Easter quiz - are these early Monitor Audios?

[treesey]

So I've had these for a few decades, and honestly can't remember anything about purchase other than it was from a nice house 😀

Are they early MAs, or did someone stick a badge on something cheaper?

They sound fairly good by the way, when on stands. No ports, no writing of any kind, other than an MA badge on the grill (not shown)

 

[nopiano]

I can’t remember the number for sure, maybe MA4, but I remember that offset yellow tweeter. By Isophon perhaps? And the classic KEF B200 8” woofer.

Pretty much the first MA I recall!

 

[treesey]

Thank you very much Mr Piano.

Odd there is no writing on them whatsoever.

 

[treesey]

From looking at some internet photographs, they look like very very early MA1s?

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

It shouldn't matter, but the are hideous!

 

[treesey]

It doesn't. And with the grill on, they look like every other wood 1970s speaker. Rectangular. But thanks.

 

[Al ears]

I can’t remember the number for sure, maybe MA4, but I remember that offset yellow tweeter. By Isophon perhaps? And the classic KEF B200 8” woofer.

Pretty much the first MA I recall!

they certainly look like MA5 as the MA4 were ported it appears....

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

It doesn't. And with the grill on, they look like every other wood 1970s speaker. Rectangular. But thanks.

Apologies - that wasn't very diplomatic of me.

 

[Friesiansam]

Apologies - that wasn't very diplomatic of me.

You weren't wrong though. I'm assuming design is strictly functional, with the expectation that the grills would be left in place.

 

[treesey]

Totally. In those days, it seems the driver housing wasn't even always painted black.

 

[treesey]

Apologies - that wasn't very diplomatic of me.

No problem for me.

You see, I understand you were just playing around, but the speakers, they just don't get it. Course, if you were to apologise... [the 12th monkey laughs]

I don't think it's nice, you laughing. You see, my speakers don't like people laughing. Gets the crazy idea you're laughing at them.

Now if you apologise like I know you're going to, I might convince them that you really didn't mean it...

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

They just don't sound like Clint...

 

[Al ears]

You weren't wrong though. I'm assuming design is strictly functional, with the expectation that the grills would be left in place.

Generally, in those days, they were.

 

[Al ears]

Totally. In those days, it seems the driver housing wasn't even always painted black.

They should have been, looks like they are replacement woofers....

 

[treesey]

Could be - if so they were replaced when quite young. Odd. The old boy I bought them from was into classical music IIRC.

 

[nopiano]

they certainly look like MA5 as the MA4 were ported it appears....

Ah, yes you’re quite right. A bit of Googling and indeed they must be MA5.

To the OP:- I guess there might have been a label on the back that’s peeled off? But logos and branding weren’t a big thing back then. Not in Hifi anyway.

 

[nopiano]

Could be - if so they were replaced when quite young. Odd. The old boy I bought them from was into classical music IIRC.

B200 of that era weren’t especially rugged. Drivers may have failed, or a amplifier fault might have sizzled them?