[plundstrom]

PLC150 is out now and in stores. I'm listening one right now. Got it to home for auditioning. Happy to report that it is big step upwards from GSLCR. Not quite on par with PL300, but close enough. PLC350 would be the ultimate solution but it's way too big. PLC150 was worth of the wait. I just wonder why Monitor Audio web page still doesn't say anything about PLC150 even it's out for sale??

[bolanat]

Hi Plundstorm,

Any chance you can specify the plc150 dimensions?

can't seem to find themany where...

[dean999]

i demoed the pl100 in manchester with a primare i30 or 32 two channel power amp and was disappointed by the lack of bass.the gs10s produced better bass. i then demoed the pl300s at the same hifi store and they were better all round, but for £5000 still not fantastic.
any suggestions for alternate speakers?

i was advised by another store that the sugden master class amp or a linn 200wpc chakra power would be better than the primare to drive either the pl100 or 300s.
can anyone confirm this or suggest a better power amp not costing more than £3500(preferably costing less)

thanking you all for any advice.

[Dav1dF]

Originally Posted by dean999

i demoed the pl100 in manchester with a primare i30 or 32 two channel power amp and was disappointed by the lack of bass.the gs10s produced better bass. i then demoed the pl300s at the same hifi store and they were better all round, but for £5000 still not fantastic.
any suggestions for alternate speakers?

As good as the Primare combonation might be, it's not the combination we'd be using with the PL300's. Even with the PL100's, I'd recommend a pre/power rather than using an integrated amp, even as a pre.

It would be interesting to try a couple of Quad 909 mono's, but give the CYrus Mono X's a try as these tend to give a 'fatter' bass than some power amps. Obviously there are a lot of power amps out there, so the best thing to do is listen to as many as you can. The amp/speaker combination is extremely important - one amp might make a speaker sound uninvolving, and another might make them sound like they're 3 times their price.

[dean999]

hi david

i am really greatful for your reply. it has really helped- i had wondered about the cyrus power amp- the tech specs looked good. glad you pointed me in the right direction.

cheers
dean

[plundstrom]

Originally Posted by bolanat

Hi Plundstorm,
Any chance you can specify the plc150 dimensions?
can't seem to find themany where...

Hi!
Took this long before I got one delivered. Now I have it and sounds good.
In manual dimensions are stated as
Width x Height x Depth 583x225x291mm (22 15/16 x 8 7/8 x 11 7/16")
Weight 19kg (41,8 lbs)

[GYRODEC1]

Hi,

You say that it sounds good. I would have expected it to sound fantastic, not a mediocre good.

[dean999]

Originally Posted by plundstrom

Hi!
Took this long before I got one delivered. Now I have it and sounds good.
In manual dimensions are stated as
Width x Height x Depth 583x225x291mm (22 15/16 x 8 7/8 x 11 7/16")
Weight 19kg (41,8 lbs)

do you have any other ma platinum speakers?

[dean999]

just demoed the gs60, pl100 and pl300 at sevenoaks in m'cr today using a £600 yamaha av amp(using stereo mode and no sub) and a pioneer 71 series blu ray player and i could tell the differences in performance better between the 3 - the platinum's really open the soundstage and allow even more detail and instrument separation than the gs60( i have always liked the gs60s).

the pl100 does well in the treble and mid than the gs60, whilst the gs60 does the bass better, but the pl300 just blows them away(sorry if i am stating the obvious).

i did demo the same 3 on the primare a32 power amp using the cyrus cd8x and separate power supply and it made the platinums harsh compared to the gold.

i suppose an average av amp can sometimes steal the limelight.

to sum up i would like to have the pl300. anybody

[Dav1dF]

Originally Posted by dean999

just demoed the gs60, pl100 and pl300 at sevenoaks in m'cr today using a £600 yamaha av amp(using stereo mode and no sub) and a pioneer 71 series blu ray player and i could tell the differences in performance better between the 3

Why was this combination auditioned? Platinums have been designed around hi-fi amplification, not AV amplification. AV amplification doesn't provide the same current or drive that a stereo amplifier is capable of.

i did demo the same 3 on the primare a32 power amp using the cyrus cd8x and separate power supply and it made the platinums harsh compared to the gold.

I'm concerned why the Platinums sounded harsh on the Pimare/Cyrus. I know the Cyrus CD player is quite forward and quite detailed, but they shouldn't sound harsh because of it. The only thing I can think of is that they may have sounded brighter after hearing the Yamaha AV amp with them. The AV amp wouldn't have been driving the Platinums properly, so they would've more than likely sounded quite soft and maybe even dull. Swapping to an amp that will drive them better may come across as harsh after getting used to the AV amp.

[dean999]

Originally Posted by Dav1dF

Why was this combination auditioned? Platinums have been designed around hi-fi amplification, not AV amplification. AV amplification doesn't provide the same current or drive that a stereo amplifier is capable of.

