Monitor Audio MA5 vintage speaker 1978 /sound analysis ?

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  • @andreas5153
    @andreas5153 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I tested the older version minutes ago with Quad 33/303. My search is over, and I’m overwhelmed by how good these speakers sound.

  • @flamehairdisaster1
    @flamehairdisaster1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Love your passion, your delivery, the way you convey your knowledge and experience and the way you make Hi-Fi accessible without pomposity or over-reliance on technical terms or specs. Thank you!

    • @thomasstone1363
      @thomasstone1363 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah there is a snobbery in some parts of the hi-fi world, but none in Kelvin's reviews. As he says Great sound for not a lot of money.

  • @Mike82ARP
    @Mike82ARP 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I had a pair of Monitor Audio Studio 6 back on the early 90s. They had that tweeter. You’re right about the tweeter. It was clean, extended but never harsh. Drove them with an AudioNote Soro Signature with Creek CD60. Nice. Hi I wish I still had them.

  • @bernhardmichaelfux308
    @bernhardmichaelfux308 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I was skeptical, the first few reviews from you, due to your unique style to present your reviews, - and I am always skeptical to new things..., but the more I watch your channel, the more I am your fan! You have a special charm, that I cannot avoid liking! your content also is very interesting, and it shows a lot of things "from back in my time"! That´s nice! Thank you for your work Kevin!

  • @paulmidders
    @paulmidders 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Really enjoyed another great review. I like your straight unedited options on vintage hi-fi. A refreshing change. I have been attempting to reimagine my late father's hi-fi from the 70's. I still have his Videoton GB3's from 1978 which I have had restored. He had a Rotel receiver. I am not sure which he had, I did not know they made so many versions of the same basic design. But I plumped for a RX402 which I am waiting to be delivered. I also managed to pick up a Shure M75-6 which he had. I cannot recreate the record deck as he built it himself from I think a Collaro turntable and something like an SME arm, not sure about that. I will be using my Original Rega Planner 2 and my self restored Akai 4000DS tape deck both from the same era. Expecting a wave of nostalgia, fond memories and hopefully great sounds.

    • @paulmidders
      @paulmidders 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Now got my Rotel. Set it all up and sounds smashing. Ran a few tests on it all good. I am surprised how good the Rotel is. Really nice sound. Very pleasant, dynamic, and with a decent sound stage. It is one of those systems that after a while, I found myself listening to the music rather than the equipment. Done deal in my book.

  • @scottdavis0801
    @scottdavis0801 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I was just reading about this guy who liked the Monitor audio ma5 speakers, but regretted letting go of his Celef monitor speakers to get them. This naturally led me to Stewart Tyler, and the beginning of Celef/Proac speakers designs. These pop up on US Ebay, but an enigma!?😂

  • @jackc.sondag4377
    @jackc.sondag4377 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Nice one Kelvin, if you have time.....it'd be nice to see a video on some NAD's as there's a lot floating around, it'd be nice to know what to look for....

  • @grahampenny6289
    @grahampenny6289 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Good review on these speakers, I’ve had a pair for quite a few years and while not perfect they are always well mannered and a pleasure to listen to .

  • @bartvanransbeeck1341
    @bartvanransbeeck1341 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great stuf , wish you more continuing sharing those experiences , I enjoy it a lot

  • @MichaelYates
    @MichaelYates 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    As always another nice video , you have quite a collection by the sounds of it

  • @alexissmart265
    @alexissmart265 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Hi Kelvin I've been watching your videos for a while now after recently purchasing a pair of MA5's I totally agree with your review if these speakers. I owned a pair of the MA4 Series 2 many years ago and they are undoubtedly the best speakers I ever owned until I blew one of the drivers. Anyway long story short I've just purchased the SP1039 drivers for the MA5 's . What a difference in quality. Would you do a review or would you consider putting the Sp1039 drivers in the MA5 for sake of trying. Mine now sound amazing much more detailed across the board and a higher bass threshold. In all honesty I can't quite relate to why Monitor Audio opted for a slightly less capable driver. Let me know your thoughts.

  • @chengo51
    @chengo51 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    No no no.....big speakers in small rooms work wonderfully, see what the Japanese are doing ...big JBL in small rooms and they are right ! Why ? Because big speakers give you huge sound stage at low level, a presence you can't get otherwise in any room but small ones. You are then "into the music", among the musicians so to speak and I love that.

