Monitor Audio Silver S8 floor standers.
Discussion
Hi, a pair of these have come up for sale near me. They are up for £450 and have no grilles or cables (none of which bothers me). Both tweeters are a bit dented (again, that doesn't concern me). I haven't got a way of testing them really, but I've tried to do a bit of homework on them, but all I've found is that the model is about ten years old. Has anyone got any direct experience with them and is that a fair price?
I've tried to upload a picture, but the uploader or my phone are saying no, I'm not sure which.
I've tried to upload a picture, but the uploader or my phone are saying no, I'm not sure which.
I'd say that they're asking too much.
The next generation were fantastic - silvers became RS series. The RS6 was in my view the real sweet spot in the range, offering then unbeatable performance at the price. Now sell second hand for around 300. Same vintage GS20s were also ace, now 600-800 second hand.
Be aware that with poor amplification they can sound bright, but with something reasonable they're very good.
The next generation were fantastic - silvers became RS series. The RS6 was in my view the real sweet spot in the range, offering then unbeatable performance at the price. Now sell second hand for around 300. Same vintage GS20s were also ace, now 600-800 second hand.
Be aware that with poor amplification they can sound bright, but with something reasonable they're very good.
Thanks for the info. Very helpful.
I did suspect they were possibly a bit juicy on the price-front. My amp is nothing too special tbh (Denon PMA-720AE), but it is pretty gutsy for the price. I am looking to upgrade it a some point for something a bit more high brow.
I learning all the time with hifi equipment, and I love it for that.
I did suspect they were possibly a bit juicy on the price-front. My amp is nothing too special tbh (Denon PMA-720AE), but it is pretty gutsy for the price. I am looking to upgrade it a some point for something a bit more high brow.
I learning all the time with hifi equipment, and I love it for that.
That PMA-720 was a cracking amp at the price. There's a lot to be said for mass production in making decent if unexceptional gear affordable.
If I were putting together a high performance/cost setup for relatively little cash, I'd grab a second hand pair of MA RS6s or GS20s, and then save my beer money for a second hand Naim Unitiqute. They're now around 600ish, and cheap at full price. Won't shake the roof off, but make a fantastic noise and will do streaming and multiple digital inputs.
If I were putting together a high performance/cost setup for relatively little cash, I'd grab a second hand pair of MA RS6s or GS20s, and then save my beer money for a second hand Naim Unitiqute. They're now around 600ish, and cheap at full price. Won't shake the roof off, but make a fantastic noise and will do streaming and multiple digital inputs.
Another vote for Silver RS6's. Mine must be coming up for 10 years old now & get used every day for background radio etc, but when I sit down with a glass, take the fabric grilles & the (magnetized = nice touch) tweeter grilles off to listen to something properly, I get reminded how good they are. Nice bits of furniture - American Cherry finish I think, so light coloured, but still warm looking. And a manageable size: they're more deep than wide, so it doesn't look like there's 2 piano's wedged into the other end of the room. They've survived 3 house moves too. Only thing I can criticise is the alloy manufacturers badge/logo on the top: a teeny bit glitzy.
Yes, I was reading this months 'Hifi Choice' a couple of days ago and they rate the Tannoy XT 6 stand mounts very highly, so I imagine the DC6T SE (which I have previous read good reviews about) are damned good too, and are great value at the moment.
I'm currently watching RS6s on eBay, and the one pair that I'm interested in which are local to me for pick up seem to have generated a lot of interest and I have a feeling they'll go for strong money. If so, I think I'll pop into my nearest Richer Sounds (by prior appointment) and have a listen to the Tannoys.
A trip to Richer Sounds is very dangerous for me though, I love that place, but my wallet doesn't!
I'm currently watching RS6s on eBay, and the one pair that I'm interested in which are local to me for pick up seem to have generated a lot of interest and I have a feeling they'll go for strong money. If so, I think I'll pop into my nearest Richer Sounds (by prior appointment) and have a listen to the Tannoys.
A trip to Richer Sounds is very dangerous for me though, I love that place, but my wallet doesn't!
Edited by Baz Tench on Wednesday 7th October 09:47
Baz Tench said:
Yes, I was reading this months 'Hifi Choice' a couple of days ago and they rate the Tannoy XT 6 stand mounts very highly, so I imagine the DC6T SE (which I have previous read good reviews about) are damned good too, and are great value at the moment.
I'm currently watching RS6s on eBay, and the one pair that I'm interested in which are local to me for pick up seem to have generated a lot of interest and I have a feeling they'll go for strong money. If so, I think I'll pop into my nearest Richer Sounds (by prior appointment) and have a listen to the Tannoys.
A trip to Richer Sounds is very dangerous for me though, I love that place, but my wallet doesn't!
Don't go anywhere near Doug Brady....I'm currently watching RS6s on eBay, and the one pair that I'm interested in which are local to me for pick up seem to have generated a lot of interest and I have a feeling they'll go for strong money. If so, I think I'll pop into my nearest Richer Sounds (by prior appointment) and have a listen to the Tannoys.
A trip to Richer Sounds is very dangerous for me though, I love that place, but my wallet doesn't!
Edited by Baz Tench on Wednesday 7th October 09:47
Baz Tench said:
No idea who he is, but I get your drift...
My nearest branches are Solihull and Birmingham.
Doug Brady is the last place you want to take your credit card - they have some seriously expensive stuff (Chord pre/power amp for £75,000)My nearest branches are Solihull and Birmingham.
Edited by Monty Python on Wednesday 7th October 11:18
I have the MA RS8, I guess the replacement model to the units you were looking at.
I love them, but reviews at the time when I bought them 8 years ago slightly criticised the RS8s over the RS6s - a little too brash IIRC. I like the extra bass driver over the RS6 though, and I think it suits my larger than average size room.
I love them, but reviews at the time when I bought them 8 years ago slightly criticised the RS8s over the RS6s - a little too brash IIRC. I like the extra bass driver over the RS6 though, and I think it suits my larger than average size room.
OP,
IMO the Silver S was nicer than the RS range. However, no way I'd pay 450 quid for them - too old and those dented tweeter diaphragms can't be good for the final result. You can change them of course, but then you're talking 500+ quid for second hand speakers you could get for 6 or 800 new (I forget). The MA Gold range from a similar era is also ace - that's what I'm running now. The thing is, you'd want a better amp if you got golds (they like a bit of oomph to drive them).
IMO the Silver S was nicer than the RS range. However, no way I'd pay 450 quid for them - too old and those dented tweeter diaphragms can't be good for the final result. You can change them of course, but then you're talking 500+ quid for second hand speakers you could get for 6 or 800 new (I forget). The MA Gold range from a similar era is also ace - that's what I'm running now. The thing is, you'd want a better amp if you got golds (they like a bit of oomph to drive them).
Thanks all. We're certainly spoilt for choice at this price point when you mix new and used. I think the RS6's I'm watching on eBay will go for more than I'm willing to pay, so I may go to Richer Sounds after all and have a look at the Tannoys mentioned above. They will come with a 6 year guarantee which would bring a bit of peace of mind, as after a bit of investigation, I've realised I blew my present B&W DM110s on Saturday night (something went, and I wasn't sure what until I had a good look earlier today).
I do like B&W 603 S2s and I was looking at them not so long back. My head turned to MA speakers again as I had some MA Bronze BX2s for a while and I was impressed by the way they handled high volumes. I wanted more bass however. Who knows what I'll end up with, but it's great to have all this choice!
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