IK Multimedia iLoud MTM Review (active monitor)

[Raz]

Speaker frequency response while uqually good in the MTM's and Genelecs, they are different from each other. In fact, the range you're describing is boosted in the Genelecs, but more flat in the MTM's. This means that you would more clearly hear differences in that region because there is less masking. With the MTM's, the response around that range is more prevelant in comparison, which means it's harder to discern.

And this might be why some speakers that don't have a flat response, are still useful for certain applications. Maybe they more clearly reveal a certain section of the frequency range for that application. Like speech. The BBC dip follows that idea to a pretty extreme extent.

Another thing in this regard is that the 8010s don't provide as much bass response, which means the rest of the spectum is easier to discern. Your brain doesn't have to "filter out" the bass when trying to listen to that trumpet. Again, masking is at work here. This effect is dramatically exacerbated when using it in a non-ideal room (which all rooms are), because every room has modes that dramatically increase bass response for certain frequencies.

Does that make the MTM a worse speaker? Of course not. In fact, it provides a broader frequency range while still providing a comparable deviation from the ideal. It's objectively better.

What you describe does not apply to the situation where I isolate 100-250hz with HP and LP filters. In addition, this frequency region is lowered on the KRK's and still the changes are more audible than on the MTM's.

 

[RickNRoll]

I have a difficult room so I have upgraded to the Genelec 8320a with the GLM included in the price for a pair. GLM gives me insight into what is happening while also allowing manual tweaking of the DSP. 8320A is double the price of the IK ILoud MTM but damn they sound very similar with the MTM having a broader low frequency range. The MTM self calibration doesn't tell you what it has done. IK force you to upgrade to the much higher priced Professional speakers to get full ARC support, unfortunately. I strongly suspect that IK could give you full access to the MTM DSP using the USB connection. Sadly, they don't.

If you don't have a difficult room and are using the MTM for desktop nearfield, they are still good value.

 

[Tenfilip]

I have a difficult room so I have upgraded to the Genelec 8320a with the GLM included in the price for a pair. GLM gives me insight into what is happening while also allowing manual tweaking of the DSP. 8320A is double the price of the IK ILoud MTM but damn they sound very similar with the MTM having a broader low frequency range. The MTM self calibration doesn't tell you what it has done. IK force you to upgrade to the much higher priced Professional speakers to get full ARC support, unfortunately. I strongly suspect that IK could give you full access to the MTM DSP using the USB connection. Sadly, they don't.

If you don't have a difficult room and are using the MTM for desktop nearfield, they are still good value.

I guess they also have to pay the licence fee which would be higher, so the MTM would be higher. Anyways, you could do a REW measurement, than calibrate, and than again a REW measurement. For saving effort, you could even use just 1 microphone with 1 stand all of these times.

 

[RickNRoll]

I guess they also have to pay the licence fee which would be higher, so the MTM would be higher. Anyways, you could do a REW measurement, than calibrate, and than again a REW measurement. For saving effort, you could even use just 1 microphone with 1 stand all of these times.

I forgot to add that I also bought them because they integrate into the 7350A subwoofer with the GLM. So the integrated sub is a big bonus as well. I had the complete setup running very easily.

 

[Zensō]

IK force you to upgrade to the much higher priced Professional speakers to get full ARC support, unfortunately.

Perhaps I’m not understanding what you’re saying, but I’m running the full version of ARC with my MTMs? I run it as a plug-in in either SoundSource or Ableton Live.

 

[RickNRoll]

Perhaps I’m not understanding what you’re saying, but I’m running the full version of ARC with my MTMs? I run it as a plug-in in either SoundSource or Ableton Live.

I mean that I want the speakers running the calibrated mode all the time. The ARC software only runs as a VST plugin. The IK Professional speakers have the ARC software linking directly to and calibrating the speaker so you get the calibrated sound all the time.

 

[Zensō]

I mean that I want the speakers running the calibrated mode all the time. The ARC software only runs as a VST plugin. The IK Professional speakers have the ARC software linking directly to the speaker so you get the calibrated sound all the time.

