Are These Finds Good Deals?

[Pogre]

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

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

Silver 2: $1,050-$1,150 pair
The larger of the two bookshelf models offered in the Silver line, the Silver 2 is a bit of an oddity. A two way design, it boasts a rather large 8” driver which crosses over to the tweeter at 2kHz. The use of such a large driver as a mid/woofer can lead to some issues including audible cone breakup resonances as well as significant driver beaming (a narrowing of dispersion). Conversely, the large 8” woofer does lead to a rated low end extension of 40Hz, which is quite good for a bookshelf speaker. Like the Silver 6, impedance is rated at 8 ohms, though the sensitivity dips to 88dB with 1W at 1m.

Boom. There they are. Some questionable design choices, but overall first impressions aren't bad. They look newer than 2013 and that threw me a little bit too. That affects resale value. Also more to point toward a scam with that particular ad I found. Who buys 7 year old speakers to install in a new system "for a client"?

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!

So the newest series have the 3 digit designations? Silver 100, 200, etc.?

They're one of those companies who keep innovating, improving their products and introducing new models constantly. On one hand that's great, I'm all for advances and trickle down tech becoming more affordable but on the other it sucks because what you bought, top of the line for your budget last year is now the inferior model... You raise another good point as well, they're not that well known here in the states. If I were to find something like that I'd better plan on sitting on them for a while until the right buyer comes along.

 

[Pogre]

Note: edited above post to correct wrong link

I did already see the one you edited in. I ran across it when I found that little 3.0 LCR Silver deal I summoned you about a couple days ago. That was my first clue that not all MA Silver speakers are created equal, lol.

 

[ryanosaur]

So the newest series have the 3 digit designations? Silver 100, 200, etc.?

Yes.

They're one of those companies who keep innovating, improving their products and introducing new models constantly. On one hand that's great, I'm all for advances and trickle down tech becoming more affordable but on the other it sucks because what you bought, top of the line for your budget last year is now the inferior model...

Only insofar as if you bought Gold last year and then they dropped the new update... maybe, but I bet the old Golds sounded just fine!
I suspect the same will occur in another year with the Silvers. But they've had 6 generations of those, total over a 20 year time span, so far.
The real bargain will be if/when this generation of Silver trickles down to the Bronze level.

 

[Pogre]

Yes.

Only insofar as if you bought Gold last year and then they dropped the new update... maybe, but I bet the old Golds sounded just fine!
I suspect the same will occur in another year with the Silvers. But they've had 6 generations of those, total over a 20 year time span, so far.
The real bargain will be if/when this generation of Silver trickles down to the Bronze level.

Yeah, I'd think even the older generations of any of their Gold series are gonna be worth some attention. I s'pose 6 generations over 20 years isn't too excessive (tho it's still a new model every couple of years). It seemed like more because every time I clicked a link for MA Silver anything I'd see completely different speakers, lol.

 

[ryanosaur]

When I was reading all the MA Silver reviews for current generation, one thing kept coming up: there just weren't any complaints about them having flaws. They routinely compared (subjectively) very well against anything else but a serious step-up reference system. For the current lineup, the sub and the FX speaker are the only questionable items. The little standmount Silver 50 has some limitations, but even that reviewed fairly well.

*shrugs

I just didn't get that vibe about other companies speakers, in that price range of $2-3K per pair of flagship Towers. At the time, I think what I said to Shady is that these are speakers that I WANT to hear! And I'm glad I got the opportunity.

The Silver 300 and 500, along with Martin Logan Motion 40 and 60X, KEF Q950 and R900... these are what helped me lock in on performance characteristics that I liked. Some good, some bad... but next to these, a lot of other speakers all fell flat.

Some gear I'd still like to experience:
Dali, Dynaudio, SVS, Aperion, Buchardt, Canton, PSB, Ascend, Sonus Faber...

 

[Pogre]

When I was reading all the MA Silver reviews for current generation, one thing kept coming up: there just weren't any complaints about them having flaws. They routinely compared (subjectively) very well against anything else but a serious step-up reference system. For the current lineup, the sub and the FX speaker are the only questionable items. The little standmount Silver 50 has some limitations, but even that reviewed fairly well.

