Rating:
Hot: Among the earliest proponents of metal drive units, Monitor Audio goes all the way with the Silver RX1, on which the tweeter and woofer are made of ceramic-coated aluminium/magnesium alloy. Typically, these compact standmounts exhibit a clean and uncoloured midrange, with decent highs and bass. No artificial flavouring to pump up the bass, so the frequency response is smooth and well balanced. These attributes make them great with vocals, especially.
Cold: Staging and imaging are a bit constricted compared with some of the competition, and some owners will want to place them closer to the walls to boost the bass. The foam bungs for the rear port only serve to muddy up the results.
Encore: Those seeking neutrality and accuracy will appreciate the RX1 better than those seeking quick thrills. Played in a small room, the RX1’s smooth balance means hours on non-fatiguing listening with a great variety of music.
Specs: 2-way bass reflex design (rear ported) with 6-inch mid-bass driver and 1-inch gold dome tweeter / Frequency response: 45Hz – 35kHz / Sensitivity: 89dB / Impedance: 6 Ohms (nominal) / Dimensions: 312 x 185 x 240 mm (h/w/d), 6.8kg each / Finish options: Various
What others say:
What Hi-Fi: A combination of good looks and great performance that’s a match for any price-comparable rival … match with care.