I run ARC within SoundSource on the main OS output, so it‘s running system-wide 100% of the time, which is functionally the same as if it was in the speakers.

 

[Leander Quest]

Hi!

I have the same or a similar problem.

I bought two MTMs from Thomann in 2019. They were perfect, but about two weeks ago, I connected an old guitar effects decive (POD XT) to my computer (via USB) and connected the speakers to them...when turning on the POD XT, I got a bluescreen of death, Windows crashed and my speakers had a very loud beeping noise.

After turning everything off and rebooting my computer, I noticed a low-level noise in both speakers.

I am not 100% sure, BUT I think the MTMs were completely silent until this bluescreen of death, and the noise problem only resulted from it.

I ordered new speakers from Thomann, connected them...and they both had the same low-level noise.

Now I don't know if

a) my old speakers were completely silent until my accident, got damaged and the new ones have the low-level noise problem described in this thread
b) my mind played a trick on me and the low-level noise is normal.

I tried old speakers, new power cables, new speakers, new cables, even a different audio interface...but the problem persisted.

The speakers are connected via good XLR cables. Is it possible that such cables get damaged when there is a bluescreen of death because of a potential feedback loop of my computer and the POD XT? It is either broken cables or new faulty speakers or my mind plays tricks on me.

Here is the noise recorded with my phone. The low-level noise and me pressing the power button to turn them off:

https://www.seelenpuls.at/temp/rauschen.mp3

How should MTMs be when connected to the computer? Completely silent or with a low-level noise?

The number (model number, production date or whatever) of my old speakers from 2019 starts with 190558...
My new speakers start with 221005...

Please help!

 

[Zensō]

How should MTMs be when connected to the computer? Completely silent or with a low-level noise?

My MTMs are silent. Since the noise is present on both sets of MTMs, I’d be checking the source. Do you have another set of speakers you can use to check the source computer?

 

[Leander Quest]

I have two sets of MTMs and some multimedia speakers...and an old computer with an M-Audio device, but I cannot connect my MTMs because I don't have the cable needed.

I read reviews at Thomann and someone said "Low-level noise is normal for any speakers and MTMs have a low-level one."

But I "think" I'm sure they were completely silent before the bluescreen.

 

[Zensō]

I have two sets of MTMs and some multimedia speakers...and an old computer with an M-Audio device, but I cannot connect my MTMs because I don't have the cable needed.

I read reviews at Thomann and someone said "Low-level noise is normal for any speakers and MTMs have a low-level one."

But I "think" I'm sure they were completely silent before the bluescreen.

Unless you massively boosted the volume, the noise you recorded is not normal.

 

[Leander Quest]

Thanks for your reply. I recorded it with my phone, then boosted it so you can hear it. However, you definitely hear it when next to the speaker.

 

[solderdude]

Are you bothered by the noise under normal usage (say 0.5m away) ?
Nothing connected and volume turned down ?
Sounds 'normal' when playing ?

 

[Leander Quest]

It is very low. You need to put your ear next to the speaker. The noise is always the same volume regardless of speaker or audio device settings.

 

[solderdude]

Sounds pretty normal to me, mine has very low noise, I really need to put your ear against the tweeter to hear it. Can't hear any noise even from 10cm away.
The LS305 I could hear from 0.5 meter away.

I think you can stop worrying about the speakers.

 

[Berwhale]

It is very low. You need to put your ear next to the speaker. The noise is always the same volume regardless of speaker or audio device settings.

How are the MTMs connected to your computer? Are you using a balanced DAC or interface? My MTMs do give off a small amount of noise, but it's barely audible (or at least not bothersome) at my listening distance of around 80cm.

 

[Leander Quest]

Thanks!

It is difficult. Some say the speakers are ok, some say they aren't (not just here, but where I asked).

It's not a real problem as you only hear it when your ear is right next to the speakers. BUT I am 90% sure there was not this sound when I bought my first pair of MTMs in 2019...and when both my old and new ones now have this sound, I'm afraid something will be broken...which will mess up mixing music.

