Kali Audio IN-8v2 (Second Wave) 3-Way Studio Monitor Review

[Ellebob]

Pardon if this has been asked before but this is quite a long thread. Has anyone tried the In-8 V2 in a home theatre setting, such as centre channel?

I have them in my HT right now and liking them and might replace the Paradigm Milenniaones. I was testing them for work but they will probably stay. I will just have to pay for them. I have a small 7.2.4 theater and they are being used for the LCR currently. I sit 9ft away.

I don't listen very loud but these can go much louder than the MilenniaOnes that are usually there. No surprise they are a much larger speaker. The Milenniaones have been moved to my family room in a 2.1 configuration and I like them much more than the Kef LSX II that were there before them. I also like them better than the Kali LP-UNF I tried there, they are now in my office. I liked the Kef better than the Kali for reference.

I do a lot of informal comparisons of speakers with family and friends in that room. Main seating is 13ft. I had the LP-8s there as well but smaller speakers are better for the decor in that room. So, larger speakers are not residing permanently in that room.

We did a comparison with the LP-8 versus the JBL LSR-308. The preference was for the LP-8 but that was probably one of the closer comparisons we have done. Both are excellent speakers for their price.

I also own a pair of Kali IN-5 in my living room. I think the IN series are a good jump over the LP series especially for the price. If budget doesn't allow the IN series don't worry, I think the LP series are some of the best in that price range.

 

[raykkho]

I have them in my HT right now and liking them and might replace the Paradigm Milenniaones. I was testing them for work but they will probably stay. I will just have to pay for them. I have a small 7.2.4 theater and they are being used for the LCR currently. I sit 9ft away.

I don't listen very loud but these can go much louder than the MilenniaOnes that are usually there. No surprise they are a much larger speaker. The Milenniaones have been moved to my family room in a 2.1 configuration and I like them much more than the Kef LSX II that were there before them. I also like them better than the Kali LP-UNF I tried there, they are now in my office. I liked the Kef better than the Kali for reference.

I do a lot of informal comparisons of speakers with family and friends in that room. Main seating is 13ft. I had the LP-8s there as well but smaller speakers are better for the decor in that room. So, larger speakers are not residing permanently in that room.

We did a comparison with the LP-8 versus the JBL LSR-308. The preference was for the LP-8 but that was probably one of the closer comparisons we have done. Both are excellent speakers for their price.

I also own a pair of Kali IN-5 in my living room. I think the IN series are a good jump over the LP series especially for the price. If budget doesn't allow the IN series don't worry, I think the LP series are some of the best in that price range.

Wow, thanks for sharing your experience, gives me more idea and confidence.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Is there going to be a third wave anytime soon?

 

[stevenswall]

Is there going to be a third wave anytime soon?

I think the V2 series was primarily to improve the amp and get rid of the hiss that I and others complained about.

Curious what you think they should improve on the V3 and how they'd go about doing that.

For a step up it seems like the Santa Monica line is the way to go.

 

[Bruce Morgen]

I think the V2 series was primarily to improve the amp and get rid of the hiss that I and others complained about.

Curious what you think they should improve on the V3 and how they'd go about doing that.

For a step up it seems like the Santa Monica line is the way to go.

...at a huge increase in cost for a "step up" that isn't so much about SQ as ease and precision of adjustment. In terms of good old-fashioned "bang for the buck", the "2nd Wave" Project Independence models -- which include the IN-5 -- are pretty much unbeatable as they are IMO.

 

[Joeyd33]

I have them in my HT right now and liking them and might replace the Paradigm Milenniaones. I was testing them for work but they will probably stay. I will just have to pay for them. I have a small 7.2.4 theater and they are being used for the LCR currently. I sit 9ft away.

I don't listen very loud but these can go much louder than the MilenniaOnes that are usually there. No surprise they are a much larger speaker. The Milenniaones have been moved to my family room in a 2.1 configuration and I like them much more than the Kef LSX II that were there before them. I also like them better than the Kali LP-UNF I tried there, they are now in my office. I liked the Kef better than the Kali for reference.

