Magnat Monitor S 14 C - Teardown, personal thoughts and a few measurements

[trl]

Given my recent purchase of an Audio Video Receiver, the need for getting a central speaker was urging. Hence I was limited by the max. height of 15 cm between the table desk and the lower bottom of the 65" TV, I didn't got many options, so I was choosing the Magnat Monitor S 14 C speaker. Sales deck brochure and manual are both available for download on manufacturer website.

MAGNAT Monitor S Line brochure with the two MONITOR S 12 C and S 14 C central speakers

Magnat Monitor S 14 C presentation from the official manual

All the five drivers exposed

There is a decent amount of padding inside, but I find it a bit thin and too soft
Adding a bit more padding/felt inside will help in absorbing internal standing waves

Same type/model of drivers is used as both woofer and midrange

Woofer / midrange close-up

Woofer / midrange driver type: MW111S-CP472-PD, art. no.: DM01106

Backside of the woofer / midrange

Tweeter close-up

Tweeter driver type: MT28K-GE470 art. no.: DM01103

The 2.5 ways crossover is situated on the rear of the speaker, behind the central tweeter

Backside of the speaker

Binding posts from the backside

The DC resistance measured was showing 4.3 Ohms

​

 

[trl]

Performing anechoic-like measurements with an ECM999 mic while speaker was placed on a big pouff / bean bag and surrounded by several acoustic panels

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - THD measured @86dB SPL on the table from under the TV

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - THD measured @86dB SPL anechoic-like

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Group Delay measured on the table from under the TV

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Group Delay measured anechoic-like

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - RT60 Decay measured on the table from under the TV

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - RT60 Decay measured anechoic-like

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Spectrogram measured on the table from under the TV

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Spectrogram measured anechoic-like

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Waterfall measured on the table from under the TV

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Waterfall measured anechoic-like
​

Seeing distortions ranging between 0.1% - 1% across 60-20.000 Hz at around 86 dB SPL @1m I'm quite pleased, although the speaker seems unusable below 100 Hz due to it's fast bass roll-off. Pairing it with a subwoofer to properly handle the LFE sounds along with setting AVR's crossover somewhere around 110-120 Hz for this speaker should to the job well.

 

[trl]

When increasing the volume to about 96 dB SPL we can see that distortions are all over the place in the graphs, although up to about 92 dB it plays pretty well.

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - THD measured on the table from under the TV

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Group Delay measured on the table from under the TV

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - RT60 Decay measured on the table from under the TV

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Spectrogram measured on the table from under the TV

MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Waterfall measured on the table from under the TV

​

However, we're not going to reach THX SPL levels with this central speaker (102-105 dB SPL @ listening position), but it could definitely give to the owner a good quality sound at a SPL below 96dB @1m (90-92dB would do fine), good enough for a mid-sized living room home theatre, especially if the size and price are concerning. Just the crossover needs to be set to 110-120 Hz and all should be fine for voice playback, given that this is not a full-range speaker (unless we're blindly reading manufacturer papers).

 

[blazen2150]

When increasing the volume to about 96 dB SPL we can see that distortions are all over the place in the graphs, although up to about 92 dB it plays pretty well.

View attachment 341905
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - THD measured on the table from under the TV

View attachment 341902
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Group Delay measured on the table from under the TV

View attachment 341903
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - RT60 Decay measured on the table from under the TV

View attachment 341904
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Spectrogram measured on the table from under the TV

View attachment 341906
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Waterfall measured on the table from under the TV

​

However, we're not going to reach THX SPL levels with this central speaker (102-105 dB SPL @ listening position), but it could definitely give to the owner a good quality sound at a SPL below 96dB @1m (90-92dB would do fine), good enough for a mid-sized living room home theatre, especially if the size and price are concerning. Just the crossover needs to be set to 110-120 Hz and all should be fine for voice playback, given that this is not a full-range speaker (unless we're blindly reading manufacturer papers).

wow thank you for the review i didn't even know they made a big center channel i just ordered some supreme 2002 and 202. Im excited to replace all of my klipsch speakers for something more laid back and warmer sounding

 

[blazen2150]

View attachment 341900
Performing anechoic-like measurements with an ECM999 mic while speaker was placed on a big pouff / bean bag and surrounded by several acoustic panels

View attachment 341889
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - THD measured @86dB SPL on the table from under the TV

View attachment 341894
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - THD measured @86dB SPL anechoic-like

View attachment 341886
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Group Delay measured on the table from under the TV

View attachment 341891
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Group Delay measured anechoic-like

View attachment 341887
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - RT60 Decay measured on the table from under the TV

View attachment 341892
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - RT60 Decay measured anechoic-like

View attachment 341888
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Spectrogram measured on the table from under the TV

View attachment 341893
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Spectrogram measured anechoic-like

View attachment 341890
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Waterfall measured on the table from under the TV

View attachment 341895
MAGNAT Monitor S 14 C - Waterfall measured anechoic-like
​

Seeing distortions ranging between 0.1% - 1% across 60-20.000 Hz at around 86 dB SPL @1m I'm quite pleased, although the speaker seems unusable below 100 Hz due to it's fast bass roll-off. Pairing it with a subwoofer to properly handle the LFE sounds along with setting AVR's crossover somewhere around 110-120 Hz for this speaker should to the job well.

does the a14c have dual reflex ports or is it sealed? can you post a picture of the rear ports?

 

[trl]

Sealed, unfortunately. If it had rear bass reflex then the bass would have been an octave lower.

 

[blazen2150]

So I ended going with a BA v12 center and I have no regrets. Sure non of my speakers match but they blend well with the other speakers