Jun 1, 1998 6:25 PM, By Loren Alldrin

SPOTTING AN ACTIVE TREND

A few years back, active near-field speakers were so bass-happy that they vibrated right off the console. Today, the majority of near-field studio monitors introduced are active designs with built-in amplifiers and electronics. Passive models still have their place, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a monitor manufacturer that’s not selling or designing a self-powered near-field. Even amplifier and console manufacturers are getting into the game, selling active monitors that use their electronics.

The benefits of self-powered monitors and subwoofers are numerous. Sonically, active near-fields enjoy a perfect match between driver and amp, coupled by an extremely short chunk of cable. Electronic crossovers offer less distortion and power loss than their passive counterparts. Active monitors are convenient and compact, as they need no external amp to perform their magic.

Despite the trend toward active monitors, passive designs are far from endangered. Passive models offer the benefits of lower price, lighter weight, no heat generation and no active components to fail. Best of all, passive monitors allow you to use the amplifier of your choice, be it inexpensive MOSFET design or esoteric tube model.

Regardless of what type of monitor you prefer, the past year-and-a-half has seen many new near-field designs introduced. Whether your budget is $300 or $20,000, you’ll find a pair of monitors to bring your music to life.

Here, in alphabetical order, is the latest crop of passive and active monitors and subwoofers on the market.

ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS
The new SCM20A active near-field studio monitor from ATC (dist. by TransAmerica Audio Group, www.transaudiogroup.com) is housed in a unique die-cast aluminum housing that improves structural rigidity and heat dissipation. The British-made SCM20A ($4,595 per pair) uses a 6-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter, 250-watt and 50W amplifier sections and phase-corrected active crossover. A rear panel selector provides five different low-frequency boost settings for optimum sound in diverse listening environments.

Bag End (www.bagend.com) establishes new pricing for its Infrasub 18 subwoofer and MM-8 active near-fields. The Infrasub 18 (now $1,495) uses an 18-inch driver, 400W amplifier, active crossover with highpass outputs and ELF integrator for output down to 8 Hz. The MM-8 (now $1,240 each) is a coaxial time-aligned monitor with 8-inch cone and 1-inch high-frequency compression driver. Three high-frequency EQ settings allow compensation for mix position and application.

The DIVA Genesis 8 and Genesis 10 monitors are the latest offerings from Barbetta Manufacturing (www.barbetta.com). Both are self-powered designs with Multiloop Feedback™ MOSFET amplifiers, shielded bass-reflex cabinet with rear-firing port, 1-inch titanium-dome tweeter, 90W RMS output power per driver and midrange/treble trim controls. The DIVA Genesis 8 ($1,395 per pair) uses an 8-inch long-throw woofer; the DIVA Genesis 10 ($1,595) uses a similar 10-inch woofer for deeper bass response and higher overall output levels.

Dynaudio Acoustics (www.dynaudioacoustics.com) expands its BM Series monitor line with the active BM6A and the BM15A. The BM6A ($2,599 per pair) uses a 7-inch woofer, Esotec tweeter, rear-firing port and two 100W discrete MOSFET amplifiers. The BM6A also offers variable-Q equalization on the low-frequency channel and a slow-acting optical limiter circuit for high-frequency driver protection. The BM15A ($3,599 per pair) uses a 10-inch woofer and 200W amplifier, front-ported cabinet, adjustable high- and low-frequency trim and optical high-frequency limiter.

Following its successful 20/20bas active and 20/20 passive monitors, Event Electronics (www.event1.com) has taken a unique approach to self-powered monitors with its new 20/20p ($599 a pair). Instead of two power amps per speaker, one of the Event 20/20p enclosures contains two full-range 100W power amps: one for the powered speaker and one for the passive satellite. The 20/20p offers an 8-inch woofer, 1-inch silk-dome tweeter, and high- and low-frequency trim controls. Event’s Tria workstation monitor ($849) is a tri-amplified system that comprises a subwoofer with all five amplifiers and two-way satellite speakers. Fully shielded and compact, the Tria satellites make the system well-suited to computer-based audio production, multimedia and audio post.

