Monitor Audio PLATINUM IN-CEILING II User manual

Owners Manual

Contents
Introduction from the Technical Director 2
Company History 2
Technologies 3
MPD (Micro Pleated Diaphragm) High Frequency Transducer 3
C-CAM® (Ceramic Coated Aluminium/Magnesium) 3
RDT®II (Rigid Diaphragm Technology 2nd Generation) 3
ARC® (Anti-Resonance Composite) 3
Setting Up 4
2-Channel Positioning 4
AV Positioning 4
Atmos 5
Prior to Fitting the Platinum In-Ceiling II Speakers  5
Over Tightening Warning 5
Installation 6
Connecting Speaker Cables 7
Level Adjustment Switches 7
Painting the Grilles 7
Running-In Your Platinum In-Ceiling II 7
Warranty 7
Specications 8
monitoraudio.com 1

Introduction from the Technical Director
“How can a loudspeaker be made to sound more natural? This is the
question that drives our endeavor day-in, day-out. We’re motivated by
the quest to eliminate distortion from the most important element in
your audio system. How far we’ve come can be measured by the sound
of Platinum II: the most accurate and beautiful loudspeakers Monitor
Audio has ever made. Supported by painstaking analysis and a lifetime
of listening, their evolution has rened our technologies, inspired new
discoveries and achieved advances in every area of design - electrical,
mechanical, magnetic, acoustic and aesthetic. The result is a speaker range
of exceptional quality, dedicated to raising your emotional contact with
music and lm sound in all its natural glory. Built by audio lovers, for audio
lovers, Platinum II provides our answer to the primary challenge of speaker
design. To the big question we simply reply “like this”! “
Dean Hartley
Technical Director
Company History
Since 1972, Monitor Audio’s near fanatical commitment to quality in every aspect of loudspeaker design coupled with
its willingness to innovate has inspired global recognition and acclaim. Daring to challenge design orthodoxy has been
its signature approach.
When Monitor Audio launched its R852MD loudspeaker – the rst
model to incorporate a metal dome tweeter - it caused quite a stir.
Until that time, most metal domes were single-metal types made
from copper or titanium and virtually all sounded unconvincing.
The R852 used an aluminium-magnesium alloy dome and sounded
signicantly better and smoother than all of its single-metal rivals.
It also incorporated ferro-uid damping/cooling of the metal voice-
coil former and a vented voice coil mechanism for better heat
dissipation. These radical design elements formed the basis for
successive generations of C-CAM® metal domes.
By consistently rening and applying the technology, Monitor Audio has become the world’s foremost proponent of
metal dome drivers. Monitor Audio designs everything in house at their world headquarters in England, so that it can
optimise the incomparable blend of virtues that makes Monitor Audio loudspeakers unique: clean, dynamic sound,
superior build quality and innovative design. Because they share a philosophy of excellence and a consistency of
quality and voicing, loudspeakers of dierent types: on-wall, In-Ceiling, oor and stand-mounting, may be used
together to create the perfect acoustic blend for any room.
In the strength and depth of Monitor Audio’s evolving product portfolio, the ideal of a universal whole-house
loudspeaker brand nds true expression. Decades of accumulated expertise and knowledge have rened the rare
mix of innovation, reliability and sheer performance that has propelled the brand to global status and on which
acionados of music and movie sound have come to rely.
Platinum In-Ceiling II2

