Monitor Audio Silver 1

This is the current model bookshelf speaker from Monitor Audio's Silver Series. Immediate differences are the new derived from the Gold range midbass driver and the excellent graven solidity of the revised cabinet construction with its tensioning bolt from back of cabinet to back of bass driver.

Picking up the speaker is a surprise, one dosn't expect it to possess its particular specific density, a very good sign I think. Ideally a good bookshelf speaker uses its small size to its own advantage by offering a reduction in cabinet induced colouration and being better at that point source effect which enhances the trick that is stereo. A good solid cabinet is a prerequisite of good design for a bookshelf speaker and the Monitor Audio must be scoring in the top percentage for this.

Sonically of course they bare a family resemblance to the earlier silver series but clearly reach lower down the scale and seem to possess a richer and fuller character elsewhere in the range. Although the tweeter remains the same metal dome as before it has a revised chamber arrangement and my impression is that it is a smoother sweeter in the top end.

Allied to the new bass driver that seems to be very capable at separating out difficult and strenous lower octaves these speakers have a very "listeneable" nature with freedom from fatigue and great transparency for a speaker in their price range.