Monitor Audio is a  Cambridge based speaker manufacturer set up in 1972 by Mo Iqbal and continuing today under new ownership. The company designed, developed and manufactured its products in-house,  and was responsible for a number of notable innovations in hifi loudspeaker development and tweeter design.  From the outset, the company benefited from having its own cabinet making division which no doubt contributed to the excellent quality of its products and the claim to be the third biggest UK manufacturer of quality loudspeakers.

The MA5 model first appeared in 1975 and was the second loudspeaker designed and manufactured by the company. In addition to the very well built infinite baffle cabinets, the MA5 incorporated the excellent KEF B200 bass / mid-range driver, so favoured by top class speaker manufacturers of this era, and  complemented by an Isophon tweeter and crossover. The overall impression on playing a wide range of material is of an open sounding speaker with a big soundstage from relatively small speakers, firm musical bass which extends quite low down and generally nice balance and detail. The treble can occasionally sound slightly hard on some orchestral recordings but this is not a strong criticism and will not affect the overall enjoyment of the speakers which are capable of playing long and loud without causing fatigue - a sure sign of low distortion.