New Alcons studio monitors… So what?

[skankhobag]

I looked at the new Alcons M monitors and I’m not quite sure why anyone would want to buy them.

Hey, their tweeter seems fantastic.

Whether their Back EMF Reduction driver design actually makes much difference has yet to be seen (most especially in a midrange driver which is rather unlikely).

There’s a bunch of useless hype about the tweeter having 50:1 peak to constant power rating. In other words, it’s really hard burn it out by driving the speaker hard. That’s good, but certainly not revolutionary.

There’s no mention of the cabinet being especially dead and that it uses a novel port design is uncompelling. So what? Personally, I have no interest in ported speakers.

Now, let’s look at what really sucks about this design.

I have nothing against any type of active design and its amp configuration whether onboard or external, but the way they’ve gone about this is rather bizarre.

Why, if you’re offering an active speaker, would you insist on using a non-standard and seemingly proprietary method to connect both the inputs and outputs?

Check out the image. Do you want to deal with interfacing with that?

Then, also, what are the amp specs? Not given.

I’d really love to see an extensive review of of this system. Honestly, I’m sure it’s damn good, but very dubious that it’s revolutionary.

My initial thought is that the mids and woofers would benefit greater by being Purifi’s designs which offer drastically lower distortion than standard offerings due to their suspensions rather than a novel voice coil.

I imagine the price for all of this is pretty steep. There’s no information about that.

Bottom line: other than the tweeter, I’m not the least bit impressed.

 

[skankhobag]

One more thing: enjoy all of the money you need to spend on long speaker cable runs with this system.

I’d love to see a Youtube video about how you get those jacks to accommodate 10 gauge wire.

 

[AcousticTheory]

Many of the problems PuriFi Ushindi solves for small drivers have already been solved in pro drivers, such as asymmetric Sd(x) in the surround, or magnetic saturation (and thereby hysteresis reduction) - solved by using huge magnets. And usually very high BL.

I would like to see a comparison of the Ushindi 5" woofer to the Scan-Speak 5" Revelator woofer, which has been around a long time.

 

[Cbdb2]

Why, if you’re offering an active speaker, would you insist on using a non-standard and seemingly proprietary method to connect both the inputs and outputs?

Check out the image. Do you want to deal with interfacing with that?

These types of connectors are very common in commercial/pro/PA systems. For more than one reason.

Crown CTD-8125

Crown ComTech D Series amplifiers are designed for versatility, flexibility, and ease of installa...

www.crownaudio.com

Otherwise how can you dish a speaker that youve never heard or seen any measurements from?
And thats 15:1 not 50:1.

 

[skankhobag]

Many of the problems PuriFi Ushindi solves for small drivers have already been solved in pro drivers, such as asymmetric Sd(x) in the surround, or magnetic saturation (and thereby hysteresis reduction) - solved by using huge magnets. And usually very high BL.

I would like to see a comparison of the Ushindi 5" woofer to the Scan-Speak 5" Revelator woofer, which has been around a long time.

In writing with Lars Risbo, the reason Purifi drivers kick ass is the fact that the suspension offers a magnitude or less distortion. If memory serves, he quoted 40dB less from his surround design. The speaker surround on a woofer does create a good fraction of the signal produced by the driver.

I’m not an expert on it so you can take anything further on the subject up with him.

I’m still quite dubious that a cone midrange produces any significant back EMF that any decent amp can’t handle with ease.

 

[skankhobag]

These types of connectors are very common in commercial/pro/PA systems. For more than one reason.

Crown CTD-8125

Crown ComTech D Series amplifiers are designed for versatility, flexibility, and ease of installa...

www.crownaudio.com

Otherwise how can you dish a speaker that youve never heard or seen any measurements from?
And thats 15:1 not 50:1.

Yes, I misquoted the spec. That’s my bad.

Regardless, it’s a useless specification which they tout in a bold print graphic like it really means something… which, for the most part, it doesn’t.

As to dishing on it, it would seem that I’m far more knowledgeable on loudspeaker design than you are. Sorry about that.

Also, that crap PA amps meant for powering 50v PA systems in malls have the same interface connectors is not what I call a ringing endorsement.

For the best performance, I’d be looking for Neutrik XLRs and Speakon connectors. That’s what real studio equipment uses. Short on back panel real estate? Use DBA-25s.

I’m unimpressed.

 

[Cbdb2]

Yes, I misquoted the spec. That’s my bad.

Regardless, it’s a useless specification which they tout in a bold print graphic like it really means something… which, for the most part, it doesn’t.

As to dishing on it, it would seem that I’m far more knowledgeable on loudspeaker design than you are. Sorry about that.

Also, that crap PA amps meant for powering 50v PA systems in malls have the same interface connectors is not what I call a ringing endorsement.

For the best performance, I’d be looking for Neutrik XLRs and Speakon connectors. That’s what real studio equipment uses. Short on back panel real estate? Use DBA-25s.

I’m unimpressed.

