MONITOR AUDIO GOLD 200 SPEAKERS: THE CRITICAL SPEC THAT'S TOO OFTEN IGNORED. NOW REVIEWED. PLUS!

Circling back on these 3-way floorstanding speakers, Paul Rigby has two good reasons to take another look at the Gold 200s. One of which is here by public demand, the other is long overdue and examines a secret, hiding in plain sight
VIDEO CONTENTS
00:00 - Introduction & Prices
5:05 - Closer Look
7:15 - Sound Quality
8:09 - vs Q Acoustic 3050i
10:04 - vs Monitor Audio Silver 300s
11:05 - vs Quad 57s
11:50 - 4 Ohm Testing
14:!0 - Final Thoughts, Pros & Cons and Rating
MONITOR AUDIO GOLD 200 SPEAKERS: www.monitoraudio.com/en/produ...
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#monitoraudio #speakers #review #audiophile #paulrigby #theaudiophileman
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OTHER CREDITS
Old Bossa by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution
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[@rosswarren436]

Older reviews are great to have as a resource, especially if someone is considering buying speakers or other components used.

[@AdiMaco]

Yea, I like them, your older reviews! Thank you for them!❤

[@markcarrington8565]

Hi Paul, I recently parted company with my beloved Monitor Audio Gold GR20s, which I previously modified with some very nice crossover components. I have moved to a smaller listening room and they were simply too over-powering in the bass. My choice is the Neat Elite Classics, which work extremely well in my new listening space. Returning to the 200s, it’s clear that impedance matching is having a positive impact on the damping factor, cleaning the sound up across the frequency spectrum. I experienced a similar thing when I upgraded my amp driving the GR20s. It was hard to believe they were the same speakers. The Musical Fidelity X150 was no slouch and should have been up to the job. However, it was only when I upgraded it to its big brother with 150wpc and a peak current delivery capability of 45 amps that I realised what an amplifier with true grip could do. I strongly suspect this is the improvement you experienced in your impedance matched amplifier. Great review, btw.

[@nelsonclub7722]

Monitor Audio speakers are neutral detailed, articulate and dynamic and very easy to drive, I went all in with the utterly enormous PL500II's which stand at 1.8 metres in gloss black - I shall never need to replace them - they are just incredible. If you want a warmer softer sound go Valve, something a bit in between- hybrid - full on rock - a good powerful Mono set will do - whilst they do not make them anymore they rarely come up for sale - I was lucky and got mine at just a time when I could afford to - add a sub on them and they really shake the house - brilliant stuff - I use Cambridge Edge mono's hooked into a Cambridge Edge NQ - simple set up, Hi-Fi done.

[@RPM33.33]

Hi Paul, very good video and competent approach considering the impedance match with the amp. Could you make an assumption if pairing with a Naim Uniti Atom would make them „sing“ or just work? Thanks and keep on with your style. Best regards, Peter

[@KITFLETCH1]

Great review.

[@jeroenvanwesemael8556]

Hi Paul, Thanks a lot for your movies, I'm a big fan and really enjoy watching them! Q: what amplifier did you use that has these 4 ohm binding posts? Never heard of that before. I run an atoll IN200 which is rated at 300 watts into 4 ohm and has 2 huge toroid power supplies, that should be enough to get the most out of them right?

[@TheAudiophileMan]

I used a pair of Icon Audio MB845 Mk.II monoblocks which offers both 8 Ohm and also 4 Ohm sockets.

[@jeroenvanwesemael8556]

Hi Paul. What I forgot to ask: which 8 ohm amplifier did you use in your original review? Thanks a lot!

[@JohnSmith-of4vh]

Hi Paul, You make a good point concerning old reviews. Ofcourse HiFi & systems 'progress' but my view is that what was good all those years ago is still good & in decent condition old stuff can be aquired at an affordable price. But this brings us to another point of discussion; Is new HiFi affordable anymore?

[@antonlee1526]

Hi Paul. Very interesting. I tried the 200 golds paired with Marantz model30n amp but didn't get the 'bass' performance you describe. My friendly dealer swapped them for the 300 golds and my face just lit up - no comparison and I certainly don't feel the need for a sub woofer. Both are nominally 4 ohm. Otherwise very much concur with your comments re mid-range and treble. I would add that both speakers, although rear ported, are designed for relatively close positioning to the back wall. This adds to their usability and of course both look fabulous. Keep up the good work!

