The biggest problem I have with these speakers is accepting the fact that I paid very little for them, but I think that this is going to be the beginning of a great friendship.

I'm not an audio enthusiast, but a professional musician, and have been performing for the past 15 years with a Berlin-based chamber orchestra called the Akademie für Alte Musik. The group goes on tour a lot and does one or two recordings each year, so I'm used to listening to the difference between 'live' and 'studio' in various situations.

Long story short:

When I began to listen to speakers, I was originally drawn to a store offering a closeout sale on KEF iQ1's. Unfortunately the KEFs were right next to a tiny pair of Harbeth studio monitors that put everything else in the store to shame- a pity because I simply don't have that kind of change.

Leaving the store like a lover who had just been rejected in the worst way, I decided to try one of the electronic houses where there was also a listening room before giving up. I knew that the Avant 904i speakers were there, but every other time I had visited the place someone was testing to see how loud the speakers could go. Luckily, nobody was there this time, so I popped in a cd and... ended up listening to them for an entire hour, enjoying myself immensely. I bought the pair for under 400 Euros a week later.

There are a lot of things that I really like about this speaker. No, they're not heavy in the bass, but they're even- I hear detail and transparency in the sound to make me want to really listen to the music. I also really like the cleanness in the colors they produce- which seems to be perfect for modern recordings of chamber music, baroque orchestras, and jazz ensembles. Do give them time to break them in- my ears are noticing this from day to day how the treble is softening and the bass is taking shape.

What I don't like is that the 904i's are making me realize that some of the cd's I have are just badly recorded... probably the Harbeth's would be worse in that sense, but then I realize that in the end I want speakers where I enjoy listening to the music, not speakers where I am dissecting it apart. The Avant 904i's fit the bill nicely.

well balanced, especially if you fill them up with dry sand
nice size
great looks

none so far

i recently bought these speakers (the 904 avant) and really do like them a lot.


I compared them with dali blue 3003, and wharfedale diamond 9.5'S

and ended up buying the least expensive of the bunch i audiotionned

but must stress the point that they absolutely have to be broken in, dont judge them right out of the box.....

i find they are well balanced, with nice highs and mids, and a thight bass... especially since i filled the base with sand. the soundstage is wide and , listening to them at a moderate level, very pleasing... i dont think these speakers are meant to riock the house, but then again...


they took a while to break in, and i think the process is not quite done yet, because they seem to be pleasing me more every time i listen to them....

so to everybody wanting a pair of these babies, let them walk before you let them rum, you wont be diapointed...

Similar Products Used:

dali blue 3003
wharfedale diamond 9.5

Rich wall of detailed sound if positioned right. I recommend placing them as far away from the back wall as possible to avoid any reflections. The price £299! CPC driver is quick Alluuminium Tweeter never seems to distort on the highestr of frequencies.

Sometimes the treble can be too much after a while.

The speakers I purchased were actually the MS914's not the smaller 904s. I bought these speakers around a year and a half ago as an upgrade from the older MS25 pearl editions. When i first bought these speakers they were being connected to a yamaha ax496. They sounded very bright and almost gave me a headache at first, there was little to none bass unless i turned the bass controls up. When i purchased the speakers i was recoomended that it would take a good month before the speakers would start to "burn in" and open up so i decided to stick with them and give it a try. I was extremely glad i didnt return these speakers as after a couple of months and the adition of a nad c350 the speakers really came into a game of their own! The sound was unrecognisable from the sound first produced out of the box. They gave a relaxed, detailed, sharp sound with quick and lumpy bass which i have been enjoying for the past year so far...listening to msuic ranging from electronic to classical, these speakers will suprise you! These speakers will kill any other speaker in the £300 mark and I dont know why they arent more widely available?

Similar Products Used:

Eltax symphony 6.2 Mission M73 Mordaunt Short MS25i JPW ml810

mentioned below

mentioned below

One more addition to users of the Mordaunt Short 914's. I found the best imaging results in a 8 foot equilateral triangle with the speakers SLIGHTLY (and I mean slightly) toed in. If you follow MS's directions on speaker setup it will eat up (yes that's a good way to put it) your imaging and soundstage. You'll end up with sound coming out from a hole, with no instrument separation, muddy midrange and so on. If you open them up to about 75-80 degrees (90 degrees would face you directly) and use good components, you will see how well these speakers can present the music put out by your equipment. Also, I have them about 3 feet away from the wall (increased soundstage depth compared to 1.5 feet from the wall). Experiment with these speakers, you may be surprised. Also remove the covers if you want to open the sound up and improve the clarity of the midrange. Good luck.

Similar Products Used:

listed below

all listed below

all listed below

This is to correct a mistake in my posting below. The Monitor Audio's named there are the S6's not the S9's and in all honesty, Monitor Audio Silver is definitely a better speaker then Mordaunt Short Declaration, but the price difference is also a factor to consider. I still think that the MS 914's are awesome speakers, and not just because I own them, but because I love their sound ... which although perhaps not as open, is very laid back, detailed and natural ... and that's what I enjoy. As for the Monitor Audio's, well if I had the money, I'd definitely give them a try ... they are even smoother.

Similar Products Used:

see review below

clarity in the midrange especially looks are very attractive for a loudspeaker soundstage reproduction imaging is impressive in this price range easy to drive biwireable sound is very easy and articulate price is a bargain

lack of bass if punch is preferred internall wiring is cheap, MS could have done a better job here to really bring out the true potential of their drivers/tweeters internal MDF looks cheap and is made somewhere in Asia, this could also have been improved but would have warranted more money undoubtedly.