Technologies
MPD (Micro Pleated Diaphragm) High Frequency Transducer
AMT design was rst invented by Dr Oskar Heil in the 1970s. However, all designs typically suer from a null in the
frequency response around 40kHz. Using FEA modelling techniques, Monitor Audio engineers were able to nd the
root cause of this null and develop a solution. This phenomenon was eliminated, allowing the driver to operate with
uniform output to over 100 kHz. We call this unique innovation Micro Pleated Diaphragm (MPD).
The folded MPD diaphragm exhibits a surface area typically eight times that of a
conventional dome tweeter, and around thirteen times that of a pure ribbon tweeter.
This large surface area improves the conducted heat path and the open front
increases the convection. The power handling is also improved by the high sensitivity
of the tweeter. The AMT design also provides a constant non-reactive load to the
amplier, this means it’s able to deliver power more eciently with lower distortion.
The MPD is designed to bend and does not rely on its structural integrity to extend high in the
frequency range. There are no break up modes throughout the entire frequency range, exhibiting clean sonic character,
free from any harmonic artefacts.
C-CAM® (Ceramic Coated Aluminium/Magnesium)
C-CAM is an innovative alloy material originally developed by the aerospace industry. It exhibits ideal qualities for use
as loudspeaker cones, being extremely rigid, yet light enough to yield high overall eciency. C-CAM is formed from
an alloy of aluminium and magnesium, which undergoes stress-relieving processes in manufacturing to avoid surface
deformation and molecular weakness. A layer of pure ceramic (alumina) is depleted onto the surfaces to produce a
completely rigid exterior. C-CAM cones are designed to have high resistance to bending stress. When formed into a cone,
C-CAM material provides increased clarity and reduced distortion compared to conventional cone materials.
RDT®II (Rigid Diaphragm Technology 2nd Generation)
RDT II is a composite ‘sandwich’ structure made from ultra-thin low-mass
skins, bonded to a honeycomb NomexR core material. The overall thickness of
the RDT II diaphragm is only 2mm, yet it exhibits 150 times the strength of a
conventional loudspeaker cone. RDT II is a unique, innovative development
conceived by Monitor Audio engineers for the new Platinum II series. It uses two
skin materials with dissimilar mechanical properties. C-CAM is used for the front
skin, while the rear skin is made from a woven carbon bre. This combination is able
to reduce distortion by over 8dB above 300Hz, which equates to a 60% reduction in the
energy of harmonic components, making RDT II the lowest distortion cone technology in Monitor Audio’s history.
ARC® (Anti-Resonance Composite)
A cast thermo-set polymer loaded with minerals to provide very inert, optimally damped components. This material is
ideal for high-end acoustic applications where a high degree of structural rigidity and vibration damping is required.
ARC is used for mid-range housings and bae components. ARC is a unique material, developed specically by
Monitor Audio engineers for the Platinum II series. Its properties ensure energy is damped out and not emitted as
high-Q resonance.
monitoraudio.com 3

Platinum In-Ceiling II4
Setting Up
2-Channel Positioning
When arranging a 2-channel system, the main listening position and the loudspeakers should ideally form an
equilateral triangle. The speakers should be positioned approximately 6 - 10 feet (1.8 - 3m) apart. They should be
positioned so that the tweeter is angled towards the main listening postion.
AV Positioning
Please refer to the illustration below and opposite for the ideal angles and positions of each speaker in your surround
system.
The centre channel will need to be as close to the screen as possible to ensure the sound does not sound disjointed,
with aproximatley 2-3 feet from the rear wall.
1. Side surround speakers
2. Rear surround speakers
A 7.(1) surround system will make use of side (position 1) and rear (position 2) speakers to create a full 360°
soundstage, if setting up a 5.(1) system you can place your surrounds in position (1) or (2).
90°
-90°
110°
-110°
135°-135°
150°-150°
0°
30°-30°
22°
-22°
1 1
2 2

Atmos
When installing an Atmos system, we would recommend using the C380-IDC or CPCT380-IDC for the Atmos channels.
These speakers employ a unique pivoting IDC (Inverted Dual Concentric) midrange/tweeter module which oers a
wider dispertion charectoristic which works very good for for Atmos duties. More information on both the C380-IDC
and CPCT380-IDC can be found on our website: monitoraudio.com
The reason we do not suggest the Platinum In-Ceiling II for Atmos duties is due to the tweeter being a xed, angled
position. The C380-IDC and CPCT380-IDC on the other hand oer up to 18 degrees pivot in all directions and can be
tted directly above the seating position in the case of a 2 Atmos speaker setup.
Please see below for adeal positioning of 2 or 4 speaker setups.
Prior to Fitting the Platinum In-Ceiling II Speakers
CAUTION: These Custom Install loudspeakers can only be xed into plasterboard (dry-lined) or suspended
ceilings/ walls with a thickness of up to 45mm (1 ”). Solid wall installation will require channelling out
and frame work constructed to provide a structure for the Tri Grip dog legs to clamp to. For safety reasons,
if you are unsure of your ability to provide a secure and safe xing, do not attempt to x these speakers, please obtain
the services of a competent and qualied trades person.
CAUTION: Ensure that there are no water pipes or electricity cables running within the wall structure before
cutting the speaker apertures. Work from secure steps and avoid trailing wires.
Over Tightening Warning
Attention installers:
Do not over-tighten the Tri-Grip Dog Leg clamps. Over tightening the clamping mechanism on any in ceiling/ in wall
speaker can result in damage to the speaker mounting hardware, ceiling/ wall or speaker frame, and/ or deection in
the speaker frame during installation.
If you notice any of the above during installation, you have overtightened the Tri Grip dog leg. Back o the mounting
screw until deection is reduced to allow the product to sit rmly against the ceiling / wall.
monitoraudio.com 5
2 Atmos speakers (in line with front left and right) 4 Atmos Speakers (in line with front left and right)
30°
125°
150°
45° 55° 135°
Ear Level
65°
100°
80°
Ear Level