*shrugs

I just didn't get that vibe about other companies speakers, in that price range of $2-3K per pair of flagship Towers. At the time, I think what I said to Shady is that these are speakers that I WANT to hear! And I'm glad I got the opportunity.

The Silver 300 and 500, along with Martin Logan Motion 40 and 60X, KEF Q950 and R900... these are what helped me lock in on performance characteristics that I liked. Some good, some bad... but next to these, a lot of other speakers all fell flat.

Some gear I'd still like to experience:
Dali, Dynaudio, SVS, Aperion, Buchardt, Canton, PSB, Ascend, Sonus Faber...

If you're ever in the Phoenix area you're welcome to swing by. Just give me a heads up!

I've been spending a lot of time with my Sierras lately. Until yesterday I was listening to them exclusively for over a week, every day with familiar music for hours at a time. I'm getting very well acquainted with them and I really am impressed with the Raal tweeters as well as the woofer he uses in the design. I think the clarity and detail is amazing. There's more there. Voices are a little bit easier to hear. They're easily currently my favorite speakers, hands down.

That said, last night I hooked the Ultra towers back up again and listened to a few songs that I had just listened to with the Sierras, and once again I was not as disappointed with them as I expected to be. They hold their own very well and really are very good speakers also. I think you might find them a little bit laid back compared to the Raals, but you might be surprised with the performance of the Al tweeters they're using. Nice, smooth and detailed. They don't come across as metallic or bright at all and have that airy sparkling quality to them I like. SVS has implemented them very well.

 

[afterlife2]

I smell a FS thread soon!

 

[davidscott]

When I was reading all the MA Silver reviews for current generation, one thing kept coming up: there just weren't any complaints about them having flaws. They routinely compared (subjectively) very well against anything else but a serious step-up reference system. For the current lineup, the sub and the FX speaker are the only questionable items. The little standmount Silver 50 has some limitations, but even that reviewed fairly well.

*shrugs

I just didn't get that vibe about other companies speakers, in that price range of $2-3K per pair of flagship Towers. At the time, I think what I said to Shady is that these are speakers that I WANT to hear! And I'm glad I got the opportunity.

The Silver 300 and 500, along with Martin Logan Motion 40 and 60X, KEF Q950 and R900... these are what helped me lock in on performance characteristics that I liked. Some good, some bad... but next to these, a lot of other speakers all fell flat.

Some gear I'd still like to experience:
Dali, Dynaudio, SVS, Aperion, Buchardt, Canton, PSB, Ascend, Sonus Faber...

No Maggies? A large pair of Magnepans produced the best sound I ever heard. Actually it was 4 speakers and it just seemed that you were there.

 

[ryanosaur]

No Maggies? A large pair of Magnepans produced the best sound I ever heard. Actually it was 4 speakers and it just seemed that you were there.

Na... thus far I'haven't been that excited by the bug zappers. I've heard a few MLs... and at least one other rarity at the CAS. I get Maggies are well respected, too...

I'll keep chasing the Transmission Line dragon.

 

[Pogre]

KEF Calindas for $350, new to me. They look in great shape.

Paradigm Studio 20s for $599- @KEW weren't these part of the bookshelf speaker shootout you did a while back?

Paradigm 7SE MK3s for $325

 

[davidscott]

Na... thus far I'haven't been that excited by the bug zappers. I've heard a few MLs... and at least one other rarity at the CAS. I get Maggies are well respected, too...

I'll keep chasing the Transmission Line dragon.

I believe that my original DCM Time Windows were transmission line. Alas they are long gone

 

[ryanosaur]

I believe that my original DCM Time Windows were transmission line. Alas they are long gone

I'm so close to starting my first cabinet build... just a straight redo of a b-stock cabinet I already have. Just figured it would be the easiest best way to get my feet wet, and practice finishing, before I take on the real thing.
I had hoped last year would be Subwoofer Summer... but this is going to be the season!

Just need that router!

