The sculpted low-diffraction cabinet of the diminutive GX50 houses a single 5.5” RST bass driver and C-CAM ribbon transducer. The bass driver exhibits the low frequency extension and power handling of a much larger driver while the excellent C-CAM ribbon soars beyond conventional domed tweeters to a stratospheric 60kHz. Consequently the GX50 combines the frequency range of the finest studio monitors with dynamics that defy its modest dimensions. Optional, dedicated floor stands are available for the GX50 which can be filled to provide the ultimate foundation for the best possible sound quality.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| System Format: | 2 Way |
| Frequency Response: | 55 Hz - 60 kHz |
| Sensitivity (1W@1M): | 86 dB |
| Nominal Impedance: | 8 ohms |
| Maximum S.P.L (Per pair in room): |
109.8 dBA |
| Power Handling (RMS): | 100 W |
| Recommended Amplifier Requirements (RMS): | 50 - 100 W |
| Bass Alignment: | Bass reflex. HiVe port system |
| Crossover Frequency: | 2.3 kHz |
| Drive Unit Compliment: | 1 x 5.5" RST bass/mid-range driver 1 x C-CAM H.F ribbon transducer |
|
External Dimensions excl Stand (H x W x D) |
300 x 170 x 263 mm (11 13/16 x 6 11/16 x 10 3/8 inch) |
| Weight (each) Excluding stands: |
7.5 Kg (16.5 lbs) |
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Height: | 630mm |
| Width: | 290mm |
| Depth: | 360mm |
| Weight: | 4.5 Kg |
Bubinga Real Wood Veneer
Dark Walnut Real Wood Veneer
Piano Black Lacquer
Piano White Lacquer
Piano Ebony
Refined over many years by Monitor Audio, Ceramic-Coated Aluminium/Magnesium is used as a driver cone material for all our speaker designs from the mid-market models up. Originally developed by the aerospace industry for jet engine components, C-CAM's properties are ideal for loudspeaker cones being extremely rigid, yet light enough to yield high overall efficiency. C-CAM bass drivers are able to resist the bending distortion imposed by sudden and extreme bass excursions to reproduce very clean, deep and dynamic bass frequencies. Conventional cone materials are more likely to flex in operation, producing a significant level of audible distortion.
Monitor Audio's proprietary ribbon tweeter design uses an ultra-thin sandwich of C-CAM alloy suspended in a powerful transverse magnetic field of high energy NeFeB rare earth magnets. The ribbon serves as both voice coil and radiating diaphragm, with every part of the ribbon driven directly and simultaneously without energy storage. Having a mass of just 18mg, its diaphragm is able to start and stop in an instant, producing a transient response capable of defining the leading edge and natural harmonic resonance of complex musical sounds. Specified to reach ultra-high frequencies up to an elusive 100 kHz, Platinum’s magical ribbon tweeter will reproduce with ease every last nuance and detail from vinyl, CD, DVD-A and SACD, together with the wider bandwidth of Blu-ray.
Ceramic-Coated Aluminium/Magnesium is a material originally developed by the aerospace industry for jet engine components. Its properties are ideal for loudspeaker cones being extremely rigid, yet light enough to yield high overall efficiency. In manufacture, aluminium/magnesium alloy undergoes a three-stage stress-relieving process to remove surface deformation and molecular weakness. Once formed, the alloy cone is subjected to a high temperature anodic coating process in which a layer of pure ceramic alumina is depleted onto its surfaces to a depth of 50 microns, producing a completely rigid sandwich of alloy and heat-dissipating ceramic material.
Conventional cones are liable to flex or twist in operation, producing a significant level of audible distortion. C-CAM cones have a much higher resistance to bending stress and therefore exhibit much greater fidelity over their entire operating range. C-CAM tweeters and woofers share an audible consistency producing a smooth transition of frequencies and a sense of realism and cohesion in the soundstage.
A new type of port technology which uses a straight rifled design to accelerate air flow and reduce turbulence. HiVe II technology has the ability to move air in and out much quicker than a conventional port, the result is fast powerful bass coupled with superior transient response.
The Rigid Surface Technology (RST) cone profile is inspired by the Japanese art of Origami, which demonstrates how a very light material (like paper) can be strengthened and made more rigid by making small and precise folds on its surface. Monitor Audio has applied this principle in designing the CAM/RST cones for the GX and RX ranges. Developed and perfected using sophisticated computer modelling (Finite Element Analysis), the GX mid and bass driver cones have been strengthened by a series of radial ribs; the RX driver cones by a pattern of dimples. Our simulations have proved that RST significantly increases cone rigidity, allowing the radiating surfaces to resist mechanical bending forces, which can twist the shape of conventional driver cones to produce distorted sound. The strengthening effect of RST means that we can use thinner, lighter and more responsive C-CAM cones, which provide speed and accuracy while offering greatly reduced distortion. The RST patterns also help to displace standing waves that can propagate on the cone's surface.

