In this review, we will be comparing Silver 100 7G and LS50 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G and KEF LS50 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G | KEF LS50 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" C-CAM RST II | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-35k Hz | 79-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87.5 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-120 watts | 40-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.43kg / 20.7lbs | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-13/16" x 9-1/8" x 13-1/16"
377.0 x 232.0 x 332.0mm | 11-15/16" x 7.875" x 11-1/16"
303.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G and KEF LS50 Meta 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 Silver 100 7G |
KEF LS50 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 Silver 100 7G and LS50 Meta are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7GKEF LS50 Meta
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 Silver 100 7G |
KEF LS50 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Silver 100 7G features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" C-CAM RST II Woofer. On the other hand, the LS50 Meta features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
Silver 100 7G has a frequency range of 35-35k Hz whereas LS50 Meta has a frequency range of 79-28k 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 LS50 Meta's min frequency of 79Hz.
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
Silver 100 7G and LS50 Meta have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Silver 100 7G sensitivity is rated at 87.5 dB and the LS50 Meta's is at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF LS50 Meta, 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.
Silver 100 7G can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas LS50 Meta has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Silver 100 7G.
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
Silver 100 7G features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. LS50 Meta has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF LS50 Meta's Post terminals
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 Silver 100 7G's and KEF LS50 Meta's external dimensions. 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) whereas KEF LS50 Meta has external dimensions of 303.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm (11-15/16 x 7.875 x 11-1/16inch).
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 31mm wider, 74mm taller and 51mm deeper than KEF LS50 Meta.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G and KEF LS50 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G and KEF LS50 Meta 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 Silver 100 7G is approximately 770.2cm2 / 119.4inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 Meta is approximately 564.8cm2 / 87.5inch2. The Silver 100 7G requires 36% more surface area than the LS50 Meta which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Silver 100 7G and KEF LS50 Meta 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 Silver 100 7G weighs 9.43kg / 20.7lbs and the KEF LS50 Meta weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the Silver 100 7G 21% heavier than the LS50 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how Silver 100 7G and LS50 Meta'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 are included inside the box of 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
What's in the Box of KEF LS50 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the LS50 Meta:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
1400USD
vs
1600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Height |
303mm
vs
377mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
564cm2
vs
770cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
KEF LS50 Meta |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-120 watts |
40-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87.5 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-35k Hz |
79-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM RST II |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
377.0mm (14.8") |
303.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
232.0mm (9.1") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
332.0mm (13.1") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
9.43kg (20.7lbs) |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Polymer |
| Available Colors |
Ash,High Gloss Black,Black Oak,Satin White |
Carbon Black,Titanium Grey,Royal Blue,Mineral White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
25-30" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 | A | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G digs deeper - 35Hz against 79Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | KEF LS50 Meta is easier to place; Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is cheaper - $1,400 against $1,600, about 13% less. |
A Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G B KEF LS50 Meta
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 KEF LS50 Meta 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 79Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and KEF LS50 Meta for near-field listening and a small room.
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.