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Not enough to upgrade because I'd probably have bought something with good fit and finish in the first place. But when it comes to a new speaker for any reason, fit and finish is important to me, albeit not at expense of sound quality
FYI 7G refers to it being the 7th generation of the Silver series. I too love the Monitor Audio look and own the Bronze 2 which is the Bronze 6G series.
As much as I enjoy Andrew's reviews, my favorite part of all the reviews are hearing Kristi's opinions. She gives a more down to earth take that the audio layman can easily understand. I also enjoy listening to their conversations and interaction in an informal manner. Keep it up guys.
Just got back to audition the MA Silver 500 7G and Focal 826. I started with the Focal and there was a pair of Focal Aria 936 next to them. I brought my own media. Initially the 826 sounds good, but lacked low end. The sales person then put on the Aria 936. Night and day different, the 826 came around bright an harsh compared to the 936 which had smooth highs and deep bass, although it seemed boomy. the Sales person said we should listen tot he Monitor Audio as their 936 competitor will be better both top and bottom. Well he brought me to the Monitor Gold 300. It was substantially more expensive than the 2 Focals, but it sounded amazing. Smooth clean highs better than either Focla and the bass was deep, clean and tight. We then moved to the MA Silver 500 7G and I was impressed with how well the Silver 500 held its own. The lows were deep tight and clean, if I had not just heard the Gold I would never know there was any better. The Silver 500 7G was deep and cleaner than either focal. The major difference in the Gold (more than 2X more than the Silver 500) than the Silver was the Silver highs were brighter, but by no means harsh. I feel like the Focal 826 would be fatiguing over time. The Monitor Silver 500 7G was actually a great speaker. I am not sure the Focal 826 and MA Silver 500 7G is that close in my opinion. I guess I would have to listen to the Focal with a sub as the low end was just missing on the Focals.
Silver destroy the 826 no doubt, they punch in a different league and can compete with the Aria 948 easily. However MA are not that expensive iike Focal, so these speaker are a Win-Win for every Audiophile.
@@ManuelMedellin. The thing that hurts Monitor Audio here in the US is they need to get them here so those costs wind up putting them in some serious competition. I heard Gold 300s and feel in love, bt the price is just too much (3X Silver 500) to warranty the marginal upgrade.
I switched to the Silver 500 6G not because of the look but because of: 1) neutral sound 2) laser accuracy 3) maximum speed The main difference between Silver 500 6G and Dali and Emotiva is the feeling of a recording studio. In Dalí it is almost always a disco club, in Emotiva it is a jazz club, and in Silver 500 6G it is a different place every time. P.S. And yet, not compatible with the panorama Silver 500 with the center DALI Vocal 2 disappeared after 145 hours of warm-up Silver 500 6G. The total warm-up time of the Silver 500 6G was ... 383 hours !!!
They look awesome in the white as well. It’s what swayed me into buying them for the living room. I don’t want to have to hide ugly speakers when anyone comes round 😀 I’m surprised about the centre image comment - when I set mine up (toed in to point just behind the listening position) I had to constantly check the centre speaker wasn’t playing as the image seemed so centred with 2 channel music.
Thanks for the video , monitor audio fan since forever! Gold 200 and roksan blak currently in my livingroom, just makes med enjoy music so much more + looks better than most
Kristi, I smiled when at 14'09" you said: "for those of you that are still with us"... Kristi, I like your husband's reviews, but you are the reason why I stick till the end, I value you take more than his because you are candid, he leans heavely on lots of words that might mean nothing to the un-initiated, you are direct and take the WAF into more consideration if applies. You guys make a great team in camera, as much as I imagine you do when you are not. Take care, and keep him on his toes. Rickie
That was great review Drew those are definitely some pretty floor standers. So I just ordered the nad316bee to play with. I'm kind of excited I've never heard one I'm sure I'm going to enjoy it I rewatched your video on the newer NAD earlier today.
