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Monitor Audio Monitor 50 Bookshelf Speakers $164 a Pair (50% off) & Free Shipping @ Space Hi-Fi

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Monitor Audio Monitor 50 Bookshelf Speakers $164 a Pair (50% off) & Free Shipping @ Space Hi-Fi
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LJMC on 29/11/2023 - 07:48 spacehifi.com.au (822 clicks)
Last edited 04/12/2023 - 20:26 by 1 other user

Just spotted what looks like a pretty great price for the full line of Monitor Audio 'Monitor' bookshelf and floorstanding speakers. These sit a little below the very popular Bronze series and inherent some of that tech (though I have not heard any personally, so can't vouch for the performance).

All models are 50% below advertised RRP.

Monitor 50 - $164
https://www.spacehifi.com.au/speakers/bookshelf-speakers/mon…

Sold out - Monitor 100 - $214
https://www.spacehifi.com.au/speakers/bookshelf-speakers/mon…

Sold out - Monitor 200 Floorstanders - $399
https://www.spacehifi.com.au/speakers/floorstanding-speakers…

Sold out - Monitor 150 (single, centre) - $174
https://www.spacehifi.com.au/speakers/centre-speakers/monito…

I've picked up a pair of the 100s so it'll be interesting to see how they compare to my existing speakers (KEF Q100).

Note these are passive so you'll need an amp to drive them ($50-ish if you go for a Chinese D-class amp, or something secondhand).

Electrical & Electronics Monitor Audio Speakers

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  • kungfuman on 29/11/2023 - 07:52

    O nice with my rodcaster duo i have been looking for some monitor speakers, might have a look thanks

    • Demarque on 29/11/2023 - 13:14

      In case you aren't aware, these are passive speakers and will need to be paired with an amplifier to work. They cannot be directly connected to the Rodecaster Duo. The product name "Monitor" is a bit confusing. They aren't active studio monitors.

  • Robzargain on 29/11/2023 - 09:26

    Good find. I have the tiny Monitor 50 and was really impressed with the sound it puts out for the size and price. It will not replace a floor-standing speaker or anything, but if you are space-constrained it does not sound small compared to a QAcoustics 3020i, which is what I A/B-ed it against.

  • OSienna on 29/11/2023 - 09:56

    How would the 50 or 100 compare to the Voll P44?

    • JMC on 29/11/2023 - 10:25
      +1

      I haven't heard them myself. I used to own their original model (can't remember the name but it was very similar to the Micca MB42X) which sounded good to my ear.

      I've also heard the B44s and while they were okay, my KEF Q100s were a huge and obvious step up. The B44s always sounded sort of muddy to me.

      Given the normal retail price I'm assuming the Monitors are closer to the KEFs than the Volls - I'll update with my opinion once they arrive.

      • JMC on 30/11/2023 - 12:44

        Correction, I'd heard the B50s*

  • sheikyerbouti on 29/11/2023 - 09:57

    Not bad. MA Bronze are excellent entry-level speakers so if these have trickle down tech they could be really good, Also Space Hifi is a good store, the owner (Dave?) is happy for you to take your amp/speakers in to audition new items with your exact setup. Well worth supporting an excellent small business.

  • vaper on 29/11/2023 - 10:24

    Buying speakers and headphones to "compare" is how the audiophile brain virus starts. Complete waste of money. If you are content with what you have just keep it.

    • JMC on 29/11/2023 - 10:28

      Fully agree, though in my case I'm buying to replace some $10 Sherwoods on my TV - my other nice speakers are set up elsewhere, so I'm replacing something I'm very much not content with.

      If you get a kick out of trying different speakers and amps as a hobby, the best way to do it is second-hand. You can more or less do this for free by selling for the same price you paid.

  • revheadgl on 29/11/2023 - 11:21

    Been running the Monitor C150 and 3 x pairs on Monitor 50's as fronts, rears and front heights since last years Black Friday deals. The centre is a very good match with the 50's, having the exact same tweeters and woofers..

    Very happy with them and have no plans to change anytime soon.

    • revheadgl on 29/11/2023 - 16:53

      I probably should add that I have had some reasonably decent speakers over the years, and I don't feel I am missing anything with these. They sound great with movies and just as good with the small amount of music I listen to with them these days.

      To name just a few.,
      Kef Q1's and Q9C in a 5.1 setup, Did not like them in the end. Too bright for my liking, especially with music.

      5 x B&W DM601S3 in a 5.1, These were pretty nice.Sometimes think I should have stuck with these. But again, found them slightly too bright with music.Fantastic with movies though.

      Q Acoustic 7000i in a 5.1. These were a downsize due to living circumstances. Nice balanced sound but too small in scale for movies.

      Jamo S801 & S81 in a 5.1.2 with Elipson Planet M's as front heights. These were okay but ultimately I did not like the centre. Sounded too recessed. Some complain that they can be too bright, but I never noticed it. Caveat, used for movies only though.

