"Silence before the storm" review Monitor Audio Pl-500


Some years ago there were some rumors about a Monitor Audio Platinum Statement. However, these rumors quickly disappeared.

In 2016 finally the Monitor Audio Platinum Series II was launched. It took 9 years before the first Platinum series which came out in 2007 was succeeded.

AudioFacts already has experience with the Platinum series since september 2007. And has become an important loudspeaker series for us. We have used the Platinum series a lot both in stereo and surround for our clients

We are a company that goes much further into detail of sound compared to any other company in our world. In over 18 years of time we have done thousands of tests in sound&vision.

This is a concious choice which we thank to research and testing. This way we are able to achieve a significantly higher level in sound quality out of each product and audio system.

Based on how we work and think by Tru-Fi we also know the DNA of each product we test.

When you compare the first Platinum series with the current series, the differences in many aspects are larger than you might expect at first sight. Based on the appearance first you would think the differences are not that big.

For the new Platinum series Monitor Audio only covers the drivers and tweeters with a subtle cover. This makes the beautiful Muirhead leather suddenly come more forward. Making it more luxurious and gives it it a more expensive look.

The Pl-500 uses a D'appolito speaker configuration. This means that the loudspeaker uses 2 mid-range drivers instead of one. This gives it a much more open sound and tangible image.

Another great advantage is that the distortion is significantly lower thanks to the use of two mid-range drivers. Please bear in mind that the midrange area is the most important frequency range of any loudspeaker. Because here it is where the magic happens of the music.

With the new Platinum series Monitor Audio substantially goes further into detail than the previous Platinum series. We can see this in the way the drivers are made as in the housing of the driver. They still use ceramic drivers reinforced with aluminum and magnesium. 

The profile of the diaphragms have become shallower. And is without a centre hole in the middle of the driver like most other drivers use. The back of each driver is reinforced with carbon fibers. What reduces the distortion as well. 

Now they use a ' DCF ' ring made of nylon what is being placed under the driver. What works like a spring. This creates a more natural sound. Also on very low volume the drivers can create more dynamics and more layers. They made a big step in a much faster response of the drivers.

Monitor Audio has replaced the previous true ribbon tweeter from the first Platinum series by an AMT tweeter. Which MDP diaphragm is about 8 times greater than the surface of a traditional dome-tweeter.

An AMT tweeter consists of a folded membrane with aluminium conductors. Once the AMT tweeter gets a signal high pressure air is pressed through the membrane.

Advantages against a dome-tweeter are: bigger power handling, significantly less distortion, bigger stage, more natural sound, better dynamics, a better timing and a more flat impedance.

Each Pl-500 uses 4 woofers of each 20 cm (8 inch). This creates a better distribution of the load to the drivers. And a lot less distortion. Immediately you will hear it back in the ultimate power handling and a lot of grip in the low frequencies.

The curved and braced cabinet of the Pl-500 provides more strength and for substantially less standing waves. At the baffle (front) of the speaker and for the housing of the mid drivers ARC is applied. It reduces cabinet vibration and gives it a more pure sound.

Inside the Pl-500 a matrix construction with different curved surfaces is being used. What creates a more strength structure inside. This makes standing waves to be excluded.

Thanks to Tru-Fi we are able to create a much higher level of sound quality from each Platinum speaker. Because you can reach and use all the properties/talents that the Platinum speakers possesses.

We will now show you based of all 8 parts of Tru-Fi in which the new Platinum Pl-500 stands out from its competitors.

A 3-dimensional sound image is the most important part in which ' true highend ' is distinct from ' hifi '. Because it creates the sound stage far behind the speakers. The Pl-500 is even able to create the stage beside and in front of the speakers. It brings you closer to the music and you'll feel more connected.

The previous Platinum series showed us during shootouts with well-known high-end speakers already that the stage was deeper and wider. But in addition also the physical image was more tangible.

Thanks to research, we know exactly which brands and products can build a deep and wide stage. Because in this part the Pl-500 can take a large distance of all its competitors and even of many more expensive ' high end ' loudspeakers.

In our configurations, the stage of the Pl-500 is of an ultimate level. As a result you become one with to the music. And you will experience your music so much more intense and above all, more emotional. 