I'm concerned why the Platinums sounded harsh on the Pimare/Cyrus. I know the Cyrus CD player is quite forward and quite detailed, but they shouldn't sound harsh because of it. The only thing I can think of is that they may have sounded brighter after hearing the Yamaha AV amp with them. The AV amp wouldn't have been driving the Platinums properly, so they would've more than likely sounded quite soft and maybe even dull. Swapping to an amp that will drive them better may come across as harsh after getting used to the AV amp.

the yamaha av amp and pioneer blu ray were used at my request to give me an approximation of what it may sound like( would it be good enough until i had the funds to buy unfortunately costly amplification- i am an enthusiast with limited funds ) and what it would sound like as per the store's advice.

i appreciate your input - it all helps me

[plundstrom]

Originally Posted by GYRODEC1

Hi,
You say that it sounds good. I would have expected it to sound fantastic, not a mediocre good.

Good, fantastic, ultimate, what ever you want to call it, I love it.
I had before MA GSLCR as center channel and difference is big. Figure from that.

Originally Posted by dean999

do you have any other ma platinum speakers?

Yes, my mains are PL300. When I bought those I wanted platinum center too but only PLC350 was available and there was no way I could install that big boy no matter what. I heard that PLC150 is coming and I started to wait for it. I had GSLCR as temp solution and all the time I felt that center is no match to mains. The ribbon tweeter in platinum series is something unbelievable. Once you hear it, there is no coming back.

I feel that PLC150 is perfect match with PL300 for me. I'm driving center as small and SVS PB 13 Ultra takes care of low end, so even if PLC350 would go lower I don't think I would get any benefit from it.

All I can say is that finally my 3 front speakers are what I'm been after for last 15 years. My surrounds are 10 years old and really lacking but I don't care so much of those. Bullets and helicopters are fine with those too. If I started listening multi channel music then change was needed, not now. I like 2ch music and 5.1 movies.

BTW, many years I was telling myself and others that good matching center channel is not that important. Only after I got PL300 I started to realize that really, most of the material in movies comes from the center and good mains won't help there if center is not on same level. Actually in movies it's better to have matching and lower class mains + center than ultra mains and lacking center. You such notice the difference too easily.

[dean999]

thanks for the info.

it is nice to know that the smaller platinum centre matches well with the pl300s. i had read( can't remember which hifi review) that the pl350 was voice matched to the pl300- you are right the pl350 is too big & weighs just as much as the floorstanders,especially for most homes.
looks the business though.

are you biwiring or biamping - what amp are you using to drive the pl300s?

cheers
dean

[plundstrom]

Originally Posted by dean999

r u biwiring or biamping - what amp r u asing to drive the pl300s?

I don't do bi-things. I don't believe to those.
At the moment my amp is modest Yamaha RX-V3800. I'm looking for separate 2 ch power amp for mains and then would use AVR to drive center and surrounds and be pre-amp to L+R. Good candidate would be Bel Canto S500. I just don't know any local shops that would carry it so I could do home review.

[dean999]

hi plundstrom,

it is a relief to know that your yamaha 3800 amp is making the pl300s & plc150 sound fantastic.

i shall look into the bel canto -the specs & price.

take care
dean

[dean999]

oh i am so sad. i have been waiting for my pl300s in piano black all day today and at about 2.40pm had a gut feeling that i would not get them today. i rang citylink couriers and they confirmed the worst- i hope to get them tomorrow. to add in to the mix i decided to move my 24kg b&w sub back to its original position and in the process had the sub spike stab my middle finger and gouge out some flesh and had blood drip all over my carpet and fabric armchair. being self employed i have loss of earnings too as i have waited in all day( live in 2nd floor flat with no lifts and no one can lift these daddies up on their own).

sorry to bring you guys down but i just feel gutted. i have been waiting for these pl300s for 4 days.

roll on tomorrow- better news i hope.

dean

[dean999]

2.15pm ish - i was just about to ring the dealer to ask him to canx the pl300s order when the numptys from citylink arrived( they were meant to be here b4 10.30am -already they were a day late). 2 quite unhelpful, unapologetic men!

managed the unpack them and they look absolutely stunning in piano black( even better than ebony) plus swmbo was right in her colour choice( still thinks i am insane for wasting-blashemous- our money.

i have not switched them on as they are still acclimatising-will the wait never end?

i shall post my thoughts later.

p.s it says in the manual to listen to them at low volumes for the first 100hours so as not to stress the rdt drivers. no probs as i do listen low anyway- prefer detail & quality to loud volumes.

[dean999]

waited 5 hrs for the speakers to acclimatise. listened to various genres from pop to rock. i was blown away- more detail, clarity, clean tight bass, stereo imaging etc- been grinning like the proverbial cheshire cat since 7.20pm.

watched beauty and the beast- the knocking sounds ( in some scenes e.g villagers trying to break into the palace) were so real i had to check.

best of all wife and daughter were impressed.

[mwomwell]

And so they should be for the price of these speakers.