27 March 2021

GRUNDIG Monolith 190 (1980) - Active Sound Wall

 

active loudspeaker

The first Laboratory Refence prototype of a 190 cm tall and 65 cm wide active soundwall was presented by Grundig at the 1979 Funkausstellung in Berlin. Due to large public interest a commercial model was released in 1980, this was the Grundig Monolith 190 Active Sound Wall, work of Dr. Arnold Glaab. The loudspeaker uses a system of three sets of vertically arranged speakers. It features 8 twin-series-parallel bass speakers, 7 series-parallel dome midrange speakers and 7 series-parallel dome tweeters for a 22 speaker wall of sound driven by 4 dedicated built-in power amplifiers. Each amplifier works in a frequency range determined by the active crossover network. Total power of a loudspeaker is 160 W nominal - 250 W music power (short term) while the frequency response is 20-25.000 Hz. The loudspeakers have to be connected to a pre-amplifier such as the Grundig XV 7500 which is capable of driving two sets of Grundig active loudspeakers. Each loudspeaker measures 68*192*46 cm, weighs 83 kg and the left and right loudspeaker are built in a mirror image speaker arrangement. Original sale price was 2800 DM per speaker.

active loudspeaker

active loudspeaker

active loudspeaker

active loudspeaker

active loudspeaker

active loudspeaker