Grundig MONOLITH 190

1 9 7 9 1979
1 9 8 3 1983

No, it had nothing to do with 2001, A Space Odyssey.

Well... maybe it did for its shape sure was reminiscent !
However, unlike the other monolith (the origins of which shall remain unknown), this monolith came from Germany, had 24 drivers and 4 integrated amplifiers, measured at nearly 2 meters, weighted 83 kilos and cost the out-of-this-world price of 2800DM - per speaker.

A 1980 test in the german Stereoplay magazine pointed out some (pleasant) irregularities in the frequency response : a peak between 50Hz and 120Hz, and dips around 1Khz and 15Khz.
The 15° and 30° horizontal dispersion, however, was noted as excellent and it sure looks like that on the measurment graph.

The Monolith 190 was developped by Dr Arnold Glaab at Grundig. Herr Glaab joined Grundig in 1970 to work on reel-to-reel and started his work on loudspeakers in 1973.

However, plainly said, at 5600DM a pair, chances are this monolith is nearly as rare as the other one.

Grundig MONOLITH 190, image 1 Grundig MONOLITH 190, image 2 Grundig MONOLITH 190, image 3
Grundig MONOLITH 190 specifications
Title Value
System : 4-Way active speaker
Total peak power : 250W
Total average power : 160W
Super bass amplifier : 62,5W / 40W
Bass amplifier : 62,5W / 40W
Mid amplifier : 62,5W / 40W
high amplifier : 62,5W / 40W
Frequency response : 20Hz...25Khz
Crossover points : 160Hz / 630Hz / 2500Khz
Amplifiers' THD : < 0,1% (40Hz...16Khz)
< 0,2% (20Hz...20Khz)
50mW S/N ratios : 80 / 105dB (mid / bass)
Rated power S/N ratios : 74 / 99dB (high)
High drivers : 7x 1,9cm dome
Mid drivers : 7x 3,7cm dome
Bass drivers : 8x 17,5cm cone
Volume : 118 L
Dimensions : 188,5 x 68 x 17cm (Monolith 190)
3,5 x 68 x 45cm (base)
Weight : 83kg.
page online since : january 2007
page updated : march 2010
page type : LGT / KNB
page weight : 202.37 Kb / 0 b
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