Monitor Audio SB-3 Passive Soundbar | SB3B
Monitor Audio SB-3 Passive Soundbar | SB3B
In Stock (Ready to Ship)
Typically ships in 4–8 Business Days (Western Canada) · 2–5 Business Days (Eastern Canada)
SKU:SB3B
MPN: SB3B
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Monitor Audio SB-3 is a passive three-channel Left / Centre / Right soundbar custom-built for televisions and displays above 60 inches. It is sold as a single soundbar and requires external amplification for all three front channels; it does not contain its own HDMI/eARC electronics, wireless amplifier or surround processor.
Unlike the smaller SB-2, the SB-3 gives its centre channel additional driver area and power handling. The Left and Right sections each use one 4-inch C-CAM bass/mid driver, one 1-inch C-CAM Gold Dome tweeter and one Auxiliary Bass Radiator, while the Centre section uses two 4-inch C-CAM bass/mid drivers, two ABRs and one Gold Dome tweeter.
SB-3 at a glance
- Sold as: Single soundbar.
- System type: Passive 3-channel Left / Centre / Right loudspeaker.
- Amplification: External AV receiver or multichannel amplifier required.
- Designed around: Displays above 60 in.
- Total active drivers: 4 × 4 in C-CAM bass/mid + 3 × 1 in C-CAM Gold Dome tweeters.
- Centre-channel emphasis: Twin bass/mid drivers and twin ABRs for higher centre-channel output / handling.
- Low-frequency loading: Auxiliary Bass Radiator (ABR) per L/R section; twin ABRs in Centre section.
- Nominal impedance: 8 ohms.
- Placement: Furniture / cabinet placement on integrated silicone feet or optional wall mounting.
- Finish: Black cloth grille.
- Warranty: Lifetime.
Passive soundbar — three real amplifier channels required
SB-3 is a loudspeaker enclosure, not a self-powered consumer-TV soundbar. Its Left, Centre and Right sections remain discrete audio channels and must be driven from the corresponding outputs of an AV receiver or suitable multichannel amplifier.
There is no built-in HDMI/eARC input, wireless amplification or virtual-centre processing. The SB-3 should be designed into the system exactly as three passive front speakers would be—only consolidated into one cabinet.
Centre channel gets additional acoustic capacity
The SB-3 is not internally symmetrical in the same way as SB-2. Monitor Audio deliberately gives the Centre section additional driver area:
| Channel | Active drivers | ABR loading |
|---|---|---|
| Left | 1 × 4 in C-CAM bass/mid + 1 × 1 in C-CAM Gold Dome tweeter | 1 × ABR |
| Centre | 2 × 4 in C-CAM bass/mid + 1 × 1 in C-CAM Gold Dome tweeter | 2 × ABR |
| Right | 1 × 4 in C-CAM bass/mid + 1 × 1 in C-CAM Gold Dome tweeter | 1 × ABR |
The centre channel therefore carries a published 87 dB sensitivity and 80 W RMS handling, compared with 84 dB and 40 W RMS for the Left and Right channels. That difference is intentional and supports the critical dialogue / centre-screen role.
Auxiliary Bass Radiator loading
SB-3 uses sealed Auxiliary Bass Radiators rather than conventional open bass-reflex ports. The Left and Right sections each use one ABR; the centre section uses two.
Monitor Audio publishes an all-channel frequency response of 80 Hz–30 kHz at -3 dB. For systems requiring deeper bass, the manufacturer supports use with a partnering subwoofer and AV bass management.
Subwoofer and high-pass configuration
Power handling on SB-3 is channel-dependent:
| Left / Right power handling | 40 W RMS per channel |
|---|---|
| Centre power handling | 80 W RMS |
| System power handling | 100 W RMS on all channels with a high-pass filter set to 100 Hz |
The 100 W system figure is conditional on filtering low bass from the soundbar. Monitor Audio publishes an 80–120 Hz crossover range for all channels. Final bass-management settings should be established in the AV receiver / processor for the actual subwoofer, room and listening requirements.
Amplifier matching
All three SB-3 channels are specified at 8 ohms nominal. Monitor Audio publishes a recommended amplifier range of 30–100 W for all channels.
The current manufacturer specification does not publish a minimum-impedance figure, so one is not inferred. Because SB-3 contains discrete L/C/R channels, system planning must still provide three independently amplified front channels.
Audio specifications
| System configuration | 3-channel passive soundbar — Left / Centre / Right |
|---|---|
| Frequency response | All channels: 80 Hz–30 kHz (-3 dB) |
| Sensitivity — Left / Right | 84 dB (1 W @ 1 m) |
| Sensitivity — Centre | 87 dB (1 W @ 1 m) |
| Maximum SPL | 104 dBA; 108.8 dBA with all channels driven |
| Nominal impedance | 8 ohms |
| Minimum impedance | Not stated by the current manufacturer source |
| Power handling — Left / Right | 40 W RMS per channel |
| Power handling — Centre | 80 W RMS |
| System power handling | 100 W RMS, all channels, with 100 Hz high-pass filter |
| Recommended amplifier power | 30–100 W, all channels |
| Published crossover range | 80–120 Hz, all channels |
| Bass alignment | Auxiliary Bass Radiator loading |
SB-3 or SB-2?
| Decision point | SB-2 | SB-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Display guidance | Approximately 50–60 in | Above 60 in |
| Cabinet width | 1110 mm | 1310 mm |
| Total 4 in bass/mid drivers | 3 | 4 |
| Centre-channel bass/mid drivers | 1 | 2 |
| Centre-channel RMS handling | 40 W | 80 W |
| Frequency response | 90 Hz–30 kHz (-3 dB) | 80 Hz–30 kHz (-3 dB) |
Choose primarily around screen / cabinet width and the required centre-channel acoustic capacity. Both remain passive three-channel L/C/R loudspeakers requiring external amplification.
Placement and wall mounting
Integrated sealed silicone feet provide a cabinet-top / furniture placement option. Monitor Audio also supports an optional wall-mount bracket.
The current public specification calls the bracket BSB. Current Canadian commercial data separately references BASB2 for SB-2, SB-3 and SB-4 and confirms the wall bracket is not included. Treat the bracket as a separate installation accessory.
Dimensions and weight
| Cabinet dimensions including feet (H × W × D) | 145 × 1310 × 89 mm |
|---|---|
| External dimensions including bracket (H × W × D) | 145 × 1310 × 100 mm |
| Product weight | 9.1 kg / approximately 20 lb |
| Approved packed dimensions | 11 × 56 × 8 in (source labels H × L × W) |
| Approved packed weight | 25.6 lb / approximately 11.61 kg |
Product identification
| Model | Monitor Audio SB-3 |
|---|---|
| SKU / MPN | SB3B |
| GTIN-13 | 5060028970230 |
| Finish | Black cloth grille |
| Sold as | Single unit |
Warranty
Monitor Audio's current product page supports a Lifetime Warranty for SB-3. This current term supersedes older internal material that listed a shorter warranty.
