|
|||
 The latest addition to Monitor Audio’s flagship Platinum range is a compact version of the universally acclaimed PL300 loudspeaker, designed for a broader range of environments. In a skilful re- sizing of the PL300 (the PL200 occupies approximately 1/3 the volume of the PL300), Monitor Audio’s engineers have taken great care to preserve all the sonic virtues and design excellence of the larger speaker. By utilizing a re-scaled 6.5-inch version of the Platinum 8-inch bass driver and by re-configuring the Platinum mid-range Tapered Line Enclosure (TLE) to align co-axially with the PL200’s HiVeII bass reflex port, they have endowed the smaller PL200 with the spiritual essence of the universally admired PL300. Standing just under 39” in height (39”H x 10” W x 11.2” D), the compact three-way PL200 speaker features dual 6.5-inch RDT bass drivers, a single 4-inch RDT mid-range driver and Monitor Audio’s proprietary and superlative Platinum C-CAM® ribbon transducer. As with other Platinum speakers, the PL200’s innovatively shaped and braced cabinet is finished in a choice of exotic lacquered Santos Rosewood and Ebony natural wood veneers, and in a rich Piano Black lacquer. The front baffle is hand- upholstered in high quality Strathspey leather and an open-pore shaped magnetic metal grille is included. Technologies All driver-radiating surfaces are of Ceramic Coated Aluminium/Magnesium (C-CAM), an innovative alloy material, which is extremely rigid and yet remains light enough to yield high overall efficiency. Bass and mid-range driver cones employ Rigid Diaphragm Technology (RDT), designed to reduce mass and increase cone stiffness. A core of honeycomb Nomex material is sandwiched by ultra-thin skins of C-CAM, creating a structure, which is extremely light but more rigid than a steel plate when formed as a laminate type construction. The new concave cone geometry has been refined by FEA analysis to provide a smooth frequency response and eradicate break-up. Front baffles, plinths, and the mid-range housings are cast from Anti-Resonance Composite (ARC®) material. This is a cast thermo-set polymer loaded with minerals to provide very inert, optimally damped components. ARC material is cast to form a Tapered Line Enclosure (TLE) for Platinum’s mid-range driver. The TLE is a special tapered parabolic-shaped enclosure designed to prevent the propagation of standing waves and modal resonance. HiVe2 port technology is a straight rifled port design which accelerates air flow and reduces turbulence. Drive units C-CAM high frequency ribbon transducer. A departure from Monitor Audio’s traditional C-CAM tweeter domes, the ribbon design developed for the Platinum series uses an ultra-thin sandwich of C-CAM alloy suspended in a powerful transverse magnetic field of high-energy NeFeB rare-earth magnets. The ribbon serves as both voice coil and radiating diaphragm, with every part of the ribbon driven directly and simultaneously without energy storage. With a mass of just 18mg, the ribbon diaphragm has a very fast transient response and exhibits extremely low inter-modulation and harmonic distortion. These characteristics coupled with a useable frequency range to 100 kHz allow the transducer to capture the leading edges and natural decay of the most complex musical sounds and their harmonics. Bass/mid-range drivers The new die-cast alloy driver chassis features a vented rear section with an increased open area for low reflection. Using FEA, Monitor Audio has developed motor systems in which a focused magnetic gap and copper eddy rings work together to produce a higher level of linearity and lower distortion than was previously possible. Magnet plates and poles are CNC machined to very precise standards in order to provide ultimate consistency. The dedicated mid-range driver used on the PL200 utilizes an ‘under-hung’ voice coil design to further optimize linearity and reduce distortion. High-energy NeFeB rare earth magnets are used to provide high efficiency, and a large 2-inch (50mm) voice coil is specified to handle huge power input and dynamic impulses. This driver uses the direct drive RDT cone to provide a seamless mid-range and a natural integration with the bass and high frequency drivers. The bass drivers use long-throw voice coil windings to provide large excursions at high power levels. Their RDT cones are directly driven by the voice coil and have no dust cap or joints to interfere with the driver response over the working band. Crossover All components are arranged to provide the shortest signal path and selected for the best possible sound quality after many hours of listening and evaluation by our engineers. Capacitors are metalised polypropylene film types, specially made by ICW ClarityCap. High power, low tolerance film resistors are used because they have no residual inductive effect. Special flat copper foil air-core inductors are selected to provide low internal resistance and add no discernable distortion to the input signal. Cabinet Design The PL200 cabinet design comprises multiple laminations of wood veneer in a rigid ply-wood construction shaped to form a one piece shell. Internally, the sides are non-regular, preventing the formation of standing waves. Monitor Audio has developed a unique ‘pin-hole’ internal bracing structure for the Platinum series, positioned to provide rigidity and integrity. Cabinet bracing is further enhanced by steel bolts that tie front and back panels to the ‘pin-hole’ brace and are tightened to a specific torque in order to tune out undesirable resonances. Bitumastic internal damping material is applied to all internal cabinet walls to provide a further level of resonance damping. Cabinet Finishes The PL200’s natural wood veneers in Santos Rosewood and Ebony, and its piano black finish are coated with eleven layers of clear gloss piano lacquer, enhancing the exquisite lustre of the finish. To ensure that grain matching is precise and that no joints are visible, the wood veneers are applied by hand after the cabinet is made. The front baffle is upholstered by hand using high quality leather, which together with the rich gloss of the PL200’s lacquered finishes conveys an immediate impression of elite design. Speaker Terminals and Feet WBT Platinum signature terminals are considered to be of the highest quality available. Precision-machined and plated with pure platinum, they provide very low contact resistance and the best possible contact reliability. They feature accurate fine-pitch adjustment and are suitable for heavy-duty cables with spade, 4mm plug or bare wire connection. Adjustable spiked feet are used on the PL200’s floor stands. Machined to the finest tolerances from high-grade alloy and anodized to the most exacting standards, the feet accept ‘bullet’ spikes of high-tensile steel, chrome-plated to a mirror finish. For hard or solid wood flooring, a non-slip rubber pad is integrated with the foot design. MSRP and Availability: Available Now Monitor Audio PL200 Loudspeaker: $8000 pr To find out more about Monitor Audio loudspeakers, go to: www.monitoraudiousa.com
Tags:
- equipment -
- Monitor Audio -
- Platinum -
- Pl300 -
- Pl200 -
- loudspeaker -
|
|||
×
Access Widescreen Review on your iPad or iPhone.
Internet access is required, but PDFs of complete issues and individual articles can be saved to your device for reading offline.
Tap 
then "Add to Home Screen"
then "Add to Home Screen"