Monitor Audio: audiophile quality?????

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.

I checked them out in 1995 and preferred the Mission 753's to Monitor Golds. I bought the Mission and later bought more for various systems. For my tastes, I thought they made some of the best intro to high end speakers. I'm not sure what their current models are, but the 753's and 752's were both very nice $500-$2500 (depending on new or used) floorstanders. I've also read good things about Meadowlark Kestrels in that price range.