Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Monitor Audio GR 60 Speakers by O'Shag

Model:	GR 60
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$4000
Description:	Flagship of the Gold Reference range
Manufacturer URL:	Monitor Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by O'Shag ( A ) on August 31, 2006 at 13:08:19
IP Address: 71.107.22.200

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for the GR 60

To some extent I have to disagree with Dmitri's review of the GR60.
I am not the sort of listener who likes things softened up for me. Live music is not soft, its highly dynamic and sometimes high frequencies at high volume levels will cause fatigue over a long listening period (listen to a band playing in a bar) I've heard many very expensive speaker systems that seem to 'sugar coat' everything. Systems such as this sound lazy, slow and soft, which is great if you need something to put you to sleep. The Monitor Audio Gold Reference 60 is not one of those speaker systems.
From my point of view the GR60 is -in all important respects- a truly excellent speaker system that 'punches well above its weight' in terms of value for money. As I mentioned before, I've heard many expensive speaker systems. A few weeks ago I listened to two systems, one around 13k, the other at 20k. I felt the GR60 out-performed both of them overall, especially in terms of being able to convey the impression of reality.
The Gold Reference 60 speaker system is tremendously fast and dynamic, with every iota of detail, coming through. To Dmitri's point, the GR60's drivers are exceptionally well integrated, resulting in superb coherency. The GR60 is very very transparent to the source and offer very close to the highest levels of resolution one can get. This sense of transparency - an utterly clear window onto the music that is delivered with such excellent dynamics - is very addictive. The tweeter is excellent, and will never sound strained unless the volume levels are at very high levels. Interestingly, the new GS60's high frequency performance is supposed to surpass that of the outgoing GR60 with the range extending now to beyond 35khz before brake-up begins to occur.
The GR60 midrange and bass are also exceptional. The bass is extremely fast and coherent. In modestly sized rooms it is capable of generating substantial volume and extension. The bass can perform this well because of the ported design. The bass extension will perhaps not be as deep or loud compared to expensive speaker systems with large enclosures, but rest assured the bass performance of this speaker is more than ample for most requirements. The cabinet is attractive and well -built, but has been improved in the new GS60, with stronger bracing making for a more rigid enclosure.
The GR60 images very well, but I've heard better. For example, the Wilson Watt/Puppy or the top models of the B&W Nautilus series or KEF Reference series will do a better job in the imaging department, but then again they will do a better job in this respect than most other speaker systems. Having said this, the GR60 is still effective at creating an accurate and expansive soundstage with performers and instruments being palpable. The level of performance here, I think, can be attributed to the transparency, clarity and dynamic speed rather than the cabinet and driver design.
Summing up, to get the level of performance the GR60s will offer, you will have to spend considerably more money than $4,000, and even then many other speakers just cannot perform at the same level as the GR60s. I must admit that I'm probably hearing the GR60 speaker system perform at or very close to maximum as I'm using an MFA MC Reference prototype preamp driving the ARC Classic 150 monoblocks (among the few very best amps ever made IMO). I use QED speaker cables which like the GR60s will outperform many more-expensive speaker cables.
Anyhow, if you are looking on the used market and have about 2,200 - 2,500 to spend, you would be remiss not to consider the GR60 as a possible solution. They are exceptional.

Product Weakness: Cabinets could be a bit more rigid.
Product Strengths: Superb transparency/clarity. Drivers are very well integrated/cohesive. Very fast and dynamic. Excellent balance

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Audio Research Classic 150 and Classic 120 monoblocs
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	MFA MC Reference Prototype
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Denon 3910 / Mission 775sm turntable, Alphason HR100S tonearm, Clearaudio Discovery Cartridge
Speakers:	Wilson Audio Watt/Puppy System 7, Monitor Audio GR60, Mission 767 (flagship), KEF Reference 107
Cables/Interconnects:	QED, Transparent
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All types
Room Size (LxWxH):	22 x 15 x normal
Room Comments/Treatments:	Layout I did myself
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Tice Powerblock and Titan
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Cabinets could be a bit more rigid.
Product Strengths:	Superb transparency/clarity. Drivers are very well integrated/cohesive. Very fast and dynamic. Excellent balance