Designed for classical recording and other critical monitoring, the Focus Audio (www.focusaudio.com) Model 68 is a two-way design using a 1-inch-dome ScanSpeak tweeter and 5.5-inch Eton Kevlar woofer in a 13x7x10-inch (HxWxD) 20-pound enclosure finished in black piano lacquer. Frequency response is rated at 45 to 22k Hz, ±3 dB. The passive crossover uses 1% high-grade MIT and Solen components. The 68 is designed for listening spaces from 1,000 to 2,000 cubic feet; other models are available for larger rooms. Retail is $2,500 a pair.

New from Genelec (www.genelec.com) are the 1092A and 1094A subwoofer systems, as well as the 1029A active monitor system and companion 1091A subwoofer. The dual 8-inch 1092A ($2,150) and 15-inch 1094A ($3,699) are redesigned to offer a discrete subwoofer input channel, in addition to left, center and right inputs and outputs. The 1029A bi-amplified monitors ($1,070 per pair) offer a 3/4-inch metal-dome tweeter on Genelec’s Directivity Control Waveguide, 5-inch woofer, a pair of 40W amplifiers and treble/bass filter controls. Adding the new 8-inch 1091A active subwoofer ($680) extends low-frequency response of the 1029A system down to 38 Hz.

Hafler’s (www.hafler.com) TRM-8 Trans•nova powered reference monitors are bi-amplified studio near-field speakers. Inside the compact vented cabinets is an active crossover with two amps using Hafler’s patented Trans•nova design, with 75W for the 1-inch dome tweeter and 150W for the 8-inch woofer. Other features include a tweeter waveguide, magnetic shielding, dual clip lights and rear-mounted EQ adjustments for tailing room acoustics. Retail is $2,400 a pair.

The Hot House (www.hothousepro.com) just got a little hotter, thanks to three new powered subwoofers from Hot House Professional Audio. All three offer MOSFET amplifiers, long-excursion drivers, sixth-order-tuned enclosures and high-SPL output down to 20 Hz. The ASB 212 ($4,999) offers two 12-inch drivers coupled to a 600W amplifier. The ASB 112 ($3,499) and ASB 110 ($2,999) offer a single 12-inch and 10-inch driver, with 450W of power from the internal amplifier. A pair of Hot House ASB 212s are available as a package with the Tannoy AMS12A concentric 12-inch monitors for high-SPL, wide-bandwidth monitoring applications ($18,000).

JBL (www.jblpro.com) Linear Spatial Reference line of studio monitors offer even response through a 60° horizontal and 30° vertical dispersion field. Design advancements include a dual-voice coil woofer with dynamic braking coil, noise-free port and spheroidal tweeter waveguide. The LSR line includes a passive three-way system with 12-inch woofer, 5-inch midrange and composite tweeter ($999); a self-powered two-way system with 8-inch woofer and composite tweeter ($999); and self-powered 12-inch subwoofer ($1,099).

KRK (www.krksys.com) expands its reference monitor line with addition of the self-powered Exposé E7, E8 and affordable V8 self-powered near-fields. The E7 and E8 are both two-way designs with dual 140W fully discrete amplifiers, high-frequency attenuation controls, 1-inch dome tweeters and Kevlar woofers. The E7 ($2,995 a pair) uses a 7-inch woofer, and the E8 ($3,995 a pair) uses an 8-inch woofer. The V8 near-field ($1,249 per pair) is an active two-way design with an 8-inch Kevlar woofer, soft-dome tweeter, 130W low-frequency and 70W high-frequency amplifiers, and high-frequency trim control.

Mackie’s (www.mackie.com) first entry into studio near-fields is the HR824, a self-powered design with an 8-inch woofer and 1-inch aluminum-dome tweeter. The HR824 ($1,495 per pair) houses a pair of Mackie’s Fast Recovery Series amplifiers supplying 150W to the woofer and 100W to the tweeter. Instead of the common ported bass-reflex enclosure, the HR824 uses a large passive radiator mounted to the back of the cabinet. Electronic controls include acoustic space compensation, highpass filtering and high-frequency trim.

One of the pioneers of active studio monitoring, Meyer Sound (www.meyersound.com) has concentrated its efforts more in the area of live sound than recording since the introduction of its revered HD-1 active monitor. Now, Meyer introduces the HM-1S self-powered studio near-field. The HM-1S ($1,700 each with power supply) uses a dual-concentric driver that pairs a 7-inch graphite woofer and 1-inch soft-dome tweeter, dual 200W amps, magnetically shielded enclosures and phase-corrected crossover to 15 kHz. Each HM-1S will power an additional HM-1S subwoofer ($650), which uses a front-firing 10-inch woofer to improve system output down to 42 Hz.