November 2012
What Hi-Fi? GX50 Review
"The ribbon tweeter sounds especially sweet, affording high frequencies a show-stopping level of refinement and finesse."

September 2012
GX50: Hi-Fi Choice Recommended
Monitor Audio's GX50 has been dubbed a Hi-Fi Choice recommended speaker in their loudspeaker review, claiming a full five stars overall.
"Monitor Audio's GX50 speaker is a potent performer, majoring on insight, clarity and soundstaging. It opens up recordings in a way that few price rivals can."
Read the full review in the November 2012 issue of Hi-Fi Choice.

March 2012
GX50 Review by Trusted Reviews
"Absolutely fantastic. Give them a chance to warm up and the first thing you notice is how incredibly polished the ribbon tweeter makes high frequencies sound. This is most apparent when playing music, where hi-hats and tambourines skip along with a level of finesse and smoothness that only comes from speakers of this calibre. We’ve heard a lot of compact 5.1 systems that dig deep for detail and offer pleasing top-end, but it’s all relative – step up to this level and there’s an extra transparency, openness and authority.
These sweet high-frequencies aren’t left hanging either – they’re backed up by solid midrange and gobsmackingly punchy bass, making the overall sound perfectly balanced and tightly knitted. Their nimble yet weighty bass performance really is superb, allowing them to thump dance music kick drums through your chest with impeccable timing, but with the sensitivity to add splashes of depth to gentler ambient noises.
Try them with TV or movies and you get a sense of the GX50 speakers' versatility. They take noisy action scenes in their stride, coping admirably with dialogue and explosions – often simultaneously – and if you crank up the volume to unreasonable levels there’s not a trace of harshness to be heard. It’ll be interesting to hear how they fit into a full 5.1 system."

November 2011
Setting the Gold Standard
Home Cinema Choice magazine gives their verdict on the Gold GX Series with an all round 5 star approval across the board.
In the latest January 2012 issue of Home Cinema Choice magazine our Gold GX series was reviewed, tried and tested for performance, design and features and then rewarded with a fantastic overall review of 5/5 stars across the categories.
Here's a snippet taken from the full review "Running through Pirates...had me scribbling all sorts of notes ('huge, rich, foundation-shifting bass with power and grip'; 'nil flex on the 15in piston'; 'Exciting, musical and able to create a sense of scale'), but all you need to know is that I loved this system with a passion."
24 January 2012 Roy Phair
Very crisp clear musical sound similar in their presentation to the bbc monitor speakers but they do lack emotion
14 September 2011 Roger Gottlieb
Great speaker! I compared it to some B and W models, and Paradigm, and it just shined in comparison. Amazingly small, has great bass, real clarity in the mid-range, and the upper levels just sing.
26 August 2011 Roger Gottlieb
I listened to B & W CM4 and CM5. To some paradigm 20's (very nice speakers). But the GX50s just blew me away. They are so small, but the sound is so bright, warm, and clear. These are incredible speakers. (I listen to mainly classical.)
12 July 2011 Mike Dennis
A stunning new speaker, excellent dynamics, detail and sound stage for such a compact loudspeaker and to top it off they look great in Gloss White. The new ribbon tweeter matches the all new mid/bass driver to a "T" well done Monitor Audio in bringing a taste of the Platinum series down to the Gold series. 90% of the performance for a fraction of the price.
At last a great performing speaker that matches my second system.
Developed for Monitor Audio by Autoglym, the world-renowned expert in high quality car care and valeting products, SheerBrilliance Lacquer Polish is scientifically and specifically formulated to restore the deep rich lustre of all high gloss lacquer speaker finishes with a single easy application. By using SheerBrilliance Lacquer Polish, you'll experience the sumptuous 'as new' brilliance of your beloved speakers all over again!
Custom-developed for Monitor Audio and utilising advanced simulation technology, the new De-Tox CD will help you to run-in your speakers in less time and more comprehensively than is possible with music or other burn-in signals.