"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.