Are These Finds Good Deals?

[Pogre]

Those Monitor Audio speakers are several generations old.

They are known as the Silver S series, which preceded the Silver RS series (which preceded the RX series).

Silver Series??? (late 1990s?)
Silver S Series: S1, S2, S6, S8, S10 (early 2000s)
Silver RS Series: RS1, RS6, RS8 (mid 2000s)
Silver RX Series: RX1, RX2, RX6, RX8 (late 2000s)
Silver 5G Series: Silver 1, 2, 6, 8, 10 (early 2010s)
Silver 6G Series: Silver 50, 100, 300, 500 (late 2010s)

I eventually found a couple of old forum posts about them. You are correct. They're S1s from the early 2000s. Probably not bad speakers but I'm gonna pass. I edited it in at the end of my last post. If they would have been newer or current I was ready to run out the door!

 

[Pogre]

Pogre,

The Dynaudio audience 5 has pretty good specs and the Danish manufacturer recommends it as a surround speaker. It has a frank impedance of 4 ohms and is easy to drive:

https://dynaudiodata.blob.core.windows.net/media/2394/audience5.pdf

That Danish company makes excellent products.

I'm familiar with the company's reputation. I ran across a couple of very positive reviews for those speakers in particular and noticed that Dynaudio does suggest using them for surround speakers, which I think is underselling them a bit. They look capable of more and have pretty decent bass for their size.

 

[Pogre]

NO -- skip them

Hard pass! Thanks Zieg. If you can't tell I had a little time on my hands and got bored this afternoon, lol.

 

[ryanosaur]

The current generation is well worth the cost, new, imo. I’ve heard solid reports on the previous gen, but...
Based on the reviews of the new/current Gold series, any move on MA should wait until the new Silver update drops... whenever that may be.

 

[Pogre]

Infinity Kappa 7.1s for $325.

Revel Performa M20s for $900! I can't spend that kind of money on craigslist finds but this is the first Revel I've seen on there.

 

[afterlife2]

^
Those cabinets are horrid looking.

 

[Pogre]

^
Those cabinets are horrid looking.

You mean the Revels? The cabinets or the baffle? I think the baffle is what makes them look funny. With Revel's reputation though, I'll bet they sound freaking fantastic.

 

[Kvn_Walker]

^
Those cabinets are horrid looking.

Eye of the beholder I guess... I thought my F30's (same finish) were beautiful.

 

[zieglj01]

Infinity Kappa 7.1s for $325.

Revel Performa M20s for $900! I can't spend that kind of money on craigslist finds but this is the first Revel I've seen on there.

$300 for the Kappa would be a decent/nice deal

The Revel Performa were $2,000 a pair

 

[Pogre]

$300 for the Kappa would be a decent/nice deal

The Revel Performa were $2,000 a pair

So both aren't bad.

You know what I've been thinking about is starting to sell off some of my collection to generate cash for stuff like that. Enough cash that it won't matter if I sit on a pair of speakers like those Performas for a while til I resell them. I think I might be able to flip those for 1100-1200 bucks, even if it takes some time. Or buy those IL10s for 80 bucks and flip 'em for 100... the Sierra 2s I found, I could make some pretty good money on those (but they're not going anywhere, lol). The Kappa I'd probably pass on unless I was planning to keep. I don't think they'd be very easy to resell.

With a little patience and the right deals I think I could make my little obsession profitable. I wouldn't expect to get rich but I'd get to listen to lots of speakers and keep my favorites! I feel a little bit more confident in finding the good stuff now and you've been a great resource for me in helping me learn what to look for. This is one of my favorite threads. I genuinely have fun looking over the ads and finding cool speakers. I'd be in hog heaven, demo'ing all those speakers!

Then I'll expand into eBay and Amazon and start my journey toward world domination!

 

[afterlife2]

You mean the Revels? The cabinets or the baffle? I think the baffle is what makes them look funny. With Revel's reputation though, I'll bet they sound freaking fantastic.

The wrapping of both cabinets. If they were darker they would have looked better. I’m sure they sound fantastic especially the Revel. Funny it’s hard to find any Cantons on Craigslist. I think Pogre you should invest on a Canton.

 

[Pogre]

The wrapping of both cabinets. If they were darker they would have looked better. I’m sure they sound fantastic especially the Revel. Funny it’s hard to find any Cantons on Craigslist. I think Pogre you should invest on a Canton.

I for sure have them on my radar. If any pop up out here I'll find 'em!

 

[Kvn_Walker]

I for sure have them on my radar. If any pop up out here I'll find 'em!

Too bad you’re not from these parts brother. These have been for sale over a year... many times I have fought off the urge to drive up to DC...

Canton CT 90 Hi-end Speaker Pair Made in West Germany - electronics...

I have for sale a pair of Canton CT90 Speakers. Made in West Germany. Made out of solid mahogany....

washingtondc.craigslist.org

 

[Pogre]

Too bad you’re not from these parts brother. These have been for sale over a year... many times I have fought off the urge to drive up to DC...

Canton CT 90 Hi-end Speaker Pair Made in West Germany - electronics...

