Monitor Audio Platinum Series 3G Product Manual

Introduction

Welcome to the Platinum Series 3G. Thank you for purchasing this Platinum Series 3G speaker. You are now ready to start your journey to breathtaking sound. In this product manual, you will find information about setting up your system and how to maintain your speakers for a lifetime of enjoyment. If you need any further assistance, please contact the Monitor Audio technical team at monitoraudio.com/support.

For speaker registration, please use the QR code provided or visit monitoraudio.com/registration.

Unboxing

Before unpacking your loudspeakers, ensure there is plenty of clean floor area available.

⚠️ WARNING: DO NOT attempt to lift any of the loudspeakers alone. The recommended number of people is printed on the outer carton.

Lay the box down on the floor with the opening facing up. Open the outer carton, then use the handles of the inner cardboard sleeve to lift the loudspeaker and packaging out of the box. Remove the polystyrene end caps and fit the spikes (where applicable). Please refer to the Spikes and Feet section (Page 6).

Diagrams illustrate the unpacking process for the Platinum 100 3G, Platinum C250 3G, and Platinum 200 & 300 3G models. They show how to carefully remove the speaker from its packaging, often using inner cardboard handles, and indicate where to fit spikes if applicable.

Spikes and Feet

Use on wooden or hard floors

The outriggers are supplied assembled, fitted to the cabinet for use on non-carpeted, wooden/hard floors or where spikes are inappropriate. Position the loudspeaker in its listening position and check it is level and stable.

Use on carpeted floors

If the loudspeaker is being installed on a carpeted floor, screw the spike into the foot and outrigger assembly. Position the loudspeaker in its listening position and check it is level and stable.

⚠️ Please ensure there are no hidden wires under the carpet that could be damaged by the spikes.

Levelling the speaker

You can check that the loudspeaker is level on all sides by using a spirit level (not supplied). If it is slightly uneven, remove the top cap (held in place magnetically) and unscrew the foot at the lowest point using the supplied Hex key as illustrated below. Check again and continue this process until the cabinet is fully level, then replace the top cap.

Diagrams show the components of the speaker foot assembly: a Top Cap, an Outrigger (attached to the cabinet), a Rubber Foot, and a Spike. Another diagram illustrates the process of levelling the speaker using a supplied Hex key to adjust the foot, with rotational arrows indicating the adjustment direction.

Platinum 100 3G feet

The Platinum 100 3G comes with 8 self-adhesive rubber feet in the packaging. These should be placed around the inserts on the bottom of the cabinet when placing the speakers on a shelf or when using third-party stands for the speakers. This isolates the speaker to prevent it from moving.

Setting up your system

2 channel system

When arranging a 2-channel system, the listening position and the loudspeakers should form an equilateral triangle. Ideally, the loudspeakers should be positioned approximately 6-10 feet (1.8-3m) apart and a minimum of 3 feet (91cm) from the side walls. The ideal distance from the rear wall varies depending on the loudspeaker:

• Platinum 100 3G: 15 - 30 cm / 6 - 12"
• Platinum 200 3G: 20 - 36 cm / 8 - 14"
• Platinum 300 3G: 30 - 61 cm / 12 - 24"

NOTE: These are recommended distances for optimal performance. Actual results will vary depending on room size, construction, and personal tastes. Experimentation is strongly advised when setting up the loudspeakers, as environment and personal preference will differ with every installation.

If there is insufficient bass, try moving your loudspeakers closer to the rear wall. The opposite approach is recommended if there is excessive bass. Additionally, refer to the information relating to port bungs on page 19. If stereo imaging is being lost, try 'toeing' them in slightly. Sounds that are recorded equally to each channel should sound as though they come from between the speakers.

Diagram illustrates a 2-channel stereo setup. Two speakers are positioned relative to a central listening position, forming an equilateral triangle. 'x m' denotes the recommended distances between speakers, from speakers to the listening position, and from the rear wall.

