Precision control and formidable power sit at the heart of PMC’s active monitoring systems, delivering absolute authority, transparency, and scalability from nearfield to large-format studio installations.
The master36 contains both the DSP brain of the crossover and the power amplifiers for PMC’s range of Studio Monitors. PMC designed and built the master36 in-house, using extensive R&D alongside comparative testing. The compact, 3U master36 ensures the transparent and faithful reproduction that critical PMC users expect, regardless of the listening level.
An Ethernet connection allows remote network control and speaker configuration via our browser-based SoundAlign2 software. Two independent audio input streams offer installation flexibility, each featuring balanced analogue and AES3 digital inputs. The masterLink connection allows for the simple daisy-chaining of additional amplifiers, making it ideal for larger monitoring systems.
High-performance 24-bit 96kHz ADCs digitise analogue inputs, while AES3 inputs accept sample rates up to 192kHz. A powerful 32-bit DSP engine manages control, configuration, crossover filtering, and driver protection, finessing PMC speaker designs for maximum accuracy. Precise time and phase alignment preserve PMC’s wide dispersion and smooth off-axis response.
Crossover outputs feed six configurable Class-D power amplifiers via 24-bit, 96kHz D/A conversion, delivering 3600 Watts with ultra-low distortion and a high damping factor. The result is exceptional dynamics, precise driver control, and a flat, transparent frequency response.
The power20 is a single-channel state-of-the-art 2000W class-D amplifier and is a key component in PMC’s large active main monitor systems. It confidently drives subwoofers and bass units in XBD systems, as well as selected bass drivers in the PMC10-4, PMC10-4 XBD, and PMC15 XBD models. Housed in a 3U rack-mount chassis, its variable-speed, ultra-quiet cooling fan operates only under truly exceptional circumstances.
In larger PMC main monitor installations, the power20 pairs with a Master36 control unit, and is connected via its masterlink input. This carries both the required audio and control signals, greatly simplifying the installation process. A masterlink output is also included for daisy-chaining additional units, if needed.