In this review, we will be comparing Silver 50 7G and Silver 100 7G, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G | 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" Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" C-CAM RST II | 8" C-CAM RST II |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-35k Hz | 35-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-100 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.63kg / 12.4lbs | 9.43kg / 20.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-1/8" x 6-9/16" x 10-3/4"
283.0 x 167.0 x 274.0mm | 14-13/16" x 9-1/8" x 13-1/16"
377.0 x 232.0 x 332.0mm |
|---|
Silver 50 7G and Silver 100 7G are members of Monitor Audio's Silver series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Monitor Audio Silver Series
History
What size room are the Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G 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 Silver 50 7G |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Silver 50 7G and Silver 100 7G are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Silver 50 7GMonitor 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 Silver 50 7G |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Silver 50 7G features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" C-CAM RST II Woofer. 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
Silver 50 7G has a frequency range of 47-35k 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 Silver 50 7G's min frequency of 47Hz.
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 50 7G and Silver 100 7G have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Silver 50 7G sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Silver 100 7G's is at 87.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Silver 50 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.
Silver 100 7G can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Silver 50 7G 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 50 7G
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Silver 50 7G and Silver 100 7G features dual binding post speaker terminals for 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 Silver 50 7G's and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G has external dimensions of 283.0 x 167.0 x 274.0mm (11-1/8 x 6-9/16 x 10-3/4inch) 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 65mm wider, 94mm taller and 58mm deeper than Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G 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 Silver 50 7G is approximately 457.6cm2 / 70.9inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is approximately 770.2cm2 / 119.4inch2. The Silver 50 7G requires 41% 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 Silver 50 7G 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 Silver 50 7G weighs 5.63kg / 12.4lbs and the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G weighs 9.43kg / 20.7lbs. This makes the Silver 100 7G 67% heavier than the Silver 50 7G.
Here is a comparison of how Silver 50 7G 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 50 7G
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Silver 50 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 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
 Height |
283mm
vs
377mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
457cm2
vs
770cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 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
47 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-100 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-35k Hz |
35-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM RST II |
C-CAM RST II |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
283.0mm (11.1") |
377.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
167.0mm (6.6") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
274.0mm (10.8") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
5.63kg (12.4lbs) |
9.43kg (20.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Ash,High Gloss Black,Black Oak,Satin White |
Ash,High Gloss Black,Black Oak,Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
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 |
Siblings in Monitor Audio's Silver series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G digs deeper - 35Hz against 47Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G is easier to place; Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G: bi-amping; Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G is cheaper - $1,100 against $1,400, about 21% less. |
A Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G 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?
The usual trade-off: Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G measures better, Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G costs about about 27% more% 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 47Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G for a mid-size room and a large 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.