Monitor Audio is a famous British hi-fi brand that manufactures one of the best speakers and audio systems in the world. The impeccable reputation the company has been building for almost 50 years has made the brand not just iconic. It’s become a synonym for high-quality sound.
A Brief History of Monitor Audio
Monitor Audio was started by Mo Iqbal back in 1972 near Cambridge, England. As the company grew and developed, it moved to Essex where the headquarters remain even nowadays. However, the manufacturing is now in China.
Nevertheless, Monitor Audio speakers are one of the best in the world. Why? Because the company works non-stop on improving the sound quality. It has dozens of patents for unique and excellent performance.
Over the past few years, the company bought:
Nowadays, it has representatives in many regions and countries, including Monitor Audio Canada.
Monitor Audio Categories
The company is mostly recognized as a speaker manufacturer. However, the brand releases other hi-fi products with the same precision, quality, innovation, and consistency. If you visit the official website, you are sure to notice that the product range covers several big categories.
Home Audio
The brand offers great solutions for those who wish to upgrade their home cinemas. Whatever your budget or taste is, you are sure to pick the system which secures great sound and a memorable home cinema experience. For instance, soundbars will help you complete HD picture entertainment.
Home Speakers
The company manufactures numerous speakers of all sizes: bookshelf-friendly, floor-standing, in-wall speakers, etc. No matter which Monitor Audio speaker you pick, you’re sure to enjoy the astonishing, clear, deep, precise sound.
Receivers & Amplifiers
The brand also releases receivers and amplifiers that stand out with both design and quality. Learn more about the Airstream lineup to discover the best amplifiers. If you are searching for a top-quality wireless receiver, the brand has some great options to offer. For instance, WT-1 and WR-1.
Cables & Installation
In addition to the high-quality speakers and sound systems, the company offers custom installation and various cables to let you set up your sound system as you wish. Besides, using Monitor Audio systems and uniting them with the brand’s cables will let you create amazing without any losses or impedance matching.
Speaker Stands & Mounts
Plenty of models on the site are highly configurable in terms of the setup. You may purchase speaker stands and mounts if needed to add style to the room and install the speakers wherever you want.
Popular Product Series
Navigating through dozens and dozens of speakers from Monitor Audio gets easier once you learn that there are several lineups. For instance, Radius, Gold, etc. Each line offers unique characteristics and technologies as well as a selection of speakers in different sizes, colours, installation peculiarities, etc. Let’s take a quick look at the most renowned lineups before moving to the popular speakers in Canada and around the world.
Platinum II
Nowadays, the company already has the 7th generation of this lineup. The latest patented technologies make the sound from these speakers as precise as it gets. You’ll hear every detail as if you are present at the concert or in a movie. The high-end collection contains the most advanced drivers in the luxurious cabinets.
Gold
Another widely recognized lineup is Gold. The speakers from this collection have received numerous awards because they have top-notch construction and sound. Purchasing a speaker from this collection will bring you joy for a lifetime because they are beautiful, timeless, and meticulously constructed by the best specialists in the industry.
Silver
The 7th Monitor Audio Silver generation contains the best achievements from the company’s decades of experience. Bold and powerful sound from the real-wood cabinets – sounds like an excellent choice. The latest releases have the least distortion possible. Even if you prefer high volume, you’ll get a crystal-clear sound.
Bronze
The Bronze Series is a combination of classic British and contemporary styles. The appealing look is only one reason for the popularity of this lineup. Besides, the tweeter cover has acoustically transparent hexagonal dispersion patterns. You’ll get the industry-leading sound because these speakers have the new Uniform Dispersion Waveguide, C-CAM Gold Dome Tweeter, and the Damped Concentric Mode technology.
Monitor
Classic speakers that combine the best from the Bronze lineup and various driver configurations for the most magical sound quality. This collection contains speakers that can be placed on the bookshelf or the floor. The Monitor series also has a powerful centre and the Monitor Audio subwoofer for detailed, immersive sound.
Studio
Monitor Audio Studio is a discontinued lineup released in 2018-2020. The loudspeakers from this collection secured absolutely amazing performance and received numerous awards. Despite being compact, these speakers were very powerful. They featured the same technologies used for the Platinum II lineup but had a different cabinet design. Elegant and hand-crafted, these speakers remain one of the best on the market.
16 of the Best Monitor Audio Products in Canada
Throughout the years, Monitor Audio has released numerous bestselling speakers and sound systems. Moreover, it has succeeded with other products, like amplifiers. Discover more about 16 of the best Monitor Audio Products for Canadians ever released in this review.
