Напольная акустика — Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G

The Gold 500 6G heads the two towers of Gold 6G, the sixth Gold series designed in Britain by Monitor Audio. This passive three-way design uses twin 8-inch bass drivers, placed above the Gold 300 6G in the range. At introduction it cost USD 7,000 per pair in America, and Monitor Audio later quoted USD 8,299. It is sold in pairs and carries a 5-year warranty.

Key specs that matter

The tower carries two 203 mm HDT C-CAM bass units, one 76 mm HDT C-CAM midrange driver and an MPD III tweeter. Crossover frequencies are 700 Hz and 2.6 kHz. Free-field response runs from 44 Hz to 60 kHz at -6 dB, and the in-room figure extends to 25 Hz. Sensitivity is 88.5 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m in free field. Nominal and minimum impedance are both 4 ohm, the minimum falling at 150 Hz. Maximum peak output reaches 122 dB (AES75, Z-weighted). With accessories fitted the cabinet is 1155 mm high, 383 mm wide and 475 mm deep, and each speaker weighs 26.5 kg.

Engineering and use context

Each HDT cone has an irregular six-sided relief pressed into its face, intended to interrupt the symmetrical breakup of a conventional cone. Each diaphragm is built as a sandwich of aluminium and carbon fibre skins around a Nomex honeycomb core, with C-CAM treatment that Monitor Audio describes as stronger and more fatigue-resistant than plain aluminium. The midrange driver sits in a steel mid-pod, a cylinder that separates the air behind it from the bass volume, and a large block of foam inside damps its rear output. The MPD III tweeter uses a micro-pleated diaphragm with a square radiating area to keep horizontal and vertical dispersion equal. A HiVe II port tuned to 33 Hz loads the bass section. The tower stands on outriggers cast in aluminium and uses magnetic grilles, and it comes in Macassar veneer, a white satin paint or glossy black.

Pairing

The maker recommends 130 to 600 W RMS, with 300 W given as the optimum. Because the impedance stays at its nominal value through the upper bass, a design capable of stable output into low loads fits, and power toward 600 W makes use of the high peak output in rooms larger than 20 m2. The Gold C250 6G centre speaker and Gold On-Wall 6G model allow the tower to form part of a surround layout.

Alternatives

The Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G is a smaller Gold tower with twin 6-inch HDT C-CAM bass drivers, 87 dB sensitivity and a port tuned to 35 Hz.