Thanks to an impressive blacklevel voices and instruments stands completely free and true to life tangible in space.

Every time you'll listen to these speakers they bring you to another dimension. Because it brings you this close to music. The sound image can be build up to many meters deep behind the Pl-500.

The new AMT tweeter is able to spread a much bigger stage. This makes suddenly the differences in height of voices and instruments easily observable. 

Piano attacks sound more realistic(higher) in height. With many recordings with a trumpet you'll experience this again. Cymbals are also presented much higher what makes it more realistic than ever.

What makes a great impression is the fact that the room of a recording much clearer is observed. Thanks to the AMT tweeter and great crossovers the stage of a recording even can be heard far beside and even in front of the Pl-500.

It is therefore not only the complete disappearance of the speakers what is impressive. In fact it brings you often back at the time of the recording.

The realism of instruments and voices sound life-like. It is through a greater diversity in sound of this speaker what makes you aware of how much bigger the layering is in sound than its competitors.

Especially with classical and acoustic recordings you can hear that the authenticity in sound is of a rare level. Diversity in sound is the most important part that brings out emotion in us humans. 

Thanks to research and our own developed Statement Audio Pro measurement, we can create greater diversity (layering) in the entire frequency range. What makes the experience of music more intense and emotional.

In real instruments and voices often sound small in dimension and very directly (sensible). Despite that the Pl-500 is a large speaker it can show you an exeptional intimate presentation of a recording.

The D'appolito system makes an important contribution to a breathtaking intimate focus and tangibility. Never before we have experienced music so lifelike and physically tangible

In timing and speed the Pl-500 makes you aware of how impressive the design and new techniques are. The energy of instruments are completely separated from the speakers

With a bass drum you hear how physically tangible the energy is in the middle. When you're listening to a double bass you'll hear not only exactly where it stands. But you can feel the energy of the strings where it stands. This brings the music experience to a next level and above all to a much more realistic one.

The resolution what the Pl-500 can let you hear is unmatched. Never before we were able to perceive details in the high frequency so natural and unrestrained. The grip what the AMT 100khz showed us was a new experience for us.

When you compare the high frequency of a diamond (dome) tweeter and beryllium (dome) tweeter with those of the AMT tweeter. The Platinum shows how big the contrast is.

The AMT tweeter sounds more lifelike, however, with clearly more authority as well. Where the differences in height of voices and instruments is being displayed more accurate.

The frequency range of the Pl-500 is 22hz up to 100kHz.The Pl-500 can show an impressive dynamic and detailed low frequency. To achieve this you need an amplifier that both have a lot of power and current. (With an amplifier of only 2 x 100 watt you never will reach this impressive level) 

Nowadays, we use various of professional lasers and we even work on half a mm. accurate. This results in an even higher level in sound quality what we can achieve with the Pl-500.

In the last 2 years we have audtioned all the major competitors of the Platinum Series II for several times. But from Tru-Fi we can let everyone hear that with the new Platinum Series II we can create a higher level in authenticity and emotion in sound.

When you judge the Pl-500 by Tru-Fi, then you can draw the conclusion that it is absolutely a statement in its price range. And with that, in fact it has no competition. Even many speakers that are significantly more expensive will not be able to reach the level of the Pl-500.


128x128bo1972
bo1972 - could you discuss Monitor Audio’s view on time and phase? They don’t ever mention it and you seem to be in the "know".
I cannot aswer this question either. But Monitor Audio is in all their price ranges better in timing and accuracy  than their competitors.

You need to understand and use this advantage. Here we see that many are not able to use it. We only sell and create a physical 3-dimensional image. 

Monitor Audio give us the space and properties to create it. But when you are not able to understand and you are not aware how to create it.

Monitor Audio will be a 2-dimensional loudspeaker like many pf their competitors. In almost all shops and even at audio shows all the sets were presented in a 2-dimensional stage.

This says it all. This means that people who work in audio are not able to create a 3-dimensional stage.

When I ask to people who sell only 2-dimensional audio; does a band who playes music stand on the same line togheter?

Then you will understand that in real music playes in a room with width and depth. This is how it should be experienced when you listen to your music.

