In this review, we will be comparing Silver C250 7G and Silver Centre 8G, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G and Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G | Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" gold dome C-CAM | 1" gold dome C-CAM |
|---|
| Midrange | 3" | 3" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) | 2 x 6" C-CAM RST III |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-35k Hz | 66-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88.5 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 80-200 watts | 50-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.63kg / 23.4lbs | 11.70kg / 25.7lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 8-1/16" x 20-1/8" x 10-11/16"
205.0 x 511.0 x 272.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G and Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G 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 |
Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G |
| 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 Silver Centre 8G are 3-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7GMonitor Audio Silver Centre 8G
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 |
Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6-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 Silver Centre 8G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 2 x 6" C-CAM RST III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 620Hz and 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
Silver C250 7G has a frequency range of 65-35k Hz whereas Silver Centre 8G has a frequency range of 66-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the Silver C250 7G can go slightly deeper then the Silver Centre 8G's min frequency of 66Hz.
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 Silver Centre 8G 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 Silver Centre 8G's is at 89 dB.
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 Silver Centre 8G 50-200 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
Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Silver Centre 8G 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
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 Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G'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 Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G has external dimensions of 205.0 x 511.0 x 272.0mm (8-1/16 x 20-1/8 x 10-11/16inch).
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.
Near-identical footprints.
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 Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G is approximately 1389.9cm2 / 215.4inch2. The Silver C250 7G requires 5% less surface area than the Silver Centre 8G 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 Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G weighs 11.70kg / 25.7lbs. This makes the Silver Centre 8G 10% heavier than the Silver C250 7G.
Here is a comparison of how Silver C250 7G and Silver Centre 8G'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
Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G
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
 Low Frequency Response |
65 Hz
vs
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1320cm2
vs
1389cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
80-200 watts |
50-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88.5 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-35k Hz |
66-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) |
C-CAM RST III |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
gold dome C-CAM |
gold dome C-CAM |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
620Hz and 3000Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
205.0mm (8.1") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
482.0mm (19") |
511.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
274.0mm (10.8") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Weight |
10.63kg (23.4lbs) |
11.70kg (25.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Sealed |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/High gloss, veneer or satin paint |
| Available Colors |
White |
High Gloss Black, European Walnut, Satin White |
| 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 |
A generation apart: Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G is the newer design, against a 2021 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (65Hz vs 66Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,100 vs $1,200 a pair). |
A Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G B Monitor Audio Silver Centre 8G
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 Centre 8G has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.