Monitor Audio RS6 Review

plastic penguin

Well-known member
As most of the original posters will know I've been an admirer of these speakers since I purchased them in the mid-noughties. Having sat in the attic for most of the time since buying the PMCs, I decided to bring them down and see how they compare to my current speakers. Due to the fact I couldn't be bothered to put them back in the attic before the festive period, I left them in situ over the period and beyond, and only had the PMCs back last week.

What do they sound like with the Leema? Sensational in a word. I'm not saying for one moment they are better than the TB2is, but I'll come back to this later.

I know and appreciate that many will have their preferences, while others will turn their noses up at the thought of Monitor Audio Silvers. They look fabulous in real wood finishes, and a rarity in the sub-£1000 floorstander playground, they just don't have a mid/bass driver but also a dedicated bass cone.

Despite being quite neutral, when playing Level 42s first album, Mark King's distinct bass comes through with warmth, while demonstrating realism in his voice. Having tried other genres from my collection, whether it's CD or vinyl, the RS6s came up with the same pleasing results. Also pulled out Bee Gees album 'Spirits Having Flown', the eponymous track "Tragedy", and the synths used are conveyed with realism and great depth and, unsurprisingly, subtlety.

Contrary to some reviews they are an easy listen, good levels of detail, well defined bass and a decent dollop of naturalness to the whole soundstage.

How do they comapre to the PMCs? Good question, not a huge difference if I'm very honest. The only real crack in the RS6s's amour is on certain remastered CDs, especially those that have been over compressed, they can sound slightly mechanical. Although detail levels are not quite at the level of the PMCs, and the latter brings out layers of sound, whereas the RS6s trades a little realism for excitement. Having had these nice looking speakers for over a month there's little to fault.

The PMCs demostrate more realism or more organic presentation. The gap isn't huge.

If you're in the market for a second hand pair of sub-£300 compact towers or floorstanders, assuming your amp is of decent quality (Creek Evo2, Roksan Kandy or something similar as a starting point), I've not heard better for the price.
 
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Deleted member 160668

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As you know PP, I'm fully with you on this.

I had my set for a long time and they perform far far better than they should for what is now a 300 tops pairs of speakers. Also finished really well so look good too.

As a self confessed box (and speaker) swapper, I've had these side by side and they've equalled or seen off various other speakers, some of which cost far more.

Mine are now long gone. Absolutely mint condition and for 300 squids to a lucky chap who collected them.

If you are on a budget, or in the market for cheap (that don't sound cheap at all) floorstanders, you can't go wrong with a pair of these.

Just don't pair them with any Cyrus kit 😂
 
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As you know PP, I'm fully with you on this.

I had my set for a long time and they perform far far better than they should for what is now a 300 tops pairs of speakers. Also finished really well so look good too.

As a self confessed box (and speaker) swapper, I've had these side by side and they've equalled or seen off various other speakers, some of which cost far more.

Mine are now long gone. Absolutely mint condition and for 300 squids to a lucky chap who collected them.

If you are on a budget, or in the market for cheap (that don't sound cheap at all) floorstanders, you can't go wrong with a pair of these.

Just don't pair them with any Cyrus kit 😂
There's only one pair on eBay currently for under £400.
Still not a bad price though
 
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Deleted member 160668

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For anyone that's interested... I had them on watch on ebay for about a year before I relented and finally sold mine, as they just weren't getting used at all.

400 is too much. Don't pay that. 300, perhaps 350 at a real stretch if your particularly keen.

Edit - and for this higher end they should be boxed and in stunning condition. If you hold out you can pick some up for 250-300.
 
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plastic penguin

Well-known member
Think we need to put this into context. The RS6s are, like any component, budgeted for certain market, therefore I'm not going to say they are great or the best ever speaker. But in terms of VFM, for around £200-250 on average, they are hard to better. I would quite happily put these up against similar priced Tannoy, Focal...

Thing that impresses me is how transparent they but never gets harsh or brittle`. Add that into a taut, well defined LFs, that's a hard to trick to pull of for a floorstander that costed, when new, £600
 

john1000000boy

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Sep 17, 2007
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Hey PP. Still running them with my Pioneer SC LX 82. No intention of moving them on. Did you think there was a big difference between them and RS6? Currently considering a node 2i. Not getting a great deal of use out of my system as the lock down & kids watching their stuff in sitting room!!
 

plastic penguin

Well-known member
Hey PP. Still running them with my Pioneer SC LX 82. No intention of moving them on. Did you think there was a big difference between them and RS6? Currently considering a node 2i. Not getting a great deal of use out of my system as the lock down & kids watching their stuff in sitting room!!
I couldn't really say for sure as they were being used with a Cyrus and it was in a dealers demo room. But having demoed RS6s with Cyrus 8VS2 at home (courtesy of WHFI "Reader Rescue" in 2008), the combo sounded too mechanical for my taste.

As I'm not a gambler I wouldn't even like to guess.
 
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