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Monitor Audio 703 PMC
Monitor Audio 703 PMC
MSRP: $

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Rating
Reviewed by:
Edward de Ruiter
(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
December 21, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5, 5.00 votes

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Review 1 of 8

Price Paid:  $1000.00

Summary:
These speakers are well built and is very womenfriendly (most beatifull cabinet i've seen).
The Sound is excellent, especially the soundstage which is very wide. The midbandfocus is superb.
I had some problems at first with the bass, but when I filled them with sand, the bass became a lot tightener.
This week I bought the Van den Hul Teatrack cables (CS-122 BIWI)and the bass is a lot deeper now, but so very good controlled. I started shivering when Bocelli sang, it's just perfect now!!!

This is my set:

Sony cd player CDP-X3000ES
Sony amplifier TA-F3000ES
Monitor Audio 703PMC
Interlink : Van den Hul D102 MKIII
Speakercables: Van den Hul Teatrack (CS-122 BIWI)

This combination sounds superb together.



Strengths:
Very beautifull floorspeaker. Excellent midband focus. Fast speakers.

Weaknesses:
Nice cables are neccesary.

Similar Products Used:
Hepta Forore 80, JM Lab , Kef Q65


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Rating
Reviewed by:
Pme
(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
October 5, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

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Review 2 of 8

Summary:
Monitor Audio has long been known for turning out some of the prettiest woodwork imaginable, and this Rosemah-veneered compact floorstander is no exception.

Like a number of other compact floorstanders, the whole of the internal box volume is too large for ideal working with the main driver, and the lower section is blanked off.
A small inspection hatch allows ballast to be added here. Spikes are fitted directly into the bottom panel, so the fore-and-aft footprint is limited.

Bass extension is similarly constrained, rolling off rapidly below 50Hz on our in-room measurements. These show that the happiest position for the 703 is well clear of room boundaries, whereupon it delivers a remarkably flat and smooth balance, right up through the treble, albeit with a more rapid roll-off than usual in the treble as well as the bass. Unusually - perhaps controversially - the crossover network involves a measure of equalisation to 'peak up' the main driver output just prior to the (highish) 4kHz electrical crossover point.

Sound Quality

The listening panel was pretty impressed by the 703, with every listener rating it average or better, although the level of enthusiasm did vary. The even-handedness and neutrality was widely appreciated, and the midband is very well handled, bringing plenty of well-focused fine detail to voices in particular.

However, the sound is also a bit small and mid-dominant - as one panellist put it: "A safe loudspeaker... easy on the ear, but I want it to let go and try harder." The hands-on work raised some additional question marks. The balance is very well suited to playing at modest levels, with the slight forwardness helping detail intelligibility. Start turning up the volume, though, and the experience becomes less comfortable. An initially attractive top-end 'sheen' starts to become a bit of a glare, and dynamics begin to sound a little congested.

Conclusion

The 703 is well suited to smaller rooms, and is particularly effective when operating at modest levels, with splendid midband coherence and clear, clean, well-projected detail - a rare strength, which demands recognition by Recommendation. Though the price may be high for the engineering content involved, the finish and presentation are well ahead of the pack, too.

Strengths:
Fine midband projection, with loads of detail and good focus; excellent cabinetwork

Weaknesses:
Up-front sound can become fatiguing.

Similar Products Used:
Kef Q65 II, JM Lab Opal 810; Xanadu DS14 markII; BMW n7se


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Rating
Reviewed by:
Brian McCoy
(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
March 17, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

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Review 3 of 8

Summary:
To be honest with you... this is one of the best speakers under £1000 ever created. To those who are going to buy a pair of speaker,...please have this speaker auditioned. They won't dissapoint you. You'll be enthralled...An absolute 5 stars.

Strengths:
They have everything you need in beautiful and best speakers

Weaknesses:
Nothing so far


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Rating
Reviewed by:
Joeeey Joseph
(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
February 4, 2000

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

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Review 4 of 8

Summary:
I purchased this speaker at a bargain price...At the first moment i listened to the speaker..there was nothing special actually.... warm, compressed and bold. I thought i made a mistake... but, after a few days, everything changed. The bass become a bit tightened, the vocal presentatation was very close to natural, the treble was the sweetest I've ever heard and the clarity and transparency that made my jaw dropping. For me,, this was a true bargain and added with its enviuos looking, nothing below £1500 can't touch this speaker ...believe me. To be honest, you can get more from the speaker by filling sand into the compartment provided and leave it for a few days... And it is transformed to a higher level especially its bass, which is more tightened and focused. So..to those who want to buy a pair of speaker around £1000, you must audition this amazing speaker to make your purchase unregrettable later on. An obvious ***** .

Strengths:
Openness, clarity, speed and amazing transparency

Weaknesses:
It's not ugly....damn it!!


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Rating
Reviewed by:
Jeff
( an Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
April 25, 1999

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

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Review 5 of 8

Summary:
I purchased these speakers about a month ago now, after listening to B&W, NHT, Definitive Tech, M&K, Infinity, etc.. They require 100-150 hours to break-in, before which they sound very tight.
After the break-in, they really begin to open-up and are very detailed, articulate, and accurate. I hear things in both movies and music that I never recall hearing before. I really like 'em. They are part of my Home Theater, which consists of:

MA 703PMC
MA CC70
MA ASW210
MA MAFX-2

B&K Ref 20
B&K AV5000II

I will say that you really need to use a sub with them, to get good bottom end...


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