PSA. a new near field system from Kali Audio

[KevWind]

Kali Audio has been getting such great reviews for good studio monitor at a great price point I thought I would post about this new system from them

At $599 (if it does as claimed) it could be areal bargain for the home studio crowd



Thoughts ?

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by KevWind

At $599 (if it does as claimed) it could be areal bargain for the home studio crowd

The first thing I'm wondering is what the frequency range is on the bass unit and on the satellite units. If the satellites are covering the low-mids, then it's fine ...at least in theory. But if the satellite isn't covering the low-mid range in full and some of the low-mid duties are taken up by the bass unit, then the listener is forced into a stereo image defined by the range of the satellites and missing some of the low-mids that might normally be part of that image.

Kali has a good and growing reputation though and I'd be surprised if they hadn't thought of that and made sure it wasn't an issue.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by jim1960

The first thing I'm wondering is what the frequency range is on the bass unit and on the satellite units. If the satellites are covering the low-mids, then it's fine ...at least in theory. But if the satellite isn't covering the low-mid range in full and some of the low-mid duties are taken up by the bass unit, then the listener is forced into a stereo image defined by the range of the satellites and missing some of the low-mids that might normally be part of that image.

Kali has a good and growing reputation though and I'd be surprised if they hadn't thought of that and made sure it wasn't an issue.

From the Kali web site
"The two satellites use the same coaxial midrange and tweeter as Kali’s acclaimed IN-5 and IN-8 studio monitors."

From the specs the sub to mid range crossover is 280 Hz ( low mid's are said to 250 to 500 )

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by KevWind

From the Kali web site
"The two satellites use the same coaxial midrange and tweeter as Kali’s acclaimed IN-5 and IN-8 studio monitors."

From the specs the sub to mid range crossover is 280 Hz ( low mid's are said to 250 to 500 )

Glad to see they thought about it as well. It would be interesting to hear that system in action.

[DupleMeter]

I have reservations about the LF drivers facing 90º from the listening position. And since the LF crossover is 280Hz, that means everything below that is side facing. I'd have to hear it, but just what I know about sound & physics makes me feel there is potential for weirdness, because that means everything from just above middle-C and below is off-axis (middle-C is 261.6Hz). For us guitar players that's a huge amount of territory, since middle-C is 1st fret, 2nd string.

Also, 4.5" LF drivers seem too small for good/solid low-end. Looking at the specs KevWind just posted it says -10dB down @ 39Hz, -3dB down at 47Hz. And it say <3% THD at 80Hz,and up, but what about THD below 80Hz? I suspect the number is not flattering with drivers that small.

Specs don't tell you everything, but they can give you some clues. What is NOT in the specs usually tells you something, too. The proof would definitely be in the listening.

That said, I am a huge fan of 3-way & 4-way monitor systems.