I do a lot of informal comparisons of speakers with family and friends in that room. Main seating is 13ft. I had the LP-8s there as well but smaller speakers are better for the decor in that room. So, larger speakers are not residing permanently in that room.

We did a comparison with the LP-8 versus the JBL LSR-308. The preference was for the LP-8 but that was probably one of the closer comparisons we have done. Both are excellent speakers for their price.

I also own a pair of Kali IN-5 in my living room. I think the IN series are a good jump over the LP series especially for the price. If budget doesn't allow the IN series don't worry, I think the LP series are some of the best in that price range.

I am looking to do the same. But how were they for movies? I want to do a l/c/r setup for movies.. debating on the in-8 v2s or JBL 308s, unless I could find some better bookshelf speakers around that 1k price range. Were the Kali's exciting for movies? Right now I have The Fives for movies, while they sound nice, they never throw out any movie effects like I've heard from other movie setups.

 

[Joeyd33]

My v2 are silent love them as surround and before that o used them as mains in my ht system

How did you like them as the mains for your HT system? I'm looking to do the same but I'm trying to find people that used them for a HT system and get their opinions on the speakers.

 

[Ciobi69]

How did you like them as the mains for your HT system? I'm looking to do the same but I'm trying to find people that used them for a HT system and get their opinions on the speakers.

run them up to -5 on my receiver crossed at 100hz without problems, they were really precise

 

[Joeyd33]

run them up to -5 on my receiver crossed at 100hz without problems, they were really precise

Did they have good vocal presence? I remember I tried my JBL 305s for movies and the voices were kinda hard to hear at times like some home theater systems. I'm trying to debate between the Kalis or actually getting a soundbar like the Sonos Arc Ultra due to how bad the room setup is. I just want to find something with a very fun and energetic sound to get everyone feeling like they are in the movie.

 

[Ciobi69]

Did they have good vocal presence? I remember I tried my JBL 305s for movies and the voices were kinda hard to hear at times like some home theater systems. I'm trying to debate between the Kalis or actually getting a soundbar like the Sonos Arc Ultra due to how bad the room setup is. I just want to find something with a very fun and energetic sound to get everyone feeling like they are in the movie.

The speaker had very good phantom center , they measured good , they was the best price/function item that I ever bought and I got kef blade 2 meta and other stuff

 

[Bruce Morgen]

...they was the best price/function item that I ever bought and I got kef blade 2 meta and other stuff

Yeah -- when it comes to sheer "bang for the buck" there's nothing else quite like them IMO.

 

[Joeyd33]

Yeah -- when it comes to sheer "bang for the buck" there's nothing else quite like them IMO.

yeah.. I may have sold The Fives this week.. so at the very least these might go on my desk. The 8's might seem like a bit overkill but I'll just use these for my desk and movie setup with the nephews..

I've also heard some people say these are super light in the bass, others say theres a ton of low end..guess I'll just have to buy them and see what happens.

 

[Bruce Morgen]

yeah.. I may have sold The Fives this week.. so at the very least these might go on my desk. The 8's might seem like a bit overkill but I'll just use these for my desk and movie setup with the nephews..

I've also heard some people say these are super light in the bass, others say theres a ton of low end..guess I'll just have to buy them and see what happens.

This guy has heard -- and measured -- literally hundreds of speakers, and he says: "The bass is really nice and extends down to 50Hz easily. There are no bass boosts or issues in the bass region that call attention to themselves. Just neutral response that digs relatively deep." Kali Audio IN-8v2 (Second Wave) 3-Way Studio Monitor Review

There's a DIPswitch setting for "LF Trim" too.

 

[Pearljam5000]

I'm waiting for the third wave
Should be great

 

[roladyzator]

yeah.. I may have sold The Fives this week.. so at the very least these might go on my desk. The 8's might seem like a bit overkill but I'll just use these for my desk and movie setup with the nephews..

