Monitor Audio RX1 Spinorama measurements (CTA-2034)

[Ageve]

Here are some measurements of the Monitor Audio Silver RX1 bookshelf speaker.

It was released in 2010 and discontinued in 2014. The MSRP was $675 / pair.

It's a very nice looking speaker, with real wood veneer and excellent build quality.


My measurements are quasi-anechoic, with near-field port+woofer, corrected for baffle edge diffraction and combined with gated measurements at 1m distance.

The only measurement I could find online was from Sound & Vision.

Monitor Audio Silver RX8 Speaker System HT Labs Measures

HT Labs Measures L/R Sensitivity: 90.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz Center Sensitivity: 90 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz Surround Sensitivity: 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the RX8 L/R (purple trace), RX Centre...

www.soundandvision.com

They are using heavy smoothing, but the overall response is quite similar to my measurement:

Anyway, here's the results:

Directivity error at crossover.

Horizontal directivity:

0-90 deg:

0-90 deg, for comparison with Stereophile measurements:

RX6 looks very similar (measured by John Atkinson):

Monitor Audio Silver RX6 loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

www.stereophile.com

Vertical directivity:

On-axis response:

Near-field:

Distortion:

Looks good except for the (resonance?) peak at 2 kHz.

The bolt at the back of the speaker was tight (holding the bass/midrange driver), and there were no audible issues during the sweep.

It also matches the Silver 100 measurements by Amir:

Monitor Audio Silver 100 Review (Speaker)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Monitor Audio Silver 100 bookshelf speaker. It is on kind loan from a member and was just discontinued. It still sells for $799. As you see, the Silver 100 is a very attractive speaker. It feels substantial compared to more budget speakers...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The peak remains when measuring at just 76 dB / 1m (86.5 dB @ 30 cm):

The estimated in-room response is a very good indication of how this speaker sounds.

The steep slope makes it sound a bit laid back, but the treble is still a little bright. The midrange dip is also audible, and actually makes some bad recordings sound less offensive (and it of course makes good recordings sound a bit hollow). The bass is ok in a small room, when placed close to the rear wall, but it really needs a subwoofer in a large living room.

I have listened to this speaker for several hours, and I still can't make up my mind whether I like it or not. It's certainly not bad, but compared to neutral speakers, there's just something missing.

Someone mentioned Monitor Audio speakers having a "scottish scccch" sound in another thread, and it's funny, because it's true. I don't know if it's the resonance/distortion peak, or just the tonal balance.

 

[Beave]

Thanks for the review with detailed measurements. Very interesting, as I used to own a pair of these speakers!

I too had mixed feelings about them. I liked their size and looks a lot, and they had really nice build quality for the price.

I found the low bass lacking (not too surprising for a small speaker), but the upper bass was a little excessive/muddy, probably due to that small but clear hump from around 100 to 150Hz.

I also found there was something in the low treble that was sometimes "bright" or "piercing." That very well might be the distortion you found around 2kHz. I had guessed it was a little higher, perhaps the woofer's metal cone resonance not being sufficiently suppressed by its lowpass filter, but I was probably wrong. It also might have been that broadening of the horizontal dispersion around 3-4kHz. Or maybe what I heard was some of all of that?

Overall, I found them somehow a little too warm but also bright at the same time - a weird, almost contradictory conclusion that depended on the recording I was listening to.

I also had the RX2 and the RX6 around that same time.

The RX2 had much better bass to me - deeper and cleaner. It had the best bass of all three models. But its midrange had a couple of issues and didn't sound right, the worst of the three.

The RX6 was right in between the two - deeper bass than the RX1 but not as good and clean as the RX2; but better midrange than the RX2 and similar to RX1.

 

[3125b]

Pretty middling performance with that crossover issue and directivity mismatch, but for the money they look really good.

 

[Ageve]

Thanks for the review with detailed measurements. Very interesting, as I used to own a pair of these speakers!

I too had mixed feelings about them. I liked their size and looks a lot, and they had really nice build quality for the price.