      There have been a few others but I cannot for the life of me recall the model numbers. The joys of being old……

      But take what I say with a grain of salt as we all hear things differently and have different tastes. I do believe though that these are definitely worth a listen, especially at these insanely low prices.

      Have to admit I would like to have a listen to the Bronze and Silver series one day. But only after I win lotto, lol.

      A separate review on the Monitor 50's at AVforums. https://www.avforums.com/reviews/monitor-audio-monitor-50-re…

      • JMC on 29/11/2023 - 18:24

        I just want the bronzes because well… Let's face it. They look MUCH nicer than the Monitor series.

        Despite just buying a pair, I'm really not a fan of the recessed grey front baffle. Hopefully I warm up to the look in person, else it's grilles on!

  • RedSky1 on 29/11/2023 - 13:04

    Review of the 50, 150 & 200 here:
    https://www.avforums.com/reviews/monitor-audio-monitor-speak…

    Interesting for the price

  • siegel on 29/11/2023 - 17:41

    Would these be a good upgrade over a pair of SVS Satellite for surround left and right duties in a home theater setup?

    • JMC on 29/11/2023 - 18:21
      +1

      I suppose this depends on what you feel is lacking in your current setup. I am not a home theatre owner, but my limited understanding is that surrounds aren't that critical given they're not where the majority of the sound is coming from.

      • siegel on 29/11/2023 - 18:50

        i can see where you're coming from however given the fact bookshelves could produce wider range of sound compared to satellites, i suppose it is possible to hear the difference but i'll never know unless i take the plunge…..hence the uncertainty

        • JMC on 29/11/2023 - 19:42
          +1

          In your shoes I'd keep my eye on Facebook Marketplace. I've seen some decent stuff go in the $50-$70 range, and you can always re-sell for roughly the same price.

          • siegel on 29/11/2023 - 22:41

            @JMC: $50-$70 for real? I hope they still work lol….

            • JMC on 29/11/2023 - 23:58

              @siegel: You'd be surprised. I spotted some Dali 202s going for $30 (drivers all good, some cosmetic wear). Just missed out on them myself, then saw the new owner re-list for $250. You've gotta keep your eye out but it does happen.

              Going up to the ~$200 range means you aren't waiting so long for a deal, though.

              • siegel on 30/11/2023 - 00:18

                @JMC: ah well retailers make a shit ton of margin on these. even this sale price of some $200 odd, they're still not losing money so imagine their margins when people buy them at full price or measly 10% off.

                • Store RepSpace Hi-Fi @ Space Hi-Fi on 30/11/2023 - 11:22
                  +4

                  @siegel: I just thought I would add clarity to this comment.

                  To achieve this price point requires several levels of support, and is certainly not the usual margin that we would have for any speaker model.

                  Firstly, as this was marked end of life, we were offered a special buy out opportunity to purchase all remaining stock in Australia. This was supported by a significant reduction in cost by the distributor, which was also supported by Monitor Audio. In summary, this required three levels of support to provide the end customer this level of discount.

                  12 pallets of stock were ordered in approximately 11 months ago. For complete transparency, this consisted of 43 pairs x Monitor 200, 88 pairs x Monitor 100, 98 pairs x Monitor 50, 23 x Monitor C150, and 26 x MRW-10.

                  We had been moving this steadily at around 40% off since this. However, as we ventured into Black Friday, I saw this as an opportunity to hopefully clear through remaining stock at a further discount.

                  Are we losing money? Not quite, but this is very close to cost price, especially considering that we are offering free delivery (in some cases, this does actually result in an at cost or under cost sale). Then of course, there are costs associated with warehousing (for 11 months) and sustaining a business, but this is a topic for another day!

                  We're always here should anyone require any support or have any questions.

                  • JMC on 30/11/2023 - 16:57

                    @Space Hi-Fi: Interesting to hear some of the logistics going on in the background.

                    How do you find the 100s and 50s compare? How do they sound against their bronze counterparts?

                    • Store RepSpace Hi-Fi @ Space Hi-Fi on 30/11/2023 - 17:42

                      @JMC: I won't deny that the Bronze are a considerable step up in quality and performance. Particularly the C-CAM bass/mid-range driver and the overall higher cabinet build quality, which of course affects resonance control and improves sound characteristics.

                      With this considered, the Monitor series are currently available at a price that is very hard to beat. Excellent speakers for their very modest price tag.

                      • JMC on 30/11/2023 - 18:36

                        @Space Hi-Fi: Yeah, not expecting the universe from them - they'll be replacing a pair of Sherwood Piccolo 4s and running from a TV headphone out, so the bar is very low!

                        Guess I'm interested in whether subjectively they sound like 20% of the Bronze series, or 50% or 80% etc.

                        • Store RepSpace Hi-Fi @ Space Hi-Fi on 30/11/2023 - 19:04

                          @JMC: I would resist placing a percentage metric on the improvements.

                          As you have correctly referenced, this is always subjective, therefore I would encourage input from customers in this regard. There are certainly some technical aspects that assert these improvements. How much they mean to you, will always be biased by personal factors.

