Monitor Audio Silver 8 Loudspeaker Review

The Monitor Audio Silver 8's ($2000.00 USD) are a black-tie effort, reminiscent of the PSB Stratus Gold, Monitor Audio MA-1800 and the Devore Gibbon 9, co-incidentally. They exude a polite, in-trust character. They look best with the grills off, incidentally. Should you see them, be sure to look for a place to put them, in your home.

Look at the frequency range, and you will find it extended.

With a sensitivity of 90dB/W/m, a power-handling of 200W and thus a max SPL of 116.8 dB, they provide a viable speaker alternative to the Devialet Phantom, should you not miss the tlubby bass.

The Devialet Phantom is available with a Branch, to make it a stand-mount, and it is an apt comparison, as a good amp to power the Silver 8's will be about $2000 - $2500 for the 250W Parasound Halo A21 at AudioAdvisor, while adding a second Phantom will set you back another $1990 USD ($2300.00 USD for Silver Phantom), plus accessories. With 750 W, the Devialet Phantom will provide 99 dB SPL, 105 dB for a SP, 102 dB for Double Phantom, while two DSP's will provide 108 dB SPL. Compare that to the fantastic 116.8 dB SPL of the Silver 8. You can save a little money by opting for the TEAC UD-H01 ($400 USD) as DAC, an amp like the Crown XLS 1000 ($500). The sound should be admirable.

While human hearing is generally considered to range from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, the range of the DP's, the 35 kHz extension of the Monitor Audio Silver 8 is favoured by audiophiles. A more modern take on the Monitor Audio Silver 8 would be the Fidelity Acoustics RFM-3 loudspeaker, in terms of cabinet.

We like the stands of the Silver 8. They are a bit like cafeteria trays, inverted and reminiscent of the Stratus Gold by PSB. We like the drivers, and the corner detailing, a bit like the pin-striping or coach-lining as they call it on a Rolls Royce Phantom motor car.

You should find the look of the cabinets slightly in-expensive, but refined on the Silver 8. The drivers are near-perfect. They spent a great deal of time refining these, along with the mounting and driver placement.

Perhaps the rounded look of the cloth grill reminds us of the Castle Howard S2, a shorter and more august loudspeaker, and that is why we don't like them on - it cheapens the look.


Product: Monitor Audio Silver 8 Loudspeaker
Price: $2000.00 USD / pair
Manufacturer: Monitor Audio (www.monitoraudio.com)

JP 2015/01/02
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