Really a hidden gem, my dad actually picked up these monitor audios from a warehouse randomly for me on a whim to surprise me many years ago. Only paid about a hundred bucks for them, brand new. If nothing else, these are really well made and great quality from what I can tell, very premium looking/feeling. I considered trying to "upgrade" but quickly realized whatever I got what probably be a sidegrade or downgrade unless I spent quite a bit. They sound great even with a cheap budget setup so no reason to replace them yet, at least before the other parts. Every time I've had something good, and tried to change them for better I usually ended up regretting it lmao.. so I'm a bit scared to try upgrading them, usually when something seems good, they usually are.
I'll say this and shut up, because I don't wish to hijack this thread.
I had Monitor Audios for many years, the last for a while being the Silver 8is. But then I moved back to Colorado, and there's really not a convenient dealer here. I wound up with Snell K.5s, which are phenomenal, but just not what I wanted. (They are phenomenal, otherwise. Reminiscent, to me, of a pair of Whatmough bookshelves that were better than anything I'd heard previously.)
So one day I decided to get some Monitor Audios again. I snatched a very old pair of Monitor Audio Monitor 2.5s (named by the Department of Redundancy Department) off eBay, and, boy, did they sound great. I upgraded to newer MAs, and sold the Monitor 2.5s. A really nice guy responded to my ad, young father of a couple of kids with little money. I was unable at the time to audition them for him, so he bought them with the guarantee that if he didn't like them I'd take them back no questions asked, full refund. And I gave him a very good price.
I never heard from him again. I think he really liked the speakers.
I've had MA Silvers and Bronze(s). I've heard Golds that transported me, though quite beyond my reach. Never heard the Platinums. But I've recommended MAs for years, and no one has ever said anything but "thank you."
They are vivid and lively, though not harsh. The closest I ever heard to them were the Platinum Audio speakers, but they're out of business. Maybe I just like metal speakers, but I think it's more than that.