S.M.S.L Tabebuia

[VintageFlanker]

Looks like S.M.S.L Tabebuia (passive bookshelf) is just launched.

SPECIFICATIONS
Bookshelf speakers
Down-firing port
Sensitivity: 88dB @ 1W, 1m,1kHz
Impedance: 4Ω
Max power handling: 100W per channel
Frequency response: 56Hz - 32kHz ±3dB
Woofer diameter: Ø11.43cm (4.5")
Dome tweeter diameter: Ø2.54cm (1")
Dimensions: Ø140 x 216 x 266mm
Weight: 3.9kg

Already available for pre-order at Audiophonics.

At 500€, they don't come quite "cheap", especially for "monitors" of this size and the first ones from a Chinese company. I don't see a lot of people talking about these out there. Appart from @WolfX-700 who briefly mentioned to have auditioned it.

 

[Racheski]

@WolfX-700 What were your thoughts?

 

[Sak]

The legs are quite sharp. I wonder, if the kit includes a metal stand for them, like Sony's SonyCAS1 ?

 

[JohnYang1997]

https://www.l7audiolab.net/f/review-of-smsl-tabebula/

 

[Vini darko]

Cute toy speakers. 100w per channel sounds like fantasy land to me.

 

[Wombat]

Passive monitors Powered by wavecor . Powered? Drivers by or loaded by wavecor, maybe.

It's a bit like saying your car is powered by its tyres(tires).

 

[restorer-john]

Cute toy speakers. 100w per channel sounds like fantasy land to me.

Don't worry, it's the same 100W rating as their little toy amplifiers. So they'll be a nice match in fantasy land.

 

[restorer-john]

Passive monitors Powered by wavecor . Powered? Drivers by or loaded by wavecor, maybe.

It's a bit like saying your car is powered by its tyres(tires).

Like Google's requirement on smartphones:

Powered by Li-Ion batteries or my USB charger it should say.

 

[restorer-john]

At 500€, they don't come quite "cheap", especially for monitors of this size

They are hardly "monitors". They are the first loudspeaker product from a company with zero credibility in the professional sphere. Seriously, who is going to install these on their mixing console or in an audition room? They are Mommy's Basement monitors for Billy to play youtube videos and computer games on his PC.

I wish people would stop calling every pissant pair of tiny bookshelf speakers "monitors". It's just pathetic.

 

[Chromatischism]

Looks better in black. How the heck do you pronounce them? Tay-buh-bui-ah? Tah-buh-boo-ya?

 

[Deleted member 17820]

Actually, studios use "monitors" that span the WHOLE range of size, design, and quality. To make the statement that there is some "benchmark" for a "monitor" is simply not true.

However, these monitors are clearly designed for desktop use, and offset tweeters at nearfield distance is not good for anything. In the nearfield you will hear the soundstage get more narrow and more wide as the sounds pass through the x-over range. The more complex the music, the more jumping around the soundstage will do. This is NOT anything you want to happen to make music, and I would assume most don't want that to listen either.

IMO offset tweeters should only be used mid/far field.

 

[restorer-john]

How the heck do you pronounce them?

Nobody knows. Someone just randomly hit keys on the keyboard and came up with the name.

The powered by "wavecor" sticker/badge takes it to a whole other level of gauche. At least you can remove "Intel Inside" or "Windows 10" stickers- those look like they are part of the rebate and meant to stay on.

 

[Doodski]

Those spikes are pretty wild. Drop one of those on a foot or the floor and it's permanent damage.

 

[restorer-john]

To make the statement that there is some "benchmark" for a "monitor" is simply not true.

The benchmark is they have to do something right enough to be adopted by a number of studios and therefore offer some form of consistency for comparative purposes.

 

[Chromatischism]

Actually, studios use "monitors" that span the WHOLE range of size, design, and quality. To make the statement that there is some "benchmark" for a "monitor" is simply not true.

However, these monitors are clearly designed for desktop use, and offset tweeters at nearfield distance is not good for anything. In the nearfield you will hear the soundstage get more narrow and more wide as the sounds pass through the x-over range. The more complex the music, the more jumping around the soundstage will do. This is NOT anything you want to happen to make music, and I would assume most don't want that to listen either.

IMO offset tweeters should only be used mid/far field.

The word "monitor" doesn't appear anywhere in the listing, so I think we can drop that for now.

 

[Deleted member 17820]

The benchmark is they have to do something right enough to be adopted by a number of studios and therefore offer some form of consistency for comparative purposes.

"do something right" is true but quite isn't clear enough. Working monitors and gear for that matter need to do something usefull. Usefull things are used in the industry,"Right" things are what people buy, things they "like".

But to say there is some magical benchmark simply is false. All kinds of gear has been used to make all kinds of music. Tell Sublime the crap gear and 4 track They used to make CD's wasn't "real" gear, they will tell you there millions of sales says it was.


Offset tweeters can work in nearfield but must be used in MTM to avoid the shifting soundstage.

 

[restorer-john]

The word "monitor" doesn't appear anywhere in the listing, so I think we can drop that for now.

Maybe you should read the badge on the actual speaker...

 

[restorer-john]

But to say there is some magical benchmark simply is false.

You first used the word benchmark in your post #11, not me. I made no such claims.

 

[restorer-john]

Let's just say they are yet another relatively expensive little 4.5" two way desktop speaker aimed at people with limited space and probably small desktop components.

And they come in red or black.

 

[Deleted member 17820]

"It's a bit like saying your car is powered by its tyres(tires). " HAHAHAHA

I don't like her/their music, but Billey Ellish and her Brother that produced most(all?) her music use things like

1. Poorly treated rooms to record vocals
2. Yamaha hs5 and subs

There is nothing "benchmark" or high end, yet they are platinum and millionaires and the young generation loves what they make.
Sure you will always see Barefoot monitors and other boutique monitors but if the "bencharl" is producing music that sells, well just as Billy Elish what the benchmark is.