    • @stereoreviewx
      @stereoreviewx  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I wouldn’t disagree with that it’s just a different appeal

    • @chengo51
      @chengo51 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@stereoreviewx You know I bought two pairs of Rogers LS3/5A in 1976, but had no money left for a good amp. I went with an Armstrong way under powered for the task.
      One pair was stolen during a removal but I have still one pair that I used to make comparative listening when I built my actual speakers. Guess what, these are 57 gal, with one 15' full range driver. I drag them off the wall near to me when listening, all at low to very low level. Why that ? Humm...I remember the advice of an English (by the way I am French) sale man, ex sound engineer, who sold me the Rogers, he was personnally listening to a pair of Monitor Audio virtually like a head set, but he insisted and proved to me in the listening room, that a good pair of speakers should deliver all at low level, therefore they should be rather close to you. Try to get into an auditorium, you'll see it is way too loud all the time because any system sound "impressive" that way. I went full range for some reasons but it would be too long to expose here.

  • @sergenaud731
    @sergenaud731 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You remind me Danny Kaye, the actor and dancer and singer, etc.... White Christmas with Bing Crosby... Good video about speaker... I have 6 British speakers and one US JBL L26... I got to admit that the JBL100T is great.... and of course the Celestion 66... Serge at Québec Canada

  • @girishkukadia9916
    @girishkukadia9916 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Nice video again! Maybe you could suggest which music (Classical, Jazz, Pop, Metal, Country, Classical) would be best suited to the speakers you are reviewing. As I don't know which category Bollywood Film music falls under, I don't know what speakers I should be looking for. Bollywood Film music is old, not the best recorded, female and male vocals, tablas, sitar, violins, woodwind, percussion and its not very bassy. I would be grateful if you could point me in the right speaker direction. Thanks.

  • @Roys-walks
    @Roys-walks 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I grew up listening to a pair of these speakers for most of my childhood a very warm sounding speaker took some warming up to sound sweet actually got my dad another pair of these speakers years later as he’s got damaged . Remember going all the way to Wembley with my dad to get a replacement tweeter as monitor audio was based there in the mid 80s very hard to get that tweeter any other way back then . I got my hifi bug from an early age and gone through loads of mission speakers some walfdale and some musical fidelity mc2s Even tried omni directional speakers in the late 80s now using monitor audio gr20 and gr10s with an arcam alpha 10 amp very detailed but missing the warmth of the original ma5s great video well worth a subscription to this channel 👍🏻

    • @Roys-walks
      @Roys-walks 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thinking about it my dad might of had the ma4 mark 1 might of been ported at the top of speaker not bottom like the ma4 mark 2 my memory is struggling a bit I’m sure they was a match pair as well

  • @girishkukadia9916
    @girishkukadia9916 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Hi Kelvin, any chance of a review on the B&W DM4 please?

  • @popdufc4139
    @popdufc4139 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I sold mine to buy RCL, the small loudspeaker. MA' s were difficult to place and also please my wife... Still use my, now modified, RCL's. They still make me want to sit down and listen.

  • @MichaelBeeny
    @MichaelBeeny 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The MA 5 was made to be a better sounding Kef Choral. Largely due to the fact that the Isofon tweeter wipes the floor with Kef T27. This was Monitor Audio's second loudspeaker, the first being the MA1. In the early days Monitor Audio was a young company without the resources to design and make it's own drivers. Here is a trade secret!! The Isofon yellow dome tweeter is exactly the same as the standard white dome version sold to ANYONE! The only difference is the colour, which was a concession to Monitor Audio.
    The later MA4/2 again was made to be a better Kef 104, which it was mostly due to a better crossover and a new silk dome tweeter, I cannot remember who made it, long time ago! which was made for Monitor Audio. In the early days Kef's speakers were let down largely due to poor looking cabinets and nasty crossovers. Monitor Audio took over a quality furniture maker which had fallen on hard times and produced some really good cabinets.
    AS for Naim amplifiers, never did like the sound they produced in those early days!!

    • @florinmoldovanu
      @florinmoldovanu 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      "Here is a trade secret!! The Isofon yellow dome tweeter is exactly the same as the standard white dome version sold to ANYONE! The only difference is the colour, which was a concession to Monitor Audio."
      I see plenty of "experts" that swear that Monitor Audio supposedly applied some "magic coating" to their own version of the Isophon KK8. Some here in the comment section can swear that the original KK8 sounds harsher. Before taking any value out of such statements one should know that the original KK8 has been employed by the Chartwell PM400 and other classic speakers that are way over MA II both in terms of value and refinement. So yeah, it's the exactly same great tweeter. The translucent golden MA foils were used to differentiate stock in the production line probably.

