Monitor audio PLC350, PL100, PL300 User Manual
E v E r y l a s t d E t a i l
O W N E R S M A N U A L
T e c h n i c a l E x p e r t i s e
I n n o v a t i o n
S u p e r i o r D e s i g n
P e r f o r m a n c e
P r i d e o f O w n e r s h i p
“In developing Platinum we’ve created the denitive
Monitor Audio loudspeaker. There is no ner
expression of the dedication to sound quality, design and
engineering that has driven our adventure and
innovation for over three decades. We’ve proved once
again that there is no preconception that cannot be
challenged, no rule beyond question. By rening new
materials and technologies, we’re getting closer to
perfection. Our quest for audio purity has found a new
champion.”
Dean Hartley
Technical Director
Owner Information
Model:
Finish:
Product Serial Number:
Date of Purchase:
Local Dealer Address:
CONTENTS
COMPANY HISTORY 1
PLATINUM, THE NEW FLAGSHIP 2
MUIRHEAD HISTORY 3-4
CARE AND MAINTENANCE 5
CLEANING THE LEATHER 5
TECHNOLOGIES
®
C-CAM
6
RDT® MID-RANGE AND BASS DRIVERS 8
C-CAM® RIBBON TRANSDUCER 10
ARC 11
HIVE® II 11
CABINET CONSTRUCTION 12
EVERY LAST DETAIL 12
PL100 14
PL300 16
PLC350 18
PLW-15 20
PL100 STAND 21
PLC350 STAND 22
WIRING CONFIGURATION 23
POSITIONING 24-25
FINE TUNING 26
RUNNING IN 26
TOOL BOX 27
RECYCLING 28
SPECS 29-31
GUARANTEE & SERVICE 32
EU DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY 33
Company History
Since 1972, Monitor Audio’s near fanatical commitment to quality in every aspect of
loudspeaker design coupled with its willingness to innovate has inspired global recognition
and acclaim. Daring to challenge design orthodoxy has been its signature approach.
When Monitor Audio launched its R352MD loudspeaker – the rst model to incorporate
a metal dome tweeter - it caused quite a stir. Until that time, most metal domes were
single-metal types made from copper or titanium and virtually all sounded unconvincing.
The R352 used an aluminium-magnesium alloy dome and sounded signicantly better
and smoother than all of its single-metal rivals. It also incorporated ferro-uid damping/
cooling of the metal voice-coil former and a vented voice coil mechanism for better heat
dissipation. These radical design elements formed the basis for successive generations of
C-CAM® metal domes.
By consistently rening and applying the technology, Monitor Audio has become the
world’s foremost proponent of metal dome drivers. Monitor Audio designs and builds its
own cabinets and crossovers as well, so that it can optimise the incomparable blend of
virtues that makes Monitor Audio loudspeakers unique: clean, dynamic sound, superior
build quality and innovative design. And because they share a philosophy of excellence
and a consistency of quality and voicing, loudspeakers of different types: on-wall, in-wall,
oor and stand-mounting, may be used together to create the perfect blend of colour and
shape for any room.
In the strength and depth of Monitor Audio’s evolving product portfolio, the ideal of a
universal whole-house loudspeaker brand nds true expression. Decades of accumulated
expertise and knowledge have rened the rare mix of innovation, reliability and sheer
performance that has propelled the brand to global status and on which acionados of
music and movie sound have come to rely.
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Platinum. The new Flagship of Monitor Audio
Platinum is Monitor Audio’s new agship range. It is the culmination of many years R&D
by the award winning design engineering team within Monitor Audio. The Platinum Series
is the result of ‘blue sky’ thinking in driver technology and cabinet construction, involving
radical new materials, processes and designs. Supremely esoteric in nature, the range sets
new standards of aesthetic quality and performance in its class.
Platinum’s innovatively shaped cabinets are nished in a rich piano black laquer,
exotic Santos Rosewood and Ebony natural wood veneers, which are hand selected and
veneered to the cabinet after construction to ensure a seamless nish. They are then
coated with eleven layers of clear gloss polyester lacquer. The front Bafes are hand
upholstered in Muirhead, Strathspey leather and tted with new custom developed drive
units including, in a departure from tradition, a C-CAM® ribbon high frequency transducer.
