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M-Audio Forty Sixty / Eighty Active Studio Monitors

gasolin75

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So M-audio made new active speakers M-Audio Forty Sixty / Eighty

The 6.5" goes all the way down to 39hz, the 8" 32hz (-10db) and max spl is 113db and 118db

Around 300 for a pair of the 6.5" version and less than 500 euros for the 8" version

What do you think ? There eq can be adjusted with an app

2024-10-04 00_20_35-M-Audio Forty Sixty – Thomann Danmark – Google Chrome.jpg

2024-10-04 00_20_51-M-Audio Forty Sixty – Thomann Danmark – Google Chrome.jpg
 
So the Forty Eighty appears to replace the BX8 D3, which was a "good with EQ" budget 8" monitor to begin with. (The 6.5" is entirely new in their lineup.) Plus DSP XO plus EQ presets plus BT (TWS), could be a winner. I'll be anticipating some measurements.

Mind you, I'm not sure how well 8" 2-ways are selling, given that Thomann currently has both Kali LP6v2 and LP8v2 discounted to the exact same price...
 
8" let you hear bass you might need a sub for if you have the 6.5"
 
Only balanced input and no RCA unbalanced?
 
Nothing wrong with that. Use a correctly wired RCA to XLR cable and you still get some of the benefit of the balanced input.
Not sure how easy or cheap it is to buy one of those!
 
Not sure how easy or cheap it is to buy one of those!

what do you mean ?

It's super easy !


 
what do you mean ?

It's super easy !


That's what he means ⤵️
 
Yeah, this (taken from CFU MC page) is exactly what you don't want:
https://www.cordial-cables.com/cable-assignments/image-thumb__274__product-detail/terminaldiagram-mc.webp

A "dumb, unbalanced" cable. Mind you, those handy with a soldering iron should be able to rework this to remove the pin 1 connection if ground loop hell is encountered, but it's still annoying.

This is what you do want:
fcd5a61624.png
 
These look pretty promising but it's a little weird that the waveguide stops so far from the edge and has a sharp lip around it. Seems like they may have accepted some diffraction for the sake of looks. Or perhaps the edge and WG work fine together, I guess we'll find out if Amir or Erin do some measurements. I think these could end up being competitors to the JBL LSR 305/8, which would be good for the market.

The Bluetooth aspect is questionable for a studio setup or whatever, (so is the "hype" setting) but it probably gives them more reach into the consumer market.
 
That's what he means ⤵️
This complication is exactly why I want to avoid trying to wire RCA to XLR. The potential for ground loops and impedance mis-matching which could be worse than a simple RCA-RCA connection. I just don't need to use balanced connections in my home setup.
 
With these kinds of monitors, you kind of don't have a choice - even ones that do have RCA jacks still tend to be IEC Class I devices with 3-pin IEC power jacks, so on a PC you'd be getting a ground loop either way. With balanced inputs you can do something about it at least. Otherwise you'd need to whip out a trusty Behringer HD400.
 
Making a proper RCA/XLR "adapter" cable is... umm... pretty darned straightforward.
I wouldn't expect the audience of a place like this one (ASR, that is) to shy away from slinging some solder.
 
Why there are no specs on their website? They look promising for the price.
 
Neither the product page not the manual actually detail the functionality of the app, so it's unclear what it lets you do - perhaps because it may change over time?

The need for the app to set the EQ (and maybe other things) is both a blessing and a curse. On the plus side it saves the cost of physical controls on the back, particularly compared to the LCD/wheel on the back of some KRKs, and should allow easy control of relatively complex options. The big minus is the usual app one - how long will they keep supporting it? It's perfect for planned obsolescence. If they documented the API this wouldn't be an issue - if a small company like Parks Audio can do it then there really isn't an excuse.
 
Neither the product page not the manual actually detail the functionality of the app, so it's unclear what it lets you do - perhaps because it may change over time?

The need for the app to set the EQ (and maybe other things) is both a blessing and a curse. On the plus side it saves the cost of physical controls on the back, particularly compared to the LCD/wheel on the back of some KRKs, and should allow easy control of relatively complex options. The big minus is the usual app one - how long will they keep supporting it? It's perfect for planned obsolescence. If they documented the API this wouldn't be an issue - if a small company like Parks Audio can do it then there really isn't an excuse.
I wonder if the BX8 Graphite be a better option
 

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Tomasz Wróblewski from 0dB.pl got the Forty Sixty for a review, here's some key findings:

  • The app has 5 bands of parametric EQ, with adjustable frequency, gain & Q.
  • Bands 1 & 5 can be configured as low shelf and high shelf filter respectively (with adjustable Q as well).
  • MLP measurements in a treated room (his studio) show a crossover dip (not heard in far field, according to the reviewer) and elevated treble.
  • The horizontal directivity is very good - starting at 9:00, he shows the up until 60 degrees, treble up to 12 kHz is barely affected and even at 75 degrees things looked reasonable.
  • The vertical directivity was also decent.
  • Distortion was subjectively OK.
  • In comments he was asked about hiss - he confirmed there was some hiss audible when putting his ear close to the speaker when no music was playing.

The review is in Polish, but automatic translated subtitles seems to work fine.

Can't wait to see those measured on a Klippel.
 
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