    • @MichaelBeeny
      @MichaelBeeny 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Nothing like a large dose of snake oil to improve the sound lol. I can always remember Mo Iqbal coming into the office with the sample Yellow Done units. I asked him what the difference was, he proclaimed with a smile THE COLOUR OF COURSE!!!@@florinmoldovanu

  • @richclips
    @richclips 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Your comment about the tweeter being in line with your ear, I would say personally that that should be a general rule of thumb. Tweeters tend to have quite a narrow dispersion, and therefore you want to have the tweeter at ear level for your listening position. If you need to have them sitting lower down, then you can tilt them up ever so slightly to aim the tweeter more at your ears :)

  • @cyclist2906
    @cyclist2906 ปีที่แล้ว

    MA5's were from 74-76, some of the very first MA speakers, designed by Martin Colloms I believe. Excellent speaker is my experience.

  • @stevebirmingham9650
    @stevebirmingham9650 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The generic term for the bass driver is a B200 and yes the high frequency unit driver is an isophon and yes it was a very sweet sounding unit no harshness the MA5 units were very popular speakers i worked in audio retail at that period and we held the Monitor Audio agency sold many pairs of the MA5 and MA4, they were classed in the day as very good value for money very well built , Monitor Audio were know for cabinet quality. If you can find a decent working pair today they would be a very good investment.

    • @stevebirmingham9650
      @stevebirmingham9650 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Life's Expedition to my memory there only ever been 2 x hifi shops in corporation street Laskeys was one of them, that was at the top end near the law courts and the other was a store called Superfi which was almost oposite what was C&A i recall i think it had about three floors it was the flag ship hifi store but did not last long. there was another store which was cameras and hifi called gratispool which was in martineau square, Norman H Field in hurst street and griffin radio on the bristol road, Hocken sound on the pershore road just out of city in stirchley and pure sound in acocks green, lets not forget five ways hifi at five ways

  • @chrisblock6697
    @chrisblock6697 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Another great review! I really like how you describe the sound in plain English. Do you, or in the London area, have much access to US horn speakers (like some old Klipsch's)?

    • @richardsinger01
      @richardsinger01 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Chris Block no, you never see them. I assume they weren’t imported. Klipsch are beginning to have a bigger presence in the UK market nowadays but mostly the cheaper end as far as I can tell.

  • @martindevon3204
    @martindevon3204 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Got a pair now. Sound great on a Quad 77 integrated

  • @snuffpappy
    @snuffpappy 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Loving my MA silver 8's. They have an irony of sounding very open and spacious BUT also very focused with great imaging. Im likely to keep them til I kick the bucket. :)

  • @ML-bu3lz
    @ML-bu3lz 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks so much for this excellent video. I’m going to pick up a pair

  • @ML-bu3lz
    @ML-bu3lz 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I’d love to try these with a sub running along side them

  • @stevegreenwood7837
    @stevegreenwood7837 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    nice one Kelvin enjoying this mate .

  • @liliabondarenko4497
    @liliabondarenko4497 ปีที่แล้ว

    I had Linn Index with same woofer ( KEF BX200) and Kef tweeter. Very nice speaker for vocals. Very delicate. Closed box. Pf course, the deep bass is not the strongest area for this speaker.

  • @kinglear5952
    @kinglear5952 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Dear Kelvin I hope that are fine. We have not heard for so long.

  • @garethparr649
    @garethparr649 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The drivers look very similar to the ones in a pair of mordaunt short festival 2s I owned years ago.

    • @stereoreviewx
      @stereoreviewx  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I think the Maldon shorts have a Daylesford bass driver I think the monitor audio is a keg be 200 which loads of people did use.
      K

  • @henryhartley9993
    @henryhartley9993 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Nice one Kelvin,

  • @dagobertdefort8836
    @dagobertdefort8836 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hello sir,
    first of all... love your reviews and explanation of things. :)
    But i got a silly question... did you ever come across a pair of Monitor Audio MA8, the old ones with the audax drivers?? :) Would like know what you are thinking, if you got an opinion on them.
    Kindly regards from germany.

  • @socksumi
    @socksumi 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    They deigned the MA5 with tweeter out of phase and you can tell this by listening. So a suck out at crossover is the result. Also the top end is too bright. The MA4 mk 1 using the same tweeter and larger magnet B200 woofer is a much better more coherent speaker. So is the MA4 mk 2 with it's Audax tweeter.

    • @robertandrewhale
      @robertandrewhale 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have a pair of MA4 Mark 1’s, I’m super critical but I have to say with a half decent vinyl system they sound good...

