Monitor Audio Silver RX2 review

A lot of speaker and a lot of sound for the money Tested at £630

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

A lot of speaker and a lot of sound, there’s much to enjoy in the RX2’s delivery

Pros

  • +

    Big but beautifully formed

  • +

    impressive bass weight

  • +

    good dynamics and scale

Cons

  • -

    Occasional edge to voices

  • -

    bass sometimes a little loose

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Monitor Audio has a host of five- and four-star reviews to its name, and enjoys an almost unrivalled reputation for speakers that are built and finished every bit as well as they sound. And it’s no different with the Silver RX2s.

These speakers use a ‘gold dome’ C-CAM tweeter formed from a ceramic-coated aluminium/magnesium alloy that’s gold-anodised to a specific thickness in order to be thinner, lighter and more rigid than before.

There’s a fresh port design, too, with grooved – Monitor Audio prefers ‘rifled’ – edges to help shape the flow of air. The mid/bass driver eschews flat surfaces too, preferring a dimpled cone for extra strength. Round the back you’ll find a biwirable set of speaker terminals.

In place they look great – as they should for this money – but they are no small undertaking: 37.5cm tall and 30cm in depth (and weighing 9.5kg), they need a fair amount of space in which to stand.

Monitor Audio Silver RX2: Sound quality
We listen to Nitin Sawhney & The London Symphony Orchestra, and the scale of which the Monitor Audios are capable is instantly apparent. Dynamic and able to send sound to every corner of your room, the Silver RX2 speakers motor along with plenty of power and presence.

There’s weight to bass notes, too, though we’d be inclined to trade a little of that for a tauter feel to the bass.

Emelie Sandé’s soaring vocals on Heaven are clear and expressive, though the RX2s do have a tendency to make voices sound a little forward in the mix, and consequently a little detached. Treble, despite plenty of running-in, can sometimes have a shrill edge, too – which is more apparent at higher volume levels, naturally.

Monitor Audio RX2: Verdict
If you want a big and bold sound, the Monitor Audio Silver RX2s are well worth hearing. While we might prefer a smoother edge to voices and tighter bass at times, there remains plenty to enjoy.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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