                          In finishing off, at the usual RRP, I would strongly encourage a comparison to the Bronze series and I would expect that most would end up pursuing this with a selection of a Bronze speaker. However, with the current discount on the Monitor series, this dynamic completely changes. These speakers provide a very strong value proposition and are a compelling offer.

                  • siegel on 30/11/2023 - 19:55

                    @Space Hi-Fi: I appreciate the transparency and explanation. I'm guessing there is a special bulk purchase price instead of the standard price you usually buy from your distributors otherwise why bother with the whole bulk exercise if you'll only be selling at or under cost since you are running a business and not a charity. But I must applaud your marketing strategy, with this somewhat aggressive price to clear through the remaining stock, you've successfully drawn many people's attention and funnelled their attention to your website, better than any social media advertising campaign. Even if they don't buy the ones on sale or the miss out, they are browsing all the other items listed in your website and that probably translated to a few sales so well played! What I am curious about though is how you came to the quantities of product mix in your 12 pallets. Is that all they have and you just took them all or is there a science/methodology behind picking the quantities for each product…lol

  • vongz on 29/11/2023 - 23:53

    Are the C150 and 200 floorstander expired? Link says product not found

    • JMC on 29/11/2023 - 23:59

      Assume they're sold out. They had lots of the 50s, (50-odd), about 13 of the 100s, and (I assume) less of the floorstanders and centres when I posted.

      • vongz on 30/11/2023 - 00:12

        You have to manually find the product, the price is a lot higher so i assume there are still stock just sale ended

        • JMC on 30/11/2023 - 06:51

          I think you're seeing the Bronze / Silver / Gold / Platinum models, not the 'Monitor' line.

          These are similarly named but are different models in higher price brackets.

    • OSienna on 30/11/2023 - 09:28

      The 150 and 200 links show out of stock. The others are still available

    • Store RepSpace Hi-Fi @ Space Hi-Fi on 30/11/2023 - 11:01

      I can confirm that both the Monitor 200 and C150 are now sold out and have been removed from our website.

  • Fasian on 30/11/2023 - 10:58

    Just looking at getting some speaker - would these work for a home computer?

    • JMC on 30/11/2023 - 11:35

      Yes, with an amplifier. Note that they're fairly large for a desk (so I'd suggest the 50s, maximum) and rear-ported (you may need to install the included port bungs to keep the bass from being boomy if it's against a wall).

      Something like this will be perfectly adequate to drive them: https://www.amazon.com.au/Channel-Audio-Amplifier-Profession…

      • Fasian on 30/11/2023 - 11:36

        Hey thanks for that.i forgot to mention. I currently have a SMSL M200 / SP200 stack. Would these pair with them?

        • JMC on 30/11/2023 - 12:38

          Little unsure what you mean here. That's a DAC / headphone amp stack, yes?

          You'll still need a power amplifier to run passive speakers.

          • Fasian on 30/11/2023 - 12:45

            @JMC: Yes that's correct.

  • revheadgl on 07/12/2023 - 11:36

    Did you end up buying a set? If so, I would be interested in your thoughts. As I previously commented I have the 50's and really like them.

    • JMC on 08/12/2023 - 21:14

      I grabbed the 100s, yes. Listening to them now.

      Overall, they sound pleasant and I haven't found any enormous flaws. Compared to my KEF Q100s, I get the impression they're less 'sparkly' but have somewhat better bass extension. I initially preferred the KEFs, but that was probably more a case of my ear being used to them.

      I can't A/B them properly as I have a simple amp and need to swap cables around to switch. I did try running one of each at the same time, and they honestly didn't sound that different (when both were playing - I wasn't set up to fade left / right).

      I have found you need to be a bit careful with placement. In my room, certain distances from the wall can make them boomy without the port plugs installed. Moving a few cm forward or back is enough to sort this out so it doesn't bother me from my listening position.

      • revheadgl on 09/12/2023 - 14:17

        Thanks for replying. Glad you are liking them.

        I have not heard the 100's but I would assume they have a similar sound to the 50's. but with less bass extension. Overall, I would describe them as reasonably neutral. In saying that, my hearing is not what it used to be. lol.

        I am running all of mine in a home theatre setup and I have the port plugs in all around as they are close to the walls. The centre is a sealed box.

        I have them crossed over at 90hz and running a sub. I have not tried them without the port plugs as it is pointless for my needs, but definitely, rear ported speakers can sometimes be tricky to place.

        Interesting that you think they sound less sparkly than the Kef Q100's, as the Kefs are known for being a little on the bright side. Certainly the Kef Q1's I had back in the early 2000's were ultimately too bright for my liking.

        Again, thanks for replying and I hope you enjoy them.

        • JMC on 09/12/2023 - 20:04

          Yeah. I think my ears are accustomed to the brightness of the KEFs, which I interpret as sounding 'transparent'. It feels more like I'm listening to good speakers, rather than the raw music with the Monitors.

          But all this is subject to so much bias. In a blind test I probably would struggle to tell them apart.

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