News

Monitor Audio Introduces Vector Range of Lifestyle Speakers (14/7/2009)

Blending audiophile design with boutique styling at affordable prices, Vector brings a genuine touch of class to the compact speaker market.

Vector is an exceptional range of compact lifestyle speakers from a long-established expert in speaker design. It blends minimalist styling with innovative materials and elite acoustic engineering to raise standards of sophistication and performance at the affordable end of the residential speaker market. Inspired by the proven technologies and elegant contours of the award-winning Radius satellite speaker systems, Vector delivers class beating sound quality in a product which is as easy to use as it is on the eye.

Occupying the step below RadiusHD in the Monitor Audio range, the three-model Vector line-up comprises a wall-mounting compact satellite, the V10; a matching centre-channel satellite, the V20, and a compact 100W active subwoofer, the VW-8.

The V10 and V20 cabinets are of high density moulded polymer with a ‘soft touch’ rubberised black skin, which lends a wonderfully novel and tactile quality to the product. The front baffles are of MDF, which is coated in a high-gloss black lacquer to match the look of flat TVs (a high-gloss white lacquer finish and walnut wood grain effect finish are also available). The special MDF/polymer mix combines with internal bracing to reduce unwanted resonances for a naturally detailed and rhythmic sound. The use of a single tie-bolt to secure each driver to the back of the cabinet contributes to cabinet rigidity and is responsible for the absence of screw fixings on the fascia, enhancing Vector’s stylishly clean, uncomplicated appearance.

V10 Overview

Although the Vector V10 is designed primarily for use with the V20 and VW-8 in an ultra compact multi-channel home cinema package, its unusually deep bass makes it ideal for stereo sound around the home. It uses a 4” MMP®II bass driver complemented by a 1” gold C-CAM® dome tweeter to provide clarity and frequency response extending from 65Hz to well over 30kHz. A single point fixing (1/4” x 20TPI thread) is provided for bracket fixing and wall mount.

Features:

* 4” Driver with MMPII cone technology
* 1” gold C-CAM tweeter
* Magnetically shielded drivers for safe use near sensitive microprocessors or video displays
* Rigid moulded polymer cabinet with MDF baffle
* Rear ported
* Metal mesh grille
* Single through-bolt driver fixing/ bracing method
* Single point wall bracket insert
* Available in ‘soft touch’ black or white with a choice of two high gloss and one wood grain effect baffle finishes.

V20 Overview

The compact V20 is a versatile speaker that can be used either horizontally for centre-channel home cinema duties or vertically as a left/right satellite in multi-channel or stereo applications around the home. The V20 shares the tonal characteristics of the V10, but has the extended bass response necessary for the accurate reproduction of movie dialogue. Front porting, recessed terminal panel and wall bracket insert allow for easy wall installation.

Features:

* 4” Driver with MMPII cone technology
* 1” gold C-CAM tweeter
* Magnetically shielded drivers for safe use near sensitive microprocessors or video displays
* Rigid moulded polymer cabinet with MDF baffle
* Metal mesh grille
* Front porting for wall or cabinet mounting
* Single point wall bracket insert
* Single through bolt driver fixing/ bracing method
* Available in ‘soft touch’ black or white with a choice of two high gloss and one wood grain effect baffle finishes VW-8 Overview

The new VW-8 is a very compact, easy-to-position subwoofer with a powerful integral 100 watt class A-B amplifier. The rigid cubed MDF cabinet houses a long throw, forward-firing 8” driver. Although designed to complement the Vector series satellites, the VW-8 will integrate beautifully with any compact, high performance home theatre system. For convenience, the VW-8 is automatically turned on and off by the auto signal sensing feature.

Features:

* 8” long throw woofer featuring MMPII cone technology
* Forward firing driver with downward firing port
* 100W (RMS) class A-B amplifier
* Rigid MDF construction
* Non-slip rubber feet
* Auto-on-off facility
* Variable volume control
* Variable Crossover/ frequency control from 45 Hz -150 Hz
* Switch-able phase control 0-180 degrees
* RCA line inputs / LFE channel input

Combining boutique design appeal and high fidelity sound the new Vector range achieves a level of design integrity, performance and versatility that raises the bar for the entry-level compact sat/sub speaker system market.

Approx. retail prices:

V10 satellite: £150pr V20 centre: £100pc VW8 sub: £250pc

Optional Bass upgrade for larger rooms:

Radius HD370 £500 (in matching black/white lacquer and walnut finishes)

Availability: July 2009

* What is C-CAM?

Ceramic-Coated Aluminium/Magnesium is an innovative material originally developed by the aerospace industry for use as blades in jet engines. It exhibits ideal qualities for use as a driver dome, avoiding the ‘break-up’ or bending modes of more conventional materials. The dome remains rigid and works more like a pure piston comfortably up to 40KHz. Increased efficiency and clarity and reduced distortion result.

* What is MMP II? MMP® II (Metal Matrix Polymer) cone material uses a high-pressure injection moulding process to achieve different thickness at critical points in the cone geometry. MMP II provides better stiffness and consistency and tighter production tolerances resulting in superior sonic performance.

www.monitoraudio.co.uk