Review: Monitor Audio Radius R90 speaker systemBy Dominic Dawes |  |  |
| | R90
Price: £1,000 (R90x4: £500, R180 (Centre) £150, R360 (sub) £350
Website: www.monitoraudio.com
Size (WxHxD): R90: 12x19x14cm, R180: 12x35x10cm, R360: 23x33x32cm
Weight: R90: 2kg, R180: 2.3kg, R360: 14kg
Drivers: R90: 1x 101mm MMP2 (Next gen Metal Matrix Polymer), 1x 25mm C-CAM Gold Dome, R180: 1x 101mm MMP2 (Next gen Metal Matrix Polymer), 1x 25mm C-CAM Gold Dome, R360: 1x 203mm ultra long-throw sub bass driver. Hand treated paper cone woofer
Frequency response: R90: 85Hz-25KHz, R180: 60Hz-25KHz, R360: 27Hz-180Hz
Sensitivity (1W/1m): R90: 87dB, R180: 87dB
Nominal impedance: R90: 8 ohms, R180: 8 ohms
Power: R90: 60W, R180: 60W
Finishes: Video silver, natural beech veneer, rosemah veneer, black lacquer, white lacquer
Plus points:
Superb construction, attractive finish, precise and dynamic sonic presentation
Minus points:
Subwoofer lacks muscle and is fussy about positioning
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Monitor Audio has been making finely crafted, attractive speakers since long before most of us imagined speakers could be anything other than large, ugly, black boxes. Nowadays, of course, we expect speaker packages to not only be superbly constructed and fantastic sounding: we also like them to be somewhere between discreet and invisible when it comes to their looks.
Every speaker package strives to address this balance of aesthetics and performance, and in the Radius R90 AV system, Monitor Audio has achieved an elegant solution that immediately made us sit up and take notice.
There are four radius AV systems: each package takes its name from the model used for the front left/right channels. This particular arrangement - the entry-level package in the range - uses the same speakers for the front left/right channels as for the rear channels: the small but perfectly formed R90.
Monitor Audio also makes a floor stand for the R90, which can be used very elegantly to support all the front and rear speakers except the centre speaker. This stand is - like the speakers themselves - superbly constructed and well thought out: the connecting cables run from bottom to top, through the stand's twin poles whose metallic appearance is neatly balanced by the elegant curve of the design.
Straight from the box the system is both attractive and room friendly. The standard of build is exemplary, and the 'Rosemah' wood finish (a mix of rosewood and mahogany) is exquisitely executed. Typically of Monitor Audio, the R90s use high quality hybrid metal drive units, and with their rigid construction, gold-plated terminals and rear-mounted reflex ports, they look less like standard contemporary satellite speakers and more like hi-fi standmounted speakers that have just been a little… shrunk.
The R90s - as well the R180 centre speaker - utilise a combination of 19mm gold 'C-CAM' (ceramic coated aluminium magnesium) tweeter, with a 10cm metal matrix polymer bass/mid driver. The package is completed by the R360 subwoofer, which uses a 20cm downward-firing paper cone driver and 100-watt amplifier. It also has a music/movies switch to optimise bass response for the very different sonic demands of a Hans Zimmer soundtrack or 50 Cent album.
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| | R180
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Performance
Get the radius R90 AV package into action, and it belts out the sound with a sturdy combination of expressive midrange detail and solid, muscular dynamics. The package's treble performance is also impressive, both vibrant and controlled. It makes for a clear, articulate and dynamic presentation, giving an equally fine rendering of both dialogue and the most spectacular movie sound effects.
The system's sense of cohesion is irresistibly smooth (as you'd expect from a package with four identical satellites and a centre speaker boasting identical drivers), and it creates an immensely listenable and convincing three-dimensional sound field (especially with the most high impact Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks).
| | R360
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However, the R360 subwoofer takes a little bit of work to get the best performance from it. It's something of a lightweight compared to the class-leading subs, and lacks the kind of punch and precision that would more fully complement theR90 satellites' performance.
Positioning is vital: to get the best out of the R360, find a suitable corner and shove that sub hard into it. This gives the 360 a little more much-needed muscle. In addition, we found - after much tweaking - that setting the crossover quite high (around 100Hz - 120Hz) and leaving the selector switch on 'music' will get the best results: this combination gives the sub a little more room to breathe, and gives the impression of more power and precision through a heavier presence in the upper bass frequencies.
Once you optimise the subwoofer's performance, the package delivers a very convincing sound with both music and movies. Rhythms are fast and precise, and what it lacks in sheer, low-end power it more than makes up for in vocal realism and musical subtlety. It's a performance that manages to be lively and attention grabbing, without ever succumbing to the brittle edge that's can easily compromise a lively sounding system.
Speaker packages have to be a lot of things these days: we've come to expect a finely honed balance of size, performance and aesthetics and our expectations seem to be pushing the designers to ever greater achievements. With the radius R90 AV package, monitor Audio has achieved a fine balance, and with a performance that is both nuanced and viscerally exciting.
That said, the performance of the R360 subwoofer is the slightly weak link in an otherwise excellent package. With more of the roundness, scale and sheer power that would be had from a really top class sub, this package would be a real contender for class-leading status.
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The radius R90 AV package is neat, beautifully designed and offers a fast and insightful delivery of both movie soundtracks and CDs. The only weakness is in the bass performance, with a sub that's both fussy about positioning and a little lightweight. |
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