Monitor Audio Gold Series GXC150

Center Channel Speaker in Gloss Black

The ultra-compact GXC 150 centre speaker is small enough to fit into most AV racks and is designed to match the smaller GX speakers in a more bijou home theatre set up. However, because it shares its tonal characteristics with all GX models, its capabilities are also compatible with any GX system design. The GXC 150’s lustrous sealed cabinet is home to twin 5.5” drivers and the GX ribbon in a two and half way configuration, providing superior dispersion across a range from 55Hz to 60kHz. The specialised high frequency ribbon offers exceptional detail and vocal intelligibility, enhancing communication with the listener.

• New C-CAM® ribbon transducer design – providing extension to a class leading 60KHz
• Single bolt through driver fixings for improved bracing, rigidity and driver/baffle de-coupling
• Die-cast alloy terminal panel arrangement with high quality bi-wire terminals and high end spade type link cables
• Pureflow® Silver internal cabling
• Selected premium quality wood veneers or high gloss piano finishes.
• Rigid 20mm MDF construction throughout, employing radial and cross-bracing techniques for high rigidity resulting in low cabinet colouration
• Invisible magnetic grille fixing provides clean visual styling when used with the grille off

Specifications

• System Format: 2 Way
• Frequency Response: 55 Hz - 60 kHz
• Sensitivity (1W@1M): 89 dB
• Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
• Maximum S.P.L (Per pair in room): 111.5 dBA
• Power Handling (RMS): 150 W
• Recommended Amplifier Requirements (RMS): 100 - 150 W
• Bass Alignment: Sealed Cabinet
• Crossover Frequency: 2.8 kHz
• Drive Unit Compliment: 2 x 5.5" RST bass/mid-range driver, 1 x C-CAM H.F ribbon transducer
• External Dimensions excl Stand (H x W x D) 172 x 461 x 303 mm (6 11/16 x 18 1/8 x 11 15/16 inch)
• Weight (each): 6 Kg (13.25 lbs)

Technology

C-Cam Bass Drivers: Refined over many years by Monitor Audio, Ceramic-Coated Aluminium/Magnesium is used as a driver cone material for all our speaker designs from the mid-market models up. Originally developed by the aerospace industry for jet engine components, C-CAM's properties are ideal for loudspeaker cones being extremely rigid, yet light enough to yield high overall efficiency. C-CAM bass drivers are able to resist the bending distortion imposed by sudden and extreme bass excursions to reproduce very clean, deep and dynamic bass frequencies. Conventional cone materials are more likely to flex in operation, producing a significant level of audible distortion.

Ribbon Transducer: 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 up to an elusive 100 kHz, Platinum’s magical ribbon tweeter will reproduce with ease every last nuance and detail from vinyl, CD, DVD-A and SACD, together with the wider bandwidth of Blu-ray.

C-Cam Drivers: Ceramic-Coated Aluminium/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, aluminium/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. C-CAM tweeters and woofers share an audible consistency producing a smooth transition of frequencies and a sense of realism and cohesion in the soundstage.

RST: The Rigid Surface Technology (RST) cone profile is 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 its surface. Monitor Audio has applied this principle in designing the CAM/RST cones for the GX and RX ranges. Developed and perfected using sophisticated computer modelling (Finite Element Analysis), the GX mid and bass driver cones have been strengthened by a series of radial ribs; the RX driver cones by a pattern of dimples. Our simulations have proved that 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 we 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.