KRK RP6G2 Rokit G2 6-inch Powered Studio Monitor (Single Speaker) Review

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(More customer reviews)These monitors are a serious upgrade for any computer system especially audiophiles and musicians. These are great for Garage Band or Logic on the Mac and recreate the sound with amazing clarity, depth and tone. Plus bass is impressive for a small speaker and high's are crisp and detailed without being unbalanced. These speakers create an amazing listening experience for all type of music and instruments for a studio or small room. Not going to be for a large room setup but if you have the space or can mount these for computer/studio setup you will be very impressed with them.

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The KRK RokitG2 Series takes value-priced monitors to a new performance level. All of the great stuff that Rokit's have been known for (front-firing bass port, soft-domed tweeter, glass aramid composite yellow cone) are still there, but the G2 Rokit's feature refined voicing and a new curved baffle that looks great, reduces diffraction and provides even better monitoring accuracy.

No Pain With Gain Why compromise gain structure to achieve a comfortable listening level? As musicians and recording people ourselves, we've asked that question too. So each Generation 2 Rokit comes with an Input Volume Control that provides an adjustable gain range from +6dB to -30dB. Just another way the Rokit lets you focus on your mix, and not on compatibility concerns.
Catch a Wave, for a 3D Mix Recessed tweeters may look the same, but they don't perform the same. KRK has designed a superior tweeter wave guide for the Rokit that provides optimal high frequency pattern control and focuses the sound outward, away from the cabinet. More conventional designs direct sound along the plane of the cabinet where waveform interaction can cause phase problems and increased diffraction. KRK knows a properly engineered high frequency wave guide is a critical component to great sound, and one key to our award winning performance.
You've Got Connections At KRK our focus is your mix. But it doesn't stop at creating accurate monitors. We live this stuff and appreciate the need for monitors that not only sound great but work easily into your particular set up. That's why you'll find plenty of input options with your Rokit, sure to accommodate any studio environment. So if it's RCA, Quarter-Inch (balanced/unbalanced) or XLR inputs you require, Rokit has got you covered.
Even More Accurate Than Before We took a great monitor series and made it better. Our engineers and listening panel took the Generation 2 Rokits' speaker voicing to even more accurate levels. What you hear is what you are intended to hear, coloration is not part of the spec. This performance is brought to you by drivers that are custom-designed by our world-class studio monitor engineering team, for clear, low-distortion performance.
Take Control While your Generation 2 Rokit leaves the factory voiced to our demanding specs, KRK also knows that no two rooms "sound" the same. As such, each Rokit comes equipped with a High Frequency Level Control. This feature provides specific adjustment of high frequency output most commonly affected by room acoustics. It's just one extra level of control that KRK gives you to ensure the most accurate mix for your particular room's acoustics.
Don't Be Square, Curves Ahead Our new Rokit looks different, so it can sound better, and in a wider "sweet spot." Traditional rectangular speakers suffer from diffraction as sounds leaving the edge of the cabinet are reflected back into the original sound field, and at different time intervals. This phase distortion creates a "narrow" or boxy" sound. The Generation 2 Rokit series eliminates this issue with radically engineered curved surfaces, so diffraction is virtually eliminated. Simply put, you'll get better sound in a wider area.
Let's Be Up Front Take a look at competitive monitors and you'll find ports on the back of the cabinet. These rear-firing ports tend create bass coupling with walls and corners amplifying low frequency information which will color your mix. The superior design of the KRK Generation 2 Rokit's include front-firing ports, which are just the right shape and taper to reduce port turbulence. You'll appreciate the clean and accurate bass performance, this approach delivers, even at high SPL's.
Power Up! A great sounding monitor doesn't stop with a great cabinet and custom drivers. Our true bi-amplified amplifier system provides discrete low-distortion power for each driver. While our active crossover systems provide smooth and accurate frequency response, and again, accurate diffraction control.
KRK Rokit 8 Specs
Drivers: 6-inch Glass Aramid Composite Woofer; 1-inch Neodymium Soft Dome Tweeter with Ferro Fluid
Input: XLR (3-pin), RCA & 1/4-inch TRS--10k Ohm, Balanced / Unbalanced
Amplification: HF: 20 Watts/LF: 70 Watts
Freq Response: 49Hz - 20kHz (+/- 1.5 db)
Video Shielding: Yes
Dimensions (H x W x D): 12 11/16 x 8 7/8 x 10 1/2 inches (32.1 x 22.5 x 26.6 cm)
Weight: 19.6 lbs (8.9 Kg)

What's in the Box KRK Rokit 6 Powered Monitor, AC power cord, Owner's manual

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Seismic Audio - Pair of 10" Wedge Style FLOOR MONITORS - Studio, Stage, or Floor use - PA/DJ Speakers - Bar, Band, Karaoke, Church, Drummer use Review

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(More customer reviews)bought these speakers on a different account for use as stage monitors for a local High School. Overall I am really impressed with the quality. Would consider buying another pair if needed. Also you get 2 speakers which is an amazing deal. However would only recommend these for monitors not for regular PA speakers. I am genuinely impressed. Also just to add extra info the also have an output built into the speakers.

