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Kali Audio IN-8 Studio Monitor Review

I've looked at Genelec recently, because of this thread and since I like the LS50 and coaxials in general, but man everything they make is really expensive. Especially the coaxes. I wonder if it's worth the money. You're easily looking at 4k for a pair and then you haven't bought stereo subs yet.
The 8020D and 8030C are quite cheap and still extremely good.
 
For speakers in this class, crossover is universally done using DSP, a technically superior solution.
I wouldn't subscribe to this yet. There is a transition from analogue crossovers to digital ones, but mostly in the expensive models/brands (Kii, Grimm audio, D&D, ...). All current Neumanns except the smallest (KH80) are still analogue, and I'm quite sure the Kalis and many other brands in the lower price region as well.
 
I wouldn't subscribe to this yet. There is a transition from analogue crossovers to digital ones, but mostly in the expensive models/brands (Kii, Grimm audio, D&D, ...). All current Neumanns except the smallest (KH80) are still analogue, and I'm quite sure the Kalis and many other brands in the lower price region as well.

The IN-8 is definitely DSP crossover, it was previously stated by Charles himself!
 
Interestingly enough using professional monitors that adhere to good engineering practices might actually assist in closing the "Circle of confusion" that Dr. Toole talks about in his book. Of course in order to really do this it would require you to use the monitors used in mastering the original recording as well as being in a similar acoustic environment.

Having said that, there is the issue that Genelec site is speaking too in the graphs discussed earlier where you have overall displacement capabilities (linearity over a specified dynamic range) and dispersion characteristics for a given acoustic environment and a directivity index that tells how much dispersion you have at any given frequency. Too wide of a dispersion in a large room with a listening distance beyond what would be considered mid-field or near-field and you will be in a diffuse field scenario (depending on the reflective and absorptive characteristics of the room/RT60). There are no current specifications for this. A spec that tells the ratio of direct to reflected energy would be useful to assist in getting a more consistent sound-field. These are areas that would assist people in achieving more consistent and accurate sound reproduction in any given space. In live or pro sound applications, these parameters are often used to achieve the desired result for a given acoustic environment.s

Floyd Toole has said that we need recommended specifications in these areas if we wish to achieve a better level of fidelity in sound reproduction. Pro monitors do not have different acoustic sound reproduction goals than typical loudspeakers. It's. just that professional monitors typically adhere closer to certain design specifications than some consumer loudspeakers. As well as some "high -end" companies have design philosophies that move away from science and more towards an intuitional art-based design technique based on some empirical experiences.

The reproduction of sound is in fact a science. Creating the music is an art. Conflating these two is common among many audiophiles. This is why Floyd Toole developed a double blind listening test in order to clear up any misconceptions as well as to help correlate the objective characteristics with the subjective listening experience.
 
Oops, must have missed that. :(Unbelievable to get this for such a price.:eek:
Even the Fluid Audio FX50/80 are using a DSP crossover. Since DSP is now easy and cheap to implement on general purpose chips like ARM or MIPS, I suspect we'll begin to see more and more of it. Now, if we could get more hiss free monitors, I'd be really happy.
 
Oops, must have missed that. :(Unbelievable to get this for such a price.:eek:
The JBL 305s use DSP for the crossover too - this teardown will show you the details. A number of manufacturers have been making class D amp chips with build in DSP and DAC for just such a purpose.
 
by thewas_

[German] http://www.hifi-forum.de/viewthread-30-13717-659.html#33159

toe English: https://translate.google.es/translate?sl=de&tl=en&u=http://www.hifi-forum.de/viewthread-30-13717-659.html#33159

Distortion behavior at just over 90 dB is also unproblematic and according to the manufacturer's specifications, the problematic odd K3 component (yellow line) remains pretty much below 0.5%, the higher components, which are even lower in level, I have hidden for better readability:

Kali-audio-IN-8-distortion-at-approx-92-db-thewas_.png
 
Oops, must have missed that. :(Unbelievable to get this for such a price.:eek:
As said also even cheaper speakers like the JBL 30x series have DSPs, in mass production electronics don't cost anything and its actually cheaper to program a generic DSP chip than to implement an individual discrete passive or active crossover. The "disadvantage" is that you need additional AD and DA conversions which are nowadays cheap and non problematic too though.
 
I've looked at Genelec recently, because of this thread and since I like the LS50 and coaxials in general, but man everything they make is really expensive. Especially the coaxes. I wonder if it's worth the money. You're easily looking at 4k for a pair and then you haven't bought stereo subs yet.
Well, you pay for an premium product with aluminium cast housing, fully engineered and produced in an environmental friendly way in a high cost land with very high social standards for the employees, imho that is fair.
 
As said also even cheaper speakers like the JBL 30x series have DSPs, in mass production electronics don't cost anything and its actually cheaper to program a generic DSP chip than to implement an individual discrete passive or active crossover. The "disadvantage" is that you need additional AD and DA conversions which are nowadays cheap and non problematic too though.

The ability to program and reprogram EQ, crossover and boundary EQ has made such discrete active speakers sort of obsolete in my opinion, but as an ASR member I am also wary of the AD/DA quality.
 
Well, you pay for an premium product with aluminium cast housing, fully engineered and produced in an environmental friendly way in a high cost land with very high social standards for the employees, imho that is fair.

If you want a cheap big accurate monitor, Behringer, JBL and Kali have you covered.
 
It's hard to directly compare passives, but, the Revel F208 seems like a fair hi-fi comparison($5K/pr but no amplifier). Revel recommends 350W maximum. Assuming you can safely double that to 700W, I calculate 117db SPL @ 1m.

If I had to pick one I'd pick the Revels, it's a pity Revels are hard to find (and buy) in Europe
 
Has she got a sister....
My girl here doesn't seem to mind the speakers, but she also listens to podcasts on her phone speaker
 
As said also even cheaper speakers like the JBL 30x series have DSPs, in mass production electronics don't cost anything and its actually cheaper to program a generic DSP chip than to implement an individual discrete passive or active crossover. The "disadvantage" is that you need additional AD and DA conversions which are nowadays cheap and non problematic too though.
I stand corrected.:)
 
Well, you pay for an premium product with aluminium cast housing, fully engineered and produced in an environmental friendly way in a high cost land with very high social standards for the employees, imho that is fair.
And do not forget high robustness and a very good service in those seldom cases where a speaker fails.
 
Oops, must have missed that. :(Unbelievable to get this for such a price.:eek:

Besides the Kalis, I've also been incredibly pleased with the Vantoos, likewise full DSP crossover and Class D biamps. Kalis play louder and go deeper, Vanatoos have many more input options. Insane performance for the price.
 
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