Monitor Audio Silver 100 8G Bookshelf Speakers

The Monitor Audio Silver 100 8G is a genuine three way standmount, built around an 8 inch C-CAM RST III bass driver with its own 3 inch midrange and the 25mm C-CAM Gold Dome tweeter. Sold as a pair, it reaches 33Hz in room, which is floorstander territory from a cabinet 440mm tall. This is a very different speaker from the two way Silver 100 of the previous generation, so treat the numbers as new.

Why You'll Love It

• Bass you would not expect from a standmount. An 8 inch driver and a 37Hz port tuning take the in room response to 33Hz, so a small system can skip the subwoofer and still sound complete.
• Three way clarity on stands. The 3 inch midrange takes over at 610Hz, so the big bass cone never has to reproduce voices, which is what usually limits large standmounts.
• Big speaker sound, small speaker footprint. At 230mm wide it slots into rooms that a tower would dominate, and the pair weight makes stand mounting straightforward.

Under the Hood

• Three way layout with 1 x 8 inch C-CAM RST III mid-bass driver, a 3 inch C-CAM RST III midrange and a 25mm C-CAM Gold Dome tweeter with UD Waveguide II.
• Silent Flow Port Technology tuned to 37Hz, using an increased port diameter and owl-feather flare geometry to keep airflow quiet under load.
• Through-Bolt Driver Technology bracing the drive units to the rear panel, with rigid internal bracing and damping and an upgraded crossover at 610Hz and 2.9kHz.

CHT Insider Verdict

Monitor Audio has effectively turned the Silver 100 into a compact three way, and it is the most interesting speaker in the range because of it. At 87dB sensitivity it is not the easiest load in the family, so give it a capable amplifier to unlock it's performance. Budget for proper stands too, because a 12kg cabinet on a flimsy stand will undo the bass control you paid for.

Pro Tip: Put the tweeter at seated ear height and treat the stand as part of the speaker. Mass loading a 24 inch stand with sand or shot costs very little and tightens up the bottom end more than most people expect from a cabinet this size.