[@JPWinters]

Are you using the Marantz Model 30 with the Gold 300 5G's? If so how do you like the combo? I've had the Model 30 for a while & just bought the Gold 300's.

[@ZEN_X999]

What did u use to power your gold 300 ? Bass ok?

[@gbrowser5867]

Fascinating review. I've had these speakers for almost 2 years now and I really like them. The advantages of these speakers for me are that they are easy to drive if you play them at normal room listening levels, their size (1 metre high and narrow) makes them easy to place in a room to get the optimum sound and they don't dominate a room (unlike my previous 1.3 m monsters). I found that adding Tellurium Q Black II speaker cables and Jumpers really improved their sound, particular the jumpers and I'm not sure that the small cable jumpers that come with them are of really high quality (they do look good). I'm also not sure how you would tell suitable amplifiers that you have 4 Ohm speakers connected? Most reasonably priced amps don't seem to have multiple binding posts.

[@JanJan-dd1wi]

What is wrong with original jumpers?

[@gbrowser5867]

There's nothing wrong with the original jumpers and they are probably better than the metal jumpers that some speaker manufacturers use. It was just that the Tellurium jumpers made a significant improvement in my system that surprised me. Maybe it was because the tellurium jumpers matched the speaker cables? @@JanJan-dd1wi

[@RennieAsh]

Probably nothing. But some people think cables do a whole lot. Probably the same cable is used inside the speaker so idk.

[@RennieAsh]

Also, most amplifiers don't need different terminal because they are not load dependent like tube amps or output transformer amps (mackintosh)

[@BranislavSavic]

Hi @TheAudiophileMan 🙂 I'm curious to know what your experience has been with tightening the screw on the back of the Monitor Audio Gold 200 5G speaker that is connected to the tweeter. I've read in the official PDF manual that it is recommended to only tighten this screw by 1/4 of a turn. Have you tried this, and if so, did you notice any noticeable changes in sound? I also own a pair of Monitor Audio Gold 100 speakers, which have the same screw on the back. I'm wondering if you have any experience with tightening this screw on the Gold speakers as well. Thanks for your time!

[@aussie8114]

Those screws are there simply to tighten up the drivers after shipping. They would have no effect on audio.

[@NosEL34]

Do you feel these are better than the Q Acoustics Concept 50?

[@user-uz4xm4hf3q]

Hi Paul I really enjoyed the article, particularly the focus on ohm rating of speaker and amplifier output. So, I checked my monitor audio platinum pl100s, and as expected, found them rated at 4ohm too. Which then begs the question for me, what amplifiers out there offer a dedicated 4ohm output? Searching online just led me down a lot of rabbit holes. Could you help point me in the right direction? ps I currently use the primare i30 integrated amplifier and would be interested to know if something more compatible with the MAs would be worth consideration. Any thoughts gratefully received. As always, many thanks for your reviews and support. Tim

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Hi Tim - well, I use high-end valve monoblocks from UK outfit, Icon Audio which have 4 Ohm sockets. I also know that the company's integrated amps, models like the Stereo 40 and Stereo 60 also use 4 Ohm sockets. I'd need to do a bit of research to see if other brands also use them.

[@kenwoodward6975]

These amplifiers all use valve technology , so require an output matching transformer to lower their output impedence. Solid state amplifiers wont have this additional transformer will they , it's not required.@@TheAudiophileMan

[@TheAudiophileMan]

@@kenwoodward6975 Sure, I hear what you're saying, but...even so, I'd still like to listen to these via a solid state amp with 4 Ohm pots. I have a hunch it would make a difference.

[@kenwoodward6975]

@@TheAudiophileMan Well it may sound different if they used the same technique to produce a tap labelled 4ohm because a transformer would be in the way.

[@rosswarren436]

Not just this speaker, but in general, was set up of the speaker (toe-in) fussy with that folded motion tweeter or was it relatively easy? Thanks for mentioning that they can play well at lower volumes. So many speakers can't, so that is valuable information.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Hi Ross - I found the tweeters worked well just skimming past the ears.