I found the low bass lacking (not too surprising for a small speaker), but the upper bass was a little excessive/muddy, probably due to that small but clear hump from around 100 to 150Hz.
...
Overall, I found them somehow a little too warm but also bright at the same time - a weird, almost contradictory conclusion that depended on the recording I was listening to.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up. I noticed the slightly muddy upper bass as well.

My guess is that the bright sound is caused by the midrange dip, and the tweeter's off-axis behavior.


Here's a teardown:

The woofer is held in place by a bolt at the back, for "increased overall bracing and rigidity", according to Monitor Audio.

The cabinet feels like a solid piece of wood, and there were no signs of resonances in the port measurement.

Directional cables...

The tweeter has a damped rear chamber.

A mouse was attracted by the cheesy iron core inductors and sand cast resistors:

Joking aside, it looks good, and it's nice to see that they're using a 24 dB/octave crossover (based on the number of components).

The fit and finish is great, and the speaker is very easy to disassemble. Good industrial design.

 

[Ageve]

I did a few more measurements today.

First, pair matching:

The second sample is slightly worse, but the differences are small, and probably within manufacturing tolerances. Sample 1 is the one used for the spins.

The slightly higher tweeter output of sample 2 is closer to the Sound & Vision measurements:

Near-field woofer response, sample 1 vs 2 (1/48 smoothing):

Without smoothing:

Distortion, sample 2:

Almost identical to sample 1.

It's interesting that many Monitor Audio speakers have a distortion peak at 2 kHz, with no woofer resonance at that frequency.

Here's another example, from Soundstage:

SoundStageNetwork.com | SoundStage.com - NRC Measurements: Monitor Audio Silver 200 Loudspeakers

www.soundstagenetwork.com

Silver 200 (0/15/30 deg horizontal):

Distortion:

After several hours of listening, I haven't noticed any obvious issues at 2 kHz. The main problem is the horizontal directivity.

This is the kind of speaker that sounds just fine, and would perhaps even be preferred over some better speakers in a short demo, with the right music. But after extended listening, the small issues add up. Still far from a bad speaker though.

 

[AnalogSteph]

It's interesting that many Monitor Audio speakers have a distortion peak at 2 kHz, with no woofer resonance at that frequency.

Looks like a 6 kHz breakup mode that could do with a (series) notch. Note the 3 kHz in H2, too.

Low Distortion Filter for PTT6.5X04-NAA

purifi-audio.com

 

[Maiky76]

Here are some measurements of the Monitor Audio Silver RX1 bookshelf speaker.

It was released in 2010 and discontinued in 2014. The MSRP was $675 / pair.

View attachment 393737


It's a very nice looking speaker, with real wood veneer and excellent build quality.


My measurements are quasi-anechoic, with near-field port+woofer, corrected for baffle edge diffraction and combined with gated measurements at 1m distance.

The only measurement I could find online was from Sound & Vision.

Monitor Audio Silver RX8 Speaker System HT Labs Measures

HT Labs Measures L/R Sensitivity: 90.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz Center Sensitivity: 90 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz Surround Sensitivity: 88 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the RX8 L/R (purple trace), RX Centre...

www.soundandvision.com

They are using heavy smoothing, but the overall response is quite similar to my measurement:

View attachment 393740


Anyway, here's the results:

View attachment 393741


Directivity error at crossover.


View attachment 393742


View attachment 393743


Horizontal directivity:

View attachment 393745


0-90 deg:
View attachment 393746


0-90 deg, for comparison with Stereophile measurements:

View attachment 393747

RX6 looks very similar (measured by John Atkinson):

View attachment 393750

Monitor Audio Silver RX6 loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

www.stereophile.com

Vertical directivity:

View attachment 393751

View attachment 393753


View attachment 393752


On-axis response:

View attachment 393754


Near-field:

View attachment 393759


Distortion:

View attachment 393755


View attachment 393756


Looks good except for the (resonance?) peak at 2 kHz.

The bolt at the back of the speaker was tight (holding the bass/midrange driver), and there were no audible issues during the sweep.

