Floorstanding loudspeakers — Monitor Audio Radius 270

The Radius 270 is the floorstanding model in the Radius line of UK maker Monitor Audio, a compact two-way tower with a footprint of 17.7 cm width and 20.8 cm depth. It is built for listeners who want a full-height speaker that takes up little floor space in a room of around 20 m2. The cabinet is offered in Satin White, Walnut and Black Gloss.

Key specs that matter

Two 4-inch (100 mm) C-CAM cone bass/mid drivers work with a single 1-inch (25 mm) C-CAM Gold Dome tweeter, arranged in a two-way bass-reflex layout. Frequency response is quoted as 50 Hz to 35 kHz. Sensitivity is 87 dB at 1 W and 1 m, and nominal impedance is 6 ohm. The recommended amplifier range is 40 to 150 W. Maximum output is 107 dBA. Height is 1000 mm including the plinth without spikes and 1025 mm with spikes fitted. Each speaker weighs 9.9 kg.

Engineering and use context

Both the cones and the tweeter dome use the brand's C-CAM material. The cabinet has ports at the front and at the rear, both of the HiVe II type. HiVe II ports carry rifled grooves along the inside of the tube, which lower turbulence of the air flowing through the port at higher levels. Every driver is fixed with one through-bolt running to the back panel, a fixing method that mechanically decouples the driver chassis from the front baffle. Power handling of 100 W RMS applies to the drivers, while the whole system is rated at the top of the recommended amplifier range. The plinth adds stability to the tall and narrow body and takes the spikes. The nominal rating places the load between typical 4 ohm and 8 ohm designs.

Pairing

The Radius 270 needs little power to get going, so it works with modest integrated amplifiers and AV receivers. The system power rating sets a clear ceiling for more powerful amplifiers, and the maximum output defines how loud the pair can play before the drivers reach their limit. The narrow cabinet makes it an option for the front channels of a compact home cinema system where the rest of the Radius range covers centre and surround duties.

Alternatives

The Monitor Audio Silver 300 7G offers a three-way floorstanding alternative with two 6-inch bass drivers and a 3-inch midrange.