Guys you hit it out of the park on this one. Andrew, your description-review was the best one yet. I can actually make an intelligent purchase decision based on your review. As for the QOTD, Difficult question…I’ve owned ugly speakers that sound great (cerwin vega, 15” woofer circa 1972) and, I think, beautiful speakers (JBL 100’s circa 1975)…but when push comes to Shove, I want both lol. I currently have the Klipsch Heresy IVs and I like both. Speaking of purchase decisions, I really miss going into a stereo store and being able to sample speakers!
Once again, couldn't agree more. I have a set of previous generation Monitor Audio Silvers and they are fantastic in my home theater system paired with my Yamaha RX-A1000 and Martin Logan sub in a 7.1 rig. The finish and look really help win their spot in the living room.
I can't keep my eyes off the McIntosh behind you, To me it is the coolest looking and sounding gear. I bought as used Mac C 26 preamp in 1985, $300 Canadian. I used it DAILY until I sold it in 2018 for $300 Canadian. The preamp was virtually never turned off for 33 years. Great video as usual Andrew.....thanks !
Haha me neither re the McIntosh. Just bought a C27 preamp that I use with my dad's Dynaco Mark III monoblock tube amps and it sounds pretty fantastic. I'm trying to convince myself to take the plunge regarding new MAC gear but it's pretty pricey.
Great review. Have you tried the silver 100 or 300 7G? What do you think of pairing them with a Musical Fidelity integrated to add some tonal thickness and Low end?
QOTD: Look and finish would not move me to "upgrade" a speaker. With that said, on the initial purchase, both look and finish play a substantial part in my purchasing decision.
Hi love your review’s been watching for quite some time now. You give a nice personal experience of what you are reviewing. My question is about Monitor Audio just not this model. I would like to hear your opening on the Monitor Audio BX2s if you ever had a chance to listen to them. Thanks for the entertaining reviews and keep up the good work.
These puppies love power! I had the 5th generation silver 10, went to 6th allthough opted for the bookshelfs with two subs. Now im stuck between dynaudio emit 50 and these 500s. Going to be fed with a hegel h360 and a primare dac 30 in dacloop. What i noticed in this video, is why werent there any stand for them? What i did, i used a slab of thicc tile, and some absorbers under them, also threw some under the silver 10s. What happened was control !
Hey Andrew & Kristi. I had Silver 2 standmount speakers, and the finish and build quality were outstanding for the price. I think all of us would say sound is the most important thing, but it sure is nice to have a beautiful speaker as well. I would certainly pay a little more for a nicely finished product.
I have a pair of second hand silver 8 monitor + center channel from few years ago and I love them. Even the rosewood finish is nice. I wouldn't change them for a different look except if it was for a significant jump in audio quality. Connected to a Cambridge audio avr is fine for me.
I have recently upgraded from Monitor Audio 500 6G to 7G. By the way the 'G' stands for 'Generation' - because you were wondering about this... Also, the feet you have removed doesn't improve the sound for you, but their purpose is to decrease the sound vibrations for your... neighbors :)) - you will quickly learn this when leaving in a tower building and not in an isolated house in the woods. I found no major difference in design between the two generations (I had the white versions) but in sound... it is funny - I prefer the older 6G as it has more bass and I like my music to kick my lung. The awarded 7G has better medium and high response - it is true. I will keep them anyway especially because I have added a Monitor Audio Gold W15 subwoofer (discontinued) for the extra-bass. The overall sound of my 2.1 system is very good for the price I paid. I would say I never heard a better combination but you might not beleieve me - so - test it! I use an Advance Paris XA600 (2x200W) power amplifier to power them.
Neighbours is a hugely underestimated factor in Hifi in general, lol. Not everyone wants to be a "Klipsch Douchebag" and purposely piss them off for the Fun of it. (I know it's just their slogan but still...) As for the 6G vs 7G conversation, it's true the 7G are way more Detail and Vocal focused, less airy / spacious and a bit less bass heavy. Then again what they do with Vocals and Instruments is INCREDIBLE ! They are getting pulled so much more forward now, like directly in front of your Seat, that's how Vocals and Instruments now sound much more rich and voluptous, I prefer this over the slight increase in Bass.
