Mordaunt-Short MS300 loudspeakers

Unparallelled musical involvement

Like the MS100, the MS300 also employs "pseudo-active" drive but, by using a secondary bass unit and a larger cabinet, it achieves a significant increase in dynamic range and bass extension - adding authority too the vitality of its musical performance. The highly informative character of both the MS100 and MS300 demands use with top quality drive equipment, careful setting up and, preferably, frame stand mounting.

POSITEC Total Overload Protection System

POSITEC is an entirely new, automatic, low cost, protection system, pioneered and optimised by Mordaunt-Short and now fitted to all MS loudspeakers, safeguarding them against accidental overload and equipment malfunctions, in use with amplifiers rated up to 300 watts per channel.

Inaudible during normal use, POSITEC shuts down any drive unit at risk from overload - resetting automatically afterwards.

Specifications

Drive Units:

Low Frequency :  2 x 165 mm cone (MSB165B) Bass

High Frequency :  1 x 12 mm synthetic dome tweeter

Sensitivity:  89 dB at 1W/1m

Max. SPL :  112,5 dB peak

Amp. Recommand:  25-300 watts per channel

Dimensions (H x W x D):  540 x 225 x 245 mm

Finishes:  light Oak or Walnut selected Wood Veneer

Mordaunt-Short Festival series 2

Festival Series 2

Comprising the DSB 208 bass-and mid-frequency transducer and a dome tweeter whose upper response extends smoothly beyond audibility, the Festival Series 2 is a sensitive, versatile, high -performance system of exceptional "musicality".

With its extended bass response, high power handling and low distortion, the festival Series 2 is therefore as eminently suitable for use in sophisticated high power installations as in smaller or more limited systems.

Features

System design - compact, infinite baffle enclosure. For use shelf-mounted horizontaly or verticaly

Cabinet - 15 mm high-density board construction. Sides wood-veneered with internal balancing veneers; rear spray-finished neutral fleck.

Grille - acoustically transparent, deep brown woven fabric on 9 mm board frame with nylon stud fastenings.

Cabinet finish - selected teak or walnut veneer.

Transducers - DSB for bass/mid frequency and for high-frequency 19 mm wide dispersion synthetic dome

Dividing network - high grade, ferrite core inductors and low-loss, close-tolerance capacitors on printed circuit board.

Electrical connection - terminal moulding incorporating both standard DIN socket and spring-loaded push-button connectors for stripped wire ends. Plugs and leads supplied.

Specifications

Nominal Frequency Range:  35 - 25 ,000 Hz

Specific Frequency Response:  75 - 20,000 Hz  ±3 dB

Impedance:  8 Ω nominal

Sensitivity:  6,7 V RMS (5,6 watts) to produce 96 dB/1m in anechoic conditions using pink noise.

Maximum Sound Pressure Level:  109 dB in typical listening room

Continous Power Compatibility:  10-90 watts per channel. Amplifiers of higher power may be used with care.

Distortion:  Substantia;;y lesss than 1% Total Harmonic Distortion within frequency range 150-25,000 Hz at 6,7V rms input (nominal 96 dB sound pressure level)

Fundamental System resonance:  75 Hz

Dividing Frequency:  3,500 Hz

Filter Characteristics (less tahn 0,1% Total Harmonic Distortion throughout entire frequency range at maximum input):

Low Pass :  12 dB/oct

High pass :  18 dB/oct

Dimensions  (H x W x D):  455 x 280 x 185 mm ( 17-7/8" x 11" x 7-1/4")

Weight :  6,4 kg (14 lbs, 1 oz ) single speaker unpacked

I like

Mordaunt-Short Pageant Series 2

 The Mordaunt-Short PAGEANT SERIES 2 offers musical reproduction of the highest quality, a response of the utmost smoothness over the entire audible spectrum and a clarity of detail previously associated only with professional equipment.

 Incorporating the DSB208 bass- and mid-frequency transducer, a carefully matched synthetic dome tweeter of exceptional dispersion characteristics and independent controls for adjustment of the acoustics balance in adverse listening conditions, the PAGEANT SERIES 2 is thus a full frequency high performance system to be used to advantage with compatible equipment of virtually any power rating.