[@rosswarren436]

@@TheAudiophileManthank you! Good to know.

[@Evolved_ue7]

I have the 100s which I run with the bungs in, for my set up they are perfect . Mostly near ISH field listening 8ft . The bass can sound a little loose but the bungs bring it all together. They outshine my ATC SCM and Dali Menuet se (in my set up) .. Of course each speaker has it's better here and there performance but the MA just has more of everything with a standout HF . Would love to try 200 300 but simply would not fit . Thanks for the review similarities across the board .

[@medonk12rs]

Did I miss it? Which amp(s) did you use during the evaluation, especially when trying "4 ohm" mode? As far as I think I understood there is only a limited number of amps which actually have different "taps" for different speaker characteristics - tube amps with transformers, or maybe McIntosh $$$$ amps with "autoformers". These amps will change in sound according to which output tap is used. Any "regular" solid state amp that has a "4 ohm" vs "8 ohm" switch only gets artificially output limited in "4 ohm" mode, due to the way testing / power output rating procedures are defined. Thus, the 4 ohm switch prevents overloading the amp, but does not actually change the way it sound. ... or... what's the point?

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Hi - I used a pair of the UK's Icon Audio monoblocks which offers 4 Ohm sockets. And yes there are a limited number of amps out there offering such sockets. Icon Audio does sell a range of integrated amplifiers which also include 4 Ohm taps and, as you say, McIntosh does too. As I said in the review, most amps provide a range setting to automatically track the Ohm setting but it's my contention that this should be changed. That's part of the point of this video. Amplifier design should be changed. Especially when large, broad-based companies like Monitor Audio are releasing 4 Ohm speaker designs. And then their customers are wasting their money by hearing only a portion of the design's true capabilities. I've reviewed 4 Ohm speaker designs in the past from smaller outfits and, again, heard a large difference when connecting them via specialist 4 Ohm taps but when a *mainstream* company like MA builds 4 Ohm speakers, *mainstream* amp designers need to look again at what they are doing and why. To my mind, again as I said in the video, 4 Ohm speakers perform better via 4 Ohm sockets. You can get away with 6 Ohm speakers, they just need more power to drive. But 4 Ohm? No. The sound quality changes fundamentally. A line is crossed at that point. So there's several points right there. Another point? The likes of McIntosh and Icon Audio include 4 Ohm taps for a reason. Adding these components costs them serious money in terms of the build budget. Don't forget, profit is king. Any successful design is specified for a reason. McIntosh and Icon Audio didn't add 4 Ohm taps, 'for a laugh'. They know these sockets are important. Which is why I have respect for both companies. They know amplifiers.

[@medonk12rs]

@@TheAudiophileMan Thanks for the very detailed answer! I still try to figure out what that 4 ohms thing means for solid state amp users. As I learned you use Icon Audio amps which seem to be tube amps - with tube amps there was (as far as I think I understood) the need to transform high valve output voltages with limited current delivery into lower voltages&higher currents. With solid state amps there is no urgent need to do so - transistors have high current delivery "by nature". In your use case choosing the 4 ohms tap on a tube amp instead of the 8 ohm tap should reduce maximum output voltage, and at the same time increase current delivery - thus: deliver more bass, more impact, maybe also positive changes in mid-range. With a solid state amp that features output transformers, a change in sound (regardless of speaker design) would also be very likely I assume - due to the shift up/down in voltage&current operating point of the semiconductors / transistors. For me it seems clear: Without output transformers in an amp the discussion about 4 ohms is moot - and I think your answer points into this direction.

[@RennieAsh]

A properly designed "normal" solid state amplifier would be load independent, not changing frequency response on load variation. It then comes down to how many amps it can output. Valve amps or autoformer, or specifically engineered amplifiers that have load dependencies may need such taps. On a regular amplifier perhaps such taps just allow protection circuit to measure allowed output better.

[@kurtechter2872]

....and what are you doing wih 6 Ohm Speakers e.g. Q Acoustics concept 500 ???

[@TheAudiophileMan]

In sound terms? I find that 6 Ohm speakers are fine. There’s no appreciable difference in sound quality. The 6 Ohm figure impacts more on sensitivity so I find that 6 Ohm designs might result in you buying a more powerful amp (I’m generalising but that’s the broad conclusion) I find that moving from 6 to 4 Ohms though crosses a line in sound terms. I’ve heard this effect now on more than one occasion from more than one manufacturer.