Again - feels like I’m lining up something new on Netflix when Sunday morning hits :) watching this video I feel the Wharfedale Evo 4.3/4.4 and Dynaudio Evoke 50 are up your alley - maybe a review for 2022? 💙✌️
Nice review, as always. You convinced me to buy the Magnats but when I tried to they were out of stock. Likely a good thing as I don’t think my wife would appreciate the size. I thought for a very brief moment that Kristi didn’t have a link to them in the description but, of course, I was wrong. I not only appreciate Kristi’s opinions on the products you review but I really, really appreciate all the work that goes into the thoroughness of the descriptions. So many reviewers on this platform say there will be “links in the description” but often don’t actually put them there. Yes I would upgrade over looks and finish. It’s not the first thing on my list but it’s definitely a factor. That’s the reason I hadn’t yet bought the Magnats.
Hi Andrew, I'm a fan of your channel from Chile. Could you explain to me how to configure the silver 500 speakers with audiolab 6000a at 4 ohms as you recommend? After seeing this video I bought both but I don't know how to connect them correctly 😅. Thank you!!
Hi!!! Great video! A quick question, regarding the sensibility of 87 db of the bronze 100, isn't a bit low for the audiolab 6000? This MA silver 500 with 90, 5 sounds mach better pair regarding power/performance ratio. Thanks!!!
Good review. Manufacturer recommends 80W per channel. Nice to hear my older 60W Rotel will power them nicely. Heard them today. Stunning clarity. Refined sound with lively bass. I disagree with your view on soundstage. Slightly toed in these are among the best I’ve heard. On my short list for new towers this year!
Great review guys. I've been the proud owner of the previous incarnation Silver 500 6G for a couple of years now. Noticed Monitor Audio have reduced the size of the midrange driver from 4" to 3" on the 7G.
That real wood Ash Finish is so glorious, damn it. Truly one of the most beautiful speakers, both visually and audible. I'll need to make my Order, and I want to hear the Angels sing with these babies. 😍
What a gorgeous speaker. I would want it in my living room even if it is a shell. Seriously, how does it do with Naim Atom or Audiolab 6000 play? Are these integrated amp with 40-50 WPC output a bit thin for this class of speaker? Should we step down to Monitor silver 200 or 300 series?
Thanks! I was awaiting for the review of these speakers since you reviewed KEF Q750 :) I'd be glad to see a review and comparison with Tannoy, e.g. XT 8F or similar.
There are enough stylish and great sounding speakers out there that you can find both without breaking a sweat. Like you I love the look of the La Scalas and I also love the look of Pearl Acoustic’s Sibelius speakers. I’m sure both sound amazing.
I remember the first time I saw a set of Monitor Audio speakers in a Yodobashi Camera store in Tokyo. Just stunning - they're design people really know what they are doing. In the last gen, I liked the smooth aluminum woofers. Now, the golf ball woofers are pretty cool. I've still never owned a pair, but maybe someday.
Love watching your reviews! Because of your review I am the owner of Klipsch Hersey IV speakers. And to answer you question, yes I would buy/upgrade speakers based on looks and most important sound. I am actually going to sell my Magnepan 1.7i speakers mainly because of the looks. I like the sound and how they disappear, but I have grown annoyed at the size and real-estate they eat up in my listening room. Speakers are not the only component I would or have upgraded, because of looks. I have a McIntosh c50 preamp and a Yamaha p2200 amp that sounded fantastic with the Maggie's and the Klipsch Herseys. But the little yellow meters on the amp clashed and looked garage saleish to me. I ended up buying a Mcintosh mc352 that honestly sounds as good as the old Yamaha, but looks so cool that I actually paid 3 times more for the Mac, just for the looks! And now I am considering selling my my Carver Crimson 275 tube amp and buying a McIntosh mc275 IV. I have listened to the mc275 many times and can honestly say it sounds no better than the Carver. But the aesthetics to me just call out to me. I also think build quality is important too. Any way that's my opinion, I was a card carrying audiophile in my college days in the late 70's early 80's, lost interest for many years until my wife gave me an ipod. I dusted of my old college stereo system and gave a listen while having a glass of wine. I then heard a clunk to my far left, as if some one was there, I turned and looked, no one was there, it was the stereo, after that I was hooked again. Any ways keep up the great work!
