Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G Bookshelf Speaker Review

The Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G is part of the sixth generation of the brand’s acclaimed Gold Series, announced in August 2024. As a premium bookshelf speaker, it blends Monitor Audio’s decades of acoustic innovation with refined design. Since its founding in 1972 by Mo Iqbal in Cambridge, England, Monitor Audio has built a strong reputation for high-performance loudspeakers, and the Gold Series, first introduced in 1988, remains a top choice among discerning listeners, myself included. 

The latest Gold range sits between Monitor Audio’s accessible Silver line and the reference-level Platinum series. Retailing for £3000 per pair, the 100 6G joins five other products in the 6th generation of the Gold Series. This lineup includes the 500 6G flagship floorstanding speaker (£5000), a 300 6G floorstander (£4000), and a 50 6G bookshelf speaker (£1700). There is also a pair of on-wall 6G speakers (£1000) and a C250 6G centre channel speaker (£1750) for home theatres. 

Design And Build Quality of the Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G

The Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G comes in three finishes: Macassar Wood Veneer, Satin White, and High Gloss Black. This is a large bookshelf speaker, measuring at 447.7 x 230 x 357.3 mm, and weighing in at 14 kg. Monitor Audio built this speaker very well. The cabinets were made with thick MDF, which makes the Gold 100s quite hefty. The Macassar Wood Veneer finish that I got felt very premium, and I think this is the best out of the three finishes. 

Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G bookshelf speaker front view with white background

This is the only 3-way bookshelf speaker in Monitor Audio’s entire lineup, and they wanted to make a speaker with all the benefits of a three-way system, but in a more compact unit. Other brands have also started to catch on, with Wharfedale releasing its new three-way bookshelf speaker, the Aura 2 (also priced at £3000). 

The Drivers

The 100 6G has an 8-inch bass driver and a 3-inch midrange driver, both are made from ceramic-coated Aluminum and Magnesium. A Micro Pleated Diaphragm III (MPD III) Transducer sits directly above these drivers, it is very similar to an AMT Tweeter, and it is the same transducer that is also used in Monitor Audio’s Hyphn speakers. 

The drivers employ Monitor Audio’s C-CAM Cone technology, which has an optimized cone profile that lowers overall distortion. The tweeter sits higher up on the front baffle, and it comes out on top like a spine. This aluminum spine ensures the neutral tonality of the Gold 100s remains consistent with other speakers in the Gold Series. 

The 100 6G has a frequency response of 32 Hz – 60 kHz, a sensitivity of 86.5 dB, and an impedance of 4 ohms. The Gold 100Gs are rear ported, and there are two sets of high-quality speaker binding posts under the rear port. Individual magnetic grilles come in the box if you want to cover and protect your drivers, and even with the grilles on, these speakers look amazing. 

Rear panel of Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G showing dual binding posts and rear bass reflex port

Setting Up The Gold 100 6G

If you are considering getting the Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G bookshelf speakers, then make sure you have a good amplifier on you. I woudnt get a low watt amplifier unless you don’t mind listening at low volumes. Your amplifier should have atleast 50 watts per channel, I used my Cambridge Audio EXA100 and it worked perfectly. 

For a subwoofer, I used the SVS PB17 Ultra, and it easily blended in with the Gold 100s bass. The handoff between the subwoofer and the speakers was not noticeable, and overall the subwoofer added a nice punch to the speakers. This doesnt mean that you need a subwoofer with these speakers, the bass on it’s own was great. 

Monitor Audio recommends placing the Gold 100 6Gs in an equilateral triangle, the speakers should be 6-10 feet apart and about 3 feet away from your walls. I followed these instructions and I got the best soundstage from these measurements. I also found that a little toe-in worked wonders for the overall soundstage. 

Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G Bookshelf speakers room placement diagram

Sound Performance of the Gold 100 6G

The Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G immediately impressed me with an exceptionally open and expansive soundstage that extended well beyond the speakers’ physical boundaries. Height information was well-preserved, giving complex arrangements the layered dimensionality they deserve, making these speakers disappear acoustically during extended listening sessions.

The dedicated 3-inch C-CAM midrange driver sets the Gold 100 6G apart from typical two-way designs. Vocal performances sounded remarkably lifelike, with subtle textures preserved without harshness.

Close-up of Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G speaker showing woofers and textured Macassar Wood Veneer finish

The MPD III tweeter delivered crisp, detailed highs without fatigue, extending to an impressive 60 kHz. Cymbal crashes sounded realistic with proper decay, while high-frequency detail was abundant but never aggressive. The tweeter’s dispersion characteristics contributed significantly to the wide soundstage while maintaining consistent tonal balance from off-axis listening positions.

The bass driver delivered a surprisingly authoritative performance for a bookshelf speaker, extending down to 32 Hz with tight, well-controlled notes. The bass was punchy when needed but never boomy, mixing in seamlessly with the midrange. However, like most standmounts, the deepest bass registers have limitations, and tracks with significant sub-bass content benefited from my subwoofer. 

Verdict: Is the Monitor Audio Gold 100 6G Worth It?

The Gold 100 6G represents Monitor Audio at its finest. They’ve created speakers that deliver reference-level performance while remaining practical for real-world listening rooms. Highly recommended for anyone serious about audio quality. The three-way design delivers exceptional clarity and detail that puts these speakers in a league of their own within the bookshelf category.

What impressed me most was how effortlessly these speakers handled everything I threw at them. Jazz recordings revealed incredible instrument separation, while rock tracks maintained their energy without ever sounding strained. The MPD III tweeter deserves particular praise – it extracts detail from recordings that I simply hadn’t noticed with other speakers in this price range.

The build quality is exactly what you’d expect from Monitor Audio’s Gold series. The Macassar Wood Veneer finish feels substantial and premium, while the overall construction inspires confidence that these will be performing at this level for years to come.

At £3000, they’re positioned squarely in premium territory, but the performance justifies every penny. The combination of that expansive soundstage, exceptional midrange clarity, and refined treble creates a listening experience that’s genuinely addictive. These speakers make you want to revisit your entire music collection.

They do require thoughtful amplifier matching – don’t expect them to sing with underpowered equipment. But paired with quality amplification, the Gold 100 6G delivers a level of musical engagement that’s rare at any price point.