I am writing this review for the 914's which have not been included on the review list as of yet, but which are more powerfull than the 904's and also larger than them. Musically, these loudspeakers sound fantastic. They have a very easy, casual kind of sound, are non-fatiguing and can exhibit very detailed soundstaging (given that high-end cables and a good amp/preamp are used). I have compared these directly with the 906's and the 908's and although the 914's use larger (single) midrange drivers than 906's or 908's (who employ two smaller midrange drivers), the 914's have identical power output and in my own personal opinion, increased clarity with instrumental and vocal pieces. I found the 908's slightly murky or muffled compared to the 914's, although they were less fatiguing. I have seen these speakers given a B rating, but I think that is very mistaken. Overall, what these speakers need is high end components (source, cables, processor, amp) to really prove their worth, and although I value electrostatic speakers highly for imaging and soundstage, I definitely say that the 914's are a true bargain for the price (CAD 499/pair). The 906's (1299/pair) and the 908's (1829/pair) are not worth it in my opinion. I also auditioned them oposite Paradigm Studio 60's v3 and I have to say that I found the Paradigms much brighter, in your face type sound, more fatiguing. I must say that after hearing Mordaunt Short's sound, there is no comparison with Paradigm's, unless you go to the new Signature series, which by the way retail for about CAD 3999 (8 times the price of the 914's) which are the only non-fatiguing, smooth sound speakers I have heard from Paradigm. Value for the buck I would still buy the MS 914's, but if I was to spend CAD 4000,I would definitely opt for electrostatic speakers. I also matched these with a pair of Monitor Audio silver 9's (retail CAD 2999) which I personally think are outstanding speakers, but the Silver 9's lack the detail of the 914's in the midrange. However, the silver 9's have an extremely pleasant, laid-back sound and the tweeters handle anything just beautifully, full credit to Monitor Audio for this. Lastly, I must say that I am not inclined towards bass, consequently I do not miss what some reviewers term as a lack of punch from these speakers but if this is reguired, the 909W sub by Mordaunt Short can easily correct that. Break in took about 80 hours with peak performance after 120 hours and ongoing... these speakers can handle any music, but really impress with classical, jazz, new-age and guitar music. I did however notice better voice handling with the Mordaunt Short 504 centre channel speaker. I think the 502's are definitely worth a try but last I saw them they were on sale for CAD 1700 from 2500 and sold out before I even had a chance to audition them.

Similar Products Used:

Klipsh Reference series, Paradigm Reference, Studio and Signature series, Monitor Audio Silver series, Martin Logan Clarity's (untouchable in the CAD 4000 range, although these are a little bright during break in of up to 300 hours) and Mordaunt Short 900's flagship 908's (as well as 906's, 902's, 912's).

Look amazing, great trble, amazing detail and good mids.

No bass at all, 906s look better with 3 way horns.

Ok, these look great, have amazing treble adn good mids, but lack in bass. I would have kept these, but there was no bass hardly what so ever, not suited to rock/metal/dance whatsoever, very detailed speakers tho. Maybe the 906s would have better bass.

Similar Products Used:

Mission, eltax, sony, JPW...

Very good finish. Very good sound especially with Telarc, DMP and my specialty Japanese produced CD's, although the package is very demanding and I now have abunch of CD's that are, at least played on this match, unlistenable.

Bass is still not that solid. I will remedy this by purchasing an MS 907W subwoofer.

An interesting experience when I bought these speakers. I was choosing between a pair of Wharfedales and the MS 904's, but was leaning toward the MS because they look great. However, when I sound tested it at the dealer, I was initially unimpressed. They were connected to a huge Kenwood A/V receiver with more or less 150 watts/channel, but the over-all sound was poor. I even had the technician boost the bass (up to +10) but was still not happy. I then went next door to audition the Rotel RA-02 Integrated Amplifier. These were hooked up to a pair of PSB's and they sounded great. I bought the Rotel on the spot. I then brought it back to 5th Ave. and requested the technician to hook up the 904's. We were both astonished at the sound that came out of that match. Using the same CD played earlier, the music was now rich and balanced and best of all, the bass was deep and full. I heard the 5th Ave sales rep whisper to the technician that the Rotel was one very good amplifier. I bought the MS 904's on the spot. I've been using it for more than a month now and am very satisfied with the results.

good bass treble and middle bi wierable gold plated posts

basse distorts at lower volume than stated on the user manual but i have never found the need to have them this loud

when i went into richer sounds for a demo i ask to listen to a few speakers with good bass i listend to a pair of eltax which were outstanding the salesmen then asked if i would like to try the mordaunt-shorts when he bought them out i was shocked of the price because of the sexy looks and clear sound they look and sound pure quality they truly were a good buy

Impeccable midrange

bass extends only to about 50hz

Seen with the grills off, this Mordaunt Short speaker is simply stunning with its aluminum drivers But what really takes the cake is the view from the back. The gold-plated, five-way biwireable binding posts hint of a great attention to detail. Nope, this is not one of those crappy Bose models sold in superstores that also sell vacuum cleaners and gas stoves. Though the 900 series has no problem handling home theater dynamics, it is voiced for hi-fidelity and boasts of the most transparent midrange I've ever heard. Use it playing chamber music or jazz quartets and you'll spend countless hours rediscovering your CDs and DVDs. But if you're into pop, rock or anything bombastic, this speaker is not for you. You are better served buying JBLs and Cerwin Vegas. This speaker has yet to grow on me as I'm still in the process of tweaking it for the best sound possible. I've tamed its somewhat lumpy bass by putting acoustic foams behind it to break unwanted resonances. I've also biwired it with QED cables and filled its ballast chamber with dry sand.