Testing of a bookshelf loudspeaker system 2.0 Monitor Audio Silver RX2

British company Monitor Audio was founded in 1972, in the mid-80s the company was actively engaged in new technologies, in particular, cones based on metal alloys and ceramic coatings. Since the late 80s developments began to bear fruit, were created and applied in the speakers technology Gold Dome, C-CAM Ceramic-Coated Aluminium Magnesium , RST Rigid Surface Technology , which in the advanced form are the calling card of Monitor Audio and today.

CONSTRUCTION

The updated Silver Series speakers with the RX suffix feature many details and technologies that have been tested in Monitor Audio reference lines. MF/WRF range is voiced by RST C-CAM drivers, used earlier in the top range Platinum speakers. The RST technology consists of applying small dimples with oval contours to the surface of the cone, which prevent the membrane’s own resonances.

C-CAM membranes have a thin layer of ceramic on the surface of the aluminum-magnesium alloy cone, which significantly improves the damping properties of the membrane. Open drive unit chassis design made from non-magnetic polymer to help cool the motor and reduce air compression in the plenum behind the cone. The Gold Dome tweeters come with a gold dome made of the same C-CAM.

Another feature of the Silver RX speakers is a long bolt-on mounting of the bass drivers to the back of the cabinet, which not only strengthens the structure of the entire cabinet, but also eliminates the need to screw the speakers to the front panel, improving the appearance of the speaker system. The HiVe II High Velocity port, which reduces air turbulence by radial grooves in the bell, is inherited from the Gold Signature family.

The RX2 model is the larger of the two Silver series shelf speakers. The monitor really does not seem like a baby, it weighs almost 10 kg, but on the wide front panel 230 mm there was enough space for the woofer/bass driver of 200 mm size – not every floor-standing speaker can boast of such a caliber.

In the center of the snow-white pitted diaphragm there is a chrome “bullet”, which improves heat dissipation from the speaker motor. Tweeter with 25mm Gold Dome protected by a fine mesh screen. In the latest modification the Monitor Audio engineers increased the working bandwidth of the tweeters to an impressive 35 kHz. The half-woofer’s separation filters are tuned to 2 kHz.

The RX2 cabinets are made of 19mm MDF board and reinforced with several braces inside. The unit looks good with its neatly rounded ribs and corners, and the clarity of the finish adds a real aristocratic touch to its appearance.

Like the other members of the Silver RX family, the monitor comes in 6 colors: black, white lacquer, as well as black, light oak, natural or rosewood rosenut veneers. Included with the speakers are magnet grills. On the rear panel of the RX2 is a terminal block with two pairs of gold-plated connectors and a reflex port.

SOUND

The Silver RX2 models are present on the American market for several years and during that time proved to be very good, becoming one of the leaders in the class of shelf speakers costing about $ 1 thousand. In the same group test, they were the most affordable, yielding to the competition in price of a third of the amount or more. So we wanted to see how RX2 would look on top of the more expensive speakers.

Well, British monitors have a strong bass, which becomes a serious foundation for music of any genre. We can say that 200-millimeter mid-bass driver is not pumped up – the demonstration of bass is not limited to the upper subrange, the sound is thoroughly getting into the mid-bass area. In the overall picture, the low-frequency images are somewhat oversized, but with quite palpable outlines.

Then comes the flat, clear middle of the frequency spectrum, usually slightly moved away from the listener, so the speakers lack intimacy in the reproduction of vocal parts. Then comes the clear, a little rough top. RX2 monitors like to play loudly, so they’re better at opening up the music scene and articulating the important parts of your tracks.

Listening to modern genres with RX2 – be it rock, pop or dance music – you realize that Monitor Audio created extraordinary speaker systems with good dynamics and clarity of sound, here they are very competitive with more expensive speakers.

But the RX2 has its relative weaknesses. “The Silvers are a little easier to work out the nuances of timbres and the fine details of the arrangement of the musical scene, with less detail they draw the edges and far-end plans, the depth of the scene is a little less. I wanted the speakers to play classical and jazz music more emotionally, to capture the shades of mood more accurately, some more expensive speakers in this test managed it better than RX2.

SUMMARY

Monitor Audio Silver RX2 – bass, energetic loudspeakers, best suited for modern musical styles. On the plus side, the British speakers have a good design and high quality of finishing, which are not often found in models for this money.