Published in Jan-Feb 2021 Issue

Studio Monitors are considered the simple most essential gear to achieve great sound. As creativity in music and film production is continuously reaching new heights, Monitors have started to get the acceptance they deserve. PT has put together a list of monitors most popularly used in today’s studios.

Adam Audio – T-series T8V

The T8V is an affordable, professional 2-way powered studio monitor with an 8” woofer. The T8V provides best-in-class characteristics and sound performance and is the perfect studio speaker for those who have always wanted to work with an 8“monitor but where budgets have been insufficient

Main Features include:

• U-ART 1.9” Accelerated Ribbon Tweeter
• The air velocity ratio of 4:1 during the sound generation by folded U-ART membrane
• HPS waveguide from the S Series
• Lightweight polypropylene construction of the woofer
• Vertical 2-way system with 8” woofer
• Spacious rear-firing bass reflex port
• Linear frequency response of 33 Hz to 25 kHz
• Maximum peak sound pressure per pair in 1 m ≥ 118 dB
• DSP-powered crossover design
• Simple room acoustic adjustments via high- and low-shelf filters
• Analog inputs over XLR and RCA
• Acoustically optimized cabinet geometry

Technical Specification:

Woofer

• Number: 1
• Basket Ø: 8” (203 mm)
• Cone Material: Polypropylene

Tweeter

• Number: 1
• Type: U-ART
• Diaphragm Area: 4 inch² (2420 mm²)
• Equiv. Diaphragm Ø: 1.9” (48 mm)
• Velocity Transform Ratio: 4:1
• Waveguide: HPS

Built-In Amplifiers

• Number: 2
• Woofer: 1
• Type: PWM
• Amp. Power RMS: 70 W
• Tweeter: 1
• Type: PWM
• Amp. Power RMS: 20 W

Control Options

• Input Sensitivity: Switchable +4 dBu / -10 dBV
• Gain: Yes
• High-Shelf: - 2 dB, 0 dB, +2 dB
• Low-Shelf: - 2 dB, 0 dB, +2 dB

Input Connectors

• Analog: XLR, RCA
• Input Impedance: 10 kOhm / 20 kOhm

General Data

• Panel: Rear
• Frequency Response: 33 Hz - 25 kHz
• THD > 80 Hz: 0.5 %
• Max. SPL per pair at 1 m: ≥118 dB
• Crossover Frequency: 2.6 kHz
• Max. Power Consumption: 150 W
• Weight: 21.6 lb (9.8 kg)
• Height x Width x Depth: 15.8” x 9.8 “x 13.2“ (400 mm x 250 mm x 335 mm)

Eve Audio SC3070

SC3070 is a high-resolution, tri-amplified near / mid field monitor optimized for precise midrange and powerful bass response, making it especially well-suited for applications where the complete skill set of a fully-fledged 3-way system is required, but where space is at a premium.

Main Features include:

• Ideal solution for recording, mastering and home studios.
• Air Motion Transformer RS3.1
• Specially designed 4” midrange driver to give accurate and un-hyped transmission
• 7” woofer driver to provide precise and powerful low frequencies
• Fiberglass-coated membrane material
• High-resolution DSP (24bit/192kHz)
• Latency-free filtering and protection from overload
• Three high-quality Class D amplifiers
• Rear-firing bass reflex channel

Technical Specification:

• Dimensions (WxHxD) [inches]: 13.39 x 9.84 x 12.22
• Free-field frequency range (-3dB): 35Hz - 25kHz
• Tweeter: AMT RS3.1
• Midrange: 100mm/4”
• Woofer: 165mm/6.5”
• Cross-over frequency: 320Hz/2800Hz
• Max SPL per pair: 120dBspl
• Number of amplifiers: 3
• Output power (woofer): 185W
• Output power (mid-driver): 100W
• Output power (tweeter): 50W
• Volume: -inf. - +6dB
• High-shelf filter (-5dB - +3dB): > 3kHz
• Mid EQ (-3dB - +3dB): 1kHz
• Desk filter boost (0dB - +3dB): 80Hz
• Desk filter cut (-5dB - 0dB): 160Hz
• Low-shelf filter (-5dB - +3dB): < 300Hz
• Input level dip switch: +7dBu/+22dBu
• Weight [kg/lb.]: 9.8 / 21.6

Fluid Audio - FX80

The new FX series of coaxial studio monitors is a 21st Century reference monitor at home in any recording studio. The FX enclosure has been updated with a complex radius front baffle, which improves cabinet defraction.

Main Features include:

• New, contoured baffle enclosure design
• Coaxial driver
• Boundary compensation DIP switches
• Class D and DSP powered
• LED indicator on front baffle
• Front-loaded slot port design
• Updated Tweeter Grille protection

Technical Specifications :

• Woofer: 8” paper pulp composite cone
• Tweeter: 1.2” Soft Dome
• Frequency response: 35Hz-22kHz (+/- 3dB)
• Crossover frequency: 2.4kHz
• Amplifier Class: Bi-Amped CLASS D
• Low-frequency amplifier power: 60 watts
• High-frequency amplifier power: 50 watts
• Signal-to-noise: 90dB (typical A-weighted)
• Polarity: Positive signal at + input produces outward LF one displacement
• Input impedance: 20 k ohms balanced, 10 k ohms unbalanced
• Input sensitivity: 85 mV pink noise input produces 95dBA output SPL @ one meter with volume control at maximum
• Power: 100V-240V ~50/60 Hz
• System Volume: -30dB to +6dB
• Inputs: Balanced TRS, Balanced XLR, Unbalanced RCA
• Protection: RF interference, output current limiting, over temperature, turn- on/off transient, subsonic filter, external mains fuse
• Cabinet: Vinyl-laminated MDF
• Size (single monitor): 340*254*295 / 13.4*10*11.6
• Weight (each): 7.8 kg / 17.2 lbs

Kali - IN8

Combining the natural advantages of a 3-way design with hyper-realistic imaging of a co-axial mid-range and tweeter, Kali’s IN-8 offers more transparency, lower distortion, and a soundstage that must be heard.