 

[lovinthehd]

I'm so close to starting my first cabinet build... just a straight redo of a b-stock cabinet I already have. Just figured it would be the easiest best way to get my feet wet, and practice finishing, before I take on the real thing.
I had hoped last year would be Subwoofer Summer... but this is going to be the season!

Just need that router!

What are the b-stock cabs?

 

[afterlife2]

KEF Calindas for $350, new to me. They look in great shape.
View attachment 35929View attachment 35930View attachment 35931

Something tells me these sound great and bass is real good too. The finish is classy too. Go check em out at least.

 

[afterlife2]

CL $75 would be cool for a small music setup. 8inch, but don’t be fooled my Jamo kicks good arse still shocks me. A bit too far though one hour away. Need money for bills plus unemployed like most people, so not getting it. My excuse

 

[Verdinut]

KEF Calindas for $350, new to me. They look in great shape.
View attachment 35929View attachment 35930View attachment 35931

Paradigm Studio 20s for $599- @KEW weren't these part of the bookshelf speaker shootout you did a while back?
View attachment 35933View attachment 35932

Paradigm 7SE MK3s for $325
View attachment 35934View attachment 35935

The KEF's have that famous B139 irregularly shaped woofer. Those should be pleasing to listen to.

 

[Beave]

The Silver S2, as reviewed in Stereophile, were quite flawed, IMO. JAtkinson was being kind in his review, but if you read between the lines, you can see he too had issues with them. The bass was a little resonant. The upper mids were recessed. The tweeter couldn't handle much power/volume without sounding strained. And the woofer rang like a bell at certain higher frequencies (very evident in his measurements - they only used a notch instead of using a higher order lowpass like they should have).

I also owned the newer Silver RX2. They were quite a bit better in some ways but still lacking in others. Bass was very nice, strong and clean. The tweeter could handle high volumes much better without sounding 'hard.' And the woofer's out-of-band resonances were better suppressed by the crossover. But the upper mids, low treble, around the crossover sounded quite recessed, and there seemed to be something honky going on in the upper mids.

The Silver 2 was supposedly a little better, and the newest Silver 100 a little better still, but they both still have the issue of the large woofer mating with the tweeter with no midrange and no waveguide, meaning there's a large directivity mismatch and some 'voicing' going on in the upper mids/low treble.

 

[Beave]

In my opinion the Monitor Audio Silver series always put looks ahead of sound quality (relatively cheap drivers in nicely built cabinets with real wood veneer).

Each generation was two steps forward, one step back, compared to the previous generation. In other words they'd fix a couple of problems from the prior generation but have a new problem or something that wasn't fixed. But each generation was better overall.

The newer Silver 8, and the newest Silver 50, Silver 200, and Silver 300, are probably the best of them all and the ones really worth considering.

 

[ryanosaur]

the newest Silver 50, Silver 200, and Silver 300, are probably the best of them all and the ones really worth considering.

This.
Silver 100 for Standmount, and the Silver 300 and 500 for Tower Love.
I've heard the Silver 350 is supposed to be solid, too.
The 50s seem reasonable for Rear or Atmos-y kind of applications.

(The BMRs are still better speakers, though!)

 

[Pogre]

IMO opinion the Monitor Audio Silver series always put looks ahead of sound quality (relatively cheap drivers in nicely built cabinets with real wood veneer).

Each generation was two steps forward, one step back, compared to the previous generation. In other words they'd fix a couple of problems from the prior generation but have a new problem or something that wasn't fixed. But each generation was better overall.

The newer Silver 8, and the newest Silver 50, Silver 200, and Silver 300, are probably the best of them all and the ones really worth considering.

I've been doing some homework on MA Silver speakers (with a li'l help from Ryan) and realized there are a whole slew of Silver series speakers and you gotta know the right ones. Specifically their newest stuff, like you alluded to. When I first saw the S2s in the ad I got all excited because I had heard about the newer offerings and hadn't done any homework yet.

Input from members like you and several others who've participated in this thread with me have been an invaluable resource for learning what to look for in a "good deal". There's A LOT of garbage out there and learning to spot the good stuff takes practice.

I'll tell ya one thing. I think the white van guys all moved their operations to Craigslist because I'm seeing a lot of that too.