@Andrew Robinson your content is of such high Quality, love the honest and open reviews, along with comparisons. Still do not get all the Audiophile lingo, like organic etc. Would be amazing if you can do a best sub $300 DAC review.
Andrew, thanks for always including the home theater 🎭 scope of your speaker reviews. It doesn't do unnoticed 👍🏽 Btw, would like to see your review and comparison of these to the Paradigm Founder 100F Thanks
Amazing Review, Andrew! I like how you always seem to find the right words to describe what you're hearing 🙂 How would you compare the Monitor Audio Silver 500 with the slightly cheaper B&W 603 S2 speakers? Have you got any B&W reviews coming up next? 😃
Hey Andrew ! Great review, i would like to see you test the Elac Vela speakers and speakers like audiovectro QR series. Since I find you honest and you speak your mind no matter what ! plz o plz :D
Visually as in finish, yes. Sonically, I can't make that call for you. If I already had 8000Fs and had to then buy 500's at retail, I would probably just stick with what I had, honestly.
I recently got into hifi again for the first time since the tape deck on my excellent Pioneer all-in-one (given to me as a gift) gave out, and bought Monitor Audio Bronze 2 speakers to go with the Marantz amp and sources (not all Marantz). Growing up my parents had an all-Pioneer separates system and then an Arcam amp/tuner set-up (Delta 60 and Delta 80, not a receiver) with Linn turntable and speakers. These (along with my Pioneer all-in-one and earlier Sharp system) were what started me on my audiophile journey. I had never heard of MA until I started researching and found that even people who advocated for second-hand gear recommended buying new speakers unless you’re prepared to have to repair old ones, which I’m not. I absolutely love the Bronze 2s. There’s nothing wrong with my speakers ATM but if I were in the market, I don’t see a reason not to consider myself a brand loyalist although not everyone (Britain’s What HiFi, for example) loves the Bronze 100s as much as they loved the Bronze 2s, which they replaced and which WHF gave an award.
@@jeffreyjoshuarollin9554 my father got a marantz system in the 70s, that is what peeked my interest in hifi, I got my first real hifi back in 89i had just joined the RAF, I purchased a quad 33 preamplifier and 606 power amp, pioneer PD 75 cd player and tannoy dc 3000 speakers, from then on ive had most British and UK manufactured hifi brands, I hate to think how much I've spent over the years but these days you can get great sound at reasonable cost, I do like vintage older hifi and like to mend upgrade equipment as. A hobby.
@@avro66 if I were in the market for another amp (and again I’m not, as the Marantz PM6006 is also great), I might audition the Quad Vena II. That (along with electrostatic speakers in general, which of course they’re best known for) is another brand I had never heard of until I took up the hobby again. Mind you, I’m not casting aspersions on your choices (and even if I were, “the only person who has to like the sound of your system is you, as someone once said 😉) but to me Tannoy are nothing more than synonymous with those horrendous speakers you get in train stations 😂
I had a chance to try the MA Silver 100 6th Ed. (previously had Silver RX1s) as a possible replacement for my current speakers which are Focal 807Ws. That said, among all the speakers I tried over the years up to their price, I likes the Silver 100s best for overall performance. Getting to the chase, very easy to drive, I really liked the added bass and punch of the low end through the lower mids, making for a bit warmer presentation but the Focals weren't too far behind and perhaps a tad faster. The Silver 100s and Focals were about equal in resolution which a slight nod to the Focals but they displayed the detail in soundtracks and especially music a bit differently. Both were sufficiently revealing but in different ways, without a quick AB switch I couldn't put my finger on it. Maybe the Focals were a bit more subtle while the MAs seemed to throw everything at you but not real sure. Previously had the Silver RX1s and I really liked the tonal decay of piano and voices in a few of my particular CDs sounding more lifelike in comparison to the Focals which at the time were new out of the box. The Focals do sound natural but they couldn't quite bring me as close to the RX 1s on some of my music (both bested everything else I've ever tried). The issue with the RX1s were they were too laid back especially for soundtracks while watching movies and not