🔊 General & Driver Specs¶

• Type: 2-Way/3-speakers. LF drivers: 2 x 3.5" composite cellulose fiber, custom-made mid-woofers. HF drivers: 1" low distortion, back chambered silk dome tweeter. Acoustic design: bass reflex.

  • Pro Speaker: “2-Way” means it has two types of drivers (a woofer and a tweeter) to handle different frequency ranges. “3-speakers” means there are two of one type (the LF drivers, which are 2 x 3.5") and one of another (the HF driver). Using two mid-woofers provides more surface area to move air, resulting in cleaner, louder, and deeper bass (better low-frequency extension) without distortion. Composite cellulose fiber and custom-made indicate expensive materials fabricated in-house. The tweeter’s’ silk dome provides a smooth, non-fatiguing high-frequency sound, and the back chambered design manages the air pressure behind the tweeter diaphragm, significantly reducing unwanted back reflections and distortion from the tweeter, especially at high volumes. A bass reflex design uses a port (a hole in the cabinet) to enhance low-frequency output.

  • Cheap Speaker: Varies significantly; may be a single full-range unit handling all frequencies, a 2-way system (woofer/tweeter) or a 2.1 system (two small speakers + a sub), or even a design similar to the pro speaker with two LF, although less common. Will use generic, mass-market 2" to 4" paper or basic plastic cone drivers for LF and a small, generic plastic, Mylar, or metallic tweeter, often without any special acoustic chamber. Basic ported or simple sealed cabinet. The cabinet will be engineered to the driver, rather than both being designed to specification.

• Crossover Type / Frequency: Digital, linear phase / 2.8 kHz, digitally controlled studio monitor

  • Pro Speaker: Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is a powerful tool used to fine-tune the speaker’s performance digitally. This allows for precise control over the frequency response and phase, correcting for imperfections in the physical components. The DSP ensures the bass reflex system is perfectly integrated, preventing boominess or muddiness. A Digital, linear phase crossover ensures that the low and high frequencies blend seamlessly without introducing phase shifts (time delays) that would “smear” the sound.

  • Cheap Speaker: Basic passive (analog) crossover built with simple capacitors/inductors. Frequency is less precisely chosen. No DSP tuning.

  • Verdict: This is critical for studio accuracy and a complex feature only possible with DSP.

, “Bi-amped” means there are two separate amplifiers—one for the low frequencies (woofer) and one for the high frequencies (tweeter). This allows for much greater control and efficiency, as each amplifier is optimized for its specific task. A cheap computer speaker will be a “single-amp” design, with a single, low-power amp driving both the woofer and tweeter (if it even has a separate tweeter). The amplifier is often a generic, low-cost integrated circuit. This limits dynamic range and can introduce distortion when the amp is pushed hard. using passive or basic single amplification. No digital control * Verdict: Bi-amping (separate amps for low/high frequencies) and digital control (DSP) allow for much greater accuracy, power efficiency, and the ability to fine-tune the sound precisely for a flat frequency response. Cheap speakers prioritize cost over accuracy.

* **Pro Speaker:** 
* **Cheap Speaker:** These typically have a simple, non-tuned bass port or are a sealed box. There is no DSP; the acoustic design is purely passive and rudimentary, leading to an uncontrolled and often bloated bass response.
* **Verdict:** DSP (Digital Signal Processing) tuning is the core of this monitor's accuracy. It precisely manages the drivers, crossover, and frequency response to achieve a flat and accurate sound, something cheap speakers cannot do.

• Number of amps per speaker: 2 (bi-amped) / Amplifiers type: High efficiency Class-D

  • Pro Speaker: Two dedicated amps per speaker (bi-amping), one for the low-frequency driver and one for the high-frequency driver, dramatically improves clarity and dynamic range. Class-D amps are highly efficient, producing less heat and allowing for a more compact and powerful design.

  • Cheap Speaker: Typically 1 power amplifier per speaker (if not self-powered) or one main amp for the entire system (2.1). One very basic, low-power Class AB or D amp for the whole system, often in just one of the speakers (the other is a passive slave). This single amp has to handle the entire frequency spectrum, which can lead to distortion, especially at higher volumes. Often cheaper, less efficient Class A/B or simpler, low-power Class-D.

  • Verdict: Bi-amplification means each driver (LF and HF) has its own dedicated amplifier, allowing for optimal power delivery and control to each component, improving dynamic range and clarity. High efficiency Class-D offers high power output with less heat and greater efficiency than traditional amps, contributing to better performance in a compact enclosure.

🎶 Power & Performance Specs¶

• Total power: 100 W RMS; LF Power / HF Power 70 W RMS / 30 W RMS

  • Pro Speaker: RMS (Root Mean Square) power is a measure of continuous power handling, indicating how much power the speaker can handle over a sustained period without being damaged. 100W RMS is a significant amount of power for a desktop speaker.

  • Cheap Speaker: A cheap speaker will often list “peak power” (e.g., 200W PMPO), which is a misleadingly high number representing a brief, unsustainable power burst. The actual RMS power is usually a fraction of that, often less than 10W. Usually expressed in vague “Peak Power” (PMPO), which can be 10x higher than the real RMS power. True RMS power is typically 5-20W per speaker. LF/HF not applicable; single amp for both.

