Monitor Audio has refined its award-winning Gold Series loudspeaker for 2015 with significant design upgrades which allow the range to offer greater transparency, consistency and visual sophistication. The new range will simply be called Gold and will begin shipping this February. The notable enhancement in the new series include: an evolution of the C-CAM Rigid Surface Technology (RST) bass cone, tighter production tolerances for its advanced C-CAM ribbon tweeter, and an improved grille design. The Monitor Audio Gold Series will consist of eight brand new models. Details about the technology of the new series, along with details about each new speaker model, can be found below. All prices are in Canadian dollars.

OPTIMIZED TWEETERS

The Gold series ribbon is derived from the acclaimed Platinum C-CAM ribbon transducer. Mechanically it’s identical to the GX ribbon but by improving production tolerances even further, Monitor Audio has discovered that the new model offers a consistently more open and transparent sound. In part, the sense of greater detail and enhanced imaging may be attributed to the closer matching of tweeter pairs in each stereo system. The ribbon’s fabulously efficient wideband design reproduces the authentic tonal character of frequencies beyond 60kHz, as well as the inherent nature of the mid-band vocal region to which the ear is most sensitive.

LATEST GENERATION RST BASS DRIVERS

Further tuned by FEA tools, the Gold series bass units utilize an evolved version of the dimpled RST cone surface introduced on the Gold GR and GS ranges. It takes the form of a continuous radiating dish devoid of the central voice-coil aperture. Instead, a longer voice coil and larger motor sit behind the cone in a more efficient drive assembly, which offers greater drive force, longer excursions and lower distortion, producing cleaner, more extended and accurate bass definition. Although the motor design is unchanged from GX, back-to-back listening tests have demonstrated that across all four stereo models new Gold sounds more open and dynamic, with a soundstage that is both taller and wider.

NEW GRILLE DESIGN

Gold’s new magnetically-fixed ‘floating’ cloth grille replaces the full-length metal grille of its Gold GX predecessor. The design chosen for the latest Gold range offers a classier, more discreet look, enhanced by a brushed aluminium badge. On floor standing models, the grille is no longer full length, exposing more of each cabinet’s luxurious grain-matched depth of finish.

BOLT-THROUGH DRIVER FIXINGS

Continuing from GX, single bolt-through driver fixings have the dual effect of improving cabinet rigidity while further reducing vibration at the driver/cabinet interface. By this innovative method, drivers are mounted on a single tensioned through-bolt, which is secured to the back of the cabinet. The bolt not only acts as a rigid cabinet brace to reduce box colouration, it removes the need for conventional driver fixing as well, effectively decoupling the driver and front baffle to eliminate a further source of unwanted resonance.

CROSSOVERS

Comprising high quality polypropylene film capacitors, air core and laminated steel core inductors, individual driver crossovers are mounted on a dedicated panel accessible from the underside of each speaker. The adjacent speaker terminals are gold plated to maintain signal integrity and contact reliability. All Gold speakers are wired internally with Pureflow Silver cable.

ENCLOSURE

Each enclosure is rigid and curved in nature. The cabinet is further aided by radial bracing and bolt-through driver fixings, which eliminate unwanted vibrations and internal standing waves. New Gold’s HiVeII reflex port is shaped to have the same effect on airflow as a gun barrel on a bullet. Rifled grooves inside the port help to accelerate the flow and reduce turbulence, so air moves in and out of the port more efficiently for a faster more dynamic bass response.

For added stability the die-cast alloy base plinths of the floor-standing models and the dedicated ‘Gold’ speaker stand provide a solid foundation for superior acoustics, enhanced by hand-milled spikes. Non-slip rubber pads are supplied to protect wood floors.

MAIN DESIGN FEATURES

Close tolerance C-CAM ribbon transducer design providing improved pair matching and extension to a class leading 60kHz / Bass drivers with dimpled RST profile C-CAM cone / New, more discreet floating cloth grille / HiVeII port technology for better transient response and tighter bass / Single bolt through driver fixings for improved bracing, rigidity and driver/baffle de-coupling / Die-cast alloy terminal panel arrangement with high quality bi-wire terminals and high end spade type link cables / Pureflow Silver internal cabling / High quality crossovers with premium grade polypropylene film capacitors used throughout / Large radius cabinet edges provide low diffraction and smoother overall frequency response / Curved cabinet profile for increased rigidity and reduced internal standing waves / Selected premium quality wood veneers or high gloss piano finishes / Rigid 20mm MDF construction throughout, employing radial and cross-bracing techniques for high rigidity resulting in low cabinet colouration.

GOLD 50

The sculpted low-diffraction cabinet of the diminutive 50 houses a single 5.5″ RST bass driver and C-CAM ribbon. The bass driver exhibits the low frequency extension and power handling of a much larger transducer while the excellent C-CAM ribbon soars beyond conventional tweeter domes to a stratospheric 60 kHz. Consequently the 50 combines the frequency range of the finest studio monitors with dynamics that defy its modest dimensions. Optional, dedicated floor stands are available, which can be filled to provide the ultimate foundation for the best possible sound quality.

