The Monitor Audio Gold series 50 bookshelf loudspeaker employs a two-way driver design with a single C-CAM ribbon tweeter and one 5.5" C-CAM/RST midrange/midbass woofer.
The midrange/midbass driver exhibits the low frequency extension and power handling of a much larger driver, while the C-CAM ribbon tweeter produces high frequencies (up to 60kHz) well beyond conventional domed tweeters.
C-CAM Technology:
C-CAM driver technology is used throughout the Gold series 50 bookshelf loudspeaker, providing coherent tonal balance and sonic signature across the entering audio frequency spectrum.
C-CAM Ribbon Tweeter:
Monitor Audio's proprietary ribbon tweeter design uses an ultra-thin sandwich of C-CAM alloy suspended in a powerful transverse magnetic field of high energy NeFeB rare earth magnets.
The ribbon serves as both voice coil and radiating diaphragm, with every part of the ribbon driven directly and simultaneously without energy storage.
Having a mass of just 18mg, its diaphragm is able to start and stop in an instant, producing a transient response capable of defining the leading edge and natural harmonic resonance of complex musical sounds.
Specified to reach ultra-high frequencies, this ribbon tweeter will reproduce with ease every last nuance and detail from vinyl, CD, DVD Audio, and SACD, together with the wider bandwidth of Blu-ray or high resolution digital audio.
C-CAM Cone Woofer:
Ceramic-Coated Aluminum/Magnesium is a material originally developed by the aerospace industry for jet engine components.
Its properties are ideal for loudspeaker cones being extremely rigid, yet light enough to yield high overall efficiency.
In manufacture, aluminum/magnesium alloy undergoes a three-stage stress-relieving process to remove surface deformation and molecular weakness.
Once formed, the alloy cone is subjected to a high temperature anodic coating process in which a layer of pure ceramic alumina is depleted onto its surfaces to a depth of 50 microns, producing a completely rigid sandwich of alloy and heat-dissipating ceramic material.
Conventional cones are liable to flex or twist in operation, producing a significant level of audible distortion.
C-CAM cones have a much higher resistance to bending stress and therefore exhibit much greater fidelity over their entire operating range.
RST (Rigid Surface Technology):
The Gold series bookshelf speaker combines Rigid Surface Technology (RST) with its C-CAM cone woofer design for a stronger, lighter weight cone.
The Rigid Surface Technology (RST) cone profile was inspired by the Japanese art of Origami, which demonstrates how a very light material (like paper) can be strengthened and made more rigid by making small and precise folds on it surface.
Developed and perfect using sophisticated computer modeling (Finite Element Analysis), the Silver series midbass drivers have been strengthened by a pattern of dimples.
RST significantly increases cone rigidity, allowing the radiating surfaces to resist mechanical bending forces, which can twist the shape of conventional driver cones to produce distorted sound.
The strengthening effect of RST means that Monitor Audio can use thinner, lighter and more responsive C-CAM cones which provide speed and accuracy while offering greatly reduced distortion.
The RST patterns also help to displace standing waves that can propagate on the cone's surface.
Single Through-Bolt Mount:
The tweeter and woofer are fixed to the cabinet with single through-bolt driver fixing mounts.
This single-through-bolt mount design provides mechanical de-coupling and enhanced midband clarity and resolution.
The through-bolts also act as rigid cross bracing to give a very solid non-resonant cabinet.
MDF Curved Enclosure w/ Magnetic Grille:
The G50 employs a MDF enclosure for accurate, uncolored sound.
Rigid 20mm MDF construction is used throughout the enclosure with radial and cross-bracing techniques for high rigidity and low cabinet coloration.
In addition, the curved cabinet profile aids in increased rigidity and reduced internal standing waves.
In addition, the bookshelf speaker comes with a magnetic grille.
HiVe II Bass Reflex Port:
The G50 uses a bass reflex cabinet (rear firing port) with Monitor Audio's HiVe II port design for greater efficiency and bigger bass response from a slim bookshelf speaker.
The HiVe II bass 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.
Note:
If the bass is too boomy, you can insert the included foam port plug into the speaker's rear-firing port to tighten and lessen the bass.
High Quality Crossover & Wiring: The G50 uses a high quality crossover with premium grade polypropylene film capacitors.
The speaker also utilizes "Pureflow" silver plated OFC copper internal cabling.
Dual Gold-Plated Binding Posts:
The bookshelf loudspeaker has two sets of gold-plated binding posts connected by wire-jumpers.
The gold-plated binding posts will accept bare wire (up to 10AWG), pin connectors, & banana plugs (single only). Using the dual posts, you can bi-wire or bi-amp the speaker.
Bi-wiring or bi-amping the speaker provides improved bass & treble performance.
If you decide to bi-wire or bi-amp, you must remove the jumpers between the terminal posts (failure to do this could result in damage to your amplifier and loudspeakers).
Bi-Wiring:
Bi-wiring can provide noticeable improvements in the overall transparency of your loudspeakers.
Run separate speaker wires to the low & high frequency drivers from a single amplifier (the upper set of binding posts are for the high frequency drivers; the lower set of binding posts are for the low frequency drivers).
Bi-Amping:
Bi-amping allows you to use separate amplifiers for the high & low frequency sections of your loudspeaker for greater dynamic range & lower distortion.
We recommend that your separate amplifiers have identical gain to preserve the speaker's voicing balance.
Mounting Options:
The Gold series bookshelf loudspeaker comes with self-adhesive rubber feet to help secure it in place to prevent slippage and vibration.
The optional PinPoint heavy duty side-grip wall-mounting bracket (121AM41B, sold separately) can be used to wall mount the speaker.