AV positioning

Please refer to the illustration for the ideal angles and positions of each loudspeaker in your surround system. The loudspeakers should be distanced from the wall according to the requirements listed in the 2-Channel Positioning section. However, due to AV receiver crossover filter settings, they may be positioned closer to the wall. Experimentation is advised.

NOTE: The images are for illustrative purposes only. See diagram.

If setting up a 5.1 system, place your surrounds in position (A). If setting up a 7.1 surround system, place your side speakers in position (B) and rear loudspeakers in position (C) to create a full 360° soundstage.

If the sound is too bass-heavy or there is bass boom from the room when playing music (without a subwoofer), try moving the loudspeakers slightly further away from the wall(s). In a system with a subwoofer, try adjusting the crossover frequency settings for the loudspeakers and/or subwoofer or changing the subwoofer's position. If placed in a corner, the subwoofer can over-excite certain room modes.

If there doesn't seem to be much bass from the system, check what the AV receiver has set the speaker size to. If the loudspeakers have been set to 'large' as part of the auto setup, try setting them to 'small', which will send more bass frequencies to the subwoofer. Also check the crossover frequencies of the loudspeakers and subwoofer, as well as the individual channel levels.

The Platinum C250 centre channel should be positioned so that it is pointing at the viewing position and at approximate ear height.

Diagram displays ideal angles and positions for loudspeakers in a surround sound system (5.1 and 7.1). It shows speaker placement relative to a sofa and viewing position, with specific angles indicated (e.g., -22°, 30°, -90°, 110°, 135°, 150°). It also clarifies the relationship for 5.1 (position A) and 7.1 (positions B + C) systems.

Dolby Atmos®

When arranging the overhead channels in a Dolby Atmos® system, Monitor Audio recommends using their three-way in-ceiling loudspeakers, such as the Platinum PLIC II loudspeakers. These employ a unique midrange/tweeter module that offers a wider dispersion characteristic, ideal for Dolby Atmos® duties.

Please see the diagram for ideal positioning of 2 or 4 Dolby Atmos® loudspeaker setups. Typically, these would be in line with the front left and right loudspeakers.

Diagram illustrates ideal positioning for 2 or 4 Dolby Atmos® in-ceiling loudspeakers. It shows overhead speakers positioned relative to ear level and front speakers, with angles indicated (e.g., 65°, 80°, 100°, 45°, 55°, 125°, 135°, 150°).

Wiring your speakers

Single wiring

Single wiring is achieved via a single set of cables to the terminals on the back of the loudspeaker. Internally, the loudspeaker crossover guides the frequencies to the appropriate driver/tweeter: low frequencies to the bass drivers, mid frequencies to the mid/bass drivers, and high frequencies to the tweeter.

⚠️ NOTE: When using this method you must keep the terminal links in place.

Three diagrams depict different speaker wiring methods: Single wiring uses one cable per speaker. Bi-wiring uses two cables per speaker, connecting to separate terminal pairs. Bi-amping uses two cables per speaker, connecting to separate terminal pairs, and involves two amplifiers.

Bi-wiring

Bi-wiring is accomplished by connecting separate pairs of loudspeaker cables to the terminals on the loudspeaker from a single pair of connections on the amplifier. In the case of the Platinum Series, the bottom terminals connect to the bass driver(s) and the top terminals connect to the tweeter in 2-way loudspeakers, or the mid and tweeter in 3-way loudspeakers.

⚠️ NOTE: When using this method you must REMOVE the terminal links.

Bi-amping

Bi-amping is the same as bi-wiring, except you are introducing a second amplifier into the equation. To bi-amp, connect a set of loudspeaker cables to the top terminals on the loudspeaker from one amplifier and another set of loudspeaker cables to the bottom terminals from the second amplifier.

⚠️ NOTE: When using this method you must REMOVE the terminal links.