Specification and Performance Data.

Nominal Frequency Range:  25 - 25,000 Hz

Specific Frequency Response:  65 - 20,000 Hz (±3 dB)

Acoustic Balance Controls:  Independent toggle switches affording four choices of frequency response:

Mid-frequency :  level or -2 dB, 1,000 - 3,500 Hz.

High frequency :  level or -2 dB, 3,500 - 25,000 Hz.

Impedance:  8 Ω nominal. For use with amplifiers of 4-8 Ω output impedance.

Sensitivity:  6.5 V r.m.s (5.3 watts) to produce 96 dB at 1 metre in anechoic conditions using pink noise.

Maximum Sound Pressure Level:  110 dB in typical listening-room.

Continuous Programme Rating:  20 V r.m.s (50 watts) contoured random noise, including transients up to 56 V peak to peak.

Amplifier Power Compatibility:  15 - 100 watts per channel. Amplifiers of higher power may be used with care.

Distortion:  Substantally less than 1% THD within frequency range of 150 - 25,000 Hz at 6.5V r.m.s input (nominal 96 dB sound pressure level).

Fundamental System Resonance:  65 Hz.

Dividing Frequency:  3,500 Hz.

Filter Characteristics:

Low pass :  12 dB/octave.

High pass :  18 dB/octave.

 System Design:

Resistively loaded reflex enclosure with mid and upper frequency controls for compensation of acoustic balance in adverse listening conditions. For use horizontally or vertically not less than 300mm from floor.

Cabinet:

15mm high-density board construction with internal bracing, sides wood veneered with internal balancing veneers; rear spray finished neutral fleck.

Grille:

Acoustically transparent, deep brown woven fabric on 9mm board frame with nylon stud fastenings.

Cabinet Finish:

Selected teak or walnut veneer.

Transducers:

Bass/mid-frequency:  DSB208.

High-frequency:  25 mm wide dispersion synthetic dome.

Dividing network:

High grade, ferrite core inductors and low-loss, close tolerance capacitors on printed circuit board.

Electrical Connections:

Terminal moulding, incorporating both standard DIN socket and spring-loaded push-button connectors for stripped wire ends. Plugs and leads supplied.

Dimensions (H x W x D):  533 x 330 x 230 mm (21" x 13" x 9")

Weight:

Single Speaker, (unpacked):  9.6 kg (21 lb 1 oz)

Per Pair, (packed):  22.25 kg (49 lb)

Mordaunt-Short DSB 208

DSB 208 Low distortion bass-and mid-frequency transducer.

Mordaunt-Short's bass-and mid-frequency transducer, the DSB208, is a versatile high performance unit designed for the accurate reproduction of programme material at realistic sound levels.

 By combining a long-throw voice coil, linear suspension, critically damped cone and compliant roll surround, the DSB208 shows to greatest advantage when the unit is used with advanced amplifiers of high power; nevertheless, the acoustic efficiency of the unit is such as to enable it to enhance the output of quality amplifiers even of low power ratings.

Specification:

Nominal Frequency Range:  20 - 5,000 Hz.

Impedance:  8 Ohms nominal.

Nominal Sensitivity:  6.5 V r.m.s (5.3 watts) to produce 96 dB at 1 metre in anechoic condition using pink noise.

Fundamental Resonance:  30 Hz in free-air.

Continuous Programme Rating:  20 V r.m.s (50 watts) contoured random noise when operating within frequency range 25 - 5,000 Hz.

Chassis:  208 mm nominal diameter, zinc plated heavy gauge steel.

Magnet:  High flux assembly employing 90 mm diameter ceramic ring.

Cone:  140 mm diameter; heavy duty impregnated paper specially treated with viscous damping materials.

Surround:  Ultra-linear, compliant, inverted-roll surround of a synthetic material inherently self damping.

Voice Coil:  26 mm diameter, long throw, high temperature coil, wound on laminated former.

Dimensions:  Diameter: 208 - 244 mm;  Depth: 112 mm.

