Monitor Audio Group (MAG) has had more than a spring in its step of late, with new products aplenty and ambitious plans not just to grow its offering, but also to invest back into the audio market through people, experiences and good causes, alongside its sleek hardware.
As well as Monitor Audio’s own range of loudspeakers, under its umbrella if of course Roksan, with a legacy of its own, and Blok hifi furniture (which we enjoyed back in October ’24).
So what better way to mark the opening of its expanded premises, with new Experience Centre, than to throw open its doors to the audio press for a day of tours and listening.
The day kicked off in style, with a dedicated ribbon cutting by Cllr Jo McPherson, seen here poised with the golden scissors alongside MA Group Chairman Andrew Flatt.
Then after a welcome from Jo and Andrew, it was over to CEO Rob Barford and Global Marketing Director Michael Johnson (above), to discuss Monitor Audio’s history from humble beginnings in Cambridgeshire to where it is now in Rayleigh, Essex, paying tribute to the people who have been (and still are) a part of Monitor Audio.
We also got to hear about MAG’s Elevate Sound Performance Academy, which is a dedicated free training and development offering that will put education front and centre for partners, smart home professionals, retailers and specifiers, allowing students to elevate their knowledge and skills.
And then it was off for a tour of MAG’s grand space, spanning 60,000sqm, including its new Experience Centre, which brings together six purpose-designed areas spanning The Forum, Elevate Academy, Lounge, Brand Immersion Gallery, Music Suite and Cinema Room (created in collaboration with local CEDIA member The Cinema Company, who led the project).
Above is Engineering Manager Peter Harrison, who gave a fantastic demonstration in The Lounge space of MA’s in-wall tech, complete with a breathtaking live recording form Eric Clapton.
And here’s what sits behind MA’s in-wall speaker development, which was all on display – highlighting that Monitor Audio is just as well equipped for cinema spaces as it is for sleek looking two channel hifi.
Speaking of sleek two channel hifi, here’s a flavour of MA’s current loudspeaker crop from Bronze through to Platinum, with the Studio 89 in between (that Lee awarded an Audiograde honour to back in August ’24).
I spent some time chatting to Jon Swinstead and Sav Remzi about their soon to be open Museum of Youth Culture, which uses Monitor Audio gear throughout.
Located in Camden, the museum will be the world’s first that’s dedicated to the lives of teenagers and young people. And while the speakers are all MA, dog Ronnie is Chief Woofer.
Before we got to experience all of Monitor Audio and Roksan’s latest hardware, we were treated to a tour of landmark products past, presented by Senior Product Designer Emily Armitage and the team.
Here’s just some of the many historic speakers we got to see.
Remember the one on the left? It’s the Studio 60 from ’96, affectionately known as ‘the coffin top’, and apparently still sounds dead good.
Legend has it that the Studio 20 SE to the right of shot was specially commissioned with gold drivers for a select owner wanting extra bling, and bling it has. To the left, its equally gold driver’d partner in crime, the 703 PMC with black phase plug and oval bass port.
A selection of standmounts and it’s hard to believe that these are now ‘museum’ pieces, as they wouldn’t look out of place in any modern home today, showing how ahead of the speaker trend Monitor Audio was even then.
You won’t seen many of these in your average office, a PL300 floorstander signed by the great and the good at the 2008 Classic Rock Awards. From Jeff Beck to Ronnie Wood, Peter Green to Jack Bruce, Mani and more, it’s a piece of rock history. I’ve offered to review it longterm…but they’ve not got back to me yet.
The museum popped on the red (okay, pink) light for these Roksan retro spinners, which again, don’t look retro at all. I’ve always loved the looks and lines of a Radius 5…maybe it’s time to hunt one down.
A rare beast indeed, this is the ET500 complete with SME tonearm from 1979. Featuring a Matsushita direct drive system, cast aluminium platter and anti-vibration feet plus an interchangeable arm mount and separate power supply, it was ahead of its time in many ways and still looks lovely today.
And now back to 2026 and beyond, as we were treated to a range of new models and prototypes being developed. Here’s a Roksan amp on the test bench that’s about to be put through its paces.
After experiencing MAG’s fully fledged home cinema experience, which is breathtaking, I got to unwind with the brand’s stunning concept loudspeaker, the flagship Hyphn, launched back in 2023.
The images above show the working modelling in MA’s R&D suite, with the real thing on the right (in gorgeous ‘Matte Heritage’ green), being presented by Senior Engineer Chris who led its development.
I’ve not heard this speaker before, and being fed from Chord Co’s Epic speaker cables, it sounded simply sublime and every bit what a £70k loudspeaker should, and then some. To hear it is simply a jaw-dropping experience, no wonder the MA Group has a sizeable trophy cabinet.
Another highlight was managing to sneak a crafty peek inside the company’s most top secret of top secret rooms when the team wasn’t looking. What’s inside? I wish I could tell you…but it’s a secret 🤫
A huge thanks to Emily, Rob and my tour guide Joe for such a memorable experience.
We’ve got some more exciting reviews coming your way fresh from the MAG factory – including the Monitor Audio’s Bronze 300 7G affordable floorstanders and Roksan’s Caspian pre/power amp pairing – so stay tuned!