Stillpoints are stunning tools to create an even wider and deeper stage. Beside this the intimate and realistic focus of instruments and voices is stunning.
Hi Bo
  I'm new to audiogon but i read every single word you wrote on this forum because I also hear and think that monitor audio sound it's the best for the money . I started with bx2 and bxc with yamaha rxa2010 then i got rx6 in 2 months time, after 1 year i got gx300 and gx350 replaced the yamaha with denon 4520 and i got also a parasound a21 and 2 bk electric subs . The yamaha compered to denon had a very tin sound with almost no stage and separation. At the moment the dept of the stage it's 1m.

My brother after audition  the gx300 in my house  sold his 5.1 b&w cm series and got pl300 pl350 pl100 and Gibraltar g2 driving them with yamaha rxa2040 and also parasound a21

I'm looking at the moment to change the denon with onkyo tx-nr 5010 
or i have to get the pr sc 5509 to get the best performance?
It's the parasound itself a 3d brand or 2d 
What you think about the a21

I live in Dublin and we have locally 3 hifi shops, when i ask them about 3d sound the response it's simple in stereo doesn't exist, another shop said that i have to stay between the two speakers in the middle for 3d sound 😱😱😱😱😱 
PLEASE HELP ME 
HELP
HELP


@ddkt, those dealers are buffoons. "Three D" means: Height, Width and Depth. Clearly achievable with two speakers. Do not do business with them. You also need pace, rhythm, timing, atmosphere, emotion and scale. The suspension of belief that "you are there" or "they are here".

They are many great threads on here that cover many of these topics. I suggest that you search around and do some reading. Try to get out and visit an Audio Show or a major city that has some respectable audio salons. You need to hear a properly set up system! You do not need to spend a fortune either. Knowledge is power!!! Good Luck :>)
Dear @bo1972 :   Reading to your posts here and else where I can think that you are totally convinced on what you spread over the net.

Now, from your point of view you are totally wrong due to your very high ignorance levels in music and audio ( the years of experience you posted and according your posts means really nothing for us but you. ) due that you start from false premises and I will try to explain about:

first MUSIC, as a part of world arts as: paint, poetry sculpture, etc., develops in an intrinsical way EMOTIONS/FEEELINGS per se where 1d-2D-3D-nD does not matters at all.

Power in that kind of art is inherent no maters if we are listening a live event or through a vintage walkman.

MUSIC brougth to each one of us ( in different ways. ) memories/feelings and every kind of emotions and that’s why is considered ART.

second, in audio we try to listen what is in the recording and this means what recording microphones pick it up.

Normally those microphones were located>/position in a near field of very few meters and almost never at usual seat positions of the people attends to a live event in a music hall or in a night club or what ever.

When any one of us attend to a live MUSIC event and be seated at nera field: 2-3 meters from the MUSIC source what we can detect is the direct sound with out that 3D you talk about.

If you seat at two meters from a horn/trumpet player you will know exactly what I’m talking about: exist no 3D you can't detect. Period.

Even in recordings by Three Blind Mice label the microphones are not at 2 meters but almost inside each instrument ! ! ! NO 3D can developed.

So and considering these true facts your Tru-Fi is a TRUE-FALLACY and nothing more.

Speak of 2D electronics/speakers is just a fallacy because that concept just des not exist. Exist only in you wrong FALLACies due your wrong premises you are using as foundation.

But you have several other terrible misunderstood about MUSIC and audio and I give you three examples with:

"" Diversity in sound (layering) is the most important part what gives us humans emotion during listening to music. ""  false, part of your fallacy.


"""
Please bear in mind that the midrange area is the most important frequency range of any loudspeaker. Because here it is where the magic happens of the music. """

plain wrong: MUSIC frame resides in bass and high frequency ranges. MUSIC belongs to those frequency ranges not mid-range one.

Just imaging piano instrument with out left-hand or the Niagara falls sound with out its marvelous bass range.

Bass range quality level is what determines the quality of the midrange levels and not the other way around. Is that frequency range the more important issue in any audio system: bass range.