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Mackie MR5 MR5 Reference Monitor (Single Speaker) Review

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(More customer reviews)FIRST THING FIRST...
Forget speaker set-ups and systems that unnecessarily add treble and bass to the music you're listening to including ones with active equalization that determine on your behalf what you're ears should be perceiving at the moment and eliminating other frequencies that it believes aren't as audible anyway.
How about jumping back into studio monitors that deliver music the way the recording engineers meant it to be heard. Too expensive? Hold on. Not with a Mackie MR5. The price you pay is per piece all right, but don't forget these are powered speakers. And at this price point you get a flat frequency response which means there is no colorization. What is recorded is what you get.
Studio monitors used to be so expensive and out of reach that consumers were bombarded with those other brands that promised to wow your ears with a "perception" of full spectrum audio rather than actually provide your ears with, umm, a full spectrum.
Finally Mackie decided to release lower end audio gear with high end results that appeals to everyone else outside of the audiophile world.APPLICATION...
These speakers are built with 3 types of audio connections.
1. Balanced XLR
2. Balanced TRS (which also can accept unbalanced TS)
3. Unbalanced RCA
Originally intended for near-field monitoring as well as accurate enough for home studio mixing. But knock yourselves out in using these anywhere you see fit. If it's good for mixing, it's great for whatever else.
I used it as my desktop computer speakers. If your computer has a 1/8 stereo output a.k.a. mini-stereo then just purchase a simple (but solidly constructed) 1/8" stereo to RCA cable.HOW DOES IT SOUND...
GREAT! However, you need to re-orient your ears if you've been used to unnecessary and heavy equalized equipment. Take a moment to listen to your favourite CD. One that you are very familiar with from beginning to end. Turn off or flatten the equalizer setting. Take one pass on it and determine if you really to highlight or defeat certain frequencies only because you either have wall to wall carpeting and draperies or bare walls.
You're goal is to listen to music the way it was recorded. If you have unbiased speakers in all frequency range then you will notice nuances in the recording that you never even thought was there. Seriously.WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW...
Although this is the smallest of the Mackie studio monitoring speakers, it's still a force to be reckoned with in terms of performance, size and weight. And that's a good thing. It looks, feels and performs like any solid studio monitor. Nothing has been spared. Rather than spend money on marketing, they spend it on actual R&D and build quality.
Frequency response of 60HZ-20KHZ (+-3db) with internal bi-amplification of 55 watts (85 watts peak) for the low frequency and 30 watts (50 watts peak) for the high frequency. And don't be fooled by other speaker manufacture ratings stating 200 watts power which don't mean a thing unless they meant peak power before the internal fuse blows while already clipping at maximum distortion. Did you hear how loud your built-in television speakers can get. To think they are rated from 3 to 6 watts only. So with these truthful power rating, these Mackies are LOUD! Your ears neighbours will come knocking first before you can blow the fuse of these speakers.COMPARED WITH...
The truth is I was perfectly happy with my Blue Sky MediaDesk 2.1 speakers just because I couldn't afford a THX pm3-approved Mackie HR624 at that time. The frequency response was awesome at 35HZ-20KHz. The speakers were fully sealed which provided less distortion and true bass output. I tossed the boxes so I decided to sell them when I moved cross-country than risk damaging perfectly great speakers.
I now moved the Mackie MR5 pair to the living room and disabled the built-in speakers of the television and then obtained a pair of KRK Rokit Powered 6 Generation 2 studio monitors which is equally accurate as the Mackie, but has better frequency response at 48HZ-20KHz (+-1.5db) due to it's 6" low frequency driver.WHAT TO GET...
If you're budget allows for a Mackie, I would get an MR5. A cheaper alternative but still along it's price range is the KRK RP5G2 which also comes with a 5" low frequency driver. But for the same price as the Mackie MR5 is the KRK RP6G2 with better frequency response and a hefty weight and size to boot.
The difference is the porting on the cabinet. Mackie believes in using a rear port, while KRK argues a front port is better as it allows more flexible placement without fear from unnecessary bass response due from the rear ports when placed nearer against the wall.
My recommendation is to listen to both at your nearest studio monitor dealer that stocks both and decide. In the future you can expand to a 2.1 configuration to extend the bass response even lower by purchasing their own respective subwoofer counterparts. As usual, KRK products are better priced so this might affect your decision now the same way it did to me.
If you want a 2.1 configuration right now, then the Blue Sky MediaDesk 2.1 with it's sealed cabinet enclosure all throughout will make sure that the bass you hear is the bass coming from the subwoofer and not from any port which only exists to help extend bass response to a lower frequency.
Either of this you won't go wrong. But please do yourself a favor and get yourself a decent studio monitor than an exorbitantly priced speaker set from a manufacturer that (1) either advertises amplification and frequency response that can be achieved at full clipping power or (2) won't even advertise their specifications at all and then claim their "actual" performance doesn't do justice to the over-equalized supposed sound output.

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Thanks to its sophisticated design, our 5.25-inch MR5 Mackie Reference Monitor delivers superior sound with impeccable clarity?at an unbelievable price.

