In this review, we will be comparing Gold 50 6G and Silver 100 7G, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" HDT C-CAM | 8" C-CAM RST II |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55 Hz - 60 kHz | 35-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 87.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.52kg / 18.7lbs | 9.43kg / 20.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-5/8" x 7-5/16" x 11-15/16"
321.0 x 186.0 x 304.0mm | 14-13/16" x 9-1/8" x 13-1/16"
377.0 x 232.0 x 332.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G 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* |
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G |
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 Gold 50 6G and Silver 100 7G are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6GMonitor 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 |
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Gold 50 6G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter and 1 x 6" HDT C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.5 kHz. 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
Gold 50 6G has a frequency range of 55 Hz - 60 kHz 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 Gold 50 6G's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
Gold 50 6G 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 Gold 50 6G can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Gold 50 6G sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Silver 100 7G's is rated at 87.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G, 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.
Gold 50 6G can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Silver 100 7G has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Gold 50 6G.
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
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Gold 50 6G and Silver 100 7G features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G's and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G has external dimensions of 321.0 x 186.0 x 304.0mm (7-5/16 x 12-5/8 x 11-15/16) 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 46mm wider, 56mm taller and 28mm deeper than Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G Size and External Dimensions
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 Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G is approximately 565.4cm2 / 87.6inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is approximately 770.2cm2 / 119.4inch2. The Gold 50 6G requires 27% less surface area than the Silver 100 7G which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G on a Media Console
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 Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G weighs 8.52kg / 18.7lbs and the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G weighs 9.43kg / 20.7lbs. This makes the Silver 100 7G 11% heavier than the Gold 50 6G.
Here is a comparison of how Gold 50 6G 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 Gold 50 6G?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Gold 50 6G:
- 2 bookshelf loudspeakers
- 4 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-plates (pre-installed)
- 2 Port plugs
- Hex-key
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
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 |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
321mm
vs
377mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
565cm2
vs
770cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 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
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1400USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
87.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
55 Hz - 60 kHz |
35-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
HDT C-CAM |
C-CAM RST II |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.5 kHz |
n/a |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
8 Rubber feet |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
377.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
186.0mm (7.3") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
304.0mm (12") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
8.52kg (18.7lbs) |
9.43kg (20.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Macassar Wood Veneer, High-Gloss Black, Satin White |
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 |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G costs roughly 1.8x what Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G digs deeper - 35Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), 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 | Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G is easier to place; Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G: bi-amping; 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 | B | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is cheaper - $1,400 against $2,499, about 44% less; arguably a different class. |
A Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G 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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. 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, Monitor Audio Gold 50 6G is the easier speaker to get right.
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.