Geat looks, Awesome sound

Has good bass, but really needs a sub for the LFE's

I had listed at a local audio store to the B&W 602's,CDM 1, and CDM 7. I fell in love with the clarity and "realism" of the sound reproduction from theses speakers. My budget, however, would have restricted me to the 602's which aren't very visually appealing with the VINYL construction. It was during this time that I came across Monitor Audio speakers on audioreview.com. Luckily, I came found someone on the net who was selling brand new Monitor Audio speakers at heavily discounted prices. After reading the reviews on this website, I bought them without ever having listened to them because there is no local dealer. (I know this is a big no no in the audio world.)
Anyway, they have definitely lived up to my expectations and I think they sound just as good as the B&W's. PLUS, they look awesome!!! To the people who have complained about "build quality" I have no idea what they are talking about. I mean these things look (and sound) like works of art!!

Similar Products Used:

B&W CDM 7

sound, style, build

none

Before I begin, let me just say the Silver 5's are beautifully constructed speakers with execellent sonic peformance to match. I've been a proud owner for just over a month, and I can't be happier. All my praises have already been stated by the happy Monitor Audio owners below.

The main point of this review is to address the foolish and very unintelligent negative reviews. Most the reviews are favorable and are from happy Montior Audio speaker owners. The negative ones, on-the-other-hand, are probably from just a few individuals who post repeatedly because:

1. they can't stand the fact the Silver 5's are awesome speakers and are receiving the rave reviews they deserved.

2. they are just jealous that HT magazine didn't give their speaker similar reviews.

3. they are just trying the peddle the speakers they own.

4. they are affiliated with audioholics.com

Speaking of audioholics.com, it's a site sponsered by RBH Sound, Monster Cable, Arurus, Aragon, etc. I didn't see Monitor Audio as a sponser. However, I did see RBH speakers recommendations. Based on these facts, I can care less what they say about Monitor Audio. Bear in mind, I have nothing against audioholics.com, but once you bring their views into a Monitor Audio forum, everyone deserves to know a little more about them. I am just passing some facts along.

In addition, the negative reviews are seldom more than just some trivial negative remarks that are repeated over and over again. They can never compete with the countless praises the Silver 5's are receiving.

I buy speakers based on what my ears tell me. If they sound good to me, I will buy them. If I don't like them, I'll move on. I am not going take time and effort to post negative remarks on the ones I don't like. For example, I like my Monitors more than the Paradigm 20, 40, or 60. That's that. I am not going to open one up based on spite and reveal to the world what I have uncovered--the speaker contains wires, woofers, tweeters, and even cross-overs. My God, you guys are brilliant! Then, I won't spend even more time and effort surmising what quality these parts are.
Instead, I will use my time happily listening to my Silver 5's.

The Silver 5's are excellent for both music and home theater. Mine is in cherry wood, and they easily match furnitures. I think I will go listen to them now.

Similar Products Used:

Paradigm Studio 20/40/60, B&W 600 series 2

Nice looking, cut and well finished. Bass

Small drivers

I have used the Silver 5i for about 8 months and I am very pleased with the overall performance. I am an enthusiast not an audiophile so they fit the bill just fine, being able to handle music and movies just fine. They are also shielded which is good considering I have to put one of the speakers next to the T.V. I use them with a Denon AV3300 A/V receiver, which is excellent for music and for movies.

I can't understand this Hank guy. If he is an audiophile with expensive electronics, why did he buy the silver 5i's at a much lower price than each of his other components? Why did he buy them in the first place, did he not demo them? And why does he feel it necessary to post his comments more than once, perhaps he is not genuine. In any case I urge you to audition them for yourself, don't let me Mr Hank tell you what's good or bad. That's the sorry thing about the internet you are not quite sure what is genuine. The silver 5i's have rattled a few caged, look at the quantity of reviews posted. I rekon the fuss is justified.

Similar Products Used:

B&W CDM7

I have not bought the Jamo's yet! I am still auditioning! Hey Carl, thanks for the advice I will find a different dealer.

Call me crazy, but I was not all that impressed with them. I felt that they were dead sounding. The dealer had a pair of Jamo 7.7's right next to them and the Jamo's blew them away. Granted the Jamo's are $1800 for a pair, but it is a huge difference. The Jamo's had better seperation, soundstage and gave me a warm feeling inside. The Silver 5's are the best sub $1000 speaker I have heard but people saying they sound better than $2000 and up speakers are blowing a lot of hot air.