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KRK KNS8400 Studio Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had a pair of the KRK Rockit8's for over a year now and just got these headphones about a month ago, and like their advertising, they are the same sound. I am very pleased with these, I can actually do a little mixing and beat-making with them. They are also the most comfortable closed ear headphones I've ever worn. If you have KRK monitors and love them, you will love these headphones.

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KRK RP8G2 Rokit G2 8In Powered Studio Monitor Ea Review

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(More customer reviews)Don't expect these to be a smaller version of PA speakers. Studio monitors are quality over quantity. Yes, these are plenty loud for their intended use. The important part is their sound quality. As with any speaker of this quality, proper break-in really does make them sound better. The RP8G2 is a great value choice. Yes, there are better speakers on the market. You will pay a real premium for them, though. It is hard to evaluate speakers just on the published specs. Sound quality is so much more than technical spectral analysis.
These are solidly built, great sounding monitors that are a good value. I can really recommend them.

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The KRK RokitG2 Series takes value-priced monitors to a new performance level. All of the great stuff that Rokit's have been known for (front-firing bass port, soft-domed tweeter, glass aramid composite yellow cone) are still there, but the G2 Rokit's feature refined voicing and a new curved baffle that looks great, reduces diffraction and provides even better monitoring accuracy.

No Pain With Gain Why compromise gain structure to achieve a comfortable listening level? As musicians and recording people ourselves, we've asked that question too. So each Generation 2 Rokit comes with an Input Volume Control that provides an adjustable gain range from +6dB to -30dB. Just another way the Rokit lets you focus on your mix, and not on compatibility concerns.
Catch a Wave, for a 3D Mix Recessed tweeters may look the same, but they don't perform the same. KRK has designed a superior tweeter wave guide for the Rokit that provides optimal high frequency pattern control and focuses the sound outward, away from the cabinet. More conventional designs direct sound along the plane of the cabinet where waveform interaction can cause phase problems and increased diffraction. KRK knows a properly engineered high frequency wave guide is a critical component to great sound, and one key to our award winning performance.
You've Got Connections At KRK our focus is your mix. But it doesn't stop at creating accurate monitors. We live this stuff and appreciate the need for monitors that not only sound great but work easily into your particular set up. That's why you'll find plenty of input options with your Rokit, sure to accommodate any studio environment. So if it's RCA, Quarter-Inch (balanced/unbalanced) or XLR inputs you require, Rokit has got you covered.
Even More Accurate Than Before We took a great monitor series and made it better. Our engineers and listening panel took the Generation 2 Rokits' speaker voicing to even more accurate levels. What you hear is what you are intended to hear, coloration is not part of the spec. This performance is brought to you by drivers that are custom-designed by our world-class studio monitor engineering team, for clear, low-distortion performance.
Take Control While your Generation 2 Rokit leaves the factory voiced to our demanding specs, KRK also knows that no two rooms "sound" the same. As such, each Rokit comes equipped with a High Frequency Level Control. This feature provides specific adjustment of high frequency output most commonly affected by room acoustics. It's just one extra level of control that KRK gives you to ensure the most accurate mix for your particular room's acoustics.
Don't Be Square, Curves Ahead Our new Rokit looks different, so it can sound better, and in a wider "sweet spot." Traditional rectangular speakers suffer from diffraction as sounds leaving the edge of the cabinet are reflected back into the original sound field, and at different time intervals. This phase distortion creates a "narrow" or boxy" sound. The Generation 2 Rokit series eliminates this issue with radically engineered curved surfaces, so diffraction is virtually eliminated. Simply put, you'll get better sound in a wider area.
Let's Be Up Front Take a look at competitive monitors and you'll find ports on the back of the cabinet. These rear-firing ports tend create bass coupling with walls and corners amplifying low frequency information which will color your mix. The superior design of the KRK Generation 2 Rokit's include front-firing ports, which are just the right shape and taper to reduce port turbulence. You'll appreciate the clean and accurate bass performance, this approach delivers, even at high SPL's.
Power Up! A great sounding monitor doesn't stop with a great cabinet and custom drivers. Our true bi-amplified amplifier system provides discrete low-distortion power for each driver. While our active crossover systems provide smooth and accurate frequency response, and again, accurate diffraction control.
KRK Rokit 8 Specs
Drivers: 8-inch Glass Aramid Composite Woofer; 1-inch Neodymium Soft Dome Tweeter with Ferro Fluid
Input: XLR (3-pin), RCA & 1/4-inch TRS--10k Ohm, Balanced / Unbalanced
Amplification: HF: 20 Watts/LF: 70 Watts
Freq Response: 45Hz - 20kHz (+/- 1.5 db)
Video Shielding: Yes
Dimensions (H x W x D): 15 x 10 7/16 x 12 inches (38.1 x 26.5 x 30.4 cm)
Weight:26.1 lbs (11.8 Kg)

What's in the Box KRK Rokit 8 Powered Monitor, AC power cord, Owner's manual

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Acoustic Audio GX-450 Pair 700 Watt Pro DJ Speakers PA Studio Monitors Review

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(More customer reviews)The speed of shipping was excellent. The size, appearance and ease of use is excellent. I purchased these speakers late Dec.2009 and so far the sound quality is very good but I require very loud sound with heavy bass, and I guess 8" woffers just don't cut it. I have an amplifier reciever and an equalizer and there is some distortion at very loud volume. If you do not require very loud sound and heavy bass, then this item is a very good buy.