It also matches the Silver 100 measurements by Amir:

Monitor Audio Silver 100 Review (Speaker)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Monitor Audio Silver 100 bookshelf speaker. It is on kind loan from a member and was just discontinued. It still sells for $799. As you see, the Silver 100 is a very attractive speaker. It feels substantial compared to more budget speakers...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The peak remains when measuring at just 76 dB / 1m (86.5 dB @ 30 cm):

View attachment 393757


View attachment 393758



The estimated in-room response is a very good indication of how this speaker sounds.

The steep slope makes it sound a bit laid back, but the treble is still a little bright. The midrange dip is also audible, and actually makes some bad recordings sound less offensive (and it of course makes good recordings sound a bit hollow). The bass is ok in a small room, when placed close to the rear wall, but it really needs a subwoofer in a large living room.

I have listened to this speaker for several hours, and I still can't make up my mind whether I like it or not. It's certainly not bad, but compared to neutral speakers, there's just something missing.

Someone mentioned Monitor Audio speakers having a "scottish scccch" sound in another thread, and it's funny, because it's true. I don't know if it's the resonance/distortion peak, or just the tonal balance.

Here is my take on the EQ.
Please report your findings, positive or negative!

For the score rational your journey starts here
Explanation for the sub score
The following EQs are “anechoic” EQs to get the speaker right before room integration.
If you able to implement these EQs you must add EQ at LF for room integration, that is usually not optional… see hints there.


The raw data with corrected ER and PIR:

Score no EQ: 5.7
With Sub: 8.2

Spinorama with no EQ:
Typical 2-way design with no waveguide directivity mismatch at the woofer-tweeter XO.

EQ design:
I have generated two EQs. The APO config files are attached.

• The first one, labelled, LW is targeted at making the LW flat
• The second, labelled Score, starts with the first one and adds the score as an optimization variable.
• The EQs are designed in the context of regular stereo use i.e. domestic environment, no warranty is provided for a near field use in a studio environment although the LW might be better suited for this purpose.

Score EQ LW: 5.6
with sub: 8.0

Score EQ Score: 6.2
with sub: 8.6

Monitor Audio RX1 APO EQ LW 96000Hz
October092024-143822

Preamp: -3.50 dB

Filter 1: ON HPQ Fc 56.6 Hz Gain 0.00 dB Q 1.79
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 100.8 Hz Gain -5.01 dB Q 1.18
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 344.9 Hz Gain 1.27 dB Q 1.45
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 768.8 Hz Gain -0.72 dB Q 1.54
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4747.4 Hz Gain 3.36 dB Q 0.74

Monitor Audio RX1 APO EQ Score 96000Hz
October092024-143823

Preamp: -3.40 dB

Filter 1: ON HPQ Fc 56.3 Hz Gain 0.00 dB Q 1.77
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 101.2 Hz Gain -4.77 dB Q 1.09
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 339.2 Hz Gain 0.79 dB Q 1.33
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 833.6 Hz Gain -1.30 dB Q 1.51
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 3703.4 Hz Gain 1.43 dB Q 2.29

Spinorama EQ LW

Spinorama EQ Score

Zoom PIR-LW-ON

Regression - Tonal

Radar no EQ vs EQ score
No improvements...

 

[VintageFlanker]

Wow, thanks for this tremendous work @Ageve !

I always myself feel a bit sentimental when talking about MA Silver series, as these was ones of my first personal Hi-Fi bookshelves. I also owned the RX-2 (4G), the Silver 2, Silver 10 (5G), Silver 100 (6G). Definitely great speakers for the MSRP at the time, not to mention with top-notch assembly and finish.

 

[Matias]

Thanks for the measurements! Excellent job.

 

[B77perez]

How are these measurements different from Monitor Audio

 

[Ageve]

How are these measurements different from Monitor Audio

I guess you are referring to your post in this thread?

Monitor Audio Apex A10 Speaker Review

So how are these measurements different? Thread 'Monitor Audio RX1 Spinorama measurements (CTA-2034)' https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/monitor-audio-rx1-spinorama-measurements-cta-2034.57130/

www.audiosciencereview.com

This is not the same speaker. The RX1 measured here is better, and more similar to other Monitor Audio-speakers.