I have for sale a pair of Canton CT90 Speakers. Made in West Germany. Made out of solid mahogany....

washingtondc.craigslist.org

Solid mahogany, huh? Those look like they might be an older generation? I'm not familiar with those ones.

 

[Pogre]

The current generation is well worth the cost, new, imo. I’ve heard solid reports on the previous gen, but...
Based on the reviews of the new/current Gold series, any move on MA should wait until the new Silver update drops... whenever that may be.

I found these MA Silver 2s, newer gen and supposedly still "new in box" for $500.

Monitor Audio Silver 2s (Black Oak) New in box - electronics - by...

Bought this for a client and we didn’t end up using them. New in box Experience the clear, open...

phoenix.craigslist.org

Seller said he would take $450 and to let him know if I had any questions. So of course I asked him, since they're still new and in the box, if I would be able to inspect and listen to them. No reply. Plus the wording in the ad popped a red flag for me. "Bought this for a client and we didn’t end up using them. New in box". That wording is white van speaker scam 101!

 

[davidscott]

Looking around a bit that seems a product from the Jensen days....

Agreed. They didn't have the classic "fried egg" tweeter like my New Advents (pre Jensen) did.

 

[ryanosaur]

I found these MA Silver 2s, newer gen and supposedly still "new in box" for $500.

Monitor Audio Silver 2s (Black Oak) New in box - electronics - by...

Bought this for a client and we didn’t end up using them. New in box Experience the clear, open...

phoenix.craigslist.org

View attachment 35916

Seller said he would take $450 and to let him know if I had any questions. So of course I asked him, since they're still new and in the box, if I would be able to inspect and listen to them. No reply. Plus the wording in the ad popped a red flag for me. "Bought this for a client and we didn’t end up using them. New in box". That wording is white van speaker scam 101!

Here's a blast from the past:

Monitor Audio Silver Series Speakers Preview

Monitor Audio has released their new Silver series loudspeaker lineup at CEDIA 2013. Consisting of 8 different models, has Monitor Audio hit one out of the park? Keep reading to find out.

www.audioholics.com

At a little more than half-off their retail price, it seems like a good deal, but again, for the cost, would that be worth it. I keep going back to a review I recall reading that the Silver 6 tower was very good and well liked by many, but the modifications introduced into the current generation were a clear step better.
Subjective, yes. True, possibly. When coupled with MA using trickle down technology and the review of the recent Gold Generation update, the reviewer claimed that the new Golds were so close in performance to the Platinums that you would be sily to pursue the more expensive speaker for only a 10-15% boost.
Are those speakers going to sound good? Yes. Will they have flaws? Assuredly.
Would I go after them ? No. (And all of that aside from the possible scam.)

 

[Pogre]

Here's a blast from the past:

Monitor Audio Silver Series Speakers Preview

Monitor Audio has released their new Silver series loudspeaker lineup at CEDIA 2013. Consisting of 8 different models, has Monitor Audio hit one out of the park? Keep reading to find out.

www.audioholics.com

At a little more than half-off their retail price, it seems like a good deal, but again, for the cost, would that be worth it. I keep going back to a review I recall reading that the Silver 6 tower was very good and well liked by many, but the modifications introduced into the current generation were a clear step better.
Subjective, yes. True, possibly. When coupled with MA using trickle down technology and the review of the recent Gold Generation update, the reviewer claimed that the new Golds were so close in performance to the Platinums that you would be sily to pursue the more expensive speaker for only a 10-15% boost.
Are those speakers going to sound good? Yes. Will they have flaws? Assuredly.
Would I go after them ? No. (And all of that aside from the possible scam.)

Thanks. I always appreciate your input on these deals. It's becoming clear to me I need to do some more homework on MA Audio as they appear to have several generations of the same damn speaker name with major differences between them.

Anyway, I really think the dude is hoping to sell a box of rocks to someone willing to buy sight unseen. If not mug me knowing I have at least $450 on me... I still never got a reply.

 

[ryanosaur]

Thanks. I always appreciate your input on these deals. It's becoming clear to me I need to do some more homework on MA Audio as they appear to have several generations of the same damn speaker name with major differences between them.

Anyway, I really think the dude is hoping to sell a box of rocks to someone willing to buy sight unseen. If not mug me knowing I have at least $450 on me... I still never got a reply.

Just for kicks, here is JA reviewing the S2 back in '03:

Monitor Audio Silver S2 loudspeaker

While audio writers find the siren song of cost-no-object components an ever-present temptation, I do ask Stereophile's reviewers to be on the lookout for affordable products that sound better than they have any right to. So when I listened to an inexpensive system based on Monitor Audio's...

www.stereophile.com

And the newest Silver 100 from WhatHiFi:

Home review

More of the same from Monitor Audio’s Silver range, and that’s a good thing.

www.whathifi.com

The reputation seems to be they are very good speakers at their price point, and they know how to balance the tradeoffs in design. The sad thing is, in a way, they just aren't as well known here. The North American importer is in Canada, for example, and when I was looking for local places with them in stock... only a few Bay Area stores kept any. It was easier for me to find Focal, ELAC and KEF. (Many other brands with name lux names, too). That said, I've seen some Canadian folk talk up MA: they get it!

 

[ryanosaur]

Note: edited above post to correct wrong link