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Muirhead History
The company’s history can be traced back to 1758. In the 18th century, John Muirhead was
exporting chamois and glove leather to America. After some years of economic depression,
John turned to making glue from the raw skins and this business prospered until about
1820. John’s son James took over the business in 1826 on his father’s death. James had
thirteen children, the youngest of which was Andrew.
Andrew had learnt much in his father’s skin and glue works and when the business was
transferred to him in 1840 he named it, “Andrew Muirhead & Co”. In 1870 the company
moved to its present site, Dalmarnock Works, formerly a ax and jute mill.
Since that time the company concentrated its production of upholstery leathers in
conjunction with case, bag and shoe leathers. Over time the company’s upholstery leather
achieved worldwide recognition and is presently exported to over 30 countries. Case, bag
and shoe leathers were phased out of production in the 1960’s to allow the company to
meet the demand for its high performance leathers.
Today the company is acknowledged as the largest supplier of quality upholstery
leathers to the airline industry, supplying over forty airline and aircraft manufacturers
globally. Upholstery leathers for quality contract and domestic seating and specialist
automotive application still remain the largest proportion of production with many
bespoke and specialist applications also being catered for.
Natural Leather Characteristics
Real leather is a natural product. It breathes, is warm and has individual characteristics,
which make each hide unique. Leather will always bear the marks of its natural origin
and these characteristics can show as healed scars, growth marks, areas of differing bre
density and hair pore structure. These hallmarks in no way detract from the wearing
qualities of the leather. They are signs discerning owners cherish when buying leather. With
the passing of time and use, it develops a patina which enhances its beauty.
Monitor Audio Ltd. therefore cannot guarantee that the leather on each speaker will be
identical in colour, texture or aging properties. We can only assure you that the very best
products have been selected and used.
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Care and Maintenance of Cabinets and Leather
The high gloss nish of the cabinet can be maintained by regular dusting using a soft cloth
or micro bre cloth. Should you feel the need to use a polish we would recommend an
abrasive free polish such as a good quality furniture polish. Always apply the polish to
the cloth and use sparingly to avoid contaminating the leather or drive units. The drive
units should only be cleaned with a damp cloth if more than normal dusting is required.
Cleaning of leather is perhaps something that is given too much emphasis. Leather
furniture in a normal domestic environment should require little attention and any cleaning
should be done only when necessary. It is not essential to the life of leather that it should
be cleaned regularly, but at the same time an accumulation of dirt and grease over a long
period is undesirable and obviously, the longer it is left the more difcult it will be to
remove. Dirt is abrasive and over a period of time in extreme circumstances will cause the
removal of the protective coating. Cleaning as described below is advisable.
Cleaning of Finished Leather
Use a cloth soaked in a mild soap/water solution (not detergent) and wring it out until
damp. Apply the cloth to the surface of the leather in a light circular motion, turning the
cloth regularly. Avoid an aggressive rubbing action. Repeat with a damp cloth rinsed in
clean warm water. To improve the life of the leather, follow these few helpful hints.
• Allow to dry and then lightly polish using a clean, dry soft cloth.
• Don’t use cleaning uids and preparations.
• Don’t over clean - leather really doesn’t take much looking after.
• Don’t use wax/spray polishes - upholstery leather is not the same as shoe leather.
Wax polishes and furniture spray often contain silicone which will, in time,
produce an unpleasant sticky feel to the leather.
• Don’t feed - modern leathers do not require ‘feeding’. Despite this, there is much
encouragement to use so-called hide foods, care kits, saddle soaps and waxes
- avoid them all.
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TECHNOLOGIES
Ceramic Coated Aluminium/Magnesium (C-CAM®)
All the radiating surfaces of the Platinum drivers are formed from C-CAM, a material
originally developed by the aerospace industry for engine components. Its properties
make it ideal for loudspeaker cones: extremely rigid, yet light enough to yield high overall
efciency. In manufacture, the aluminium/magnesium alloy undergoes stress-relieving
processes to remove surface deformation and molecular weakness. Once formed, the
alloy cone undergoes a high temperature anodic coating process, in which a layer of
pure ceramic (alumina) is deposited onto its surfaces to give a completely rigid exterior.
Conventional cone materials are liable to ex (break-up) in operation, producing a
signicant level of audible distortion. C-CAM cones have a much higher resistance to
bending stress and therefore exhibit much greater delity.
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