PMC Loudspeakers MB3-A Three-Way Active Studio Monitors - Pair

The PMC MB3-A Studio Monitors feature PMC's patented ATL speaker technology to create a dynamic, accurate speaker (optional steel stands sold separately)

The PMC Loudspeakers MB3-A Active Studio Monitor, with distinctive 12-inch Radial™ bass driver, combines the extended low-frequency response and dynamic range, nonfatiguing sound and extreme consistency and accuracy of PMC’s groundbreaking ATL™ designs with the high power and headroom of the proprietary Control 1200 and Power 2400 Class-D amplification, originally developed for the QB1-A.

The MB3-A is ideal for medium-sized recording, mixing, mastering or outside broadcast facilities, or as rear surround speakers in larger multi-channel recording studios, film soundstages, or post-production houses. The MB3-A produces an extremely smooth frequency response extending from 20Hz to 25kHz thanks to its ATL™ technology, and is also capable of producing high SPLs, to a maximum of 126dB, but without the distortion and loss of definition that are frequently associated with a device of its size, and without becoming fatiguing when used for extended periods. You won't be needing at dedicated subwoofer, as the MB3-A cabinets already cover the 20-60Hz sub-bass frequency range with ease. But, if you did want that extra bass, and sub-bass frequency, you can take a look at the MB3 XBD-A with the PMC Extended Bass Cabinet.

MB3-A Key Features

• Type: 3-way ATL™ active reference monitor
• Frequency response: 20Hz-25kHz
• Power per channel: 3225W (HF 275W, MF 550W, LF 2400W)
• Effective ATL™ length: 3 metres
• Maximum SPL: 126dB
• Optional steel stands available

ATL - Advanced Transmission Line

PMC’s unique ATL™ (Advanced Transmission Line) enclosures have taken loudspeaker design to the highest level, using sophisticated cabinet construction, proprietary drive units, and patented absorption materials and techniques. The benefits are enormous compared to the relatively simple sealed and ported designs currently available elsewhere.

PMC’s innovative approach places the bass driver near one end of a long cavity ATL™ (the Advanced Transmission Line). This cavity is heavily damped with acoustic material specified carefully to absorb the upper bass and higher frequencies radiating from the rear of the bass driver. The lowest frequencies are allowed to pass down the line and emerge from the large frontal vent in the same polarity as the driver’s direct radiation, the vent acting essentially as a second bass driver. An important benefit of the approach is that the air pressure inside the cabinet, which loads the bass driver, remains consistent. This helps to maintain control of the driver over a wide frequency range and significantly reduces LF distortion. Consequently, the upper bass and mid-range detail is not masked by harmonic distortion and the result is PMC’s characteristically transparent mid-range, fast, dynamic bass, and outstanding clarity.

A further advantage of the ATL™ design approach is greater bass extension and higher SPL capability compared to typical ported or sealed designs of a similar size and driver specification. Moreover, the very consistent bass driver loading brings the welcome benefit that the frequency response remains consistent regardless of listening level, and analytical auditioning can be conducted without the need for high replay volumes to achieve an optimal bass response. This tonal consistancy at all output levels is a unique and very valuable characteristic of PMC’s Advanced Transmission Line.

Silent Cabinet

The highly engineered MB3 cabinets play an integral role in the overall superb performance of the loudspeakers. Aside from incorporating the Advanced Transmission Line itself, the enclosure has to be of a high standard to eradicate colouration and audible cabinet talk. Highly braced, resonance-damped Medite® is used with offset HF and MF drivers, radiused edges and acoustically absorbent StealthBaffles™ at the boundaries, as deployed in the QB1-A design, to minimise edge diffraction effects. These details were formulated with the aid of pioneering acoustic research and measurements undertaken by PMC in anechoic environments at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory, using opto-acoustic laser interferometry to map the soundfield and acoustic dispersion.

Sublime Highs and Mids

The MB3 features PMC’s hand-built, precision matched 34mm soft-dome HF driver and legendary 75mm fabric soft-dome mid-range driver, renowned for their natural, transparent sound and ultra-low distortion. The perforated acoustic lens on the high-frequency driver extends the treble response to well beyond the upper limit of human hearing, and controls dispersion to ensure close integration with the mid-range; the output of both drivers is meticulously combined to create an ultra-wide, stable image and entirely natural in-room response.

When designing the 75mm soft-dome, PMC’s aim was to create a driver capable of reproducing vocals, in particular, with unparallelled authenticity and transparency — but to high SPLs when required. Each handcrafted unit takes seven days to produce, and has to pass exceptionally tight matching and testing criteria. The result is an extremely clean, neutral and natural sounding mid-range driver, which means it can be used for long periods without inducing fatigue.

Deep and Meaningful Bass

High-performance bass drivers present serious engineering challenges. The power requirements, especially at higher SPLs, produce a rapid build-up of heat in poor designs. Heat is itself damaging to performance, causing power compression effects: rapid loss of efficiency, lower output levels and higher distortion. The Radial™ drivers employed in the PMC MB3 and BB6 are uniquely specified to drive ATL™ loudspeakers, using PMC’s own ultra-rigid, low-mass cone in a custom-built Radial basket. Not only is the chassis carefully constructed to conduct heat away from the driver’s voice coil, the design also vents hot air through the back of the driver assembly. In this way, heat is efficiently dissipated even when the speakers are operating at high level, ensuring that distortion is negligible, reliability stays high, and frequency response and performance remain consistent at all output levels — irrespective of how long the speakers have been in use.

The MB3-A is the next generation of PMC Main Monitors featuring their patented ATL technology. Call or chat with a RSPE representative today to schedule a demonstration and hear these PMC speakers for yourself.