MSRP (Standard Finish): $2,295 /pr

MSRP (Piano Ebony Finish): $2,795 /pr

GOLD 100

The 100 is a larger two-way stand mount speaker featuring a 6.5″ RST bass driver and C-CAM ribbon. Operating with the performance of a typical 8″ driver, our proprietary 6.5″ design provides higher overall efficiency with dynamic headroom to deliver impressive bass extension and control. The 100’s uncomplicated 2-way configuration renders complex material with tonal accuracy and perfect timing. Optional, dedicated floor stands are available.

MSRP (Standard Finish): $2,895 /pr

MSRP (Piano Ebony Finish): $3,495 /pr

GOLD 200

The first of new Gold’s floor-standers is also the most compact. Amazing scale and impressive dynamic control are available from this slender three-way design, comprising the improved pair matched ribbon, twin 5.5″ bass drivers and a 4″ midrange driver, which is housed in a dedicated enclosure. With high overall efficiency, wide bandwidth and vanishingly low distortion, the 200’s Platinum DNA is ready to be experienced.

MSRP (Standard Finish): $5,795 /pr

MSRP (Piano Ebony Finish): $6,995 /pr

GOLD 300

Standing at over a metre tall the 300 is a majestic three-way floor-standing loudspeaker comprising twin 6.5″ bass drivers, a single 4″ mid-range driver and a high frequency ribbon transducer. With such an impressive complement of drivers, the 300 has the power delivery and scale required to fill the largest rooms with jaw-dropping dynamics as well as the finest musical detail. Extending from below 30Hz to over 60kHz, its frequency range is among the widest available from any speaker, regardless of price.

MSRP (Standard Finish): $7,195 /pr

MSRP (Piano Ebony Finish): $8,595 /pr

GOLD C150

The ultra-compact C150 centre speaker is small enough to fit into most AV racks and is designed to match the smaller Gold speakers in a more bijou home theatre configuration. However, because it shares tonal characteristics with all models, its capabilities are also compatible with any ‘Gold’ system design. The C150’s lustrous sealed cabinet is home to twin 5.5″ drivers and the ribbon in a two and half way orientation, providing superior dispersion across a range from 50Hz to 60kHz.

MSRP (Standard Finish): $1,395 ea

MSRP (Piano Ebony Finish): $1,695 ea

GOLD C350

The C350 centre speaker is a no-compromise centre channel solution for serious home theatre installations. Its three-way, four driver configuration mirrors that of the 300, although the bass drivers are tuned to work in the C350’s sealed cabinet. Unsurprisingly the C350 is the perfect match for its floor-standing counterpart, producing frequencies from 40Hz to beyond 60 kHz. A neutral tonal balance and distortion-free sound give the C350 the ability to project crystal-clear dialogue and mid-range detail at any volume. A dedicated floor stand is available to ensure the most secure footing and ideal vertical orientation.

MSRP (Standard Finish): $2,195 ea

MSRP (Piano Ebony Finish): $2,595 ea

GOLD FX

Matching the extraordinary tonal accuracy of its range mates, the FX design provides direct or ambient surround sound, which may be switched manually or automatically via a 12V signal, to accommodate the functionality of high-end home or professional cinema applications. Amazing as it may seem, the FX’s slim wall-hugging profile incorporates no fewer than six drivers. In monopole mode for discrete side or rear sound channels its frontfiring 6 ½” RST bass/mid-driver and C-CAM ribbon transducer deliver accurate ultra-wideband sound to match the tonal balance of any ‘Gold’ speaker combination. In dipole mode the FX uses two pairs of side firing 4″ C-CAM bass/mid drivers and 25mm C-CAM gold-dome tweeters, combined with the tailored output from the front-firing bass/mid driver to provide wonderfully diffuse yet tonally precise surround effects. The FX can be flush-mounted on side or rear walls. Installation is made easy by the inclusion of a ‘sloppy fit’ pre-install bracket, which allows levelling and adjustment prior to fixing.

MSRP (Standard Finish): $1,395 ea

MSRP (Piano Ebony Finish): $1,695 ea

GOLD W15

The Gold W15 is an example of state-of-the-art subwoofer design. In a gloriously glossy, rigid compact enclosure, we’ve installed an ultra-long throw 15″ C-CAM bass driver, triple suspended for a full 38mm (1.5″) of linear excursion. Featuring a massive magnet structure and under the control of a 650W D2AUDIO DSP controlled amplifier, this extraordinary deep bass generator brings a new dimension to bass and reference results for SPL, dynamic control and headroom. It may deliver taut gut-churning bass all the way down to a seismic 18Hz, but the Gold W15 is also an intelligent design, featuring an advanced automatic room correction system called LEO™ (Listening Environment Optimizer). LEO simply and automatically eliminates the detrimental bass boost of boundaries and corners through the use of a microphone and test tones. The Gold W15’s sealed enclosure and frontfiring driver make it easy to install, and calibration from the front-mounted controls and dimmable LED display is simple, even from a distant position. It’s equipped with a 12V trigger and remote control with four user EQ pre-sets.

MSRP (Standard Finish): $3,695 ea

MSRP (Piano Ebony Finish): $4,395 ea

Availability: Mid February, 2015

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