Monitor Audio Platinum 200 Speakers
The Platinum 200 3G is a slim and compact three-way floorstander, designed to deliver a rich, dynamic high-end performance with tight, controlled bass.
How to build a Platinum
Start with a Micro Pleated Diaphragm 3 rd gen tweeter. The moving mass of this driver is much lower than regular tweeters and therefore prvides smoother, more articulate and cleaner sound. The surface area is six times a regular tweeter, which makes it effortless and distortionless. Where most tweeters start misbehaving in the audio band this remarkable tweeter extends way out to 60 kHz without strain.
Drivers
Fast, powerful response to dynamics require cones that are rigid and light. Monitor Audio engineers developed Rigid Membrane Technology to meet the challenge.
The Nomex 3 is a thin Nomex Honeycomb Membrane sealed by a 40uM (half as thick as hair) layer of Ceramic Aluminum in the front and two layers of very thin woven Carbon Fibre at the back. The result is an 8 dB lower distrotion.
An inclosure that disappears
To avoid boxy coloration, The Platinum is built with a super strong matrix enclosure. The front panel is a massive 36mm, and panels are multi layer glued wood. Energy rods brace the drivers against the rear panel for solid wave launch without exciting the front panel.
The Platinum stands on a steel frame with four spiked feet. Combined with the rigid cabinet, powerful bass impacts are controlled from an immovable foundation.
Time Coherent Crossovers
To keep all the drivers working in perfect time sync, Monitor Audio's engineers have moved on from the typical 3 rd order crossovers used in the industry to advanced ellyptical crossovers. (only Magico does this as far as we know).
The result? Unmatched imaging, soundstaging and presence puts you in the space with the musicians.
Reviews
It is definitely a speaker that achieves reference calibre performance in a very small package - Andrew Robinson
When discussing the design and in particular the finishes, Andrew said that the Piano Ebony "exudes class", adding "the build quality and construction is beyond reproach".
Andrew put the the 200s through their paces, with the likes of Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’, Hans Zimmer's ‘Dream of Arrakis’ and Abe Rounds' ‘The Confidence To Make Mistakes’, and commenting on their performance, said they “sounded 100% real”, and “nothing about their recreation sceamed recording; scale, texture, dynamics and most of all, weight, were a perfect 10.”
"When you only compare it other common reference or cost no object speakers on the market, brands like B&W, Wilson Audio and Magico, the 200’s stock only rises." Comparing against the B&W 803 D4, Andrew added “the 200s are a bargain”, later adding that the bass is “among there best I’ve ever heard”.
Concluding this very compelling and refreshing review, he says the Platinum 200s were an "absolutely phenomenal speaker in every sense of the word”.
video review - please allow 10 secs to load
Specifications
- System Format 3-Way
- Frequency Response, Free-Field (-6dB) 32 Hz – 60 kHz
- Frequency Response, In-Room (-6dB) 23 Hz – 60 kHz
- Sensitivity (2.83 Vrms @ 1m, Free-Field) 88 dB
- Nominal Impedance 4 Ohms
- Minimum Impedance (20 Hz to 20 kHz) 4.0 Ohms @ 2.5 kHz
- Continuous Power Handling RMS into 4 Ohms 300 W
- Recommended Amplifier Power (RMS into 4 Ohm, Music Signal) 150 – 600 W
- Bass Alignment Ported
- Port Tuning Frequency 38 Hz
- Crossover Frequency LF/MF: 825 Hz MF/HF: 3 kHz
- Drive Unit Complement 2 x 6" RDT III bass driver, 1 x 4" RDT III mid-range driver,
1 x MPD III tweeter - External Dimensions including Trims, Terminals & Outrigger Feet & Spikes (H x W x D) 1041.6 x 368.7 x 454.9 mm (41 x 14.5 x 17.8")
- External Dimensions including Trims, Terminals & Outrigger Feet without spikes (H x W x D) 1025 x 368.7 x 454.9 mm (40.3 x 14.5 x 17.8")
- Weight (each) 35.8 kg (78 lb 14 oz)
