Intro
Contents
There are some brands that just everyone knows. The familiar line of “greats. That certainly includes Monitor Audio. For generations they have been making speakers that appeal to a large target group. From the very affordable ‘Bronze’ series to the ‘high-end’ Platinum Series. We have the third generation Platinum in front of us. The ‘200’ floorstander. Is it worthy of a Platinum label? Let’s find out.
To be honest, your author went into this review a little hesitant. First of all because we have not often had Monitor Audio speakers at the office and because the warmer sound of the Silver and Gold is not really your author’s ‘thing’.
Now a reviewer just has to be able to step back and keep the target group in mind: that’s part of the job. But it is harder to write a nice piece then. After all: it’s not quite your taste.
Now we can give away everything; we won’t. But let us say that a burden fell from our shoulders when the first track played… wow… this is really a different class than the Gold. Fortunately, because at 11,000 euros per pair, it is also a different investment than a Gold 200.
The construction
The Platinum series from Monitor Audio makes the statement. The 200 is the floorstanding version. Above it is another slightly larger 300 and below it is the 100 monitor speaker. Those looking for another center: the C250 is your speaker. Remarkably, there is also an in-wall and a PLIC II in-ceiling model.
Whoever thinks of Monitor Audio thinks of AMT tweeters. And also in the Platinum 200 is the MPD III AMT. This one, of course, has been further refined again to take away the edges. And to make it fit even better with the midunit. This one uses RDT – Rigid Diaphragm Technology – which amounts to a layered construction of the unit to prevent breakup in the working area. They use carbon for this. This along with a further improved surround has increased the bandwidth making the crossover point a little more favorable again.
Remarkably, the cabinet is incredibly stiff. And sounds very dead. Monitor Audio says it is a completely new design. We think it is beautiful. Especially in the wood finish we have (Ebony, but satin white and piano black are also possible). The finish is just beautiful. Beautiful paintwork, great attention to detail….
The baffle is almost 4cm thick mdf and the rest is about 2cm thick. The inside is heavily reinforced to prevent resonances. The cabinet is finished with 16 coats of lacquer.
At the rear we see two binding posts to allow bi-amping and bi-wiring. We played single-wire during the test.
Finally, the base. The speakers come with spikes. These are adjustable in height to allow the speaker to be nicely level. We recommend cups to avoid damaging the floor. These speakers are very heavy with 36Kg each.
you did a disservice to these speakers you should have never wired them single wired there’s a reason why there’s four binding posts they sound much more open and three-dimensional when they’re by word you never ever single wire speakers that are designed to be by wired with a stereo pair and jumpers they will never be as open sounding try it you’ll see.
Ok…
Wow,really nice review! I am really interested would the Platinum 100 3g get the same high scores😌
Probably. It is a very decent speaker.