What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
15 FEB 2010
Monitor Audio Silver RX1
Getting an ugly slab of equipment past a discerning partner can be tricky. So praise Monitor Audio’s Silver range: the rigid, weighty MDF cabinets look superb. Edges are rounded smoothly, drivers are flush to the cabinet and every screw is cleanly placed. Top marks.
Tempted as we are to spend £400 on a fine pair of oversize paperweights, we’d rather they sounded special, too. Fortunately, listening to Vampire Weekend’s excellent Contra album, we’re impressed.
The 15cm bass driver is capable of impressive weight and depth, and provides the foundation for a broad, dynamic soundstage.
Intimate, emotional vocals
Listening to the delicate piano and strings of The Road shows the RX1s capable of subtlety, too. Notes have punch and texture, instruments are given sufficient space to breathe and detail recovery is thorough. The XX’s Shelter sounds intimate and emotional with vocals again handled confidently.
The RX1s go seriously loud, too. Even the Dead Weather LP can’t see the RX1s toughen up.
Brains and beauty: what a package. We’d be a touch wary of partnering them with similarly bassy, warm electronics, or positioning them too close to a wall, but we’re otherwise entirely enamoured with the RX1s.
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