Monitor Audio Silver RS 8 Loudspeakers

Precious metal: Monitor's new Silver RS series

of last resort. In my listening tests, the first two approaches worked well, but the port bungs did not; though they reduced unwanted bass, they also forced an audible reduction in overall bass and midrange clarity. Stick with the other two approaches, and things should turn out fine.

My other precaution for potential buyers is to exercise great care in choosing an amplifier or receiver for use with the RS8s. I believe that the speakers were voiced to sound their best when driven by modest electronics, so don't assume that investing in a big palooka amp will make the RS8s sound better (in practice, the opposite could be true). For an excellent match, try driving the RS8s with Arcam's new $1599 Solo stereo receiver/CD-player. This combo produces legitimate highend sound at a level you wouldn't think possible for the price.

Monitor Audio's RS8 is a lot of speaker for the money, offering dynamite looks and a fine mix of sonic virtues, centering on a dynamically alive and transparent sound. It is a speaker well suited for use in moderately large rooms, and it has enough moxie to handle high volumes with grace. I recommend arranging an inhome trial with a local dealer—just to make sure the speaker's substantial bass output won't overdrive your room. And should the RS8s turn out to be too much speaker for your listening space, remember that Monitor also offers the RS6s, which are essentially the same speaker, but with a little less low bass output. Monitor's hope is that there will be a Silver RS model that's right for you.