Monitor Audio speakers from the 80's anyone advise? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Vintagewiner · 18th Aug 2025, 3:39 pm

Hello there.

I am trying to find out the bass driver unit full reference for three speaker models the Monitor Audio R252 circa 1983, the R352 circa 85/86 and the model R652 circa 87/88.

I'm pretty sure the drivers are Kef b200's, 8 inch drivers, but to purchase the correct ones I need the full references.

Thank you all in advance, any help much appreciated.

locknut · 18th Aug 2025, 7:24 pm

I don't think the Monitor Audio woofers are KEF B200s, the R252/R352 woofer was paper cone, the R652 doped paper - the KEF B200 was bextrene, with an outward rolled rubber surround.

Pretty sure the MA woofers were made by ELAC in the UK. KEF did use these ELAC units in their cheaper speaker ranges in the mid to late 80s.

Simondm · 18th Aug 2025, 8:03 pm

MY MA7s were also originally paper woofers too. I replaced them with Audax units when one failed.

I may still have the remaining one. If I can find it I'll check the diameter - you're welcome to it if it fits (MA7s were large "bookshelf" speakers, and I think it's either 6" or 7" - the speaker was rated at 50W).

locknut · 18th Aug 2025, 8:19 pm

I think the R252/R352 woofer is an 8" IIRC

It might be worth contacting Falcon Acoustics, I think they have some cross reference data for the old ELAC speaker units. I doubt very much anyone will have any stock of them though.

Another option might be to source a secondhand unit liberated from one of the many budget KEF speakers - I'm sure they are very similar, if not exactly the same as the MA woofers. Should be easier to find? For a pair of new drivers, I think something like Audax would make a good replacement.

Simondm · 19th Aug 2025, 9:32 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simondm

MY MA7s were also originally paper woofers too. I replaced them with Audax units when one failed.

I may still have the remaining one. If I can find it I'll check the diameter - you're welcome to it if it fits (MA7s were large "bookshelf" speakers, and I think it's either 6" or 7" - the speaker was rated at 50W).

Found it and measured: the unit I have is 6 1/8" between mounting hole centres (4 off), and 6 1/2" rim edge-to-edge. It seems to be a doped-paper cone with a synthetic rubber corrugated support on the rim.

There's nothing written on it anywhere, but the voice coil looks to be 1".

As I said, if it fits you're welcome to it.

Simondm · 20th Aug 2025, 7:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simondm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simondm

MY MA7s were also originally paper woofers too. I replaced them with Audax units when one failed.

I may still have the remaining one. If I can find it I'll check the diameter - you're welcome to it if it fits (MA7s were large "bookshelf" speakers, and I think it's either 6" or 7" - the speaker was rated at 50W).

Found it and measured: the unit I have is 6 1/8" between mounting hole centres (4 off), and 6 1/2" rim edge-to-edge. It seems to be a doped-paper cone with a synthetic rubber corrugated support on the rim.

There's nothing written on it anywhere, but the voice coil looks to be 1".

As I said, if it fits you're welcome to it.

Apologies: I speed-read the thread and missed the fact you'd already measured your wanted driver at 8".

Maybe someone else wants to restore a pair of MA7s!

[mods please delete]

Steph Aureus · 22nd Oct 2025, 8:49 am

I have MA R252s. As stated upthread, the bass-mid drivers in these are 8" un-doped paper cone units that I believe were manufactured by Elac (the now-defunct UK one, not the German company of the same name). Despite superficial similarity, they are not Kef B200 units (which were mostly Bextrene-coned).

Mine have a rather cryptic '8NC410' '8ohms' 'Made in the UK' paper label on the magnet but nothing else indicating origin. The magnet is definitely larger than that in the similar-looking (but doped paper) unit in the Kef Coda 3, for example - although I think both have 1" voice coils (as would suit these sealed-box designs).

I suspect your best bet for replacements would be to find a tatty pair of 252s online and hope that at least one woofer is still functional and therefore cannibalisable.

Edward Huggins · 22nd Oct 2025, 10:07 am

If these are UK ELAC drive units that would be quite surprising. From my records they would have been wound up by then. Also it would be rare from them to use a black centre dome arrangement.

Steph Aureus · 22nd Oct 2025, 1:00 pm

According to records in UK Companies House, Electro Acoustic Industries Ltd (i.e. ELAC) traded between 1946 and 1993.

At least one of the models listed on the (incomplete) Elac historical database hosted by Falcon Acoustics begins with the '8NC' prefix that is also on the magnet sticker on my R252 bass/mid driver.

A Stereophile article on the MA R952MD also cites 'Elac of England' as the OEM driver manufacturer for that (1988) speaker model. My R252s are of 1983 vintage.

