Полочная акустика — Pylon Audio Diamond monitor 18 mkII

The Diamond Monitor 18 mkII is the second-generation stand-mount of Pylon Audio's Diamond series, from the Polish loudspeaker maker founded in 2011. For the mkII version, Pylon upgraded the drivers, cabinet and crossover of the original Diamond Monitor 18 and refined its styling. The speaker is designed for rooms of about 12 to 25 m2, and Pylon offers it in sets with its own branded stands.

Key specs that matter

The Diamond Monitor 18 mkII is a vented two-way built around a Pylon PSW 18.4.CA/P mid/bass driver, based on a custom Seas CA18RLY/P unit from Norway, and a Pylon PST 19.TN tweeter based on the Scan-Speak D2010/852100 19mm textile dome. Frequency response is 37Hz to 20kHz, sensitivity is 87 to 88dB and impedance is 4 ohms, with 80W nominal and 160W maximum power handling. Each speaker measures 196 x 420 x 379mm (W x H x D) and weighs 10kg. Finishes include black with walnut, oiled walnut, matt white and black ash gloss, with a magnetic grille. Pylon gives a four-year warranty.

Engineering and use context

Pylon's engineers modified the Seas woofer extensively. Its magnetic circuit is reinforced with an additional magnet ring, which alters its Thiele-Small parameters to suit this enclosure, and it uses a lightweight aluminium-copper voice coil, Spider Ring technology and an injection-moulded aluminium basket with an open design that lets air move freely behind the cone. The Scan-Speak tweeter uses a neodymium magnet system, a reduced-mass voice coil, dual resonance chambers and no ferrofluid, which lowers non-linear distortion. The crossover uses only linear components - air-core coils, which cannot saturate like iron cores, and polypropylene capacitors. Inside the cabinet, precisely placed ribs brace the walls, and natural sheep's wool combined with soundproofing material damps internal resonances. The front and rear panels are angled more steeply than on the first version, placing the drivers' acoustic centres in better time alignment at the listening position. A larger-diameter bass-reflex port reduces air turbulence. The deep cabinet gives the cabinet more internal volume than its narrow front suggests.

Pairing

The low nominal impedance means the partnering amplifier must handle low loads, and with moderate sensitivity a solid integrated amplifier suits rooms of the size Pylon recommends. Pylon's matching stands raise the tweeter to seated ear height, and space behind the speaker helps the rear port.

Alternatives

Pylon Audio's own Jasper Monitor 18 uses Scan-Speak Revelator drivers in a larger stand-mount cabinet.