Floorstanding loudspeakers — MAGNAT Monitor S80 ATM

The Monitor S80 ATM is a passive floorstanding loudspeaker from MAGNAT that places an upward-firing Dolby Atmos height module in the top of a conventional tower cabinet. It belongs to the Monitor S series, which also includes the Monitor S30 and S10 B bookshelf models and matching surround and centre units, so a full multichannel system can be built from one family.

Key specs that matter

The main section is a 2.5-way bass reflex design. Two 16.5 cm woofers with lightweight coated paper cones share the low and middle band, and a 28 mm fabric composite dome on a ferrite magnet handles the treble, with crossover points at 500 Hz and 3,000 Hz. MAGNAT quotes 26 Hz to 38,000 Hz for this part of the speaker, 90 dB sensitivity at 2.8 V and 1 m, a nominal impedance of 4 ohm and a load rating of 160 W RMS with 300 W maximum. The height module is a two-way 11.5 cm coaxial unit combining a coated cone with a 20 mm neodymium dome crossed at 7,000 Hz. It covers 60 Hz to 28,000 Hz at 87 dB, also at 4 ohm, and is rated at 40 W RMS and 80 W maximum. Each tower measures 21.5 x 86.0 x 27.0 cm and weighs 13.4 kg.

Engineering and use context

Putting the height channel inside the tower means a Dolby Atmos layer can be added without ceiling-mounted speakers. The coaxial unit fires upward so that its output reaches the listener after reflecting from the ceiling, and it is described as specially designed according to Dolby recommendations for this task. In the main section the two woofers split duties - the lower crossover hands the band above that point to one cone, while both contribute below it, which lets the tower reach low frequencies from a slim 21.5 cm front. The enclosure is made from low-resonance E1-grade MDF and vents through an Airflex port whose rounded opening is shaped to cut air noise at high excursion. Resonance-damping rubber feet support the cabinet, and the fabric grille is removable. Gold-plated, enclosed screw terminals accept bare wire or banana plugs, and the Atmos module has its own separate pair, so it is wired to a dedicated height output. Finishes are black or walnut.

Pairing

A surround amplifier able to decode Dolby Atmos and to feed separate height outputs is required, since the upward-firing unit is driven independently of the front pair. The low nominal impedance of both parts calls for an amplifier stable into that impedance.

Alternatives

MAGNAT's Monitor S70 belongs to the same Monitor S family, a three-way tower with a separate midrange driver and without any height module.