Monitor Audio Studio 10
The model released in 1990 became the first one with a ceramic sandwich metal cone driver that led to the C-CAM technology owned by the brand. The Monitor Audio Studio 10 speaker also has a metal tweeter which is now a part of the signature design.
Monitor Audio Bronze 2
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 won the What Hi-Fi Award several years in a row. Taking into account the compact size, the sound is breathtaking. It’s well-balanced, with deep bass, and highly detailed. In combination with stylish design and affordable price, it’s one of the best choices on the market.
Monitor Audio Gold 100
This bestseller is one of the most awarded on the list. It was praised with:
- Stereonet’s Applause Award;
- AVForums Editor’s Choice Award;
- EISA Best Product Award;
- Stereoplay Highlight Award;
- Home Cinema Choice AV Tech Award.
Monitor Audio Gold 100 has an efficient design and hardware that deliver bigger sound from smaller drivers. Excellent tonal accuracy and perfect timing secure great results.
Monitor Audio Studio 20 SE
This is an award-winning, legendary speaker that belongs to a high-end lineup. The Monitor Audio Studio 20 SE speaker is undoubtedly one of the best speakers on the market. It first appeared in 1995, right after Monitor Audio got rebranded. That’s why the speaker has a new logo with the company’s motto – as close as it gets.
Monitor Audio Studio 2
A pair of standmounts that delivers impressively good sound is the shortest but most precise description for Monitor Audio Studio 2. The 1997 release might not be the cheapest but they deliver excellent sound. It’s much bigger than the dimensions may suggest.
Monitor Audio Platinum PL300
One of the more expensive Monitor Audio speakers is known for two things: excellent sound (well, no surprise here) and the astonishing design. The cabinet was made from mineral-loaded polymer. This speaker also used the in-house ribbon tweeter along with cones from aluminum & magnesium skins.
Monitor Audio Silver RS6
As soon as this loudspeaker saw the world, most experts agreed that this is the all-around best speaker in the given price category. In 2007, the bookshelf-friendly speakers delivered quality and consistency. No other company could match and keep up with that price tag.
Monitor Audio R252
It’s one of the earliest models created by this brand. The now-vintage speaker was introduced in the ‘80s and got tons of praise almost immediately. Many experts pointed out how upfront and articulate the sound was as well as complimented the speakers’ design.
Monitor Audio Airstream A100
Another bestseller from Monitor Audio – Airstream A100. It’s a stereo amplifier released in 2014. The unusual design – thin and arched – was quite impressive in terms of quality. The company’s innovations and forward-thinking have allowed it to release bestsellers like this.
Monitor Audio Monitor 14
This speaker offers superb sound due to the 16.5 cm mid/bass driver and 26 mm alloy tweeter. Even though it was released back in 1991, it’s still one of the most successful and best-selling floor-standing speakers from Monitor Audio. You may look for it on sale to get a great deal.
Monitor Audio PMC703
The summer of 1996 will always be memorable for Monitor Audio. Mainly because the company released PMC703. The speaker got a 5-star rating from numerous experts and magazines because it delivered clear sound, tight bass, perfect liveliness, and speed.
Monitor Audio Gold Reference 20
Gold Reference lineup replaced the Studio series. So, Monitor Audio Gold Reference 20 is the next-gen of the Studio 20 SE speaker. The floor-standers seem to have a lot in common. However, the newer model has a better balance which has set a new standard in sound quality.
Monitor Audio Silver 500
The newest and most advanced speaker from Monitor Audio is Silver 500. The 7th generation of the lineup has the latest technologies (like Rigid Surface Technology II), which secure the most natural and clear sound ever. The system has received several awards, including the EISA Best Product Award.
Monitor Audio Bronze 6
This model is the most powerful in the lineup. It has the maximum level of accuracy, scale, and dynamics. Perfect for home cinema because of the impressive C-CAM tweeter. Premium vinyl veneer finishes and several respectable awards make it one of the best Monitor Audio speakers ever.
Monitor Audio RX8
Originally released in 2010, the speaker stood out with the ergonomic design and the powerful three-way loudspeaker. This MonitorAudio speaker united several unique technologies:
- HiVe II technology;
- C-CAM bass driver;
- RST technology;
- Invisible magnetic grille fixing.
The compact floor-standing speaker brought a very powerful sound in combination with premium wood veneers or gloss finishes.
Monitor Audio BX2
Bronze BX2 is a bookshelf-friendly speaker that got the What Hi-Fi Product of the Year Award back in 2011. The cabinet is more rigid and stable and comes with an abundant choice of vinyl wood veneers that have quickly made it a popular choice. Dynamic bass and C-CAM tweeter with bandwidth beyond 30 kHz helped this two-way speaker become one of the most popular Monitor Audio products.