SOLD: FS: Monitor Audio MA14 Gold Mk2 Speakers

[mlow002]

Item: Monitor Audio MA14 Gold Mk2 Speakers
Location:  North Sydney (pickup only no boxes)
Price: $400 
Item Condition: Good
Reason for selling: No longer needed
Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, Paypal, COD Only
Extra Info:
Selling on behalf of my father in law who has been the single owner. These were purchased in the mid-90s from Audio Excellence and has been well looked after.  I found it quite interesting running these up in my system just to make sure it’s working fine and to compare it with my stuff which are a lot more expensive. I’ve also owned some of the newer MA speakers to compare. T he speakers are quite compact measuring 23 cm deep x  20 wide x 77cm tall and I think will suit who people looking for monitors.They are a little shorter than I am used to as floorstanders go and if you wanted to build some mini-stands that would work well although the sound is good as is. As you can see the drivers are in perfect condition, no marks, scratches or dents. The tweeters are the classic 19mm Monitor Audio metal dome Gold being the Mk 2 version. Mid and bass drivers look like paper doped type which is quite different from the CCAM metal drivers of today. All rubber surrounds look mint - no ageing perforation. The finish is a very attractive rosewood as you can see from the photos has a nice distinctive black wood grain. Both right and left are visually matched. I’d like to point out some of the ageing marks on the woodgrain. Firstly, there’s a clear line on the front due to the sun where the part behind the speaker grills are dark than the bottom part without the speaker grille on both speakers. Also on the right speaker, there are some light marks (like 3 patches) on top which aren’t too visible - you can catch it if you look at it on an angle. I’ve tried to take pictures of these for disclosure. Overall the speakers are a great condition for the age - really doesn’t feel like it’s from the mid-90s. 

The terminals are bi-wireable and fit both spade and bananas. It does come with metal jumper connectors. On the back below the terminals is also a hatch to sand fill these speakers. It’s already been loaded by a mix of sand and gunshot by Chris Black of Audio Connection so feels quite heavy and definitely improves on the bass response. I believe these are 13kg unloaded and must be closer to 20kg each right now each.       

The response is 35Hz to 29Khz +/-3db, 8 ohm and 88db sensitivity. It’s not hard to drive but it does need some good watts behind it. It was really kicking butt with a 60w Prima Luna amp for example.

So in terms of sound, it’s interesting to compare it with more modern equivalents, for example, I’ve owned the newer MA Gold which uses the CCAM drivers and ribbon tweeters. Also to compare these speakers during the golden period for MA when it led by Mo Iqbal before it was purchased by Ruark. The MA14s stood side by side as the cheaper entry to the premium Studio 20SE.

Comparing sound to new MA Golds, key differences are that these old school varieties are accurate but not as hyper accurate as their modern equivalents (again similar to old Sonus Faber vs new Sonus Faber for example) and also not as fast sounding. What they have though is great musicality - these paper cones actually sound nice and great execution of cross over design to match with tweeters too. Clearly, the old school had great skills in design engineering. True to both new and old school is that the MAs are forward sounding so you’re pretty much in the front seats of the concert. Bass is also very good and way better than most monitors; in fact, it sounds surprisingly “full” and meaty in a good way, if that's a way to describe it. It does need a good amp to control this otherwise I imagine it could sound flabby. Also, it is a closed box design so there's no port chuffing since there's no port. Vocals and midrange are nice and “play and forget” is how I’d describe it. So all in all, amazing value and very contemporary design and sound - doesn’t sound vintage or dated and happily competes at the over the $2k mark. It stood proudly amist my much much more expensive speakers.

 

 

Pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

[Fubar990]

G'day mlow

 

Im sitting on the fence somewhere between bookshelves and floorstanders.  I have a pair of Magnat 653 bookshelves on stands that sound quite good in my small Victorian hardwood loungeroom.  However, they are very directional and I do sometimes miss the low mids particularly with my vinyl.  Do you think these would fit the bill?  I guess you have a motive to sell them, but your post suggests you've got some knowledge worthy of tapping into.  I am not a big investor in audiophile gear....my setup conservative.  I would intend to drive these with a Denon AVR1705 (75w/ch)....so not sure it is big enough to be worth the change over.  Interested in your thoughts.  I am about 1.5hrs by car away so could collect them if they're suitable.  Cheers Aaron

Edited February 4, 2019 by Fubar990

[martin64]