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Seismic Audio - PWS-12 (Pair) - Powered PA/DJ 12" Molded Speakers - 500 Watts Each Review

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(More customer reviews)These speakers rock! I never write reviews, but these speakers Seismic Audio - PWS-12 (Pair) - Powered PA/DJ 12" Molded Speakers - 500 Watts Each are so impressive I had to. They are high quality, powerful, and extremely well made for the price. Delivery was fast and they were packaged well, so no issues. Could not ask for more.

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Numark NPM5 Studio Montiro System Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using an old Atlantic Technology Pattern 100 sat/sub system for about 10 years now and I decided it was time to try something a little more modern. (Also, the AT 100's had an annoying habit of playing a local AM station that has a big antenna near our house through the speakers at various, unpredictable times.) I was going to get a pair of M-Audio AV-40's, and also thought about getting a pair of Behringers, but after reading the reviews of those speaker systems I decided to go with the Numark NPM5's.
My first impression upon taking them out of the box was that they were bigger than I expected. (That's not a problem -- they fit perfecty on my desktop on either side of my 23" monitor. It's just that each speaker is almost the size of some of the subwoofers that come with cheap Logitech or Cyber Acoustic sat/sub sytems.) They were a breeze to set up. Everything is included except a cable to run from your computer -- either on board sound or sound card -- to the speakers or a mixer, but those cables are readily available on Amazon: HOSA CMP159 Stereo Mini Male to Phone Y-Cable-10 Feet, Live Wire 3.5M (TRS)-Dual 1/4" Y Cable, 10 Foot, or Belkin Audio Y Cable Splitter 1-Mini Plug/2-RCA Plugs --6ft. The wire connecting the left/right speakers is plenty long for any setup I can think of. If not, it's standard speaker wire so you don't have to deal with any proprietary cable/wiring. You just loosen the plastic black and red tightening knobs, thread the wire through the hole in the post, and retighten the knobs. There was even a 3' dual RCA to dual RCA cable included, which surprised me because I didn't see it listed in the "what's included" list.
Now...for the big test...the sound. I did notice a difference in bass between the AT Pattern 100's and the NPM5's, but that's to be expected. Back in the day, the AT 100's got rave reviews, competing against $2,000.00 + speaker systems. But for what they are, the NPM5's are excellent speakers in their own right. And at $80, including shipping, they're simply unbelievable, especially considering the adjustable bass and treble controls on the back of the main speaker. All in all, I feel like I've committed some kind of crime getting these babies for $80. I did my best to match the sound coming out of the speakers to a pair of Grado SR-60's headphones, and I was able to get it pretty close, except for the bass, which to my ear is a little thin on the NPM5's. But aside from that the sound is tight, clear, and accurate.
I did put a small piece of black electrical tape over the light at the top of the speaker that has all of the controls in the back. Otherwise, the light is a little too bright and distracting, especially at night with all the room lights out. But the tape softens it considerably, so that now it gives off a nice, soft blue-ish glow. Also, there are some speakers similar to these that have the volume and bass/treble controls in the front. That would have been nice, but it's no big deal to reach around the back and fine tune the sound just the way you want it.
I'm using the computer's on-board sound (volume set to max, no EQ) and a little Mackie 402-VLZ3 mixer (channel 1/2, both volumes & bass/treble set to the middle position). The volume on the NMP5 main speaker is set to 2 o'clock, and the Mackie's master volume is only set to between 8 & 9 o'clock -- and these speakers are rocking!!! I just finished listening to The James Gang -- Bomber Medley, and I still can't believe all that sound came from these two speakers. And on something softer, like Al Petteway's 'Spindrift', it's as if he were playing right there in front of me on my desk. Very impressive/highly recommended!!!

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JBL LSR2325P Pair of Bi-amplified Studio Monitors Review

