In this review, we will be comparing R200 50th Anniversary Edition and Silver 100 7G, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk R200 50th AE and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk R200 50th AE | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Ring Radiator | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polypropylene | 8" C-CAM RST II |
|---|
| Frequency response | 51-38k Hz | 35-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.80kg / 19.4lbs | 9.43kg / 20.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/16" x 7-9/16" x 13-15/16"
358.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm | 14-13/16" x 9-1/8" x 13-1/16"
377.0 x 232.0 x 332.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk R200 50th AE 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* |
Polk R200 50th AE |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 R200 50th Anniversary Edition and Silver 100 7G are 2-way speakers.
Polk R200 50th AEMonitor 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 |
Polk R200 50th AE |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
R200 50th Anniversary Edition features a 1" ring radiator Pinnacle with an integrated waveguide Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene 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
R200 50th Anniversary Edition has a frequency range of 51-38k 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 R200 50th Anniversary Edition'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
R200 50th Anniversary Edition
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
R200 50th Anniversary Edition and Silver 100 7G have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R200 50th Anniversary Edition 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 Polk R200 50th AE, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
R200 50th Anniversary Edition
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 50th Anniversary Edition can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Silver 100 7G has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the R200 50th Anniversary Edition.
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. R200 50th Anniversary Edition has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk R200 50th AE'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 Polk R200 50th AE's and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G's external dimensions. Polk R200 50th AE has external dimensions of 358.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm (24-28inch x 7-9/16inch x 13-15/16inch) 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).
Polk R200 50th AE is 39mm narrower and 19mm shorter than Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G but it is also 23mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk R200 50th AE and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G in scale.
Comparison image of Polk R200 50th AE 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 Polk R200 50th AE is approximately 685.2cm2 / 106.2inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is approximately 770.2cm2 / 119.4inch2. The R200 50th Anniversary Edition requires 11% 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 Polk R200 50th AE 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 Polk R200 50th AE weighs 8.80kg / 19.4lbs and the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G weighs 9.43kg / 20.7lbs. This makes the Silver 100 7G 7% heavier than the R200 50th Anniversary Edition.
Here is a comparison of how R200 50th Anniversary Edition 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 100 7G
What's in the Box of Polk R200 50th AE?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R200 50th Anniversary Edition:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
- Certificate Of Aunthenticity
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
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
35k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
358mm
vs
377mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
685cm2
vs
770cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1249USD
vs
1400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Polk Audio Reserve R200 50th Anniversary Edition |
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
51-38k Hz |
35-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
C-CAM RST II |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Ring Radiator |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
358.0mm (14.1") |
377.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
193.0mm (7.6") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
355.0mm (14") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
8.80kg (19.4lbs) |
9.43kg (20.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Cherry |
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 |
No |
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 | B | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G digs deeper - 35Hz against 51Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Polk R200 50th AE takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Polk R200 50th AE is cheaper - $1,249 against $1,400, about 11% less. |
A Polk R200 50th AE 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, Polk R200 50th AE costs about about 12% 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 51Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk R200 50th AE much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Polk R200 50th AE the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G for 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.