very good for Rock music and sometimes other genres but violins, acoustic, etc sounded superb as they do with Focals. The little RX1s also played very wide, beyond the speakers but had a flattish depth of stage. The Silver 100 6th Ed. retained the wide stage and added depth and sounded great with soundtracks adding a more forward sound. In the end however, I decided to stay with Focal as the upper mids and highs were IMO better than the Silver series. The Silver 100 had some of that naturalness in voice I remember, for some music a little grittyness/energy could sound live while the Focals are more studio clear with some music which may come across as a drier sound to some but don't sound like studio speakers. Just a preference. The upper mids and high of the Silver 100s just had a bit too much energy and less subtlety in dynamic shifts. The Focals could bring energy when needed but go softer very quickly. It seemed the Silvers threw everything at you in similar volume and lacked that aire, dynamic range, and spaciousness I look for in upper frequencies, so Focal can be detailed and sweeter sounding while Silver 100s have more punch, I suppose. I think they geared them more towards home theater and my understanding is that the newer series might be more so. It was a great price for new at well under $700 including tax and they looked great, in a slightly smaller package vs the larger Focals but the Focals remained great for movies and even better for music, IMO. Didn't make sense to swap. If it weren't for the Focal 807W, I would have gladly kept the MA Silver 100s, especially for the price. I preferred both to say Quad S2s that in spite of better detail and resolution than either the MAs/Focals, sounded dull with music, too dry for me and had a completely flat plane for stage depth. Great for movies as you could hear everything in the track however. So the Silvers definitely compete at their retail price. The new series took a large price bump upwards however, and for 50% more you are in Buchardt 400 MK II and other territory so, there you go. Home Theater, absolutely. For music, some may find the 6th/perhaps 7th edition a bit "shouty" on top? As is the case system matching, individual tastes can determine acceptability. I miss the stage width but the Focals have really nice depth and I wouldn't call the stage narrow either. Still makes go ahhh after all these years. Equipment used is not bright sounding: Amp used: Keces E40 Dac used: Topping D70S Speaker Cables used: Blue Jeans Cable 10 gauge 15'
You're right, at the end of the day, speakers are furniture. So naturally it should look and feel good to live with as much as it should sound pleasing in performance. These towers look like a great harmony between the two.
How can I compare my B&W CM8 S2 to these Monitor Audio? Are the MA a whole other level or are they similar, will I experience a big step of improvement or barely noticable?
Brilliant, the 7G meand 7th Gen - these things are lovely, yes I would upgrade from bronze to these bad boys. Always brilliant presentation Sir, thank you Kristie
Great video as always! QOTD answer: Fit, finish, and aesthetics are a huge factor for me. Looking forward to the Silver series bookshelf review - thank you Andrew and Kristi!
I love the look of these speakers. To your question - currently running the klipsch in 11.2 in my home theatre… in that environment the finish isn’t as important to me, but if I could get a second system in my main floor living room, then I’d prioritize the finish and would love to have as something as pretty as these speakers.
Thanks for the detailed review. I'm stuck between these and the Q Acoustic Concept 50, mainly for music. Do you have any thoughts? I'm not in a position to make an A/B comparison unfortunately.
Great review…might be a good time to review Isoacoustics Isolation feet GAIA series. It seems those speakers “might” benefit from isolation. But they do look great without the stands. So I see what you mean when you say they look better without them. I tapped and drilled the bottom of my KLH model 5 stands and installed GAIA 3. The Gaia didn’t “transform” my speakers but they did help with soundstage and imaging.
Thanks for this review finding your reviews very informative. I’m in the process of building a new HiFi system and this speaker is one of my top choices. Have you ever reviewed Triangle speakers? I’m torn between this and the Triangle Australe EZ..
Great video! Can you guys do a review of Bronze 500 as well? Due to it's lack of mid range woofer I'm really curious what difference is there. Thank you!
