Looks, build, design, clarity, bass.

Rear ported can make positioning difficult.

I went for these speakers on blind faith and a little word of mouth. It's the first time I have bought something without listening to other products at the same time, and I can wholey say the risk paid off!

Even though I tried no other products, I don't think there were too many options. The Mission 781 (782s maybe?) speakers are too weak on bass for me, and I like my floor standers, so that knocked out the impressive B&W 1NTs. These speakers really do give anything in the price class a severe beating, whether you prefer something else or not.

As soon as you unbox them, you'll notice the finish. The wood is top quality, as someone else on here has said, they really do become another furniture item. Don't hide them away, show them off!

Anyhow, at 8ohms, they are pretty easy to drive, my Arcam Alpha 9 and 9P certainly get some weight from them. Note to positioning, the rear-porting and these speakers' love of bass can result in a hard time getting it right, but it's certainly worth persevering.

The treble here is very clear, never reaching tinny, though sometimes does seem to distort a little, but I think it may be the Musical Fidelity A3 CD player exposing weakness in the CD production which the Silver 8is can actually pick up on.

The speakers have excellent power handling, spikes for isolation and are bi-wireable. Make sure you take up the bi-wire option, you won't regret it.

At the price paid (actually 800 GBP), these speaker represent immense value for money. The fact that the RRP has been slashed and on sale you can pick up these babies for 525 GBP makes them an absolute steal. Buy them!!

System components:
Arcam Alpha 9 Integrated Amp
Arcam Alpha 9P Power Amp
Musical Fidelity A3 CD Player
QED Silver Anniversary bi-wire speaker cable
Cambridge Audio Silver Spirit interconnects (next change)

Similar Products Used:

None.

Looks, build quality, bass power and overall frequency range separation clarity.

None I can find.

What can I say? These speakers are absolutely fantastic. I auditioned them based on previous reviews (and What-HIFI magazine) stating their musical prowess was unbelievable in this price bracket. I can state whole-heartedly how true that comment is. $1000 for these babies!! Pay it in your sleep, or at the very least give them a listen.

I have partnered them up to now discontinued Arcam Alpha 9 amps (bi-amped) with the Arcam 7SE CD source. I have Arcam due to their warm and rich bass, something the Monitor Audios both lap up, but also control to a fine tee. However, the full frequency range has been intensified, each instrument and range plucked out and reproduced to exist on their own merits, resulting in music that just oozes class, quality and accuracy.

Mine aren't fully broken in yet. The manual states 60hours continuous use to do this, but I can add that they sound immense out of the box, if a little boomy and uncontrolled. It doesn't take long for them to start sound the part (like the broken in pair you auditioned), I just cannot wait for the full 60hours to pass!!

The build quality is also second to none. The Oak wood is heavy, sturdy and classy. Natural Oak (my chosen finish) has recently been added to the UK selection and I would have to say give them a view, this finish is gonna become the most popular, for sure. Plinthes are supplied with fitting bolts and impressive spikes.

Nothing has been skimped on with the Silver 8i's!! If you are in the market for some meaty powerful floorstanders that look the part, give them an audition at the very least. You might think they are cheap, but they are such value for money. If you are in this price range, don't overlook them, you could be sorely dissappointed!!

Buy 'em now!

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Lots, including B&W, Mission, Eltax, Tannoy Revolution etc.

excellent sound from a relatively inexpensive speaker. looks great

long break in time

i purchased these speakers as a second set-up for second house. just thought id post because this board has helped me in making a decision. i was looking for a speaker that didnt cost too much because my other system cost a fortune. i auditioned countless speakers, most leaving a bad taste in my mouth. then i came across the monitors. never heard before but have always wanted to listen. i really like the whole silver series but feel in love with the 8i's. they have such a full sound and reproduce recording to the T. great sounding speaker. well, i took a pair home and hooked them up to a denon 5800 a/v receiver and they sounded kinda thin, nothing like in the store. well, i decided to run these in and after about 80 hours, they really started singing. i subsequently got the full HT setup and am fully enjoying these speakers. they cant compare to my main system which cost well over $20,000, but they can certaining satisfy me while i am away.