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(More customer reviews)Me:
Musician, been recording on 4 track, 8 track, 16 track & 24 track recorders since 1996, i have pro mics (M-Audio Sputnik, AKG D5 & C3000, Rode NT3) and have owned many others, i use a TC-Electronic G-Force and a TC Helicon Harmony G-XT.
How i chose these speakers:
- I took a trained sound engineer friend (who has been recording since 1996 too and who attended a Sound Engineer course at SAE) with me because he is the only person whose ears i trust and because i wanted to be sure i wasn't going to choose the wrong set of speakers.
- I went to all the major studio gear stores in Paris, France, in the Pigalle area where all the music stores are. We listened to many many different speakers, sometimes without prejudice and other times with great hopes because we've been reading about brands like Genelec & Dynaudio & all the newer brands out there just like anyone who trusts the specialized press.
- We checked speakers ranging from 200 to 2000 a pair, more or less: we just tested everything they had that looked interesting, including the latest M-Audio, Yamaha, Alesis, Genele, Dynaudio, Adam, etc., etc., etc., etc.
- We tested the speakers on tracks we both knew very well & some very clean recordings as well as some others.
- We selected tracks for reverb to see if the speakers could render the reverb properly, which is something many speakers simply fail to do.
Results of the search:
- Against all expectancies, all the major contenders turned out to be crap. And i mean absolute garbage. Given that we both had exactly the same criticism about each speakers we listened to, i'm pretty sure we weren't being delusional. Now it is possible that the set-up in the stores were not optimal, and maybe the passive speakers were linked up to a bad amp, but most speakers were active & linked to the source via a professional monitoring system with lots of switches designed specifically for this purpose.
- Genelec flaws: no mids AT ALL, same power as a bad car stereo, no bass.
- Dynaudio BM15 ACTIVE: absolute crap amplification, rubbish.
- ADAM A5: aggressive mids, crap treble, no bass. Absolute GARBAGE.
- Yamaha (new NS-10 style speakers) & M-Audio: average sound, not enjoyable at all.
- Most speakers had a very aggressive sound in the mids or treble, and lacked bass. Even in the very expensive range of speakers, none managed to impress us and virtually all were flawed in some aspect that alone would render them totally useless & unbearable.
- The last store we visited was definitely much more pro (Sound Factory) and had real speakers. They played us some PMC passive speakers linked to a 300 stereo amplifier. We were AMAZED. They were fantastic. Well, these were not the most expensive (around 1000 a pair i think), and by far the best. They aren't used at Abbey Road for nothing then...
We then told the salesman we had already heard his Dynaudio BM15's and said we hated them & didn't want to waste his time with those -- "skip em!", we said -- but he had the passive version. And they were very good. The difference was AMAZING. In other words, manufacturers of speakers know how to make speakers, not amplifiers. So get the passive version of whatever you want, and add your own amplifier, the result will be incredibly better, i assure you.
So far the PMC were the best and the Dynaudio were not bad but not cheap. Just out of curiosity i asked to check out the tiny JBL 2325P's that were a ridiculously cheap 400 and were active...i said to him "i guess the JBL are crap but let's give em a try anyway, just to see"...he replied "no, they're not bad actually".
With my friend we both looked at each other with big eyes, we were very pleasantly surprised...they weren't quite as good as the PMC but they easily beat all the others we'd listened to that day.
I ordered this in the US because i now live in Mexico. I got them here on Amazon for 400$ (470$ or so with shipping), with 2 Samson speaker stands and 2 Wirlwind XLR cables. I just set them up today, on their stands.
I don't have a proper good quality source at the moment, my SACD player is in France, so i tried first via the minijack output of my Toshiba P300 laptop and the sound was harsh & had some very apparent artefacts due to the extremely bad quality of this output (Toshiba should be ashamed, really). I then switched to my Archos 5 mp3/video player and the sound is incomparably better. Not perfect, of course, we're not talking about a proper HQ source here, and remember the connection is a cheap minijack=>RCA cable, nothing like XLR=>XLR.
On bad recordings, or old ones, the sound is not so good, and indeed that's exactly how it should be: these speakers tell you when the source is bad. But switch to Kate Bush's Aerial album (her latest, from 2005 i believe), encoded in high quality by myself, and the bass response is amazing, everything is perfect.
Summary:
- Incredible bass response for 5 inch woofer, simply amazing. And it doesn't sound artificially boosted as on some speakers that just try too hard.
- Very well balanced & detailed mids & treble. Although i do prefer the treble & mids on my previous speakers (B&W DM602 S2 -- Bower & Wilkins make excellent passive speakers, with kevlar woofers & perfect tweeters, but you need to be very careful positioning them to get good bass response). But these JBL 5" woofers provide more oompph in the bass than by much bigger B&W's used to. Quite amazing, really. And it's not muddy bass, it's clean, well controlled, has fast attack and nice round oompph. I can hardly imagine how good the 2328p's must be! They were much more expensive, though, & too big & heavy for my needs.
- Very small in width but deep & quite heavy (7.7kg).
Manufacturer's specs seem accurate upon listening (for once) and outperform by far much bigger & much more expensive speakers:
43Hz-20Khz
55 W LF - 35 W HF (don't let this fool you, these speakers are loud enough to make you deaf for indoor use).
You have a treble +/- switch on the back & the same for bass. These work rather well but don't feel too solid & i wouldn't play around with them too much.
The volume knobs are not smooth but have small 'steps' to them so you can set both speakers to exactly the same setting easily. They have a good feel to them.
You have line balanced ins on XLR & TRS jacks, plus unbalanced line in on RCA/cinch.
The on-off switch on the back is silent & a blue light on the front tells you when the speakers are on.
Overall opinion:
The best active monitors by far in 2009-2010 for this money or size? I'd bet they are, yes.

