Monitor Audio: audiophile quality?????

Monitor Audio used to be more of an Audiophile speaker line. Their older
line, the Studio series, were truly wonderful speakers. I have a set of Studio
60's, which was their cost-no-object top of the line speaker. These are
fabulous, fabulous speakers. Coherent, they do the disappearing act --
everything you want. I have been out auditioning lots of high end speakers
and have never found anything like them. They still make nice speakers and
IMO, are a pretty good bang for the buck. I believe they still make their own
drivers. They are now targeting home theater and higher volume. You find
their speakers in places like Good Guys and Tweeters, which costs them in
the audio prestige department. I believe they are very competitive in their
niche and I would suggest an audition if you are shopping in their price
range.

I have a pair of Gold Reference 20s running off an Aragon Aurum pre and Aragon 8002 amp. Source equipment inlcudes a Cary 303/200 CD player and an oldish Michel Focus 1/Linn Basik/Nagaoka MP50 vinyl set up. The GR20s replaced a pair of the sometimes referred to legendary Celestion SL6Ss. Listening to Classical music and Jazz/fusion mostly. I am very pleased with the sound quality, transparency and imaging of these speakers. They are well engineered and beautifully finished, living up to Monitor Audio's well-deserved reputation for excellent cabinet construction using real wood veneers. I suspect they are designed primarily for the audiophile 2 channel market, but have found their way (in the N. American market in particular) into larger HT systems as well. They are in a different class altogether from the Paradigm/Energy class of gear IMHO. Visitors to my home are 'blown away' by the sound quality, although admittedly most have probably never heard a decent system.
Check out reviews in UK sourced Hi-Fi publications such as Hi-Fi Choice et al.
cheers

I agree with McFarve4, the S1 is an incredible speaker. If I was looking for one in that price range, that is the one I would choose. When paired with my audio refinement, I was very happy with the sound.

I think that the Monitor Audio Gold series, what you asked about, are over priced for what you get. I have listened to them in a couple of different shops and thought they sounded good but not worth the price. They are in a price range with a lot of other really good speakers. Listen to as many as you can and let you ears decided in the end. Good luck.

I have GR10s on my desk, and am listening now. I think they are competitive with anything in the $2000 and under class. I prefer them to Revel M20s, Aerial 5, and Paradigm Active 20s, all of which I owned. Very fast, detailed and transparent. Matchups are critical as always, and are usually not optimum in store settings.