Review: Monitor Audio Vector Series V10 Speakers & VW8 Subwoofer

A Very Affordable Speaker System for Movies and Music

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Vector V10 Speakers - Black

Monitor Audio

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Monitor Audio, the British speaker manufacturer is focusing its attention on affordable, high-performance speakers designed for smaller stereo systems or as part of a home cinema speaker package. The company offers a wide range of floorstanding, bookshelf, in-wall and on-wall speakers from lower-priced to high end models and the Vector Series is one of their newest speaker models. In this review, I put the Vector V10 stereo speakers and VW8 subwoofer system to the test with movie and music sources.

Features & Design

The Vector V10 is a compact two-way speaker with Monitor Audio's MMPII 4-inch woofer and their 1-inch C-Cam gold dome tweeter similar to those used in the Monitor Audio Mini-Monitor speakers . However, the speakers are housed in a very different type of enclosure, a strong, rigid polymer material with a 'soft touch' rubberized finish that feels like a combination of soft suede and rubber – quite unique. The front baffle is MDF reinforced with a through-bolt brace for strength and rigidity and is available in a high-gloss piano black or a white finish. The through-bolt design that strengthens the enclosure is found on many Monitor Audio speakers. The V10 can be placed on a shelf, stand or wall-mounted with optional brackets via a threaded insert on the back of each speaker.

Cosmetically, the Vector V10 makes an attractive visual companion for a flat-screen television, especially if wall-mounted next to the screen. As I discovered, it also makes a good audio counterpart for television and movie sound. The Vector V10 speakers are magnetically shielded for safe placement near a television.

The Vector VW8 subwoofer houses an 8-inch woofer powered by a 100-watt class A-B amplifier. Many, if not most, subwoofers use digital amplifiers because of their higher power output and smaller size, however, I have found that class A-B amplifiers used in a subwoofer offer a warmer, fuller bass sound and yet sound tight enough for good music reproduction.

The VW8 also features crossover bypass, a useful feature if you prefer to use the crossover built into some stereo or home theater receivers.

Real World Performance

I was listening to the Vector V10s for at least ten minutes before I realized that the subwoofer was turned off. During that time I noted that the V10 had very full bass response, more and better bass than expected from a 4-inch woofer without help from a subwoofer. Most people would not be disappointed while listening to the V10s without a sub, but for listening to movie sound or multichannel music with an LFE track a subwoofer would be highly recommended.

For movie sound the Vector V10s have surprising dynamics. As the locomotive approaches the station in the final scenes of 3:10 to Yuma (Lionsgate) the system accurately reproduced the sound of the steam engine, clearly conveying the weight, power and brute force of the steam engine as it slowly passed in front of the camera.

With stereo music, the upper midrange and treble range sounded somewhat aggressive on the V10s, likely a valuable attribute for movie sound, especially dialog, but perhaps a bit forward for some when listening to music. Everyone's musical tastes are different so let your ears be the judge.

In The Eagles Farewell Tour Live From Melbourne (Eagles Recording Company) the mid-high range sounded very clean and open, just a little energetic in my opinion, particularly with vocals, cymbals and percussion instruments.

The Vector VW8 subwoofer integrated very well with the V10 speakers and produced smooth and deep bass response. The 8-inch driver responds quickly to bass signals yielding a warm yet punchy bass quality and easily filled my 23' x 16' listening room.

Conclusion

The Vector V10 and VW8 system is a very reasonably priced and stylish speaker system, especially as a complement to a wall-mounted flat-screen television. Add the Vector V20 center channel speaker for use with a home theater system. As a stereo system, I found them to be brighter than I prefer in a speaker, but judge for yourself. The Vector system would work well in a medium-sized listening room.

Specifications

Vector V10 Speakers:

Woofer: 4-inch driver with MMPII cone
Tweeter: 1-inch gold C-CAM
Magnetically shielded for safe placement near a television
Molded Polymer cabinet with MDF baffle and single through-bolt for cabinet bracing
Rear ported enclosure
Woven wire mesh grilles
Threaded insert for wall mounting bracket
Finished in 'soft-touch' rubberized molded Polymer with high-gloss black or white baffle
Vector V10 speakers: $225 per pair

Vector VW8 Subwoofer:

Woofer: 8-inch long throw MMPII cone
Forward firing driver with downward firing port
100-watt (RMS) class A-B amplifier
MDF cabinet
Auto On-Off control with signal sensing
Variable volume control
Variable crossover control: 45 Hz – 150 Hz
Switchable phase control: 0 – 180 degrees
RCA L/R channel line inputs
Vector VW8 Subwoofer: $399
System price: $624.00
Contact: monitoraudiousa.com