In this review, we will be comparing Silver 50 8G and R200, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Monitor Audio and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G and Polk R200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G | Polk R200 |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" gold dome C-CAM | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" C-CAM RST III | 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 43-35k Hz | 51-38k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86.5 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 30-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.20kg / 18lbs | 8.69kg / 19.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-3/16" x 7-5/16" x 13-1/16"
335.0 x 185.0 x 332.0mm | 14-1/8" x 7-9/16" x 13-15/16"
359.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G and Polk R200 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 8G |
Polk R200 |
| 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.
Drivers
Both Silver 50 8G and R200 are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Silver 50 8GPolk R200
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 8G |
Polk R200 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Silver 50 8G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter and 1 x 6" C-CAM RST III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz. On the other hand, the R200 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
Silver 50 8G has a frequency range of 43-35k Hz whereas R200 has a frequency range of 51-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 43Hz, the Silver 50 8G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R200's min frequency of 51Hz.
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 8G and R200 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Silver 50 8G sensitivity is rated at 86.5 dB and the R200's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk R200, 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.
R200 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Silver 50 8G has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the R200.
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 8G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Silver 50 8G features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R200 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Silver 50 8G and R200 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Polk R200 Port
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 8G's and Polk R200's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G has external dimensions of 335.0 x 185.0 x 332.0mm (13-3/16 x 7-5/16 x 13-1/16inch) whereas Polk R200 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm (14-1/8 x 7-9/16 x 13-15/16inch).
Polk R200 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 8mm wider, 24mm taller and 23mm deeper than Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Polk R200 needs about 12% more floor or shelf area. Polk R200 is 23mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Polk R200 is 24mm 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 Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G is approximately 614.2cm2 / 95.2inch2 and base area of the Polk R200 is approximately 685.2cm2 / 106.2inch2. The Silver 50 8G requires 10% less surface area than the R200 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 Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the Polk R200 weighs 8.69kg / 19.1lbs. This makes the R200 6% heavier than the Silver 50 8G.
Here is a comparison of how Silver 50 8G and R200's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G
What's in the Box of Polk R200?
Here are the items that come with the R200:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
43 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
335mm
vs
359mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
614cm2
vs
685cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
749USD
vs
1250USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G |
Polk Audio Reserve R200 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86.5 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
43-35k Hz |
51-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM RST III |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
gold dome C-CAM |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
3000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
335.0mm (13.2") |
359.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
332.0mm (13.1") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
8.69kg (19.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/High gloss, veneer or satin paint |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
High Gloss Black, European Walnut, Satin White |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G costs roughly 1.7x what Polk R200 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 | A | Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G digs deeper - 43Hz against 51Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Polk R200 takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G: bi-amping. Polk R200 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk R200 is cheaper - $749 against $1,250, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G B Polk R200
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 51Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk R200 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Silver 50 8G the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Polk R200 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.