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M-Audio Studiophile AV30 Professional Reference Speakers Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought these speakers to listen to music and news at my desk in my apartment, and BOY do they fit the bill.
I've put them through the ringer--rock, folk, house, drum & bass, hip hop, samba, All Things Considered--and they sound remarkably good in all applications. Everything but D&B and hip hop sounds almost as good as on my other monitors (KRK 5's) that cost twice as much. The fidelity is impressive, and the response is remarkably flat. If you're used to or prefer the more U-shaped sound of non-monitors, be sure to turn on the appropriate EQ in iTunes; they'll sound tinny otherwise, but that's what a flat-response monitor will sound like compared to regular 2- or 3-way stereo speakers. It's all those mid-range sounds you're used to covering up.
They also handle a good deal of volume. With the volume knob at 50% and my MacBook volume at 75%, it's "Turn that noise down!" loud and still as clear as at lower volumes for most types of music.
The bass lines in the D&B have some drop-off on the bottom end, but that's a LOT to ask of a value-priced monitor with a 3" woofer. I listen to really nasty stuff with super-low bass--Technical Itch, Dieselboy, Bad Company, and the like--so I expected that this would be the one area with less than amazing reproduction. I was right. (Roni Size's "Brown Paper Bag" is much more within their range.) Hip hop beats can lose a some punch, too, and this is the one area where you'll notice a little distortion at higher volumes. (The kick drums in D&B are usually a little more like real kicks than in much hip hop, and these sound great even at higher volumes.)
Again, for the size (don't have a ruler--each speaker is maybe 5" wide and 6" deep) and price, they do surprisingly well. Other challenging types of music with lots of bass that just isn't as low, e.g. House, come through remarkably well.
The 4" version was very well reviewed, so I thought I'd give these a shot because they cost less and take up less room. Also, the primary difference would be in the bass response, and I live in an apartment building, so for me, having less bass was actually a good thing. They still get too loud for me to play them anything close to maxed out, and they sound great.
One more thing: I like the design. M-Audio knew this would be more for desktop listening than studio applications such as mixing (for which I got the KRK 5's). Thus, they put all the inputs and controls on one speaker, which is nice because it only requires one power cable and you don't have to split an RCA cable to run one line to each speaker. It comes with a 1/8" to RCA cable (connects your computer's audio out port to the RCA jacks in the back) AND a 1/8" to 1/8" cable (connects your iPod to the Aux In port on the front). The volume knob in front is also nice.
If you want reasonably high fidelity for a low price at your desk, and you don't need subwoofer-type bass response, I'd recommend these speakers. Highly.

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system with accurate sound. Top musicians, producers, and engineers trust M-Audio? studio speakers to create their hits - and now the compact AV 30 speakers bring this professional legacy to your home. Unlike plastic multimedia speakers, AV 30s use proven

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Akai RPM3 Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been a KRK guy for a while. These came out in NAMM 2011 and had to give them a shot. They are small...but put out huge sounds. From guitars, drums, bass, synth...you name it. These things put out accurate sound like it should be heard. Just because they are cheap doesnt mean they suck. You wont be dissapointed. (they look very nice also...in the picture it looks like shiny cheap plastic)

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Monster Cable M DJ-ST-2M Monster DJ Cables 2 meter pair TRS to TRS Review

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(More customer reviews)Have had no problems, I used them with my Rokit 8s, and they produce great sound.

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Put the Monster in Your Mixes! Introducing Monster DJ Cable. You don't spin using ordinary equipment, so why settle for ordinary cable? The gear in your rig only sounds as good as the cables that connect it all. Monster Prolink DJ Cables feature high quality, ultra-durable construction to give you improved sonic performance. The ultra-flexible design enables easy routing behind turntables, and the heavy-duty reinforced terminations to provide maximum signal transfer, which means Monsterous Sound for Monsterous Mixers. Features:
Dual Webbed Design for easy hook-up of L & R
100% Foil Shielding rejects electromagnetic and radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI)
Special Copper Windings provides improved sonic clarity and tighter bass
Dual-Mode Strain Relief increases durability and resists damage
Color-Coded Rings for easy identification when you're plugging in multiple cables
24k gold contacts for maximum signal transfer

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M-Audio BX8a 8-inch BiAmplified Studio Monitor Speakers Review

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(More customer reviews)Over the years my ears have been getting better and better, moving up speaker by speaker, getting better at recording, and i am finally at the point that i think i have a very good grasp on how to record/mix and how speakers should sound.
That said, I bought these M-Audio 8" near field monitors a few days ago, after tearing my hair out looking for a (mainly) computer listening speaker for my itunes, and secondly to do some casual guitar/voice recording when i was bored or felt like writing a song. I've heard monitors from Mackie, M-Audio, plenty of Genelecs, and heard differences in too many $30,000+ loudspeakers that many people only pretend to.
These 130 watt self-powered monitors are the best sounding speakers under $1500 easy. The stereo imaging when used for nearfield listening is simply incredible, and the sheer audio resolution of these speakers will put a big smile on your face. Most people get lost in finding the speaker that is ultimately "technically" perfect at re-creating a sound wave. These speakers don't necessarily do that but they do sound incredible. Much like Bose's idea about what makes a good speaker. If it sounds good, it's a good speaker.
I'd be careful when using these as actual studio monitors in a critical mixing environment. Mainly because bass is a bit heavy. Don't get me wrong, during playback it will make most songs sound like a million bucks (even some encoded at 128kbps) but take into account that if you mix to make your bass sound even, then your recording will lack bass. Best to listen to other monitors or otherwise get a baseline of how the speakers perform compared to how the flat recording sounds.