6
Installation
1. Draw around template.
PLIC II
273mm (10
3/4
”)
273mm (10
3/4
”)
185mm (7
5/16
”)
Tri-Grip x 3
= 5Kgf/cm; 4.34 lbf/inch; 0.5 NM
2. Cut around marked line.
3. Connect speaker cables. Refer to page 7 for more
information.
4. Position into the ceiling so that the tweeter is
angled towards the listening position.
5. Tighten the dog leg screws. Play some audio and
adjust the HF and MF switches as required.
6. Place grille on the speaker. This is held in place
magnetically.
Max Tightening =
5Kgf/cm; 4.34 lbf/inch; 0.5 NM
Platinum In-Ceiling II

monitoraudio.com 7
Connecting Speaker Cables
The Platinum In-Ceiling II has one set of terminals for single wiring. Single wiring is achieved by using a single set
of cables to the binding posts on the side of the speaker. Internally the speaker crossover guides the frequencies to
the appropriate driver/tweeter - low frequencies to the bass drivers, mid frequencies to the mid/bass driver and high
frequencies to the tweeter.
The binding posts are the sprung for ease of use and will accept bare wire only.
Press down on the binding post to reveal the through hole and pass the bare wire through the hole. Release the
binding post and it will automatically clamp the cable in place. Ensure there are no loose strands of cables to cause
a short circuit.
Level Adjustment Switches
The Platinum In-Ceiling II comes with a pair of switches to adjust the mid and high frequency levels. These are located
on the front of the cabinet by the driver opening, and adjustment will either boost or attenuate the mid-range and
tweeter levels by +/-1dB. There are separate switches for each unit, and experimentation is recommended to achieve
the perfect combination for your environment.
Painting the Grilles
NOTE: If choosing to paint the grille, we recommend you follow these simple steps:
1. Remove the membrane scrim from the inside of the grille.
2. Paint all grilles required for the installation with the same batch of paint (if they are to be the same colour).
Spray paint is easier to apply or use a stippling action when brushing to avoid blocking the holes of the grille.
3. When dry, attach the spare membrane scrim (where supplied) into the inside of the grille.
4. Fit the grille to the speaker (s).
Running-In Your Platinum In-Ceiling II
Run your speakers in by playing normal music at low-mid listening levels for approximately 50-70 hours play time.
You may nd the sound will continue to improve even after the 70 hour mark.
This can be done naturally over time: like a ne wine the performance will improve with age.
Warranty
Both the craftsmanship and the performance of this product is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty against
manufacturing defects provided that the product was supplied by an authorised Monitor Audio retailer under the
consumer sale agreement. For the period of cover please refer to the product page on our website: monitoraudio.com
for the product you have purchased.
When purchasing Monitor Audio products, please keep your receipt of purchase safe, as this validates your warranty.

8Platinum In-Ceiling II
Specications
PLATINUM II IN-CEILING
System Configuration 4 driver, 3-way
Frequency Response (-6db) 45Hz - 60kHz
Sensitivity (1W@1M) 90 dB
Impedance 4 Ohms nominal (3.1 Ohms minimum @1.1kHz)
Maximum S.P.L (@1M - each) 112 dBA
Power Handling 150W (RMS)
Recommended Amplifier Requirements 50-150W (RMS)
Recommended Enclosure PLIC BOX II or A bespoke sealed enclosure of 24 Litres
Mid/ H.F Crossover Frequency (Hz) 5.3kHz 3rd Order (18dB/ Octave)
Bass/Midrange Crossover Frequency (Hz) 380Hz 4th Order (24dB/ Octave)
Drive Unit Complement
1 x 8” long-throw RDT II bass driver
2 x 2” C-CAM mid-range drivers
1 x MPD high frequency transducer
Adjustment Controls H.F level switch (+1dB/ 0dB/ -1dB)
M.F level switch (+1dB/ 0dB/ -1dB)
Cable Connection High-end ‘push’ type terminals
Fixings 3 position Tri-gripTM dog leg fixings
Overall Diameter Grille on - 309mm (12 3/16 Inches)
Grille off - 296.25mm (11 1/4 Inches)
Overall Depth Grille on - 191.5 mm (7 1/2 Inches)
Grille off - 188 mm (7 5/32 inches)
Cut Out Depth 185.4 mm (7 5/16 Inches)
Pre- Construction Bracket CB10 (Light Brown)
Construction Material Main chassis - Mineral Filled ABS (RoHS2 compliant)
Baffle – Die cast aluminium
Grille Type Low profile trimless grille with magnetic fixings – Paintable
(Square grille available as a cost option)
Weight Each 5.22Kg (11lb 8oz)
Monitor Audio reserves the right to alter specications without notice.

Monitor Audio Ltd.
24 Brook Road
Rayleigh, Essex
SS6 7XJ
England
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.monitoraudio.com
Designed & Engineered in the United Kingdom
Made in China
Version 2. 2018