Quested’s (www.quested.com) line of studio monitors expands with the addition of a new powered subwoofer and active near-field speaker. The VS1115 subwoofer ($3,702) uses a 15-inch woofer in a ported enclosure, 400W amplifier, three normal inputs and one effects input, and numerous highpass outputs for use in a variety of applications. The compact F11 active monitor ($1,032 each) boasts a 6.5-inch woofer and 1-inch soft-dome tweeter matched to a 100W and 35W amp respectively. The F11’s magnetically shielded enclosure is molded out of a dense, acoustically inert mineral-loaded material. Electronic controls include high- and low-frequency contour equalization.

The SA-200 and SA-300 monitors are the newest offerings from Spendor (www.spendoraudio.com). Both are self-powered designs that utilize a high-density MDF ported cabinet, 1-inch silk soft-dome tweeter, 50W treble and 130W bass amplifiers, delayed on/off circuit for transient protection and high/low-frequency equalization. The SA-200 ($2,495 a pair) uses a 6.5-inch woofer, and the SA-300 ($3,695) uses an 8-inch woofer.

The latest monitor in the Spirit family is the bi-amped 4P active near-field. The 4P ($1,300 a pair) uses a pair of 100W amps to drive a 6.5-inch long-throw woofer and 1-inch soft-dome tweeter; both drivers are shielded for placement near a video monitor. A vented cabinet uses a large, flared port to maintain bass response even at high volumes. Active crossover provides time compensation for driver alignment.

New additions to the REL subwoofer line by Sumiko (www.sumikoaudio.net) include the Stentor II, Storm and Q-100 E. The Reference Series Stentor II ($4,000) offers a 300W amp driving a pair of 10-inch woofers; Acoustic Resistive Matrix loading increases bass control and extension down to 15 Hz. The Storm ($1,595) uses a 10-inch woofer coupled to an internal 100W amp. The Q-100E ($995) loads a 12-inch woofer and 100W amp in a compact 16-inch cube cabinet.

Tannoy (www.tannoy.com), best known for its point-source coaxial designs, introduces two new self-powered coaxial studio monitors. The System 600A ($1,595 per pair) uses a 6.5-inch dual-concentric driver matched to a pair of 70W amplifiers; electronic controls include low-frequency and high-frequency contour switches. The System 800A ($2,295) uses an 8-inch dual-concentric driver with two 90W amplifiers. Both systems offer magnetically shielded cabinets. Tannoy also released the low-cost Reveal monitor ($399 a pair), a speaker that uses a traditional dual-driver design comprising a 6.5-inch woofer and 1-inch soft-dome tweeter. The Reveal is magnetically shielded for placement close to video monitors.

PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE
Alesis (www.alesis.com) is now shipping its SMS™ Surround Monitoring System, which debuted at NAMM a year ago. The SMS system includes two different models: the Point Source ($199 each) set of three low-profile shielded speakers for the left/center/right channels and Point Surround ($499 a pair) with two wall-mountable surround speakers. A standard setup includes three LCR and two surround speakers. The LCR speaker has three response settings for approximating theater listening conditions. The surround speaker has settings to emulate Dolby Pro Logic and Dolby Digital/DTS playback curves.

Ambiance Acoustics (www.calcube.com) introduces a unique full-range monitor system with the California Cube. Using multiple 4.5-inch full-range drivers and an outboard EQ processor, the California Cubes claim to offer tight dispersion and sharp imaging. With no crossovers used, the California Cubes ($1,395, including equalizer) have no phase distortion and no circuitry between amp and speaker. The EQC-1 equalizer offers bass roll-off filter, tape monitor loop and EQ bypass.

Audix (www.audixusa.com) has upgraded its flagship studio monitors: Formerly known as the Nile V and Nile X, the new N5 ($1,495 a pair) and N10 ($1,995) speakers now feature dense 13-ply Baltic birch cabinets in blond or black finishes. Available with a 1-inch cloth-dome tweeter and either single or dual 7-inch Kevlar woofers, the speakers have a stated frequency response of 40 to 20k Hz (±3 dB).