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KRK RP5G2 Rokit G2 5In Powered Studio Monitor (Single Speaker) Review

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(More customer reviews)There is nothing better than these in the monitor category at this price point, period.
Folks... these are near field monitors. They are designed for one thing: to provide an accurate, unbiased, uncolored representation of your mix, when listening up close. They do that phenomenally.
A near-field monitor setup is designed to be listened to from a few feet away, with speakers at ear level. If you properly set them up and use them in this fashion, they SHINE.
If you're expecting an every-day-listener set of speakers out of these, you might be disappointed. No, they won't fill your room with wall shaking bass. Off-axis or at a distance, the highs will sound average. Point is - room setup, speaker placement, and your purpose most of all, is important. These are monitors. Their job is to be neutral. Most people are used to speakers that are anything but; exaggerated bass, rolled off highs... not here... we're talking FLAT response from as high as you can hear, down to about 40-45hz. (If anything, that's my only complaint; they reach down to about an "F" on a bass guitar; a low "E" is where they start to lack.) If you're looking for super-loud, bone crushing bass, colored exaggerated sound that you get out of consumer grade stereo equipment, spend your money on normal stereo speakers! You aren't ready for, or don't need these.
If you're looking for a neutral representation of your source material, and will be sitting a few feet from these (like on your desk) you'll be blown away. If you're looking for bumping beats for a house party, yeah you might be let down.
They do what they're supposed to do, very very well. Don't tell KRK but I would have been satisfied with these had I paid twice as much. I totally dig the "grown up" sound, that flat, un-colored response, when it comes to listening to music for fun - I'm hearing what the engineers heard when they put together their mix. And when I'm using them for "work" - making mixes of my own - they make life so easy. If my mix sounds good on these, it will sound good whether somebody is listening with headphones, a car stereo, or a hi-fi. That's the point of monitors - they're accurate, and they play the role of happy-medium, and these deliver, big time.
The fact that they don't put out excessive sound pressure, in my opinion, is a bonus. I work from my home-studio, it's a flat with downstairs neighbors. I can crank these to what I perceive as "loud" and mix and produce into the night, without bothering the folks downstairs.
As for the "sound" - the stereo imaging is what stands out; again it has to do with your setup and where in your room you place them, follow directions - but I digress, the sound stage is wide and full, we're not just talking "left" and "right" but we're talking distinctions between near and far and everything in between, a wide and deep soundsatage... there is plenty of "air" between different instruments; every detail and nuance is there, you'll discover things you never heard before in music you've listened to a thousand times. The highs reach into ranges probably only my dog can hear, but does so while still sounding warm and not shrill. The low-end lets you know its there, but again, it's not going to rattle your walls. They're 5" speakers. You will be taken aback by how much bass, and how low it accurately hits given the size, but if you're looking for sound pressure - no it ain't there; it's not supposed to be! Sound pressure is the job of the PA or hi-watt hi-fi. KRK sells an add-on subwoofer if you really need to feel your sound... and if loud is important, move up to the 8s (which I also have much experience on; phenomenal as well.) I don't find the SPL necessary for most mixing tasks... (perhaps if I were mixing movie soundtracks with sub-sonic sound effects... I'd want the sub...) But otherwise, with very little practice you'll be able to mix the low end properly, without over or under-estimating it, which is all too common a problem with lesser monitors. When we say they're flat to 40, that doesn't mean they disappear lower...
For what it's worth, I'm hooked up via balanced TRS, from a DigiDesign 002R, in a smallish room, approx 150 sq ft, with some sound treatment; and do most of my work in Logic... dealing with a variety of music styles from metal to hip-hop.
There's a reason you'll find KRK in high end studios world-wide... and you'll never find anything else in my vicinity from now on.

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The KRK RokitG2 Series takes value-priced monitors to a new performance level. All of the great stuff that Rokit's have been known for (front-firing bass port, soft-domed tweeter, glass aramid composite yellow cone) are still there, but the G2 Rokit's feature refined voicing and a new curved baffle that looks great, reduces diffraction and provides even better monitoring accuracy.

