Monacor Lightning, in Klang+Ton 2/2009

Technical data:
- impedance: 4 Ohm
- rated SPL (2.83V/1m): 90 dB
- size (HxWxD): 160 x 26.6 x 15,3 cm
- frequency range (-8dB): 130 - 20000 Hz
- speaker type: bass reflex

The Monacor Lightning is an impressive 2-way line array. One speaker consists of:
- 12 RBT-95SR magnetostats (according to Monacor this can be used instead of RBT-95SQ, which is no longer available)
- 32 SP-6/8SQ full range drivers

The magnetostats are arranged in one line; two rows of full range drivers complement midrange and lower mids. For bass we recommend two Wild Thing subwoofers.

Wild Thing, equipped with a Monacor SAM-2 amplifier module, relieves the satellites of the lowest frequencies. The adjustable high pass filter ensures the optimal performance at any volume.

Due to the many cut-outs, the building of the cabinet is quite time consuming compared with most of our other kits. In exchange, however, the result is a colossal speaker with enormous dynamics.

The full range drivers operate as bass reflex, the bass reflex ports are at the rear.

Excerpt from the Klang+Ton listening test

..."Using a dedicated pre-power combination doesn't represent a problem in connecting a subwoofer. An integrated amp, however, should have pre-out and main-in sockets. The pre-amplified signal is sent to the subwoofers and relieved of all low frequencies and passed on by the amplifiers to the satellites. Placement in the listening room is straight forward (subwoofers either on the inside or outside, next to the sats), fine-tuning is somewhat finicky, though. Once that's done we can get cracking. Contrary to the Mono, the Lightning is spreading an opulent and powerful sound. At first I notice the deceiving and completely effortless reproduction by the arrays. And then all hell breaks loose. Like from nowhere the columns suddenly produce a ferocious thrust, that's even hard for large floorstanders to equal. The dynamic differentiation of the Lightning is just considerably subtler and far more realistic - a characteristic that can only be matched by horn loaded speakers. And only now I realise how important this characteristic is and how much realism would be lacking otherwise. The sound balance is relatively neutral with a tendency towards lower frequencies, like really good compact loudspeakers. The subwoofer does its part very well, somewhat cautiously but emphatically or strikes immediately, depending on the set-up. Nevertheless, it's the Lightning that retains the upper hand at extreme levels. Suggesting that the subwoofer is too small would be presumptuous, the line array is just better in any area. An 18 inch from Monacor's PA department would do the trick. To be precise: one per side. - Or two 18 inch right away? It doesn't matter. The Wild Thing is definitely the most suitable solution to complement the Lightning, taking a standard living room into consideration. It would be unfair to expect more, and on its own the Wild Thing still outshines many other competitors."

Our kit contains

- 12 x Monacor RBT-95 SR magnetostats
- 32 x Monacor SP-6/8SQ full range drivers
- 1 pair BP-500G binding posts
- 4 packs loudspeaker damping wool MDM-2
- 128 screws
- 3 packs Allen wood screws 4x16mm MZF-8614
- 30 m loudspeaker cable 2 x 1.5 mm2, transparent
- the crossover components (right) to be mounted on wood*)

- the building instruction and a
Monacor Loudspeaker DIY Magazine 2008

- 3.9 mH air core coil / 1.4 mm
- 0.33 mH air core coil / 1.4 mm
- 1.2 mH air core coil / 1.4 mm
- 0.10 mH air core coil / 1 mm
- 47 uF MKP capacitor / 400V
- 10 uF MKP capacitor / 400V
- 3.9 uF MKP capacitor / 400V
- 2.7 uF MKP capacitor / 400V
- 4.7 uF MKP capacitor / 400V
- 5 x resistors 33 Ohm/20 Watt in parallel
(or alternatively 4 x 27 Ohm / 20 Watt)
- 2 x resistors 6.8 Ohm/20 Watt

Please note: *) In addition to Monacor crossover components we also supply components by Jantzen, Mundorf, Intertechnik.

The coils in series to the bass driver have 1.4 mm wire instead of 1.2 mm, resulting in slightly tighter bass dues to reduced heat emission of the crossover.

In addition we supply MKP capacitors throughout, instead of higher loss MKT.

Price remains the same! Upon request original Monacor components are also available.

Lightning kit without cabinet
Price per unit EUR 2267,00 excl. VAT: € 1905.04 / $ 2019.34

if you prefer to mount the crossover components on a PCB instead on wood we recommend 2 PCB's per speaker.
PCB RA160, Order No. I-2766, Price EUR 5,10 excl. VAT: € 4.29 / $ 4.54

Lightning with high-end crossover

If you prefer higher quality components than supplied with our standard kit we recommend our high-end version. Only cfc coils are employed, avoiding harmonic distortion and the microphonics effect. High quality MCAP capacitors are used – and in the signal path to the magnetostats even the extremely low loss Mundorf Supreme CAP's.

- 3.9 mH cfc16 foil coil
- 0.33 mH cfc16 foil coil
- 1.2 mH cfc16 foil coil
- 0.10 mH cfc16 foil coil
- 47 uF Mundorf MCAP capacitor / 400V
- 10 uF Mundorf MCAP capacitor / 400V
- 3.9 uF Mundorf MCAP capacitor / 400V
- 2.7 uF Mundorf MCAP Supreme capacitor
- 4.7 uF Mundorf MCAP Supreme capacitor
- 5 x resistors 33 Ohm/20 Watt in parallel
(or alternatively 4 x 27 Ohm / 20 Watt)
- 2 x resistors 6.8 Ohm/20 Watt

Lightning kit with high-end crossover without cabinet
Price per unit EUR 2412,00 excl. VAT: € 2026.89 / $ 2148.50

if you prefer to fit the components yourself on PCB:
PCB RA160, Order No. I-2766, Price EUR 5,10 excl. VAT: € 4.29 / $ 4.54

Subwoofer for Lightning

As a subwoofer for a Lightning pair we recommend the Wild Thing kit. In order to take advantage of the full dynamics of the Lightning we suggest using 2 or 4 subwoofers with 4 bass drivers each.
Price per unit

- not available

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