All evidence points to Elac UK as still being active to at least the late 80s, and there's quite strong circumstantial evidence that they were OEMs for Monitor Audio during that period.

Edward Huggins · 22nd Oct 2025, 1:30 pm

Thank you for this update. I never encountered a BNC prefix, but happy to accept your details. ELAC and GOODMANS were the largest manufacturers of drive units in high volumes for many years and we had good trade connections with them.

18th Aug 2025, 3:39 pm	#1
Vintagewiner Diode Join Date: Aug 2025 Location: Anduze, France Posts: 1	Monitor Audio speakers from the 80's anyone advise? Hello there. I am trying to find out the bass driver unit full reference for three speaker models the Monitor Audio R252 circa 1983, the R352 circa 85/86 and the model R652 circa 87/88. I'm pretty sure the drivers are Kef b200's, 8 inch drivers, but to purchase the correct ones I need the full references. Thank you all in advance, any help much appreciated.

18th Aug 2025, 7:24 pm	#2
locknut Hexode Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Retford, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 367	Re: Monitor Audio speakers from the 80's anyone advise? I don't think the Monitor Audio woofers are KEF B200s, the R252/R352 woofer was paper cone, the R652 doped paper - the KEF B200 was bextrene, with an outward rolled rubber surround. Pretty sure the MA woofers were made by ELAC in the UK. KEF did use these ELAC units in their cheaper speaker ranges in the mid to late 80s. __________________ Paul Last edited by locknut; 18th Aug 2025 at 7:31 pm.

18th Aug 2025, 8:03 pm	#3
Simondm Hexode Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 260	Re: Monitor Audio speakers from the 80's anyone advise? MY MA7s were also originally paper woofers too. I replaced them with Audax units when one failed. I may still have the remaining one. If I can find it I'll check the diameter - you're welcome to it if it fits (MA7s were large "bookshelf" speakers, and I think it's either 6" or 7" - the speaker was rated at 50W).

18th Aug 2025, 8:19 pm	#4
locknut Hexode Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Retford, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 367	Re: Monitor Audio speakers from the 80's anyone advise? I think the R252/R352 woofer is an 8" IIRC It might be worth contacting Falcon Acoustics, I think they have some cross reference data for the old ELAC speaker units. I doubt very much anyone will have any stock of them though. Another option might be to source a secondhand unit liberated from one of the many budget KEF speakers - I'm sure they are very similar, if not exactly the same as the MA woofers. Should be easier to find? For a pair of new drivers, I think something like Audax would make a good replacement. __________________ Paul

22nd Oct 2025, 8:49 am	#7
Steph Aureus Diode Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Manchester, North West, UK. Posts: 8	Re: Monitor Audio speakers from the 80's anyone advise? I have MA R252s. As stated upthread, the bass-mid drivers in these are 8" un-doped paper cone units that I believe were manufactured by Elac (the now-defunct UK one, not the German company of the same name). Despite superficial similarity, they are not Kef B200 units (which were mostly Bextrene-coned). Mine have a rather cryptic '8NC410' '8ohms' 'Made in the UK' paper label on the magnet but nothing else indicating origin. The magnet is definitely larger than that in the similar-looking (but doped paper) unit in the Kef Coda 3, for example - although I think both have 1" voice coils (as would suit these sealed-box designs). I suspect your best bet for replacements would be to find a tatty pair of 252s online and hope that at least one woofer is still functional and therefore cannibalisable.

22nd Oct 2025, 10:07 am	#8
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 9,180	Re: Monitor Audio speakers from the 80's anyone advise? If these are UK ELAC drive units that would be quite surprising. From my records they would have been wound up by then. Also it would be rare from them to use a black centre dome arrangement. __________________ Edward.

22nd Oct 2025, 1:00 pm	#9
Steph Aureus Diode Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Manchester, North West, UK. Posts: 8	Re: Monitor Audio speakers from the 80's anyone advise? According to records in UK Companies House, Electro Acoustic Industries Ltd (i.e. ELAC) traded between 1946 and 1993. At least one of the models listed on the (incomplete) Elac historical database hosted by Falcon Acoustics begins with the '8NC' prefix that is also on the magnet sticker on my R252 bass/mid driver. A Stereophile article on the MA R952MD also cites 'Elac of England' as the OEM driver manufacturer for that (1988) speaker model. My R252s are of 1983 vintage. All evidence points to Elac UK as still being active to at least the late 80s, and there's quite strong circumstantial evidence that they were OEMs for Monitor Audio during that period.

22nd Oct 2025, 1:30 pm	#10
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 9,180	Re: Monitor Audio speakers from the 80's anyone advise? Thank you for this update. I never encountered a BNC prefix, but happy to accept your details. ELAC and GOODMANS were the largest manufacturers of drive units in high volumes for many years and we had good trade connections with them. __________________ Edward.