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hundreds

Bass depth, Treble and Midrange Clarity, Looks, Price

None

i bought these speakers after reading the favourable reviews in magazines and on websites i listened to them in the shop and knew that i needed to buy the especially when the manager offered me the demo pair for £500 ($750) this meant that i didn't have to run them in for days.
These speakers are easy to drive I'm using a Yamaha DSPa5 and the speakers sound fantastic revealing things that i didn't hear with my old speakers if you turn them up they just get better there's no harshness just power and depth. there is no real need for a sub.
I haven't listened to movies with these speakers yet because i'm still going through my music collection listening for what i've missed before, but if they handle movies like they handle music i know i won't be disapointed.
I am now looking for a quality amp to get even more out of these speakers.
Buy them you won't be sorry

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Last speakers Were Mordaunt Short HE30's

Amazing mids and highs. Tight and loud bass. Small in size and gorgeous to look at.

Still nothing

Well its been a couple of months and the speakers have finally broken in. Wow!! After you've played the speakers for 60 hours or so, the sound is so much smoother and the boxiness originally heard is gone. The speakers now disappear and the sound seems to come from all over the room. Again, the mids and high are spectacular. As for the bass, what can I say. It is tight and suprisingly loud!

If you're willing to spend $1200-1500 (US), there is no speaker better in that price range than the MA 8i. You can crank the volume and there is NO distortion. The mids, highs and lows all blend perfectly to provide an amazing sound.

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for $1200, nothing came close

Size, Finish, oh yeah Sound!

None that I can think of after you break em in.

This are great speakers! Good highs, mids, and lows. The bass output is amazing. These are a better deal than the 9's. These sound good with Yamaha stuff. These are good for movies and they are very musical too. They are tight and clean. Great for the price!

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Nothin

beautiful speaker, nice crisp sound, tight bass, perfect size

none

just got these speakers after searching for about a year. had a tough time deciding between all the great speakers out there. havent broken these babies in yet but they are sounding better each day. i got the full set up of monitor speakers and couldnt be happier. now when i go over to other peoples houses and hear their systems, they sound so inferior in clarity and detail. i listen to a lot of music, and these speakers handle everything from hard rock to rap to classical. movies are also incredible. if you are looking for speakers in this price range, i dont think you can do better.

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paradigm, b&w

Sound quality for price.

None

I was looking for a speaker that deliverd Bass, but that also should have a clarity in the mid and high ranges. The missions were just too dull for my liking so i bought the Monitor Audio speakers. These speakers take about 100 hours of music going through them to really start getting the best. I ran them in for weeks non stop, at times I thought they were never going to get there, but now I am happy I went through the process. I am using them with a NAim CD5 and NAim pre/power combo and the sound is just amazing. The ammount of detail and poise is great. Instruments really sound like there being played infront of you and voices are very life like. The better the source you put through them the better result you'll get. If you are looking for a speaker in this price range, nothing will beat it. You would have to double the price to get something better in my view. So buy them, run them in and then sit back and enjoy.

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Mission 782

Low end punch & weight with great soundstage
Real room filling presence.

Nothing significant

These Monitor Audio's are real bass freaks.
With tracks such as Leftfield's Rythmn & Stealth album, the
weight of low end delivery is top draw.
They are well capable of delivering frequencies from the
higher-end of the range too.
Beautifully finished and very sturdy, these make an
essential purchase for lovers of dance music.
Quite possibly one of the best speaker designs i've heard
at the £500 - £700 price range.


Speaker cable = Chord Rumour 4 (Bi-wire)

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Mission 782

SOLID BASS, ACTION MOVIES, LOOKS, SIZE, PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP

PORTED TO THE REAR

Here we go again. I've had these # 8's for 4 months now and they have me in sound heaven! I believe I was the first to review them back in November. I didn't realize it
then but they hadn't broken in yet. I also was feeling a little uptight about the price I paid for them. So I wrongly left out a star in each category. People visit me and there jaws drop ( sometimes they drool ) when they see these beauties. My thing is home theater,big time. My speaker array, except for the sub is all Monitor Audio. Sub is HSU. I hug it every day. Have you hugged your subwoofer today ? O.K. my point is I'm one happy
camper. We have finished watching a movie on two occasions and had our guests actually stand up and applaud. Now thats enthusiasm !! It came from unbelievably exciting sound. Air shaking SOUND. Not ear hurting loud. I just had to rewrite my review, and put those two missing stars back were they deservedly belong. These babies get six stars. O - Yea you want to hear some kick ass bass with these 8's play a kick drum C D and run for the broom and dust pan to pick up your broken windows. Like the man said, " don't even try-em, just buy them " .

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SEE # 1 REVIEW