I use XLR cables to connect them to my Motu M4 device which is again connected to my computer via USB. I also have an old Audient ID4 device, but the sound is just the same.

I will try it with my old computer and also my old speakers (before MTMs) with my current computer....and also ordered new cables just in case the bluescreen harmed the old ones.

I sent an email to IK Multimedia (and Thomann) and asked if the speakers are supposed to have this low-level sound or they are completely silent.

I found someone else who has uploaded a sound recording of the same or a similar sound issue. As I cannot upload it here, I will post a link to the mp3. Here it is:

https://www.seelenpuls.at/temp/iloud_someoneelse.mp3

 

[earlevel]

Thanks!

It is difficult. Some say the speakers are ok, some say they aren't (not just here, but where I asked).

It's not a real problem as you only hear it when your ear is right next to the speakers. BUT I am 90% sure there was not this sound when I bought my first pair of MTMs in 2019...and when both my old and new ones now have this sound, I'm afraid something will be broken...which will mess up mixing music.

I use XLR cables to connect them to my Motu M4 device which is again connected to my computer via USB. I also have an old Audient ID4 device, but the sound is just the same.

I will try it with my old computer and also my old speakers (before MTMs) with my current computer....and also ordered new cables just in case the bluescreen harmed the old ones.

I sent an email to IK Multimedia (and Thomann) and asked if the speakers are supposed to have this low-level sound or they are completely silent.

I found someone else who has uploaded a sound recording of the same or a similar sound issue. As I cannot upload it here, I will post a link to the mp3. Here it is:

https://www.seelenpuls.at/temp/iloud_someoneelse.mp3

Oh...this reminded me...

I had occasional low-level sounds—barely audible at listening distance, but clearly coming from the speaker (usually just one, IIRC, but sometimes the other) if I put my ear next to it. I never figured out the source—it was gone if I disconnected the speaker input. It would come and go, but it happened often. I kept telling myself I'd have to track down the source when I had time.

But it went away. I forgot about it, it certainly be months, it could be a year or so. But listening to your recording reminded me of it. The speakers are completely quiet now. But like I said, the source didn't seem to be the speakers, but I also could not be sure it was the DAC.

Mac Pro (2019) usb -> Topping DX7 Pro balanced outs -> iLoud MTMs (XLR)

Wait...there was one thing. My computer display is Apple Pro Display XDR, it sits exactly 5" off the table top. Under its edge sits the Topping XDR. the faces of the two are dead even right now. I know that there were times that it was making the noise that it would go away or drop in level if I'd move the DAC back. I think it was originally a couple of inches forward from its current position. However, it wasn't super consistent, at times the connection seemed clear, other times not so much, and the noise would come back when they were positioned in a way that previously was quiet. But the fact is it's gone away completely for a long time. Firmware update to the display? Who knows...

 

[RickNRoll]

You have to do the firmware update.

 

[solderdude]

Thanks!

It is difficult. Some say the speakers are ok, some say they aren't (not just here, but where I asked).

It's not a real problem as you only hear it when your ear is right next to the speakers. BUT I am 90% sure there was not this sound when I bought my first pair of MTMs in 2019...and when both my old and new ones now have this sound, I'm afraid something will be broken...which will mess up mixing music.

I use XLR cables to connect them to my Motu M4 device which is again connected to my computer via USB. I also have an old Audient ID4 device, but the sound is just the same.

I will try it with my old computer and also my old speakers (before MTMs) with my current computer....and also ordered new cables just in case the bluescreen harmed the old ones.

I sent an email to IK Multimedia (and Thomann) and asked if the speakers are supposed to have this low-level sound or they are completely silent.

I found someone else who has uploaded a sound recording of the same or a similar sound issue. As I cannot upload it here, I will post a link to the mp3. Here it is:

https://www.seelenpuls.at/temp/iloud_someoneelse.mp3

well... the noise is normal, the tone/whistle is not.
Mine only has a low level hiss with my ear against the tweeter which is perfectly normal.
The question is whether or not that tone in the MP3 is real or that a dynamic mic was used which also happened to pick up some of the internal SMPS stray fields.