In this review, we will be comparing Silver C250 7G and R2c, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Monitor Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G and KEF R2c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G | KEF R2c |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" gold dome C-CAM | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 3" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) | 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-35k Hz | 74-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88.5 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 80-200 watts | 15-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.63kg / 23.4lbs | 16.90kg / 37.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-1/16" x 18-15/16" x 10-3/4"
205.0 x 482.0 x 274.0mm | 6-15/16" x 21-11/16" x 12-7/16"
177.0 x 551.0 x 316.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G and KEF R2c 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 C250 7G |
KEF R2c |
| 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 Silver C250 7G and R2c are 3-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7GKEF R2c
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 C250 7G |
KEF R2c |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Silver C250 7G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) Woofer. On the other hand, the R2c features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Silver C250 7G has a frequency range of 65-35k Hz whereas R2c has a frequency range of 74-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the Silver C250 7G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R2c's min frequency of 74Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 C250 7G and R2c have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Silver C250 7G sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the R2c's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R2c, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 200 watts RMS, though Silver C250 7G is rated 80-200 watts and R2c 15-200 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 C250 7G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R2c features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Silver C250 7G has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G's Binding post terminals
KEF R2c'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 Silver C250 7G's and KEF R2c's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G has external dimensions of 205.0 x 482.0 x 274.0mm (8-1/16 x 18-15/16 x 10-3/4inch) whereas KEF R2c has external dimensions of 177.0 x 551.0 x 316.0mm (6-15/16 x 21-11/16 x 12-7/16inch).
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is 69mm narrower and 42mm less deeper than KEF R2c but it is also 28mm 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 C250 7G is approximately 1320.7cm2 / 204.7inch2 and base area of the KEF R2c is approximately 1741.2cm2 / 269.9inch2. The Silver C250 7G requires 24% less surface area than the R2c 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 C250 7G weighs 10.63kg / 23.4lbs and the KEF R2c weighs 16.90kg / 37.2lbs. This makes the R2c 59% heavier than the Silver C250 7G.
Here is a comparison of how Silver C250 7G and R2c's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Silver C250 7G:
- Center-channel loudspeakers
- Grille
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of KEF R2c?
Here are the items that come with the R2c:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
65 Hz
vs
74 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1320cm2
vs
1741cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Height |
177mm
vs
205mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
KEF R2c |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
80-200 watts |
15-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88.5 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-35k Hz |
74-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
gold dome C-CAM |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
205.0mm (8.1") |
177.0mm (7") |
| Width |
482.0mm (19") |
551.0mm (21.7") |
| Depth |
274.0mm (10.8") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
10.63kg (23.4lbs) |
16.90kg (37.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
White |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
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 C250 7G digs deeper - 65Hz against 74Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF R2c: bi-amping. Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is cheaper - $1,100 against $1,300, about 15% less. |
A Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G B KEF R2c
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 C250 7G is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take KEF R2c 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 74Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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.