In this review, we will be comparing Reference 3 2023 and Platinum 300 3G, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Canton and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Canton Reference 3 2023 and Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Canton Reference 3 2023 | Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G |
|---|
| Brand | Canton
Germany · founded 1972 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.85" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8.6" Black ceramic tungsten | 2 x 8" RDT III |
|---|
| Frequency response | 20-40k Hz | 17-60k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 300-500 watts | up to 400 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 42.00kg / 92.4lbs | 53.60kg / 117.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42.9" x 12.6" x 19.3"
1089.7 x 320.0 x 490.2mm | 44.5" x 16.9" x 20.6"
1131.1 x 429.8 x 525 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Canton Reference 3 2023 and Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Canton Reference 3 2023 |
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Reference 3 2023 and Platinum 300 3G are 3-way speakers.
Canton Reference 3 2023Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Canton Reference 3 2023 |
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.85-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8.6-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Reference 3 2023 features a 1" Aluminum oxyd ceramic Tweeter, a 6.85" Midrange and 2 x 8.6" Black ceramic tungsten Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 180 / 3000 Hz. On the other hand, the Platinum 300 3G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 2 x 8" RDT III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 650 Hz - 3000 Hz.
Frequency Response
Reference 3 2023 has a frequency range of 20-40k Hz whereas Platinum 300 3G has a frequency range of 17-60k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the Platinum 300 3G can go slightly deeper then the Reference 3 2023's min frequency of 20Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
Reference 3 2023 and Platinum 300 3G have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reference 3 2023 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Platinum 300 3G's is at 88dB.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Reference 3 2023 and the Reference 3 2023 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Reference 3 2023 can handle a max power of 500 watts RMS, whereas Platinum 300 3G has a max power handling value of 400 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Reference 3 2023.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Platinum 300 3G features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Reference 3 2023 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Canton Reference 3 2023's and Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G's external dimensions. Canton Reference 3 2023 has external dimensions of 1089.7 x 320.0 x 490.2mm (42.9 x 12.6 x 19.3inch) whereas Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G has external dimensions of 1131.1 x 429.8 x 525 mm (44.5 x 16.9 x 20.6-inch).
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 110mm wider, 41.3mm taller and 34.8mm deeper than Canton Reference 3 2023.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G needs about 44% more floor or shelf area. Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G is 35mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G is 41mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Canton Reference 3 2023 is approximately 1568.6cm2 / 243.1inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G is approximately 2257.5cm2 / 349.9inch2. The Reference 3 2023 requires 31% less surface area than the Platinum 300 3G which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Canton Reference 3 2023 weighs 42.00kg / 92.4lbs and the Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G weighs 53.60kg / 117.9lbs. This makes the Platinum 300 3G 28% heavier than the Reference 3 2023.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 3 2023 and Platinum 300 3G's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G
 Max Input Power |
500 watts
vs
400 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8.6 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1089mm
vs
1131mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1568cm2
vs
2257cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
19500USD
vs
19999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
40k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Canton Reference 3 2023 |
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G |
| Brand |
Canton |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
300-500 watts |
up to 400 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
88dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
20-40k Hz |
17-60k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8.6" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Black ceramic tungsten |
RDT III |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.85" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
180 / 3000 Hz |
650 Hz - 3000 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1089.7mm (42.9") |
1131.0mm (44.5") |
| Width |
320.0mm (12.6") |
430.0mm (16.9") |
| Depth |
490.2mm (19.3") |
525.0mm (20.7") |
| Weight |
42.00kg (92.4lbs) |
53.60kg (117.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Piano Black, Piano Ebony, Satin White |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G digs deeper - 17Hz against 20Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Canton Reference 3 2023 takes more power (500W vs 400W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Canton Reference 3 2023 is easier to place; Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($19,500 vs $19,999 a pair). |
A Canton Reference 3 2023 B Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Canton Reference 3 2023 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.