I have been auditoning speakers for 2 years. The type of sound and accuacy I have been craving were to be found in speakers in the $2500-6000 US dollar range. I seriouly listened to Alon, Paradigm, Martin Logan, Energy Veritas, Vandersteen, NHT, Gallo,M&K, Linn,B&W, and PSB. I also listened to the Monitor Studio 20's and 50's, and was extremlely impressed. The discontinued Monitor gold series was good, but did not thrill me like the Studio series.
Then the Monitor Silver 5 appeared in my local Home Theater Store. I compared them to every speaker brand on the list, using the same electronics, and my standard reference recordings. I find them to rival speakers costing $6000. When you add either sub that Monitor makes,I felt it would be foolih to buy
even the 801's (B&W). They match, to my ear the sound of the far more expensive Studio series.

They require breaking in for about 100 hrs. This will take away any hint of high freqency fowardness. Sand or shot loading and biwiring or amping will tighten up the bass and amaze tou whith the huge, multi-demensional sound throut the freqency range. The highs are incredibly detailed, and the midrange has no added color. Voices in both male and female ranges are so natural that I have been fooled by the sound, thinking someone was talking or singing in my sound room when the hometheater was going.
I have had these for one month, and they just keep sounding better.
Home system:
Denon 3200 AVR
Pioneer DVL 700 (Monster's Digital out to Reciever for cds and DVDS)
B&0 Turn tabel (3 motor, NON linear tracking)
Z series Monster Cable (12 home runs to the bi-wire outputs on the DENON)
Monitor Silver 5's for the front left and right
Monitor Silver Center (Same drivers and tweeter as used in the fives)
will buy Monitor sub as the Optimus just can't keep up THUD!
B&W's rear surround dipolar speakers (mounted in cealing with XLO cables)
Mitshubishi 55" Diamond line RPTV

It sounds like the dealer Jof went to "rigged" the demo. I had the same thing happen to me. The first dealer I auditioned the Silver 5's at did not mass load them, nor did he use any of the other common Silver 5 tweaks, such as using the spikes, biwiring, etc. To top it off, he used a very cheap, low-end receiver. Voila, the speakers sounded "dead". They tried hard to sell me up to speakers costing 2-3x's more money. I smelled a rat. The next dealer I visited took more care in the Silver 5 audition. They sounded incredible properly setup and driven by decent electronics (a good quality receiver). To call the Silver 5 "dead sounding" is not a fair statement. The Silver 5's are anything but dead sounding. I agree with most of the people on this forum, that they sound more accurate and detailed than just about any under $2k speaker. The cabinet is also like a beautiful piece of furniture. For the money, they are an amazing bargain.

These are the most excellent product I heard in the price range. They list at $999 and I got them for about $850. They blew away all speakers within a $500 range and sounded great with a wide variety of sub $1000 receivers, including Denon, Sony, and Yamaha. After hearing them, there was no question but to go with Monitor.
With these and the proper amp, you can get away with not having a sub. For those people who want a great system but have slow cash flow (like me), this allows you to build slowly and still have an incredible sound in the interim.

For audio performance, the tone and accuracy of these speakers is incredible. Piano, brass, strings, bass, cymbals, drums, and voice all play in complete realism. This is an excellent choice for the music lover. And for movies... thunder, explosions are extremely crisp and undistorted. Musical scores make your heart pound and adrenoline flow. Even Armageddon at high volumes and large power dissipation, could not get the speakers to distort. For the money, there is no equal.

(BTW, to Jof below: So this is the best sub $1000 you have ever heard and you only give it 2 stars? I think you're just pissed that you spent $1800 on those Jamo's after hearing what a run the Monitor Audio's gave them!. Hahahahaha)

It sounds like the dealer Jof went to "rigged" the demo. I had the same thing happen to me. The first dealer I auditioned the Silver 5's at did not mass load them, nor did he use any of the other common Silver 5 tweaks, such as using the spikes, biwiring, etc. To top it off, he used a very cheap, low-end receiver. Voila, the speakers sounded "dead". They tried hard to sell me up to speakers costing 2-3x's more money. I smelled a rat. The next dealer I visited took more care in the Silver 5 audition. They sounded incredible properly setup and driven by decent electronics (a good quality receiver). To call the Silver 5 "dead sounding" is not a fair statement. The Silver 5's are anything but dead sounding. I agree with most of the people on this forum, that they sound more accurate and detailed than just about any under $2k speaker. The cabinet is also like a beautiful piece of furniture. For the money, they are an amazing bargain.

I just went to a local retailer, and listened to these. All I can say is that when I asked the man to show me a better pair of speakers. He just stood there and then proceeded to the room with basically a 7k or more price sticker. I was basically laughing my a** off. I love these Speakers, and I will buy a pair. Now the only last thing that im waiting for is PRICE. I love it how people will post on here that they got them for around $600.00, and yet when you email them (im referring too the 3 people in this forum) I hear no response what so ever. IF anyone know where I can get these speakers for ~$600-700 please let me know. Thanks for your time, and don't pass these up!
** Overview **
1- frequency response, crisp, clear, power handling.
2- Sound for movies?, Music?, General?
3- Price (even if you have to pay the full $995.00)

someone tell me a speaker that is better