  • @martindevon3204
    @martindevon3204 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Have you got a pair of KEF Cadenza? A much larger Chorale with a B139 passive radiator. I think you would love them. The bass can be frightening

    • @stereoreviewx
      @stereoreviewx  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yes that whole range of kefs corral concerto cadenza seem to be pretty dam classy stuff
      Have heard the cadenza A long time ago I think the driver bass driver has a bigger magnet than the corral
      The KEF website has a museum page where you can see all the different ranges
      For me this range was the heyday of KF
      Cheers K

  • @andyillingworth3905
    @andyillingworth3905 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Kelvin. Mordaunt short used the Isophon in the 70's.

  • @Cartier_specialist
    @Cartier_specialist 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Those tweeters are $75 usd each so I'm guessing the original price for those speakers was not low.

    • @stevebirmingham9650
      @stevebirmingham9650 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I cant remember the price we sold the speaker for back when i worked in the hifi trade, they were not super expensive i would have put them in the mid range bracket , certainly very affordable they were the second speaker in the Monitor Audio range . As follows MA7 book shelf entry level high volume sales, MA 5 large book shelf or small floor stand, MA4 floor standing speaker , MA 1 large floor standing speaker , MA 3 top of the range floor standing sold very well even though in its day it was fairly expemsive seem to recall the cost around £300-£350 and really needed stands. All Monitor Audio speakers had a generic family sound detailed yet warm , brilliant cabinet quality very well built , i can never remember having a faulty pair, a real quality speaker company from the past. still going stong today.

  • @ctr289
    @ctr289 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Why do I read everywhere that old Monitor Audio tweeters are horrible and very bright and harsh. Isn't this a metal dome too? Does it precede the bright metal dome MA tweeters?

    • @stereoreviewx
      @stereoreviewx  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The speakers are earlier the metal dome started in the 80s roughly speaking

  • @billybeck
    @billybeck 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Please Kelvin (or anybody) can you help? If hen searching for vintage speakers near me, it's all wharfedales. Lintoms, Dentons etc. Are any of these any good, or worth a punt? They tend to go for no more than £150 for a mint pair. All the best. Love the channel. Even the missus does lol. Take care 😁👍

    • @stereoreviewx
      @stereoreviewx  4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I’ve got to say pretty much no to Wharfedale Lyntons and Dentins
      I actually made a pair of Lynton from a kit it was very disappointing they were two-way there is three-way Lyntons I mean my experiences they break a lot particularly the tweeters for me they were kind of mass market speakers and not enough time spent on them not refinedI’d say look for something else
      K

    • @billybeck
      @billybeck 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@stereoreviewx cheers Kelvin. Actually it was a pair of lovely looking Dovedale I was about to get (£125) but I'll leave them and try and pick up a pair of these MAs instead 😊

  • @sergenaud731
    @sergenaud731 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Is there a logical reason for the peculiar position of the tweeter ?

    • @stereoreviewx
      @stereoreviewx  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      The offset Twitter it’s really common in the 70s

  • @amineboulkroun5982
    @amineboulkroun5982 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for the great content ! How do these compare to KEF Chorale ?

    • @stereoreviewx
      @stereoreviewx  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Cath corral has more mid range bit tied to base the MI5 so laid-back in comparison the Twitter is kind of sweeter

    • @amineboulkroun5982
      @amineboulkroun5982 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@stereoreviewx Thnx !

  • @Kowinaida
    @Kowinaida 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    What's your view on the R300/MD...?

  • @marcelocovoes5079
    @marcelocovoes5079 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi Kelvin, I have a pair of MA7 that sounds fantastic in a small room, with a Sansui 2000A. The tweeters looks the same of these MA5. Is it possible? Thanks.

    • @stereoreviewx
      @stereoreviewx  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes that could well be the same fair really sweet sounding tweeters

  • @MrJason9142002
    @MrJason9142002 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have the klipsch rp160. I want to try a pair of used speakers. Any recommendations?

  • @mattbrooking2146
    @mattbrooking2146 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Is this the MKii version? If not any idea what it’s like compared to mk1..

    • @stereoreviewx
      @stereoreviewx  หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I think they have a different Twitter. I like this Twitter a lot.

  • @neilingram4847
    @neilingram4847 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi Kelvin, any idea where I can get a replacement Isophon tweeter from for my MA4? any help much appreciated

    • @stereoreviewx
      @stereoreviewx  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Well you will find tweeters on eBay I’ve bought many

  • @blipco5
    @blipco5 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Closed box?
    Acoustic suspension.

  • @DethroneD..
    @DethroneD.. 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nice english speakers,a little odd twitter placed there