[@wilfarnold6747]

Not a comment aimed at these speakers per se, but I noticed that it seems as though for normal (non bi-wire) connection to the amp the speaker cables always seem to plug into the LF speaker connection and then the bridging plate/cables connect onwards to the HF connection. It's the same with my B&W P4s. Is there a reason for this? Would the results be the same if you connected to the HF terminals instead? I haven't tried this just in case.......

[@kenwoodward6975]

result would be the same

[@RennieAsh]

I thought the audiophile thing was to plug it into the hf terminals so you don't send those subtle details through more connections. In reality it probably does not matter at all. Moving your head 3cm will make a bigger difference

[@josefserf1926]

All reviews tell you more about the reviewer than the reviewed object.

[@llee4225]

The discussion of 8 or 4 ohm mode is more of amplifier capability than of the speakers as it has fixed impedance. Testing a 4 ohms speaker with an 8 ohm amplifier is really a mismatch and testing if the amplifier has sufficient current to handle 4 or lower impedance rating. Giving a speaker rating based on 4 ohm or 8 ohm amplifier is misleading as it will highly be dependent on the amplifier not speaker.

[@panikosmodestou7944]

Amazing speakers for the money

[@aussie8114]

A lot of speakers are 4 ohm. Sonus Faber as an example. My Monitor Audio RX8 are also 4 ohm.

[@matthewtaylor7355]

Still waiting for u to start reviewing Chinese kit that doesn't have the rip off UK Dealer mark ups.. My Mineva 300b amp cost 600GBP and sounds xcellent

[@1-0-8]

Valve amps are almost always an upgrade !

[@kopeducati]

how does an amplifier play at 4ohm ? there us no button , yet they all claim to do? ( Hegel 390 on AM Gold100 G5 here )

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Most amps play a range of Ohm figures and, incidentally, so do speakers. Even 8 Ohm-rated speakers won't just fix at 8 Ohms, they will wander about a bit. The stated rating is a guide, you might say. At the back of a lot of amps you'll actually see a 4-16 Ohm figure. Listening, they tend to perform best around 6-12 shall we say? Ish? I haven't heard 16 Ohm speakers (I think the old BBC designs were 16 Ohm?) so I can't comment on those. Amps play 4 Ohm speakers fine. Just not amazingly well. Which is why I like to see 4 Ohm sockets.

[@kopeducati]

@@TheAudiophileMan thanks for that..

[@RennieAsh]

Hegel is solid state. It'll probably be fine, though some amplifiers are built to be more stable and higher current at lower impedances than others. Not usually a problem unless you exceed the current ratings.

[@redstarwraith]

Meaty beaty, yes. But are they big and bouncy as well?

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Yes. Yes they are.

[@cubrini1]

Very disappointed with Gold 100 5g...until i try Densen B130....first time i heard what they can do. Secret is in amplification pudding.

[@JPWinters]

What amp did you use prior?

[@cubrini1]

@@JPWinters roksan k3....mids and highs ok lows too slow. Musical fidelity M5si mids and highs too bright on higher volumes, bass fantastic.( dac chord quest) now hegel h90 internal dac.....ok but not for my speakers. Hegel sounds very good on l50. Transparency speed and timing of Densen is like music didn't been amplified just fantastic pairing. I don't want to say one is better from another...combination is important.

[@duntrolling8876]

Im seeing these for £1999

[@marcbegine]

Made in China!

[@Another_Audiophile]

And? The build quality is exceptional.

[@rosswarren436]

I too would rather my money not be going to support that cancerous, murderous communist regime, but we consumers are offered little choice in the matter today, save for a very FEW companies returning manufacturing back to Britian. Just be prepared to pay about a 50% price premium if you go that route. At least the design of many speakers is still done in the U.S., Norway, Denmark, and the U.K. That's the best we can hope for. The Chinese people are great themselves and quite capable of beautiful work. Remember, before Mao, they were our allies in WWII.

[@artcontractorsuk]

We are all are made in China,but only few of us knows it@@Another_Audiophile

[@burton7023]

Overpriced