In this review, we will be comparing Platinum 200 3G and HDI-3800, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Monitor Audio and JBL. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G and JBL HDI-3800 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G and JBL HDI-3800 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G and JBL HDI-3800 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Platinum 200 3G is a 3-way design whereas the HDI-3800 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G |
JBL HDI-3800 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
3 x 8-inch
|
Platinum 200 3G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 6" RDT III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 825 Hz - 3000Hz. On the other hand, the HDI-3800 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 8" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Platinum 200 3G has a frequency range of 23-60k Hz whereas HDI-3800 has a frequency range of 37-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 23Hz, the Platinum 200 3G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HDI-3800's min frequency of 37Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Platinum 200 3G and HDI-3800 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Platinum 200 3G sensitivity is rated at 88dB and the HDI-3800's is at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the JBL HDI-3800 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 Platinum 200 3G and the Platinum 200 3G 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Platinum 200 3G and HDI-3800 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Platinum 200 3G and HDI-3800 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G's and JBL HDI-3800's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G has external dimensions of 1041.6 x 368.7 x 454.9 mm ( 41 x 14.5 x 17.8-inch) whereas JBL HDI-3800 has external dimensions of 1143.0 x 304.0 x 421.0mm ( 45 x 11-15/16 x 16-9/16inch) .
JBL HDI-3800 is 64mm narrower and 34mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G but it is also 102mm 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 Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G is approximately 1674.4cm2 / 259.5inch2 and base area of the JBL HDI-3800 is approximately 1279.8cm2 / 198.4inch2. The Platinum 200 3G requires 31% more surface area than the HDI-3800 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G weighs 35.80kg / 78.8lbs and the JBL HDI-3800 weighs 38.08kg / 83.8lbs. This makes the HDI-3800 6% heavier than the Platinum 200 3G.
Here is a comparison of how Platinum 200 3G and HDI-3800's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G
What's in the Box of JBL HDI-3800?
Here are the items that come with the HDI-3800:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)4 Spike feetOwners Manual
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Low Frequency Response |
23 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
1041mm
vs
1143mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Base Surface Area |
1279cm2 (304x421mm)
vs
1674cm2 (368x455mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
5500USD
vs
13900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Monitor Audio Platinum 200 3G |
JBL HDI-3800 |
Brand |
Monitor Audio |
JBL |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
up to 300 watts |
25-300 watts |
Sensitivity |
88dB |
92 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
23-60k Hz |
37-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
Woofer Size |
6" |
8" |
Woofer Composition |
RDT III |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
825 Hz - 3000Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1041.0mm (41") |
1143.0mm (45") |
Width |
368.0mm (14.5") |
304.0mm (12") |
Depth |
455.0mm (17.9") |
421.0mm (16.6") |
Weight |
35.80kg (78.8lbs) |
38.08kg (83.8lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Ebony, Satin White |
Gloss Black |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |