Monitor Audio PL300 II Review
Monitor Audio says that the Platinum series embodies 40 years of experience and everything they know about loudspeakers. That’s quite something. 7Review has therefore taken a closer look at the new Platinum 300.
Klaus Laumann
Children love to outdo each other, so one learns an elemental truth early in life: Platinum is even more valuable than gold. This is also known at Monitor Audio, whose top models also bear the name of the precious metal.
The series was recently completely overhauled—in the truest sense of the word. The Brits don’t just tweak details; instead, previous developments have to prove themselves anew from the ground up if they are to be reused in a new model. It’s almost surprising, then, that the new PL300 II has indeed adopted many elements from its predecessor.
Externally, the PL300 II has largely retained its rather sturdy form but has grown a few centimeters in all three dimensions. Here, cabinet volume and diaphragm area have priority over the slim look that is so popular in floor-standing speakers at the moment. Nevertheless, it still looks elegant: with a leather-covered front and the finely crafted wood surface, which is available either clear-lacquered with rosewood or ebony veneer or in black piano lacquer. A work of art that is largely handcrafted. According to Monitor Audio, it takes a full 144 working hours to complete such a high-quality cabinet.
The successor has also largely adopted the overall concept. Two 8-inch woofers take over the bass and lower midrange up to 500 Hz. They have virtually the entire internal volume of the cabinet at their disposal, supported by two flow-optimized bass reflex ports. A 4-inch driver is responsible for the midrange and presence range from 500 Hz to 3.4 kHz. It is completely sealed off to the rear by a damped plastic capsule, so it plays into its own precisely defined volume. Above 3.4 kHz, an Air Motion Transformer sets in, which the Brits refer to as a “Micro Pleated Diaphragm.” It replaces the ribbon used in the original PL300 and gives the PL300 II even more responsiveness and greater efficiency in the treble.
High-Tech Diaphragm
The cone drivers testify to Monitor Audio’s high development competence. A honeycomb skeleton made of Nomex, an aramid fiber similar to Kevlar, gives the diaphragm its basic structure and imparts the necessary stability. The front side consists of an aluminum-magnesium alloy with a ceramicized surface, while the backside is coated with carbon fiber fabric. A complex structure through which distortions have been significantly reduced.
The entire drive system was also put to the test. Therefore, the transducers now work with underhung coils and are thus much more efficient. In addition, better heat dissipation reduces compression and thus increases the performance of the drivers.
Maximum Stability
The English manufacturer also places great value on the mechanical stability of the entire loudspeaker. Disturbing resonances and vibrations should be completely avoided or at least suppressed as far as possible. Starting with the striking, orange-colored baskets made of mineral-reinforced plastic, through the elaborate internal framework of the cabinet—which must not impair air circulation—to the long bolts with which the drivers are fixed from the rear inside the cabinet.
These bolts form additional cross-bracing inside the cabinet and make mounting the drivers on the front panel obsolete. This is not only visually nicer, as no screws are visible, but also has the advantage that the drivers are clamped absolutely evenly into the baffle, and the heavy drives are additionally stabilized instead of hanging freely at the rear end of the basket.
Nothing can disturb such a cabinet. It faced the listening test with composure, where it first had to prove itself with Falco. The pop legend from Austria, who died in 1998, would have turned sixty in February—a good reason to play his elaborately produced hits like “Rock Me Amadeus” or “Der Kommissar” again. Typical synthesizer sound of the eighties with powerful bass, which the PL300 II presented with a lot of substance and outstanding vitality. While it couldn’t shine with perfectly defined contours or ultimate tightness in the bass, it more than made up for it with a hefty portion of vigor. Even at high volumes, it didn’t miss a beat—you can literally feel that a substantial amount of power is behind its stately figure, which it knows how to use very skillfully.
Despite all its power, it is by no means sluggish or uncouth. On the contrary, it brimmed with temperament, timing, and attention to detail. In a fit of exuberance, it highlighted Falco’s voice more prominently than usual, which the eccentric singer surely wouldn’t have minded.
With classical music, the PL300 II also tended toward exuberance, so that with Follia’s “Four Seasons” one almost thought of a sugary, extremely dynamic film score, but felt almost as if at a live concert due to the extremely vivid sound image and excellent localization—as if sitting in the top rows.
A stately speaker that impresses with innovative technology and its cabinet. And one that never gets boring but masters the grand concert—with the PL300 II, you’re bringing a masterpiece into your home.
Monitor Audio PL300 II Specs
Price: ~$11,900 (converted from 11,000 EUR)
Website: www.monitoraudio.co.uk
Dimensions: 41 cm (W) × 115.8 cm (H) × 47 cm (D)
Weight: 54.5 kg
Performance Measurements
- Frequency Response & Impedance:
- Balanced sound with gently sloping bass
- Excellent dispersion characteristics
- Distortion & Output Levels (85-100 dB SPL):
- Very low distortion
- Slightly increasing distortion in the upper bass, but not problematic
- Lower Frequency Limit:
- -3 dB / -6 dB at 41 Hz / 32 Hz
- Maximum SPL:
- 108 dB
Amplifier Compatibility
- Voltage: 14.2 V
- Impedance Variation: 3.5 – 9.5 Ω
- Current Demand: 3.5 A
- Power Requirement: Medium, with stable impedance making it easy to pair with amplifiers
Room Acoustics & Placement
- Listening Distance: Ideal at a moderate distance
- Wall Distance: Ensure sufficient space from the wall
Ratings (Out of 10)
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Naturalness | 9 |
| Detail Resolution | 10 |
| Dynamic Range | 7 |
| Bass Quality | 9 |
| Imaging | 10 |
- Overall Score: 8.4 / 10
- Sound Quality: 9 / 10
- Value for Money: Very Good
Verdict
The Monitor Audio PL300 II is an impressively engineered speaker with a refined, highly detailed sound and a holographic soundstage. It delivers an engaging and dynamic listening experience.
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