Main Features include:

• Co-Axial Midrange and Tweeter
• 8-Inch Woofer
• Low Noise Port Tube
• Balanced XLR and TRS inputs, and an unbalanced RCA input
• Boundary EQ tuning for optimum sound
• LF and HF trims
• Total harmonic distortion less than 1.4%

Technical Specifications :

• Amplifier Class: D
• Power Configuration: Tri-Amped
• HF Power: 40W (Continuous)
• Midrange Power: 40W (Continuous)
• LF Power: 60W (Continuous)
• Total Power: 140W (Continuous)
• HF Driver: 1” Textile Dome
• Mid-Range Driver: 4” Optimized Profile, Poly Coated Paper
• LF Driver: 8” Poly Coated Paper
• Crossover (LF to Mid-Range): 330 Hz
• Crossover (Mid-Range to HF): 3000 Hz
• Frequency Response: (-10dB) 37Hz - 25 kHz
• Frequency Range: (+/-3 dB) 45Hz - 21Hz
• Listening Distance (85 dB continuous SPL with 20dB dynamic headroom): 2.8 Meters
• Max SPL (Peak @ 1M): 114 dB
• System THD: <1.1% from 70 Hz to 200 Hz; <0.8% from 200 Hz to 3.6kHz; from 3.6kHz to 10kHz; (90dB SPL @1m)
• Unbalanced Inputs: 1 x RCA
• Balanced Inputs: 1 x XLR, 1 x TRS
• TRS/XLR Input Sensitivity: 94dB SPL @1m (anechoic) for +4dBu input.
• RCA Input Sensitivity: 94dB SPL @1m (anechoic) for -10dBV input.
• Height: 17.75 Inches (44.1 cm)
• Depth: 11.25 Inches (28.5cm)
• Width: 10 Inches (25.4cm)
• Weight: 23 lbs (10.4 Kg)

PreSonus ERIS E7 XT

The Eris E7 XT builds on the Eris XT-series adding big, controlled bass in a compact form that will fit into a studio of nearly any size. It’s easy to feed audio to the Eris E7 XT studio monitors from an audio interface, mixer, monitor controller, or almost any other line-level source.

Main Features include:

• New EBM (Elliptical Boundary Modeled) waveguide
• Ported enclosure designed to maximize bass, allowing to reach down to 42 Hz
• Acoustic tuning controls - Low-cut, Mid, and High controls, as well as 3-way acoustic space tuning
• Superior high-frequency response and wider 100-degree horizontal dispersion
• Balanced XLR, balanced ¼” TRS, and unbalanced RCA line-level inputs
• Suitable for both home recording studios and professional mix engineering

Technical Specifications:

Inputs

• 1- Balanced XLR
• 1- Balanced ¼” TRS
• 1- Unbalanced RCA

Performance

• Frequency Response: 42 Hz - 20 kHz
• Crossover Frequency: 2.5 kHz
• LF Amplifier Power: 75W
• HF Amplifier Power: 65W
• Peak SPL (@ 1 meter): 104 dB
• LF Driver: 6.5” reinforced woofer
• HF Driver: 1.25” silk dome tweeter
• Input Impedance: 10 kΩ
• Dispersion: 100 degrees horizontal by 60 degrees vertical

User Controls

• Volume Range: A-type taper
• MF Control: -6, 0, +6 dB
• HF Control: -6, 0, +6 dB
• Low Cut: Flat, 80 Hz, 100 Hz
• Acoustic Space: Flat, -2 dB, -4 dB

Protection

• RF interference
• Output-current limiting
• Over-temperature
• Turn-on/off transient
• Subsonic filter
• External mains fuse

Physical

• Width: 9.4” (240 mm)
• Depth: 9.5” (242 mm)
• Height: 14.4” (365 mm)
• Weight: 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg)

RCF Mytho 8

MYTHO 8 is a two-way reference studio monitor equipped with two separate AB amplifiers - 200 W for the low frequencies and 100 W for the high - unparalleled for low distortion and natural sound.

Main Features include:

• True active 200 W + 100 W class AB design
• Dedicated DSP processing
• Fully featured input board
• 8” neodymium ICC vented woofer
• 1” aluminum dome tweeter
• Constant directivity wave-guide
• Die cast aluminum cabinet
• Reflection free cabinet design
• Low distortion reflex port

Technical Specifications:

Acoustical Specifications

• MAX SPL @ 1M: 116 dB
• Horizontal Coverage Angle: 110°
• Vertical Coverage Angle: 70°

Input/Output section

• Input Signal: bal/unbal
• Input Connectors: Combo XLR/Jack
• Input Sensitivity: -6 dBu/+6 dBu

Processor Section

• Protections: Thermal, Excurs., RMS
• Controls: Bass tilt, roll-off, treeble tilt, desktop, DSP Controlled
• Limiter: Soft Limiter

Power Section

• Total Power: 600 W Peak, 300 W RMS
• High Frequencies: 200 W Peak, 100 W RMS
• Low Frequencies: 400 W Peak, 200 W RMS
• Cooling: Convection
• Connections: VDE

Physical Specifications

• Cabinet/Case Material: Aluminium
• Color: Black
• Hardware: Orientation adjustable stand

Size

• Height: 430 mm / 16.93 inches
• Width: 310 mm / 12.2 inches
• Depth: 300 mm / 11.81 inches
• Weight: 15.7 kg / 34.61 lbs