You have no idea how much I know about speakers. I do know its hard to tell what speakers will sound like from the very limited information given.
Can you prove that xlrs and speakons are better than these connectors youve never used before? Or are do you just use your imagination.

 

[dfuller]

Terminal blocks are not nonstandard, they're just incredibly uncommon in anything other than install scenarios.

 

[skankhobag]

You have no idea how much I know about speakers. I do know its hard to tell what speakers will sound like from the very limited information given.
Can you prove that xlrs and speakons are better than these connectors youve never used before? Or are do you just use your imagination.

Awe, man, do some research.

Neutrik Speakon connectors are widely used in high power pro amps as well as forward thinking hifi designs. They offer more contact area than spades or bare wires. There is also the ease of connectivity.

As to Neutrik XLR’s… really? They are used in just about every piece of professional gear in every professional studio on the planet and have been for decades. They’ve had some marginal improvements over the years, but nothing major because the design was so well done from the beginning.

If something was invented that’s superior, they’d be used in studios already.

 

[skankhobag]

Terminal blocks are not nonstandard, they're just incredibly uncommon in anything other than install scenarios.

Upon first inspection, I thought they were terminal blocks, but they aren’t. They’re jack blocks which require a jack assembly input I’ve never seen before.

Again, not exactly sure how they work.

 

[skankhobag]

Giving it further inspection, the jack assembly has blades that insert into the block. Never seen these before.

 

[NTK]

These connectors are commonly known as "Euroblock" or "Phoenix" (after the Phoenix Contact Combicon) connectors

 

[Cbdb2]

Awe, man, do some research.

Neutrik Speakon connectors are widely used in high power pro amps as well as forward thinking hifi designs. They offer more contact area than spades or bare wires. There is also the ease of connectivity.

As to Neutrik XLR’s… really? They are used in just about every piece of professional gear in every professional studio on the planet and have been for decades. They’ve had some marginal improvements over the years, but nothing major because the design was so well done from the beginning.

If something was invented that’s superior, they’d be used in studios already.

And I bet you cant hear and probably cant measure the difference between any of them. I was a recording engineer/studio tech for 30 years and have seen all types of connectors in hi end studios and never heard any engineers say one sounds different from another.
Seems stawman to decide a speaker is no good because of connectors.

 

[Cbdb2]

These connectors are commonly known as "Euroblock" or "Phoenix" (after the Phoenix Contact Combicon) connectors

Used many, with zero issues.

 

[AudioJester]

Lol. So a thread was created to critic a speaker based on conectors the OP knows nothing about?

Any link to the actual speaker?

 

[Cbdb2]

Lol. So a thread was created to critic a speaker based on conectors the OP knows nothing about?

Any link to the actual speaker?

They are being released in a week. Not a lot of info.

Introducing: The M-Series Reference Monitor Systems - Alcons Audio

After more than three years of intensive research, development, and real-world evaluation, Alcons Audio proudly announces the official launch of the M-series Reference Monitor Systems — the company’s long-awaited entry into the studio and critical-listening market. Developed from the ground up...

www.alconsaudio.com

 

[Stephan]

Then, also, what are the amp specs? Not given.

What information are you looking for that is not given in the spec sheet?

Also, if you don't like the connectors on the Director amp, why not go with one of their Sentinel amps instead?

 

[skankhobag]

You guys are getting worked up about me not loving the amp connectors which do absolutely suck, but I’m not convinced that the entire system at whatever cost it is (which is unstated) is actually worth the price.

I would think that being skeptical of a manufacturer’s hype would be met with more understanding in this forum.

If you want to believe what they’re dishing out like it’s fact, that says a lot more about you than it does me.

 

[jhaider]

Yes, I misquoted the spec. That’s my bad.

Regardless, it’s a useless specification which they tout in a bold print graphic like it really means something… which, for the most part, it doesn’t.

As to dishing on it, it would seem that I’m far more knowledgeable on loudspeaker design than you are. Sorry about that.

Also, that crap PA amps meant for powering 50v PA systems in malls have the same interface connectors is not what I call a ringing endorsement.

For the best performance, I’d be looking for Neutrik XLRs and Speakon connectors. That’s what real studio equipment uses. Short on back panel real estate? Use DBA-25s.

I’m unimpressed.

The JBL 7-series install monitors Sony studio uses have amps with Phoenix connectors…

External amps is the way to go, IMO.

 

[anlin]

You guys are getting worked up about me not loving the amp connectors which do absolutely suck, but I’m not convinced that the entire system at whatever cost it is (which is unstated) is actually worth the price.

I would think that being skeptical of a manufacturer’s hype would be met with more understanding in this forum.

If you want to believe what they’re dishing out like it’s fact, that says a lot more about you than it does me.

You have to be trolling. How do you know the connectors suck when you don't even know what they are? Having amps with both euroblocks and speakons I can tell you they're both completely fine. Speakons are more durable and better suited for touring use but euroblocks are easier to terminate and can carry more signals. In a home/installation application either will work equally as well, it really doesn't matter