No Pain With Gain Why compromise gain structure to achieve a comfortable listening level? As musicians and recording people ourselves, we've asked that question too. So each Generation 2 Rokit comes with an Input Volume Control that provides an adjustable gain range from +6dB to -30dB. Just another way the Rokit lets you focus on your mix, and not on compatibility concerns.
Catch a Wave, for a 3D Mix Recessed tweeters may look the same, but they don't perform the same. KRK has designed a superior tweeter wave guide for the Rokit that provides optimal high frequency pattern control and focuses the sound outward, away from the cabinet. More conventional designs direct sound along the plane of the cabinet where waveform interaction can cause phase problems and increased diffraction. KRK knows a properly engineered high frequency wave guide is a critical component to great sound, and one key to our award winning performance.
You've Got Connections At KRK our focus is your mix. But it doesn't stop at creating accurate monitors. We live this stuff and appreciate the need for monitors that not only sound great but work easily into your particular set up. That's why you'll find plenty of input options with your Rokit, sure to accommodate any studio environment. So if it's RCA, Quarter-Inch (balanced/unbalanced) or XLR inputs you require, Rokit has got you covered.
Even More Accurate Than Before We took a great monitor series and made it better. Our engineers and listening panel took the Generation 2 Rokits' speaker voicing to even more accurate levels. What you hear is what you are intended to hear, coloration is not part of the spec. This performance is brought to you by drivers that are custom-designed by our world-class studio monitor engineering team, for clear, low-distortion performance.
Take Control While your Generation 2 Rokit leaves the factory voiced to our demanding specs, KRK also knows that no two rooms "sound" the same. As such, each Rokit comes equipped with a High Frequency Level Control. This feature provides specific adjustment of high frequency output most commonly affected by room acoustics. It's just one extra level of control that KRK gives you to ensure the most accurate mix for your particular room's acoustics.
Don't Be Square, Curves Ahead Our new Rokit looks different, so it can sound better, and in a wider "sweet spot." Traditional rectangular speakers suffer from diffraction as sounds leaving the edge of the cabinet are reflected back into the original sound field, and at different time intervals. This phase distortion creates a "narrow" or boxy" sound. The Generation 2 Rokit series eliminates this issue with radically engineered curved surfaces, so diffraction is virtually eliminated. Simply put, you'll get better sound in a wider area.
Let's Be Up Front Take a look at competitive monitors and you'll find ports on the back of the cabinet. These rear-firing ports tend create bass coupling with walls and corners amplifying low frequency information which will color your mix. The superior design of the KRK Generation 2 Rokit's include front-firing ports, which are just the right shape and taper to reduce port turbulence. You'll appreciate the clean and accurate bass performance, this approach delivers, even at high SPL's.
Power Up! A great sounding monitor doesn't stop with a great cabinet and custom drivers. Our true bi-amplified amplifier system provides discrete low-distortion power for each driver. While our active crossover systems provide smooth and accurate frequency response, and again, accurate diffraction control.
KRK Rokit 5 Specs
Drivers: 5-inch Glass Aramid Composite Woofer; 1-inch Neodymium Soft Dome Tweeter with Ferro Fluid
Input: XLR (3-pin), RCA & 1/40-inch TRS--10k Ohm, Balanced / Unbalanced
Amplification: HF: 15 Watts/LF: 30 Watts
Freq Response: 53Hz - 20kHz (+/- 2 db)
Video Shielding: Yes
Dimensions (H x W x D): 10 7/8 x 7 1/4 x 8 7/8 inches (27.6cm x 18.5cm x 22.5cm)
Weight:13.8 lbs (6.3 Kg)

What's in the Box KRK Rokit 5 Powered Monitor, AC power cord, Owner's manual

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Monster Cable M DJ-RA-4M Monster DJ Cables 4 meter pair Angled RCA to RCA Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a solid stereo DJ cable and well worth the money. Be aware though that the RCA connectors on one end are angled, which might cause problems with some equipment whose the RCA connecters are very closely together.

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Put the Monster in Your Mixes! Introducing Monster DJ Cable.

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Powered Monitoring Sys.- Pair Review

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(More customer reviews)First of all, these are very small. They are basically high quality computer speakers. I read about them in TapeOp magazine (if you don't have the book, get it: Tape Op: The Book About Creative Music Recording ) where they recommended them as good monitors for mixing. I find they lack some low end but definitely found that the mix I did on these translated well to other speakers. Considering that many people are listening to music on computer speakers or so so earplug headphones, this is a good reference if you're mixing music. As for just listening to music on the computer, these are excellent and many times better than the standard plastic box speakers that come with your computer. Well worth the price. My only concern is that the left speaker (which contains the amp) can really heat up if you leave it on a long time. Other than that, these are great speakers at a great price.

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PreSonus Central Station Studio Control Center Review

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(More customer reviews)Prior to buying this box, I had my DAW's analog output directly connected to my studio monitors and used an old stereo receiver as a headphone amp. I would not have expected the Central Station to make such a huge difference to my way of working but it's been incredibly convenient to be able to control the system volume with a real knob, switch between studio monitors and a cheap boombox and to have the built-in headphone amp with plenty of volume. I can't explain why but being able to run my sound card (Digital Audio Labs CardDeluxe) at full output has made my mixes come out better in the form of crisper sound and better separation of instruments. Next step is to hook up the DAW's digital output to the CS so that I can have a custom headphone mix and leave it up during the tracking process without disrupting whatever mix decisions I've made. This box did exactly what I needed and helped me streamline my workflow without degrading my audio quality.

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The Central Station is the ultimate studio-monitoring interface for the modern digital studio. The Central Station features three sets of stereo analog inputs to switch between input sources such as: DAW, mixer, CD/DAT/Tape player, or keyboards/samplers. Two stereo analog inputs feature TRS balanced and the third stereo input features RCA inputs with trim control for level matching of input signals. In addition, the Central Station will accommodate two digital inputs via S/PDIF or ADAT lightpipe providing D/A conversion up to 24Bit/192kHz. This allows you to monitor DAW and CD/DAT outputs through the same professional quality converter for the most accurate A/B comparison and highest quality monitoring environment. The digital to analog converter offers the highest possible audio quality with over 117dB dynamic range and ultra high quality analog circuitry. The Central Station features three sets of monitor outputs, each with their own set of passive trim controls. The monitoring section also provides MUTE, DIM and MONO switches. In addition, the Central Station includes a set of CUE outputs that can feed headphone amplifiers and a separate stereo MAIN line level output.

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