Thanks so much for doing this review! I have a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 500 6G series speakers, and I think they sound pretty good. Have been trying to pair them with an amplifier that will get the best out of them, as I’m currently running an old Denon AVR 2700. What would you recommend?
Any thoughts or attempts to get any of the Arendal Sound or Aperion Audio speakers in house for review? I've always been a 2 channel guy, but I've recently began looking at surround sound possibilities for our living room. These two brands keep coming up in my researching.
Great review! I had the same issue with the C250 centre, it gets lost due to driver size. In family room I'm running MA Silver 100 7G (x4) and the C350 6G centre. The C350 matches better with the 100 and 500s and tons better then C250. GREAT SPEAKERS. 👍
Nice review as always. You convinced me to buy a pair of Magnats but when I tried to they were out of stock. I suspect you guys are the reason for that. I almost, just for a moment, thought that Kristi didn’t have the link to them
Listened to silver 500s today ( Cambridge cd/ amp, Organ Symphony DDD Karajan): superb sensitivity/ the best in the silver series, having tried the 200 and 300 - all 7G. Rich, warm, detailed, good spatial depth. More detail than the other silvers. I settled for the 300 which is a good balance between price and quality of sound. In the end the 500 are too powerful for me. For solo voices or choral classical/opera Monitor Audio was very impressive.
i have the silver 300 g6 range ( 5 on the floor ) 2x 6g w12 subs, 4 50s and the siver fx for hights. and im thinking of swopping them out for the new 300 7gs, because the finnish in wood veneers is just ₩@₩ , and i understad them😇👌
I love the look of these in ash. I had Monitor on my shortlist of speakers to check out, but was never able to find a place to audition them and because I don’t typically like speakers with a bright top end, I was concerned I wouldn’t love the sound in the long term.
Excellent review, Monitor Audio is a great company. To the QOTD, absolutely, Build quality, fit, finish, and overall presentation mean alot to my system, as well they should have a great sound. Are there any chances that the Dali Oberon 9 is/can be reviewed here also? Used to be a solid sound and the price is very reasonable.
Speaking of Monitor Audio....is it time for a round up of "in-ceiling" speakers? Monitor Audio? Polk? Martin Logan? Lots of choices with specs that rival typical surround/bookshelf speakers.
*How would you compare these to the Tannoy Revolution XT8F?, Looks aside? I had a pair of Monitor Audio RS6 Silver and had to part with them.The highs tended to be a bit shoutie for my room I would normally put a sock in the ports to tighten up the image, for an untreated room. and yeah that ASH FINISH OMG!!!!! But yeah compared to Tannoy Revolution XT8F - looks aside. Application Studio Recording, Mixing mastering and listening pleasure.*
Ok, first I have ask. After removing the feet did the speaker become top heavy? Cause I tried that with a set of towers and they became very tippsey on carpet, enough that I didn’t trust them around kids or pets. So unfortunately the feet went back on. And at 3200 a pair,how would these compete with the Polk Reserve L700’s? Or the cheaper Heco towers you reviewed earlier in the year. Honestly I don’t know how you guys keep track of everything you’ve reviewed. You do a absolutely awesome job reviewing products in a fair manner.
Thanks for the review Andrew & Kristi. Yes…I would pay more for a speaker that looks better. Our speakers are in our family room so looks are important. Wood veneer speakers always look better than vinyl wraps. These MA speakers look great! I am currently deciding between the MA 500 7G and the Klipsch RF-7 III, along with the RC-64 center channel. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts (or anyone else’s) on the RF-7 (because you both love the RP-8000’s). BTW…we are opting for the RF-7’s due to the fact they look better than the 8000’s with the veneer finish. I’d be grateful for any feedback! Thanks!
It has to be a combination for me. If i want to upgrade my speakers the design and sound should be a step up. Current speakers right now is beolab 9 and i love them so much.
7G stands for 7th generation of the Silver series speakers. And yes build quality and looks do matter but sound quality always comes first....if I have the choice though I would always choose a real wood veneer finish over vinyl any day and so would my wife! LOL!😉
