue Sound products are very impressive. I have Sonos right now for the whole house, I tried out HEOS which was very nice but there is something about these Blue Sound products that might get me away from Sonos and upgrade the entire house. Like all other streaming products except Sonos, they are limited in the streaming services they can use. But sound quality built quality is top notch.

deronb1

Im loving my node 2. Thinking about a powernode to pair with the Infinity Overture 1s. Would be a killer mini system.

deronb1

Either the Powernode or the Yamaha WXA-50