Weight:  1.5 kg

Mordaunt-Short MS100

Mordaunt-Short MS100 loudspeaker.

Norman Mordaunt is one of a select band whose names stand high in the field as designers of first-class loudspeakers. Over a span of about 20 years he has created such famous systems as the Duplex and the Arundel. His recent commercial collaboration with Mr Rodney Short has brought about the simultaneous launching of no less than seven speaker systems. The MS100 is the baby of the family and measures just 18 x 11 x 9 inches. Small it may be, but a casual glance or listen soon shows it to be a quality product. It weighs a substantial 31 lb. and contains three carefully matched drive units. The bass driver contributes a fair proportion of the weight. It is an 8-inch Kelly model with an enormous 6-inch magnet and a flat pistonlike diaphragm of moulded plastic. Efficiency is high, wide excursions are possible without distortion and the bass resonance is down around 47 Hz even in this small cabinet. Above 800 Hz an EMI mid-range unit takes over and from 5,000 Hz there is a tiny tweeter. The crossover network uses top quality components on a printed circuit board. A feature of all the Mordaunt-Short range is the fine craftsmanship of the cabinets, both from the appearance and the performance aspects. The main carcass is of smartly veneered i-inch board and the back is of finch chipboard, also veneered and fastened with 10 bronze screws so that placing the MS100 on a room-divider, for example, will not reveal the usual unsightly back view. The grille cloth is grey with black stripes and effectively transparent to sound. Construction is impeccable and a lining of absorbent wool helps to damp internal resonances.Impedance is nominally 8 Ohms and should suit all types of amplifier. The power handling capacity is quoted in the "speech and music" rating. This is perhaps a pity from the point of view of academic standards but at least tells the purchaser that amplifiers rated at up to 25 Watts per channel, or a bit more, may be used with impunity.

  

Test Result

''A pair of MS 100 loudspeakers was coupled to a high grade reproducing system and compared with known (large) speakers. Sensitivity was surprisingly high, unlike some other bookshelf models on the market. Music was reproduced with a wide frequency spread and pleasant balance. A small amount of mid-treble colouration could be detected but this was not of the sort which emphasises 'presence' or sibilants and cannot be regarded as serious. Speech was natural with remarkably little nasal prominence. Amplifier bass boost gave added firmness to music of all kinds and seemed also to improve speech. Placing the loudspeaker in a corner of the room had a similar bassreinforcing effect and is strongly recommended. The spread of treble across the face of the unit was commendably wide so that a corner placement will not mean loss of brightness.The measured axial response at 1 metre, centred on the two high frequency units. This is a well-balanced curve with only one longish peak and trough, no doubt functions of the precise microphone position. The polar curves confirm the useful spread at 1,000 Hz and expected narrowing. Mordaunt-Short MS 100 axial response 10,000 Hz. Waveform was excellent and the output was visible up to 20,000 Hz and down to 28 Hz. Attempts to overload the speaker were not very successful and no signs of waveform clipping could be detected at well over 15 Watts continuous sinewave. The small dimensions of the MordauntShort MS 100 make it most suitable for situations where space is limited. Nevertheless, it deserves to be coupled to good quality equipment and in other ways treated as what it is—a serious and highly successful bid to produce acceptable quality in small bulk. Where space and purse allow, it would make very good sense to visit your local hi-fi specialist and ask to hear the bigger guns in this new pedigree strain of Mordaunt-Short loudspeakers.''

J.B.

SPECIFICATION  MORDAUNT-SHORT MS100 LOUDSPEAKER

Type: Infinite baffle

Drive Unit Diameters: 

Low Frequency :  8,3-inch

High Frequency :  1-inch

Crossover Frequencies:  800 and 5,000 Hz

Frequency Response:  45 - 15,000 Hz

Power Handling Capacity:  25 W (Speech and music)

Impedance:  8 Ohms

Dimensions (W x H x D):  205 x 325 x 225 mm (8,9 x 11,8 x 8 inch)

Finish:  Teak or Walnut

Weight:   4,5 kg

Manufactured by MordauntShort Ltd., 12 Hollywood Road, London, SW10.