I've also heard some people say these are super light in the bass, others say theres a ton of low end..guess I'll just have to buy them and see what happens.

Perhaps they were unlucky with placement.
I was using the Edifier MR4 with a Presonus Sub8 (an 8 inch sub with an optional HPF on pass-through).

I thought the IN-8 would have similar level of bass (to the subwoofer that had just one 8 inch driver), but I still had to use the sub. The bass on Kali is there when I put my ears close to the woofer, but disappears in my listening position. It comes back when I'm in a different location in my room.

I might be placing them in a null for 50 Hz, since I'm getting dips at 100 Hz and 150 Hz as well.

On my desk, those have good relation of tweeter height to ear height, so no need for stands

 

[Joeyd33]

This guy has heard -- and measured -- literally hundreds of speakers, and he says: "The bass is really nice and extends down to 50Hz easily. There are no bass boosts or issues in the bass region that call attention to themselves. Just neutral response that digs relatively deep." Kali Audio IN-8v2 (Second Wave) 3-Way Studio Monitor Review

There's a DIPswitch setting for "LF Trim" too.

Thanks, thats good to know! I wish we still had audio stores to listen to all these and decide. I saw some other JBL speakers like the 4309s and a few other bookshelfs. Still trying to figure out what might be best for movies with some very light music listening.

Plus, Black Friday deals should be happening soon. I wonder if Kali Audio will have some nice sales or if there are still some other bookshelfs I should be checking out.

 

[Joeyd33]

Perhaps they were unlucky with placement.
I was using the Edifier MR4 with a Presonus Sub8 (an 8 inch sub with an optional HPF on pass-through).

I thought the IN-8 would have similar level of bass (to the subwoofer that had just one 8 inch driver), but I still had to use the sub. The bass on Kali is there when I put my ears close to the woofer, but disappears in my listening position. It comes back when I'm in a different location in my room.

I might be placing them in a null for 50 Hz, since I'm getting dips at 100 Hz and 150 Hz as well.

On my desk, those have good relation of tweeter height to ear height, so no need for stands

Yeah, I can imagine that going on with how people were describing the bass being super light, what you were talking about was 100% what I was thinking of. That is the nice thing about The Fives, they just sound good everywhere. Desk,TV setup, outside, they just sound good everywhere. But they don't wow me. I loved and hated the 305s, they did have their own unique sound and music sounded totally different on them than any other speaker I've heard. But voices in movies got super muffled a lot, sometimes music would get this tilt-shift effect where it sounded like I was hearing the music like I was on top of a stadium looking down at the musicians on stage. It was always a toss up on what would happen. Kinda wonder if I should maybe be looking at some of the higher end JBL speakers, maybe they have that unique sound with no amplifier hiss or wonkiness to the soundstage at times.

Heck, if JBL has a big sale this year for black friday or christmas I may just pick up a pair of 308s to use on certain occasions.

 

[Pearljam5000]

How do the Kalis compare to Genelec /Neumann in general?

 

[Ellebob]

How do the Kalis compare to Genelec /Neumann in general?

I am a big fan of Kali's models for bang for the buck. I own a number of them (LP-8, IN-5 and LP-UNF) and use in my home. I would prefer Genelec or Neumann but they are typically multiples of the price. And I've heard most of the models multiple times at work. Subjectively, if you want something that will give you 85% performance for a fraction of the price they are worth considering.

 

[Pearljam5000]

I am a big fan of Kali's models for bang for the buck. I own a number of them (LP-8, IN-5 and LP-UNF) and use in my home. I would prefer Genelec or Neumann but they are typically multiples of the price. And I've heard most of the models multiple times at work. Subjectively, if you want something that will give you 85% performance for a fraction of the price they are worth considering.

What are the Kalis missing in comparison? What's that last 15%?