Reading this Monitor Audio speaker review confirms your high unknowledge levels about when that speaker was choosed by you to promote it with your customers ( because I understand you are an audio seller. Sorry for your customers where you take advantage of their high unknowledge levels in MUSICaudio. ):

Well, in those speakers high touted here by you things are that the speakers croosover frequency from bass drivers to mid-range ones is: 460 hz ! and this per se is a terrible design mistake and the worst of it is that you support it and touted it ! ! ! and I know for sure you have no idea why you are absolutely wrong and I will explain it:


What does that means ?, well that those bass range  drivers has to reproduce frequencies/harmonics from 22Hz to 460Hz. With that kind of frecuency range here exist a huge Intermodulation Distortion levels that put it’s " color " on the sound reproduction and far away from a decent sound reproduction.

You have to imagine that those woofer/drivers has to reproduce, at the same " time " example: a 30Hz frecuency along a 350Hz frecuency: here is where exist that IM that gives heavy distortions in what we hear ( there is no perfect driver: moving coil, electrostatic, ribbon, etc..
 The speaker designers has to choose the best " trade offs ", but the distortions are there. ): less clarity, less resolution, less precision, less natural balance, less pitch, les, less, less......., and this is what we are really hearing: LESS MUSIC.

The long woofer excursions with a 25 hz frequency makes that a 450 hz frequency been out of precision/clarity because you can't stop suddenly the woofer excursions to handle higher frequencies. Exist other problem with all these and is that at the same time are developing the harmonics of those frequencies and came developed in wrong way degrading the overall system sound because those harmonics can even degrade de high frequency range!!!

If you read any manufacturer specifications on their speakers they never " write " the value of the IM or harmonic distortions, they tell us the frecuency range and how is flat on that range but never " talk " about distortions.

So how is that that MA seakers are so good ? ? ? ? only in your fallacy audio world.

Additional that passive speaker design is a ported one that means too higher bass range distortion levels. Higher than with sealed designs.

In the other side if you and your customers wants to listen TRUE-FI ( not your true-fa you gave them. ) the only way to achieve it is that the low bass range be handled by a pair of active/self-powered sealed design subwoofers integratedb in true stereo fashion where we have several true facts/advantages you can’t even dream in your wrong fallacies:


- better quality low bass ( you can have at least one more octave ) and mid bass ( quantity? : you choose it: volume/gain ) ). Now we can heard the " foundation " of the MUSIC ( and its harmonics ) and this single issue is stunning for the pleasure to hear any kind of music. Now, we are nearest to the " real MUSIC ", nothing less. Lower DISTORTIONS all over the frequency audio system range.

The first time you can hear the subwoofers right blended on your stereo home audio system: YOU NEVER COULD LIVE WITH OUT THEM AGAIN, ANY ONE CAN, period.

- An improvement in the soundstage reproduction in all parameters: deep, front/side location, wide of the stage, etc...

- the main speakers amplifiers works best ( less distortion, more headroom, less chance of clipping, less amplifier stress, etc...) with out to handle the frecuencies range that now are handle by the dedicated subwoofers amplifiers. This is important for an SS amplifier but for the tubes ones is a must.

- Now the low bass frecuencies are handle for a dedicated driver that was build with specifics characteristics  to work in that frecuency range and this low bass driver is matched with an amplifier ( self powered subwoofers ) that was build with specifications that mates excatly what the low bass drivers needs about: frecuency response, output impedance, damping, power, etc..... You can’t ask for more!!!

- Not only the IM distortion goes down but the harmonic distortion of the low driver of your main speakers goes down too, Btw, the whole harmonic distortion goes down, because ( in the case of my Velodyne’s less than 0.5%: with’s yours? ) ) the harmonic distortion of a well self powered designed subwoofer is usually " very low ". This means ( again ) less coloration: MORE MUSIC.

Now, that ligths-on all the frequency ranges are in harmony and MUSIC now has its true meaning and shines as ever before with power and a rythmum that's hard to explain it: we have to live  it, to experienced.

Your fallacy is a mess nigthmare. No passive speakers can’t do it and does not matters with whcih " 3D " amps you are mating it. Got it?

But things does not end there because  you choosed the PL500 design that comes between other not so good atributes with a manufacturer spec that says that the frequency response deviation level is +,-  6db, this means a swing of 12 db ! ! ! that's " almost flat ". Sorry but you are totally wrong.

As everyone of us you are part of the corrupted AHEE unfortunatelly you belongs to the " dark " side.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.