Monitor Audio presented the updated Silver 6G line in Moscow
"Pyramid" Monitor Audio
At the base of the product “pyramid” is the Monitor Reference - a good, no-frills economy class with an optimal price/quality ratio. A little higher is the Bronze : products within the budget segment, but with a greater emphasis on appearance and sound. Our Silver - “business class” equipment based on advanced technologies and with an emphasis on noble design (finishing with natural veneer and varnish), requiring serious, but not crazy investments. Above it is the High-End Gold : elite technologies, audiophile components and a price tag understandable only to those who understand the intricacies of these technologies. But this is not the “ceiling” yet! Platinum line is the peak of the manufacturer’s achievements, exclusive technologies, premium design, hand assembly and luxurious finishing, in short - the “God” level (and in terms of solvency too).
Silver - “golden” mean
The Silver line, formed in 1998, almost immediately became a leader in sales volumes and to this day is the main “breadwinner” of Monitor Audio. This year, the Silver 5G line, which appeared in 2013, is being replaced by a more advanced one - Silver 6G .
One of the main differences of the sixth generation was the presence of two models of central channel acoustics: the powerful Silver C350 and the compact Silver C150. Now, thanks to a large assortment of floorstanders and shelves of different capacities, you can select home theater systems depending on the size of the room.
What immediately catches your eye is the changes in appearance, namely the expansion of the color line, which now consists of 6 options. Black Oak, Natural Oak, Rosenut, Walnut - correspond to natural wood and are clearly more classic and retro in style, but the neutral High Gloss Black and modern Satin White will easily fit into any interior.
Innovation of the sixth series
By and large, sixth-generation devices were not the fruit of any revolutionary discoveries: their novelty consists of many small improvements, small upgrades, delicately polished details and successful additions, which all together gave an overall noticeable result.
Among the technological innovations of Silver 6G it is worth mentioning :
- tweeter with NEO ventilated cooling system (minimized distortion, increased efficiency at the highest frequencies - which means less load on the amplifier);
- bass speakers with DCF filters - technology descended from the Platinum series (improved driver behavior at high frequencies, reinforced magnetic system - more energy without distortion);
- new crossovers with premium polypropylene film capacitors, air coils and laminated steel cores, individually designed for each audio system;
- RST-knurling (Rigid Surface Technology) on the C-CAM diffuser (significantly increases rigidity, allowing for reduced weight, which increases sensitivity and power).
Design innovations of the line:
- narrower and more compact housings;
- reinforcement of the body with spacers according to the methods of the National Physical Laboratory (helped to find the optimal location for the most natural sound using high-precision laser measurements);
- single-bolt speaker mounting through the cabinet to the rear panel, designed by Monitor Audio (clear sound with minimal coloration);
- cast polymer speaker basket (high rigidity and damping);
- super-thin grills with magnetic mounts (less impact on sound);
- use of higher quality natural veneer with an expanded range of colors;
- perforated aluminum frame (adds individuality to the appearance);
- manual assembly;
- remote support legs instead of a podium (better stability, height and tilt adjustment);
- Right and Left markings on the rear panel of all Monitor Audio FX speakers for correct phasing of tweeters in discrete 7.1 recordings.
Most importantly, how did these technological and design changes affect the sound of the Silver 6G ?
This is the most difficult to describe, since auditory perception is very individual. To notice the smallest nuances, you need a certain amount of knowledge, training and natural sensitivity. The developers noted the following changes in sound :
- less distortion and tension in the sound;
- more details;
- the sound character is smoother;
- better control bass better control, especially near walls;
- The signature sound is more clearly evident in all models in the series.
Silver 6G range
In total,
9 devices : bookshelf acoustics Silver 50 and Silver 100 , floor-standing - Silver 200 , Silver 300 and Silver 500 , central channel in two versions - Silver 150 and Silver 350 , subwoofer Silver W-12 and Silver FX - acoustics for volumetric effects. The following illustrations show the new representatives of the Silver series in comparison with their predecessors.
