Reference Monitors

This Spring, Roland will be shipping two new portable 2.1 speaker systems: the 200W CM-220 and the 100W CM-110 cube monitors. Ideal for project studios, practice, and multi-media displays, the new cube monitors feature two satellite speakers, a subwoofer, and multiple stereo inputs.  

Wherever you need a compact monitoring system, the Genelec announced the 8240A Bi-Amplified DSP Monitoring System is there to help. Ideal for recording studios, post-production houses, broadcast installations, digital edit suites, home studios, and more, the 8240A packs in the features in a small package. It's optimized for applications where a wide frequency response is needed but space is limited.  

What's new from Ocean Way? The HR-3 High Resolution Reference Monitor System -- the latest high-def design from Allen Sides, Grammy Award-winning engineer, producer and, mixer who founded Ocean Way Recording.  

M-Audio is now shipping its portable yet luxe BX5 D2 and BX8 D2 studio monitors. Ideal for performance musicians, video editors, post-production pros, and more, the new monitors boast significant improvements over their predecessors in the BX Deluxe family of monitors.  

Oh the consumer conundrum created by technological revisions. As it is in the computing world, revisions to pro audio gear may be seen as a welcome response to users who've made repeated complaints about inherent design flaws. Of course, the release of an updated model means they have to shell out yet more cash for the state-of-the-art. And what if the new version doesn't offer any real improvements over the original? The question answer in this pro review of the Mackie MR8mk2 Studio Monitor is: in which way, exactly, will the new monitors upset MR8mk1 owners?  

Cerwin-Vega introduced its new XD3 powered desktop speakers -- compact yet powerful reference monitors for any musician or music lover lacking the space for anything larger.  

Like JBL, KRK Systems gets its trademark from its company founder's name. Also like JBL, KRK's founder and namesake split with the company to form a separate business interest (though he maintains close professional ties). Also like JBL, KRK's founder was named James Bullough Lansing. One of these facts is made up.  

Neumann introduced its new KH 120A -- an active studio monitor designed to deliver the most accurate sound reproduction possible for tracking, mixing and mastering in music, broadcast, project and post-production studios.  

Event Electronics announced the return of the 20/20BAS speaker. This next-generation re-release boasts the same features as the original unit, plus improved audio characteristics, increased dynamics, and extended reliability.  

Check out Mackie's redesigned and readily available MRmk2 powered studio reference monitors. The 5.25-inch MR5mk2 and 8-inch MR8mk2 feature all-new professional transducers, hyperbolic-curved cone woofers, and more.  

Owners of studios of any size will want to check out the KRK Systems Rokit RP10-3 mid-field three-way monitor system. This new Rokit delivers accurate reference monitoring in a compact, easy to install system ideal for large and small studios alike.  

ADAM wants you to check out its new AX series speaker model, the A77X, which offers high, compression-free maximum sound pressure levels and dynamics.  

Heads up, audiophiles in the broadcast market -- Genelec is now offering the BroadcastPak, a complete collection of active monitors for multi-channel editing rooms, mobile recording trucks, and other small-sized mixing environments. The "Pak" includes five 8030a Active Monitors and a 7050b Active Subwoofer.  

Genelec is now shipping the 1238CF Tri-Amplified DSP Monitoring System, a compact, three-way DSP monitoring loudspeaker ideal for music recording studios, project studios, film and video post-production, and broadcast monitoring.  

Now available from Fostex, the PM0.5n near-field studio monitors are the updated version of the company's PM0.5mk2, offering 70W of bi-amped power, full-range performance, improved components, redesigned cabinets, and more.  

Check out Mackie's redesigned MRmk2 powered studio reference monitors. The 5.25-inch MR5mk2 and 8-inch MR8mk2 feature all-new professional transducers, hyperbolic-curved cone woofers, and more.  

Akai introduced its new RPM3 professional monitoring system, which features a built-in USB audio interface for streamlined recording and referencing. Compact and portable, the RPM3 monitors are ideal for the mobile musician or producer.  

KK Audio Labs announced the new DS-6 -- a six-inch, two-way powered studio reference monitor for the DS Series of monitors.  

In most home and project studios, quarters are cramped. Compact recording gear can help make your room more efficient, but you don't want to sacrifice audio quality for elbow room. In this hands-on review, Gearwire editorial director Gino Robair gets up close and personal with a pair of KRK VXT4 monitors. Read what he has to say about these ultra-compact reference speakers; they just might be what you need for a tight mix in a tight space.  

Peter Reardon of Shadow Hills Industries give us a look at his new monitor controller, dubbed 'Oculus.' Yet one question remains unanswered: how can something like a simple monitor controller exude so much cool?  

Do you find yourself playing matchmaker with your friends and acquaintances? Even if you answered "no what the hell is wrong with you" to that question, the JBL Professional MSC1 will still let you play matchmaker with your monitors and sources.  

Even if you don't recognize these unassuming-looking bozes from Adam, once you hear a mix through an Adam Audio AX Series reference monitor, you'll never forget them. We got the series overview from Adam US rep Robert Caputo at AES.  

At the recent AES show, the self-effacing man behind the popular and much-praised MicroMain reference monitors, Thomas Barefoot, graciously gave Gearwire a guided tour of the interior of his speakers. Quite literally, there's a lot going on in there.  

After decades of capturing sound, Neumann is finally releasing some via the new Neumann KH120 Studio Reference Monitors. I'll assume we have Bill Clinton to thank.  

Next year, Focal will be releasing its new SM9 studio monitor system, which the company enthusiastically calls the most dynamic, sonically transparent and accurate monitoring system ever built. Yay.  

Our regular contributing reviewer Markkus Rovito likens the KRK Rokit Powered RP6 G2 Studio Monitors to Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski. See, sometimes, there's a monitor, well, it's the monitor for its time and place. . .  

The entry-level Tannoy Reveal 501a active reference monitors are the reborn version of the über-popular, budget-priced Reveal line intro'd in the mid-90s and mysteriously discontinued in the early 2000's. You can watch Owen listen to and discuss his reactions in this video, if you're into that sort of thing.  

Jeff Ehrenberg, engineer and co-owner of Infrasonic Sound in LA, owns a covetous collection of recording gear. His reference monitors of choice are a pair of Barefoot MM27s, active monitors with an side-mounted, resonance-neutral woofer design that makes it totally OK that they're sitting atop a pricey Rupert Neve Designs console.  

Genelec's 1038CF is an all-in-one monitoring system featuring loudspeaker drivers, a slim speaker enclosure, dual 8-inch long throw bass drivers, multiple power amplifiers, and active low-level crossovers in a compact package.  

If you're looking for a monitoring setup with do-it-all DSP, check out the new Genelec 8260A Three-Way DSP System, available now.