On a lovely spring day, after a power walk across London due to the Tube strikes, we caught our breath on the train and finally arrived at the Monitor Audio Experience Centre in Rayleigh, Essex, part of the “Golden Triangle” of British hi-fi manufacturing.
Monitor Audio sits close to fellow British brands Rega and Ruark Audio, an area with a reputation for audio excellence. Founded by Mo Iqbal in 1972 near Cambridge, the Monitor Audio Group has grown significantly and now comprises three respected British hi-fi brands: Monitor Audio, Roksan, and the hi-fi furniture manufacturer Blok.
The Experience Centre itself features three demonstration rooms, a small museum, and the Elevate Sound Performance Academy, which provides partners with in-depth training to ensure strong product knowledge and, ultimately, better service and support for customers. Relaxing in the lounge with a cappuccino in hand, and seeing their very first loudspeaker, the MA1, released in 1972, in person, really brought home the company’s legacy and depth of expertise.
Walking through the museum highlighted how the brand has continually adapted to trends while showcasing just how far audio technology and design have progressed.
We listened to the flagship Monitor Audio Hyphn speakers, driven by a Roksan Caspian 4G pre-amplifier and four Caspian 4G power amplifiers; to call the sound superb would be an understatement. Tracks such as I Really Want to Stay at Your House by Rosa Walton demonstrated impressive vertical separation, while Gimme Choco!! by Babymetal stood out for its speed and clarity, presenting metal with remarkable coherence. Despite the price disparity between the four Caspian Mono power amplifiers and the Hyphn speakers, the amplifiers punch above their weight and deliver the music with poise and control.
Another highlight was the home cinema room, fully equipped with Monitor Audio Cinergy custom in-wall speakers and tuned with Trinnov technology. The experience was breathtaking. You feel every impact and every shot in films such as Batman or John Wick, but you quickly forget you are listening to a system at all, as the sound simply existed around you, especially in movies such as A Star is Born. A hallmark of a truly exceptional cinema.
Our visit concluded with a tour of the offices, servicing facilities, Roksan Caspian assembly, research and development, and warehousing and distribution.
At every stage, the care and attention to detail were evident, demonstrating a commitment to doing every job, no matter how large or small, properly.