Direct sales on the Internet have allowed Digital Designs (www.ddaudio.com) to dramatically reduce the prices on its DD161-FB and M6b-FB monitors. Both offer ported bass-reflex design, 6.5-inch woofer and adjustable bass alignment (removable port plugs). The M6b-FB ($219, was $449) offers a liquid-cooled 20mm tweeter; the DD161d ($399, was $889) offers magnetic shielding, a larger woofer magnet structure than the M6b-FB, midrange EQ switch and 1-inch aluminum-alloy tweeter.

Dynaudio Acoustics adds a new passive monitor to its BM Series: the BM6. The BM6 monitor ($1,169 a pair) is a compact two-way design with 7-inch woofer, Esotec tweeter, rear-firing port and impedance-compensated crossover.

Jointly developed by Korg and Boston Acoustics, the Korg (www.korgusa.com) RM8 reference studio monitor RM8 ($210) is a ported design with 7-inch woofer and 1-inch Kortec dome tweeter. MDF cabinet and “window pane bracing” eliminate unwanted box resonance, while a flared port reduces audible port turbulence at high volumes. The RM8 is magnetically shielded.

In addition to its new active designs, KRK introduces the passive RoKit personal monitors. The inexpensive and compact RoKit monitors ($329 a pair) offer a 6.5-inch woofer, 1-inch silk-dome tweeter and 75W power handling. The RoKit monitors are video-shielded for multimedia and audio post applications.

With the introduction of the AC-3 speaker system, M&K (www.mkprofessional.com) addresses the needs of professionals mixing music and soundtracks in 5.1. The THX-approved AC-3 comprises the MPS-150 speakers for the front channels, the MPS-150 SUR surround speakers and a choice of three different powered subwoofers. MPS-150 front speakers are available in several different angled configurations to ensure optimum coverage; MPS SUR speakers can be remotely switched between standard dipole, direct radiator and M&K’s unique Tripole™ mode. System price, depending on options, starts around $7,000.

A new player in the studio market, Neosonik debuts a pair of two-way monitors: the Z1 and Z2. Both use advanced composite materials and proprietary drivers to reduce harmonic distortion. The Z1 and Z2 are passive designs with a 1-inch silk-dome tweeter, nonresonant cabinet with sandwiched damping material, linear-excursion Kevlar woofers and magnetic shielding. The Z1 ($1,200 per pair) uses a 5-inch woofer, while the Z2 ($2,000 per pair) uses a 6-inch woofer.

The Professional Monitor Company (www.pmcloudspeaker.com) introduces the IB1S mid/near-field reference monitor, a passive three-way design that uses transmission line technology for extended bass reproduction, lower distortion and higher output levels. The IB1S ($4,500 a pair) uses an ultrastiff carbon-fiber/Nomex woofer and soft-fabric mid- and high-frequency dome drivers.

With a unique driver arrangement and an even more unique name, the Bath Camera near-fields from Shedworks TLC are compact, three-way monitors designed for console-top use. The passive Bath Camera monitors ($899 a pair) use a rear-firing 6.5-inch woofer, 5.25-inch midrange driver and neodymium dome tweeter in a sealed enclosure. Crossover is a phase-corrected design with five-way binding posts; system power handling is 90W RMS.

Sundholm Acoustics introduces two new passive monitors: the SL6.5e ($795 per pair) and the SL8.0 ($995 per pair). The SL6.5e offers a 6.5-inch mineral-filled woofer, 1-inch soft-dome tweeter and gold-plated bi-wire connectors. The SL8.0 boasts an 8-inch woofer, 1-inch aluminum-dome tweeter and phase-correction front plate. Adding a pair of Sundholm subwoofers to the SL6.5e system creates the SL6.5s ($2,095 per pair). The subwoofer component of this system offers 10-inch front-mounted drivers in tall bass-reflex cabinets that function as speaker stands for the SL6.5e monitors.

Known for its high-end studio monitors and distinctive wooden horns, Westlake Audio (www.westlakeaudio.com) introduces a subwoofer companion to its popular BBSM-10: the BB-10SWP. The BB-10SWP ($9,850 per pair) offers a single front-mounted 18-inch driver in a ported enclosure and highpass outputs for passive bi-amp or tri-amp applications. When used with the BBSM-10, the BB-10SWP forms an ultrarigid speaker stand for the full-range monitors.