Alesis M1 Active Mk2 Bi-Amplified Reference Monitor (Pair) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These monitors have excellent sound. I doubt you'll ever hear a complaint about them on that score. There are none even close to as good for the money.
They are, however, one of the most unreliable monitors on the market. Capacitors burn out and power supplies stop working. Many, many complaints of this kind found on the web, with entire websites devoted to fixing them.
A poor design. Avoid.

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By combining our expertise in reference monitor design with our proven track record in studio amplification, Alesis' new M1 Active™ Biamplified Reference Monitor offers the incredibly accurate response that perfectly translates to every playback system. Its internal active crossover and custom-designed dual amplifiers ensure an extremely consistent performance under a variety of different studio conditions and program material. The result is a broad, extremely flat frequency response, clear imaging with a wide sweet spot, high power handling and detailed high- and mid-frequency response that only a professional powered monitor can deliver.

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KRK RP8G2 Rokit G2 8In Powered Studio Monitor Ea Review

Average Reviews:

(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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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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The JBL LSR2325P Powered Studio Monitor is a bi-amplified 2-way model with a detented level control that allows fine adjustment of individual speaker levels to balance the speaker in your system. Low Frequency and High Frequency Trim controls let you tailor the speaker's response to preference or room acoustics. A neoprene rubber pad on the bottom of the speaker provides acoustic isolation and increases stability when the speaker is placed on a speaker stand or a console top. Mounting points are included and the enclosure has been reinforced for safe mounting using industry-standard mounting hardware. Featured to integrate into professional systems, the LSR2325P includes balanced XLR, balanced 1/4 inch and unbalanced RCA inputs that allow connection to a wide range of playback sources including computer audio workstations, professional mixing consoles, as well as consumer playback systems.

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

Average Reviews:

(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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Gemini XTR-500 Complete Powered Speaker System (2 Loudspeakers, 1 Subwoofer) Review

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(More customer reviews)Look if your starting out it's not bad but if you are a professional DJ you will hate it. I mean you get what you pay for, it's a bit under powered but I'm sure it will get the job done on my up coming gig. One thing I dislike is that it's very sensitive so if you turn the volume up on your mixer the 15' subwoofer will give out a mumbling sound. This setup ideal for small gigs.

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RMS (Continuous) Power: 85 watts RMS per satellite channel * Frequency Response: Satellite: 35Hz to100Hz * RMS (Continuous) Power: 400 watts total RMS and 800 watts peak power * Sound Pressure Level (SPL): 120dB total continuous SPL * Individual channel Sensitivity/Volume controls * Balanced XLR and 1/4" inputs * Speakon outputs for satellite channels (Cables Included) * Variable speed fan * Full protective metal grill * Hard wearing black painted finish with rubber feet * NOTE: Speaker stands not included * Weight: 112 lbs. (51 kg) * Weight: Shipping: 119 lbs. (54 kg)

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Numark NPM5 Active 5" Studio Monitors Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For a home recording setup, these monitors are steal! These speakers were highly reviewed on other websites but turned out to be better than I expected. They reproduce sounds faithfully over the full spectrum and, even with bass and treble controls set to a center position, they give a full rounded punchy sound. I'm working in a converted bedroom and only need the gain turned up one third - so there is plenty of juice left.
One tiny niggle is that the Numark nameplates on the speakers are peeling off. The original adhesive is not doing the trick so I'll have to find something else that works. I also wondered whether it was really necessary to have a bright blue LED shining through the right speaker but I guess it is a good reminder if you forget to turn the speakers off.
If you are considering buying these speakers - go for it. As far as setup, I would suggest you strip the speaker wires back another quarter inch each for better contact. Instructions are minimal but, essentially, you would set the volume of your recorder/player to the optimum output level (usually about 80% of slider range), play a recording you are very familiar with, and raise the gain on the speakers to a comfortable level. Adjust bass and treble to suit.
The Amazon order comes via AudioMIDIcom and it seems they got right on it because it arrived on the second day.
According to my own experience, and the other reviews I have read, this setup outperforms others that are many times the price.

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The Numark NPM5 Active 5" Studio Monitors are a self-contained, active speaker system with built-in amplifiers so all you need to do is plug in your system and you're ready to rock. The self-amplified system produces 20 watts of power for exceptional sound in an economical package. You can control the system's level, bass, and treble for the perfect response for the room you're in. NPM5 monitor speakers work with virtually all DJ and music equipment thanks to a standard RCA input. You can even use them in computer-based music studios and setups thanks to their drivers' magnetic shielding.

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TASCAM VLM3 Stereo Powered Reference Monitor Review

Average Reviews:

(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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The TASCAM VL-M3s are affordable stereo monitors for home recording, computer use and mixing. The stereo pair feature 3" drivers with a front-mounted bass port and built-in 24W stereo power amplifier. In addition to being an affordable solution for beginners and musicians on a budget, the VL-M3 monitors provide a "real-world" reference for music and post playback.

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Numark NPM5 Studio Montiro System Review

Average Reviews:

(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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Stereo speaker system, self-powered, 20W, 1"/5", level, treble, bass controls, line input, includes two speakers

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M-Audio Studiophile AV 20 Portable Desktop Speaker System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased a pair of the AV-20s for my 12-year-old daughter's computer. I didn't listen to them very closely, but thought they sounded pretty good, so I bought a pair for myself to use at my office with my laptop. When listening to them a little more closely, I noticed that the right speaker sounded significantly louder than the left speaker. I thought this was strange so I played different types of music, hooked the speakers up to multiple sound sources, and placed the speakers in different locations. The right speaker was always louder than the left speaker. When I held a hand up to each speaker I could "feel" that the vibrations from the right speaker were stronger than the vibrations from the left. I then listened to the Av-20s hooked up to my daughter's computer and, sure enough, the same problem with the right speaker being louder than the left. I returned the pair meant for my office and got a replacement set and it, too, had the same problem of the right speaker being louder than the left. I have returned the replacement speakers as well, so I've now gone through 3 pairs of the AV-20s that all had the same problem. The returns were very easy with Amazon, but I'm disappointed in the speakers. I own a pair of the M-Audio Studiophile AV-40s and love them. They don't exhibit any of the problems I've had with the AV-20s. I'm going to roll the dice and try a pair of the AV-30s and see what kind of luck I have.

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Studiophile AV20 Porable Desktop Speaker System.Optimized for computer audio including music, DVDs and games.Acclaimed M-Audio technology used in pro recording studios.Separate high- and low-frequency drivers with crossover.High-fidelity 10-watt-per-channel internal amplification.Custom cabinet with dense wood construction for full, warm sound. Tight, accurate low-frequency response. Smooth, crisp highs.OptImage III wave guides for superior stereo imaging.Portable design.Magnetic shielding for desktop use.

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M-Audio Studiophile AV30 Professional Reference Speakers Review

Average Reviews:

(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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Studiophile AV30 Speakers. Professional Reference Speakers.

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