In this review, we will be comparing Vestia No1 and Silver 100 7G, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Vestia No1 and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Vestia No1 | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Slatefiber | 8" C-CAM RST II |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-30k Hz | 35-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89.5 dB | 87.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.00kg / 15.4lbs | 9.43kg / 20.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-1/4" x 8-5/8" x 10-1/4"
388.0 x 220.0 x 261.0mm | 14-13/16" x 9-1/8" x 13-1/16"
377.0 x 232.0 x 332.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Vestia No1 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* |
Focal Vestia No1 |
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.
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Drivers
Both Vestia No1 and Silver 100 7G are 2-way speakers.
Focal Vestia No1Monitor 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 |
Focal Vestia No1 |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Vestia No1 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. 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
Vestia No1 has a frequency range of 56-30k 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 significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Vestia No1's min frequency of 56Hz.
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
Vestia No1 and Silver 100 7G have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Vestia No1 sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the Silver 100 7G's is at 87.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Vestia No1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 120 watts RMS, though Vestia No1 is rated 25-120 watts and Silver 100 7G 40-120 watts.
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 Focal Vestia No1's and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G's external dimensions. Focal Vestia No1 has external dimensions of 388.0 x 220.0 x 261.0mm (15-1/4-inch x 8-5/8-inch x 10-1/4-inch) 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).
Focal Vestia No1 is 12mm narrower and 71mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G but it is also 11mm taller.
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 Focal Vestia No1 is approximately 574.2cm2 / 89.0inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is approximately 770.2cm2 / 119.4inch2. The Vestia No1 requires 25% 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 Focal Vestia No1 weighs 7.00kg / 15.4lbs and the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G weighs 9.43kg / 20.7lbs. This makes the Silver 100 7G 35% heavier than the Vestia No1.
Here is a comparison of how Vestia No1 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
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Base Surface Area |
574cm2
vs
770cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
377mm
vs
388mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Focal Vestia No1 |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
| Brand |
Focal |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
87.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.5 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
56-30k Hz |
35-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
C-CAM RST II |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
388.0mm (15.3") |
377.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
220.0mm (8.7") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
261.0mm (10.3") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
7.00kg (15.4lbs) |
9.43kg (20.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, Dark Wood, Light Wood |
Ash,High Gloss Black,Black Oak,Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
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 |
B |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G digs deeper - 35Hz against 56Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Focal Vestia No1 is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size |
depends |
Focal Vestia No1 is easier to place; Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
B |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G: bi-amping. Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
Focal Vestia No1 is cheaper - $1,198 against $1,400, about 14% less. |
A Focal Vestia No1
B Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
The usual trade-off: Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G measures better, Focal Vestia No1 costs about 14% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 56Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Focal Vestia No1 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Vestia No1 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.