Excellent sound; fine styling; clever design; luxurious build. If you're after a compact, stylish speaker system to complete your home cinema you'll find plenty of choice at less than £2000, but not much above. It could be argued that, such is the ability of, say, Dali's fabulous Fazons (£1725), why spend more?
Viewed in those terms, Monitor Audio's Apex system has its work cut out. At £2400 (before you invest in its optional floor-stands – £125 each) it's around £800 - the price of an awesome AV amp – more than the delicious Dalis.
Look good, sound even better
Yet the Apex system delivers. It's gorgeously styled and expertly assembled, as you'd expect. It's also clever.
We love the magnetic grille fixings, the neat table-top stands, the integral cabling runs in each floor-stand and the brushed-metal inserts that adorn the flanks of each speaker.
Of course, many systems are similarly sultry. What sets the Apex apart is its sonic prowess – which is considerable.
Key to that is the quality of both the cabinets, inert all-metal enclosures, and the drive units.
Both the A10 satellites and the A40 centre feature a new 14cm metal mid/bass driver, complete with the golf-ball dimple design found in Monitor Audio's more conventional GS and RX ranges.
This sophisticated design helps the Apex deliver an articulate and reassuringly powerful sound even when listened to in isolation.
Underpinned by muscular sub
When the ensemble is underpinned by the stentorian efforts of the AW-12 subwoofer, a compact yet muscular bass-maker, the result is sound that more than matches Monitor Audio's lofty aspirations.
It's muscular when called upon, but articulate and beautifully integrated too, with little audible sign of the crossover from speakers to subwoofer.
As a result, it plays music almost as well as it relays film sound, capturing both vocal intonation and instrumental detail with relish.
Bass integration does unravel a little in the face of the very fastest rhythmic shifts, but seldom does the effect jar.
The Monitor Audio Apex is a remarkable newcomer. Why spend more than £2000? Easy: you could have all this…
Height 916.50mm (36 inches)
Width 240mm (9.45 inches)
Depth 280mm (11 inches)