Monitor Audio PL300 + PLW215 OR PL500?
 

Hey guys!

I'm looking for people who have had experience with Monitor Audio's latest flagship (Platinum line) and might be willing to share their experiences with the ones at the top of the food chain.

My situation is the following: I will be upgrading to a full-range (or almost full-range) pair of loudspeakers as soon as I receive an insurance settlement and I am currently considering several options. I have auditioned several speakers and those in the running are the Wilson Yvette (expensive and beautiful), Focal Sopra III, and Scala V2.

I would like to hear about people's opinions on the PL500 II and PL 300 II with the PLW215 subwoofer. I'm currently living in a small studio with tall ceilings - room is L-shaped with the 'listening leg' about 20'x12' but is open to 30' on the side in a typical studio layout. The cubic volume overall is quite large as it has tall ceilings.

Would the PL500 II be overkill in this scenario assuming I want a speaker that I can have for the next foreseeable future (10 years +) and changes in my living situation or would I be better served with the flexibility of the smaller PL300 and a subwoofer?

Also: Does anyone in the DFW area have either speaker pair and might be willing to let me listen to them? Would love to hear how they sound in the wild as I am unable to find a dealer with the Platinum level MA speakers.

Thank you!

I have the PL300's and would love to get the PL500 II's some day. They will do fantastic in your large room!

The PL300 need power. I am not sure if the II's are more forgiving.

I have the PL200 in a large open great room and added a JL Audio 112 to the room and was surprised at what an improvement it made. The PL200's are much easier to drive and are fantastic too.

The PLW215 is a very fast sub-woofer matched well with the PL line, but my JL Audio 113's paired with the PL300's sound great!

For a large room I would lean toward the PL500 II's. I know you will not be disappointed.

There is a dealer running a special on the PL500s right now where the price for the PL500s is actually quite competitive with the PL300 II and the PLW215. Normally, I wouldn't dare consider a 30k+ MSRP speaker, but the dealer has two pair for 18k shipped (demo units) with the faintest of cosmetic wear. It's too good to pass up...

I am looking to move up to PASS class A monoblocks when the budget allows; but all in good time! I'm quite sure that the PL300 II even without subs would sound fantastic.

Fantastic!

I heard Monitor Audio PL 500 II and PL 300 II in a direct comparison.
Although the 300 II is a marvelous speaker, I think the 500 II is altogether
the far better speaker.

LF and HF extension, control, imaging, separation, tonality, you name it, the 500 II ticks the boxes first. And it should do so.

Robert Deutsch posted a very favourable revieuw of the 300 II in Stereophile on oct 27 2016, so if your room can not accommodate the 500 II, the smaller sibling is still a good option.

My room is roughly of your size and the 500 II is doing a wonderful job here.
Finish also is first class.

Currently I have them on spikes on a stainless steel disc, decoupling them from the floor was a real benefit.

I think the 500 II is definitely the better speaker in comparison with 300 II even with sub, although I did not heard any of them with a sub.

Member Ricjor1 added a sub to his 500 II with great success, so this will be another step up.

Good luck!

STOCK78, thank you for your post regarding the PL500 IIs. I have decided to spend the extra few thousand $$$ and go for the larger siblings as opposed to the speakers and subs route.

I am considering amplifiers to pair with the speakers and have decided on the PASS Labs XA series. The impedance curve is not very taxing on these beauties. Will 60 watt class A amps be enough for these, do you think?

Parsifalcor,
Julie Mullins published a test of the PL 500 II for the Absolute Sound on jan 23rd 2017, in which she discussed different amplifiers.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...i-loudspeaker/

If this link is not working you can copy it to your browser.

The PL500 II has a minimum impedance of 4,2 Ohm at 120 Hz, which is easy, so 60 watt class A is, in general, enough for sure.

Trying in your own system is always the best.

My dealer with the cooperation of the importer of Monitor Audio has let me try these PL 500 II at my home for free for 2 full weeks without any obligation! Very commendable!

Best.

I have the PL500s after owning many speakers. They are the most enjoyable and musical speakers that I've ever owned.