For more information on Bi-wiring and Bi-amping, please visit monitoraudio.com/support/faq/.

Using your speakers

Running-in your loudspeakers

Run your loudspeakers in by playing normal music at low-mid listening levels for approximately 50-70 hours of playtime. You may find the sound will continue to improve even after the 70-hour mark. This can be done naturally over time; like fine wine, the performance will improve with age.

Alternatively, if you wish to run the loudspeakers continuously on loop, you can decrease the audible volume/presence by placing the loudspeakers face-to-face so that the drivers/tweeters are directly aligned and as close as possible. Then connect the amplifier to your loudspeakers so that one is in phase (positive to positive and negative to negative, i.e., red to red and black to black), and the other loudspeaker is out of phase (positive to negative and negative to positive inputs on the loudspeaker).

Port Bungs

If the loudspeaker is to be installed in a small room (typically 9 sqM / 80 sqFT) or a room known to reproduce accentuated bass response, it may be desirable to fit a port bung in the affected speaker. However, experimentation is recommended with the positioning of the loudspeaker in the room prior to fitting.

To optimize performance, it is important to ensure the loudspeaker is not positioned too close to a wall or near the corners of a room. If the positioning is predetermined by room aesthetics or layout, and you find you have accentuated bass, or if speakers are sited in close proximity (less than the minimum suggested distances from page 2) to a rear wall (such as on a bookshelf, in a cabinet, or on a stand close to a wall), Monitor Audio recommends fitting the supplied port bungs to the ports. With speakers that have 2 ports, such as the Platinum 300 3G, only one port bung should still be used per speaker.

This will reduce the bass 'boom' (sometimes termed as overhang) and assist the loudspeakers to reproduce their best performance under these environmental conditions. 'Boom' is generally caused when bass energy from the loudspeaker 'excites' room modes and causes an accentuation at a particular frequency or number of frequencies.

When fitting port bungs, the overall bass extension will not be reduced; however, bass energy/output around the port tuning frequency will be reduced. This has the effect of reducing bass 'boom' while increasing bass clarity and apparent agility. In all circumstances, experimentation is highly recommended.

Care & maintenance

Upkeep of cabinets

The high-gloss finish of the cabinet can be maintained by regular dusting using a soft cloth or microfibre cloth. When the finish needs to be revived, a high-quality, non-abrasive, automotive wax or polish can be used. The drive units should only be cleaned with a damp cloth if more than normal dusting is required.

Never use solvents or aggressive cleaning/polishing agents on your Platinum Series 3G loudspeakers. When in doubt, test the cleaning product on an inconspicuous area on the cabinet and let it sit for several days before committing to its use on visible portions of the cabinet.

Retention Bolt adjustment

The new Platinum Series features a bolt-through driver fixing to reduce cabinet colouration. Each bolt acts as a rigid brace, but also removes the need for conventional driver fixings, effectively decoupling the driver and front baffle to eliminate a further source of resonance.

NOTE: Should this bolt become loose over time, or has worked loose during transit, then please use the supplied torx key to tighten the bolt back up. This only needs to be a quarter turn after the strain has been taken by the bolt.

Diagram shows a close-up view of a speaker driver's retention bolt mechanism. An arrow indicates the direction to tighten the bolt using a supplied torx key.

Warranty

In the unlikely event that there is a defect with this product, it is covered by the Monitor Audio manufacturer's warranty, provided that the product was supplied by an authorised Monitor Audio retailer.

For the period of cover, please refer to the product page on the Monitor Audio website at monitoraudio.com.

Register your product at monitoraudio.com/registration.

Specifications

Contact Information

Monitor Audio Ltd.
24 Brook Road
Rayleigh, Essex
SS6 7XJ
England
Tel: +44 (0)1268 740580
Email: info@monitoraudio.group

Website: monitoraudio.com

Dolby, Dolby Atmos, and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

©Monitor Audio Ltd. | V1-2022 - Platinum Series 3G Manual