 

[B77perez]

I guess you are referring to your post in this thread?

Monitor Audio Apex A10 Speaker Review

So how are these measurements different? Thread 'Monitor Audio RX1 Spinorama measurements (CTA-2034)' https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/monitor-audio-rx1-spinorama-measurements-cta-2034.57130/

www.audiosciencereview.com

This is not the same speaker. The RX1 measured here is better, and more similar to other Monitor Audio-speakers.

Yes I know the speakers are different but I trying to understand the differences in measurements. What makes on better than the other.

 

[Eric Natural]

I'm on my second pair of MA stand-mounts & Dirac has been an interesting icing on the cake. I've always run them with slight treble knob round off and love still the room as energised by 30yr old Studio6s. Lovely rosewood MA700s prior : = ) Minidsp flex does a great job w/EQ
Cheers

 

[uwotm8]

Well that's a good speaker with rather "pleasant" sound signature. Cabinet and components are decent for the price as well.
Checked the ebay, ~400 EUR for a used pair; sort of no-brainer if you need a moderate size passive standmounts and for some reason don't want to buy Dynaudio Emit M20 or DM 2/7. Any of these sound on the next level compared to typical wharfediamonds and such.

 

[Ageve]

Yes I know the speakers are different but I trying to understand the differences in measurements. What makes on better than the other.

Easily compare loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

Here's the on-axis response:

RX1 = dotted line.

Both have a bass boost. RX1 has much more bass output (6 dB more at 70 Hz).

The overall response is much flatter with RX1. Apex is 3-4 dB brighter > 5 kHz.

Early Reflections Directivity Index, and Sound Power Directivity Index are similar (similar off-axis behaviour compared to on-axis):

Based on the estimated in-room response, Apex A10 will sound much brighter and a bit "hollow" (showroom sound):

RX1 is more similar to the newer Silver 100, measured by Amir. One of the advantages with the Klippel Nearfield Scanner he is using, is much higher resolution at 400 Hz - 2 kHz. That's why RX1 looks a bit too smooth there (quasi-anechoic):

Easily compare loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

Both are quite good on-axis. Silver 100 has a small 2.5 kHz peak, caused by a woofer resonance (can be seen in the near-field measurements here):

Monitor Audio Silver 100 Review (Speaker)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Monitor Audio Silver 100 bookshelf speaker. It is on kind loan from a member and was just discontinued. It still sells for $799. As you see, the Silver 100 is a very attractive speaker. It feels substantial compared to more budget speakers...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[B77perez]

Easily compare loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

Here's the on-axis response:

View attachment 425891

RX1 = dotted line.

Both have a bass boost. RX1 has much more bass output (6 dB more at 70 Hz).

The overall response is much flatter with RX1. Apex is 3-4 dB brighter > 5 kHz.

Early Reflections Directivity Index, and Sound Power Directivity Index are similar (similar off-axis behaviour compared to on-axis):

View attachment 425893


Based on the estimated in-room response, Apex A10 will sound much brighter and a bit "hollow" (showroom sound):

View attachment 425898


RX1 is more similar to the newer Silver 100, measured by Amir. One of the advantages with the Klippel Nearfield Scanner he is using, is much higher resolution at 400 Hz - 2 kHz. That's why RX1 looks a bit too smooth there (quasi-anechoic):

Easily compare loudspeakers measurements

www.spinorama.org

Both are quite good on-axis. Silver 100 has a small 2.5 kHz peak, caused by a woofer resonance (can be seen in the near-field measurements here):

Monitor Audio Silver 100 Review (Speaker)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Monitor Audio Silver 100 bookshelf speaker. It is on kind loan from a member and was just discontinued. It still sells for $799. As you see, the Silver 100 is a very attractive speaker. It feels substantial compared to more budget speakers...

www.audiosciencereview.com

View attachment 425896

View attachment 425894

View attachment 425899

Thank you !!!! I am going over what you sent.