  • Verdict: 100W RMS is a significant amount of clean, usable power, providing loud, clear audio with substantial headroom before distortion. Cheap speakers are vastly less powerful. HF/LF shows the power is properly allocated, with more going to the lower frequencies which require more power to produce sound.

• Frequency response: 48 Hz to 28 kHz ± 2 dB (accurate range); 36 Hz to 32 kHz @ -10 dB (full range)

  • Pro Speaker: This is one of the most important specs. A studio monitor is all about a flat frequency response (the ±2 dB part), meaning it reproduces all sounds at a similar volume level across the spectrum. This “uncolored” sound is crucial for mixing and mastering, as it allows audio engineers to hear a true representation of their work. The wide range from 48 Hz to 28 kHz is impressive.

  • Cheap Speaker: Typically a wide, highly inaccurate range like “20 Hz - 20 kHz” with no specified tolerance (implying huge ± values). Bass is often inflated and muddy.These speakers typically have a “smiley face” frequency response, where the bass and treble are boosted and the mids are recessed. This creates a “fun” sound for casual listening but is completely inaccurate for professional work. Their stated frequency range is often very optimistic and lacks the critical “± dB” tolerance.

  • Verdict: The ± 2 dB tolerance is the most important spec here, indicating a very flat (accurate) frequency response over the stated range, which is essential for a monitor. The ability to reproduce bass down to 36 Hz is excellent for small monitors. Cheap speakers have significant peaks and dips, distorting the sound.

• Phase response: System remains coherent within +/- 15°...

  • Pro Speaker: This is a highly technical spec rarely seen on consumer products. It refers to the time alignment of the sound waves from the woofer and tweeter. A coherent phase response means the sound from both drivers arrives at your ears at the same time, which is essential for accurate stereo imaging and a clear, defined soundstage.

  • Cheap Speaker: Not measured or advertised. Phase is typically poor. Will have a poor or unlisted phase response. The drivers are not time-aligned, which can lead to a blurry or less focused sound.

  • Verdict: This is an extremely high-end spec demonstrating superior time alignment between the drivers, meaning the sound waves arrive at the listener’s ear at the same time. This translates to incredibly sharp and focused stereo imaging.

• SPL (Sound Pressure Level) specs: 97 dB Continuous, 110.5 dB Peak

  • Pro Speaker: These specs show how loud the speaker can get without significant distortion. A continuous SPL of 97 dB is very loud, suitable for a professional listening environment, and the high peak SPL of 110.5 dB indicates a lot of dynamic headroom for reproducing transients (sudden loud sounds).

  • Cheap Speaker: Will have a much lower maximum SPL and distort heavily at volumes far below the stated peak, if a peak is even provided. They are not built for continuous high-volume use. Typically much lower, often around 85-90 dB continuous.

  • Verdict: This indicates the speakers can play very loud (110.5 dB is rock concert level) while maintaining high sound quality, providing significant headroom (the difference between average volume and max volume).

⚙️ Control & Connectivity Specs¶

• Placement setup: Manual switches for room/placement correction (e.g., LF/HF/Desk Switch)

  • Pro Speaker: The manual switches and “Desk switch” are key features for a studio monitor. They allow the user to adjust the speaker’s frequency response to compensate for its physical placement (e.g., on a desk, near a wall, or in a corner). This is a crucial feature for professional use, where room acoustics and speaker placement are a big part of the challenge.

  • Cheap Speaker: No such controls exist. The sound is fixed, and any negative acoustic effects from placement (like a boomy bass from being against a wall) cannot be corrected. Non-existent or a simple, ineffective “Bass Boost” knob.

  • Verdict: These features allow the user to acoustically tune the speaker to its placement (e.g., on a desk, near a wall, in a corner) to counteract room-based frequency issues. This requires the DSP and is a sign of a professional tool.

• Calibration: Fully automatic and built-in digital calibration, 1/8" TS ARC microphone input

  • Pro Speaker: The inclusion of an automatic digital calibration system (like ARC) is a very expensive, high-end feature. The speaker uses a microphone to analyze the room’s acoustics and then uses the built-in DSP to automatically correct for problems like standing waves, ensuring the flattest possible frequency response in that specific room.

  • Cheap Speaker: No calibration / Non-existent. The speaker sounds the way it was designed to, regardless of the room.

  • Verdict: This implies the speaker can use a connected microphone (listed in the connectors) to measure the acoustics of the room and automatically adjust its DSP settings for the flattest possible response in that specific environment—a key feature for high-end studio gear.

• Total Latency (TOF): 2.44 ms

  • Pro Speaker: This is a spec for digital gear, ensuring the small time delay introduced by the DSP is minimal enough for real-time monitoring while recording.

  • Cheap Speaker: Not measured, analog signal has minimal latency.

  • Verdict: Cheap speaker has lower latency, a win.

• Connectors: 1x combo XLR-1/4" TRS balanced input; 1 x USB type-B

  • Pro Speaker: Balanced inputs (XLR/TRS) are standard for professional audio gear. They are designed to reject noise and interference over long cable runs, ensuring a clean signal from the source (e.g., an audio interface or mixing console). Digital USB signal connects directly to DSP.

  • Cheap Speaker: Will use unbalanced connectors like a simple 3.5mm (1/8") headphone jack or RCA, which are susceptible to noise and interference, especially over longer distances.

  • Verdict: Balanced inputs are professional-grade and reject electrical interference over long cable runs, crucial in a studio environment.