In this review, we will be comparing P300 and Silver 100 7G, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt P300 and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Buchardt P300 | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
|---|
| Brand | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.74" aluminum waveguide | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" paper | 8" C-CAM RST II |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-40k Hz | 35-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50 - 200 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.30kg / 13.9lbs | 9.43kg / 20.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.4" x 7" x 11"
365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm | 14-13/16" x 9-1/8" x 13-1/16"
377.0 x 232.0 x 332.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Buchardt P300 and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Buchardt P300 |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both P300 and Silver 100 7G are 2-way speakers.
Buchardt P300Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Buchardt P300 |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
P300 features a 0.74" Custom fine weave soft fabric textile with CDC aluminum waveguide aluminum waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz. On the other hand, the Silver 100 7G features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" C-CAM RST II Woofer.
Frequency Response
P300 has a frequency range of 37-40k Hz whereas Silver 100 7G has a frequency range of 35-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Silver 100 7G can go slightly deeper then the P300's min frequency of 37Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
P300 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Silver 100 7G which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the P300 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. P300 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Silver 100 7G's is rated at 87.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G a more sensitive speaker compared to Buchardt P300, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
P300 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Silver 100 7G has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the P300.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Buchardt P300's and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G's external dimensions. Buchardt P300 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm (14.4 x 7 x 11inch) whereas Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G has external dimensions of 377.0 x 232.0 x 332.0mm (14-13/16 x 9-1/8 x 13-1/16inch).
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 52mm wider, 12mm taller and 52mm deeper than Buchardt P300.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Buchardt P300 is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is approximately 770.2cm2 / 119.4inch2. The P300 requires 35% less surface area than the Silver 100 7G which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Buchardt P300 weighs 6.30kg / 13.9lbs and the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G weighs 9.43kg / 20.7lbs. This makes the Silver 100 7G 50% heavier than the P300.
Here is a comparison of how P300 and Silver 100 7G's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G?
Here are the items that come with the Silver 100 7G:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- 8 Rubber feet
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
one 5x8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
365mm
vs
377mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
504cm2
vs
770cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1400USD
vs
1450USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Buchardt P300 |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
50 - 200 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-40k Hz |
35-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper |
C-CAM RST II |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.74" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminum waveguide |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900Hz |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
365.0mm (14.4") |
377.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
280.0mm (11") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
6.30kg (13.9lbs) |
9.43kg (20.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
15mm Fiberboard HMR.E2 Moisture-proof with internal bracing |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Peach, Ocean, Olive |
Ash,High Gloss Black,Black Oak,Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (37Hz vs 35Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Buchardt P300 takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Buchardt P300 is easier to place; Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | B | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,450 vs $1,400 a pair). |
A Buchardt P300 B Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Buchardt P300 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.