No speaker is perfect and the Monarque is no exception. It could go higher and it could go deeper – although the Monarque’s bass is already way more impressive in terms of clarity, impact and musical integrity than the overweight and overblown delivery of so many big, expensive systems. The Sovereign subs are lurking, an important (but far from essential) part of this overall equation. It could project more air and a more focussed, transparent soundstage. But for the most part, its failings are more to do with listener expectation than sonic or musical flaws. It’s unfailingly natural – meaning that it eschews the standard tricks and deviations intended to make expensive speakers more sonically spectacular. It’s this lack of hi-fi artifice, a bit like suddenly tasting coffee without sugar, that might leave listeners feeling a lack. Believe me, that ‘lack’ is all the shit that we spend so long and so much trying to eliminate. Be glad that it’s gone. Shorn of exaggeration or false emphasis, the Monarques are unfailingly and unflinchingly honest – about your system and your recordings. But with a little work they’ll allow you to enjoy both to a whole new degree.
If you want (even) more, then you should be wondering how the Majestic – a long-time favourite of mine – will stack up once it has its own, revised crossover installed? Time will tell, but I’m expecting great things. Meanwhile, the Monarque has established a whole new level of musical integrity and performance at this elevated price level. Its competition comes not from other box speakers, but from the likes of the active, horn-loaded Trios or the larger Clarisys systems, with their remarkable scale and dimensionality. But neither of those options can match the Göbels inner balance and absolute presentational authority. Compared to lesser speakers, the Monarques have the happy knack of simply sounding right. When it comes to competition between products, you can expect the lower-line Göbel models to suddenly get a whole lot more relevant too…
On which subject, you might question just how relevant any speaker that costs close to half-a-million dollars can be. Ask Wilson Audio. Ask how many Alexx, Alexia and Sacha systems have sold because of the XVX. You could also ask all those XVX owners – owners who have just seen the performance of their beloved speakers comprehensively eclipsed by a speaker that doesn’t just offer superior musical results, it makes them significantly easier to actually realise. Oh yes, in terms of the high-end landscape, the Göbel Divin Monarque is very relevant indeed. The king is dead – long live the Monarque.
Price and availability:
Göbel Divin Monarque Loudspeaker – €469,000 (inc. 20% sales tax)
Manufacturer:
Göbel Audio GmbH
Roedersteinstr. 9
84034 Landshut
Germany
t. +49 (0) 871 97 511 657
e. info@goebel-highend.de
n. www.goebel-highend.de