Item: Monitor Audio MA14 Gold Mk2 Speakers
Location:  North Sydney (pickup only no boxes)
Price: $400 
Item Condition: Good
Reason for selling: No longer needed
Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, Paypal, COD Only
Extra Info:
Selling on behalf of my father in law who has been the single owner. These were purchased in the mid-90s from Audio Excellence and has been well looked after.  I found it quite interesting running these up in my system just to make sure it’s working fine and to compare it with my stuff which are a lot more expensive. I’ve also owned some of the newer MA speakers to compare. T he speakers are quite compact measuring 23 cm deep x  20 wide x 77cm tall and I think will suit who people looking for monitors.They are a little shorter than I am used to as floorstanders go and if you wanted to build some mini-stands that would work well although the sound is good as is. As you can see the drivers are in perfect condition, no marks, scratches or dents. The tweeters are the classic 19mm Monitor Audio metal dome Gold being the Mk 2 version. Mid and bass drivers look like paper doped type which is quite different from the CCAM metal drivers of today. All rubber surrounds look mint - no ageing perforation. The finish is a very attractive rosewood as you can see from the photos has a nice distinctive black wood grain. Both right and left are visually matched. I’d like to point out some of the ageing marks on the woodgrain. Firstly, there’s a clear line on the front due to the sun where the part behind the speaker grills are dark than the bottom part without the speaker grille on both speakers. Also on the right speaker, there are some light marks (like 3 patches) on top which aren’t too visible - you can catch it if you look at it on an angle. I’ve tried to take pictures of these for disclosure. Overall the speakers are a great condition for the age - really doesn’t feel like it’s from the mid-90s. 

The terminals are bi-wireable and fit both spade and bananas. It does come with metal jumper connectors. On the back below the terminals is also a hatch to sand fill these speakers. It’s already been loaded by a mix of sand and gunshot by Chris Black of Audio Connection so feels quite heavy and definitely improves on the bass response. I believe these are 13kg unloaded and must be closer to 20kg each right now each.       

The response is 35Hz to 29Khz +/-3db, 8 ohm and 88db sensitivity. It’s not hard to drive but it does need some good watts behind it. It was really kicking butt with a 60w Prima Luna amp for example.

So in terms of sound, it’s interesting to compare it with more modern equivalents, for example, I’ve owned the newer MA Gold which uses the CCAM drivers and ribbon tweeters. Also to compare these speakers during the golden period for MA when it led by Mo Iqbal before it was purchased by Ruark. The MA14s stood side by side as the cheaper entry to the premium Studio 20SE.

Comparing sound to new MA Golds, key differences are that these old school varieties are accurate but not as hyper accurate as their modern equivalents (again similar to old Sonus Faber vs new Sonus Faber for example) and also not as fast sounding. What they have though is great musicality - these paper cones actually sound nice and great execution of cross over design to match with tweeters too. Clearly, the old school had great skills in design engineering. True to both new and old school is that the MAs are forward sounding so you’re pretty much in the front seats of the concert. Bass is also very good and way better than most monitors; in fact, it sounds surprisingly “full” and meaty in a good way, if that's a way to describe it. It does need a good amp to control this otherwise I imagine it could sound flabby. Also, it is a closed box design so there's no port chuffing since there's no port. Vocals and midrange are nice and “play and forget” is how I’d describe it. So all in all, amazing value and very contemporary design and sound - doesn’t sound vintage or dated and happily competes at the over the $2k mark. It stood proudly amist my much much more expensive speakers.

 

 

Pictures:
 
 








 








 
 

Oh nice. That speakers next to it is amazing too. On my bucketlist

[cafe67]

Nice speakers - they manage to look old and new at the same time. 

 

@Fubar990 the sealed box design should work in a smaller environment and regarding your amp 75w shoukd be good enuff to drive them - can you configure the amp.to drive front speakers as bi amped ? 

Edited February 4, 2019 by cafe67

[Fubar990]

Nice speakers - they manage to look old and new at the same time. 
 
[mention=154921]Fubar990[/mention] the sealed box design should work in a smaller environment and regarding your amp 75w shoukd be good enuff to drive them - can you configure the amp.to drive front speakers as bi amped ? 

G'day Cafe

Thanks for the comment. Yes mate, the Denon has AB circuits so can double as a biwire setup.

[Max123]

Pm sent 

[Fubar990]

Pm also sent

[mlow002]

8 hours ago, Fubar990 said:

G'day mlow

 

Im sitting on the fence somewhere between bookshelves and floorstanders.  I have a pair of Magnat 653 bookshelves on stands that sound quite good in my small Victorian hardwood loungeroom.  However, they are very directional and I do sometimes miss the low mids particularly with my vinyl.  Do you think these would fit the bill?  I guess you have a motive to sell them, but your post suggests you've got some knowledge worthy of tapping into.  I am not a big investor in audiophile gear....my setup conservative.  I would intend to drive these with a Denon AVR1705 (75w/ch)....so not sure it is big enough to be worth the change over.  Interested in your thoughts.  I am about 1.5hrs by car away so could collect them if they're suitable.  Cheers Aaron

I think it should be fine with 75w as its sound nice with 60w I've tried. As long as its not too close to the back walls as it might a bit boomy.

[mlow002]

Hi all, thanks for your interest and PMs.  Speakers have been sold to first PMer who liked the sound!