Prices
- Silver 50 - from 54,990 rubles
- Silver 100 - from 69,990 rubles
- Silver 200 - from 89,990 rubles
- Silver 300 - from 114,990 rubles
- Silver 500 - from 134,990 rubles
- Silver 150 - from 40,490 rubles
- Silver 350 - from 59,990 rubles
- Silver W-12 - from 94,990 rubles
- Silver FX - from 54,990 rubles
The price tag for one “column”, frankly speaking, is scary. Most residents of Russia can afford a significant technological update for 50-100 thousand rubles once a year and, as a rule, on credit (and this is most likely true for megacities). Who needs one such column? A full-fledged Silver 6G set for home cinema will cost the price of a budget foreign car. Is it reasonable to spend that kind of money on high-quality sound? On the other hand, the formulation of the question itself is not entirely correct. By buying Silvers, you get not just a sound, but style, class, status. If you have a marble countertop and a mahogany cabinet, then plastic monsters, even with good technical characteristics, simply will not fit into the decor... However, in this case, the pricing policy of this equipment also does not scare you at all.
It is almost impossible for a person to impartially assess the sound quality without special equipment: the ears are not responsible for the verdict. Therefore, the debate among audiophiles will probably never subside: some believe that they are able to distinguish the special sound of a ribbon tweeter or the “singing” of silver wires, while others are sure that the whole Hi-End is a fiction that exists only in the head “ believer."
Photos of devices
Floor-standing speakers Monitor Audio Silver 6, review. Magazine "WHAT HI-FI?"
Silver 6 is not suitable for every room or every system. There are more versatile models in this category; But if you're looking for a pair of speakers with impeccable build quality and finish, precise attack and decay of every single element of the recording, and are willing to put up with a less than spacious soundstage, you'll want to check them out as soon as possible.
Save and read later -
Speakers from Monitor Audio's well-proven Silver RX series appeared in stores more than four years ago. Slender and elegant Silver 6 floorstanders are the first fruit of the company’s engineers’ long labors to modernize it.
Reworking old favorites
The current Silver line is the result of a complete redesign of its predecessor. The new low-frequency and mid/low-frequency speakers are made using improved C-CAM technology, which has increased the strength and damping capabilities of their diffusers. Thanks to a redesigned air compression and ventilation system, the tweeter is less susceptible to resonance, and the improved woofer integrates more accurately with the midrange/bass driver. The updated bass reflex port reduces turbulence and promotes adequate transmission of peak low-frequency signals. The thickness of the walls of the MDF case, increased to two centimeters, and various types of fastenings increase its rigidity.
Compact, durable and stylish, the Silver 6 looks impressive. The white speakers may look a little odd, but the finish is simply luxurious.
Clarity, vigor and rare precision
After 72 hours of warm-up, Monitor Audio delivers a cheerful and combative sound, the enthusiasm of which sometimes borders on mercilessness.
Regardless of the type, quality, or source of the recording, the Silver 6s are eager to dig into it. In everything from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' Higgs Bosun Blues to Martin Carty's The Wind That Shakes The Barley, from Drake's Take Care to Samuel Barber's Adagio For Strings, these ACs show real fanaticism in drawing out the attack, but don't let it fully shine through. unimportant features of the records.
However, this energetic approach has its advantages: precise elaboration of the boundaries of each individual note is a rare quality in any price category. Thanks to this approach, even recordings without much dynamics are quite interesting to listen to.
The Silver 6's ceramic-coated metal cones provide clear, uncolored and at times relaxed sound. Of course, such a mood is not very suitable for such warm songs as Turn Your Lights Down Low by Bob Marley & The Wailers. But more accurate, even rather sterile recordings, for example VCR performed by The XX, sound much more convincing.
Despite the Monitor Audio's good detail, their soundstage lacks the width and structure of class leaders, and they also sound slightly overdriven. If the music had a little more room to breathe, the Silver 6's dynamism and drive would be more impressive.
But the speaker matching is excellent; Deep and powerful bass benefits greatly from the convincing attack and decay of notes that characterize these speakers.
The midrange is quite open and detailed, voices are accurate and recognizable, but the signature sound signature of this line is even more obvious here. The straightness of the upper frequencies requires increased attention when selecting a system.
Wonderful from every point of view
Silver 6 is not suitable for every room or every system. There are more versatile models in this category; But if you're looking for a pair of speakers with impeccable build quality and finish, precise attack and decay of every single element of the recording, and are willing to put up with a less than spacious soundstage, you'll want to check them out as soon as possible.
| GRADE | |
| BEHIND | Clear attack; straightforward sound; excellent speaker integration; workmanship |
| AGAINST | Not the most detailed, immersive or open sound compared to competitors |
| VERDICT | There are pros and cons - but the pros are very good |
Prepared based on materials from the magazine “WHAT HI-FI?”, December 2013
www.whathifi.ru This review was read 10,295 times
