Akai MPD 24 USB/Midi MPC Pad Controller Review

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(More customer reviews)I just love this product. I have made so much music with it. I just love the mpc style pads. I don't understand why keyboard manufactures don't use the sensitive pad system. It just feels like how an instrument should be controlled. I have a midi key board and the only reason I use it to get at more notes. This pad set up lets you pound out rhythm lines just like you would on a bass or guitar. Ones you figure out the cro matic scale set up. I want a giant one of these with like 64 keys.
I am going to sell my mpc1000 because with the mpd24 I get the sensitivity of the mpc pad but the ease of control of my computers sequencer. Mpc software is so 1990 to me.
I just adjust the swing in the sequencer on my computer and Bam! I have an mpc!
Oh and writing drum loops is just so easy with this unit.

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Designed for use with Digital Audio Workstations (DAW), sequencing, and other software applications, the Akai MPD24 USB/MIDI pad controller enables you to program drum parts in a much more intuitive and natural way than by simply playing them on a keyboard. With its array of knobs and sliders, the MPD24 allows you to control parameters on your favorite DAW or software synths, offering incredible real-time control.

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JBL LSR2325P Pair of Bi-amplified Studio Monitors Review

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(More customer reviews)Me:
Musician, been recording on 4 track, 8 track, 16 track & 24 track recorders since 1996, i have pro mics (M-Audio Sputnik, AKG D5 & C3000, Rode NT3) and have owned many others, i use a TC-Electronic G-Force and a TC Helicon Harmony G-XT.
How i chose these speakers:
- I took a trained sound engineer friend (who has been recording since 1996 too and who attended a Sound Engineer course at SAE) with me because he is the only person whose ears i trust and because i wanted to be sure i wasn't going to choose the wrong set of speakers.
- I went to all the major studio gear stores in Paris, France, in the Pigalle area where all the music stores are. We listened to many many different speakers, sometimes without prejudice and other times with great hopes because we've been reading about brands like Genelec & Dynaudio & all the newer brands out there just like anyone who trusts the specialized press.
- We checked speakers ranging from 200 to 2000 a pair, more or less: we just tested everything they had that looked interesting, including the latest M-Audio, Yamaha, Alesis, Genele, Dynaudio, Adam, etc., etc., etc., etc.
- We tested the speakers on tracks we both knew very well & some very clean recordings as well as some others.
- We selected tracks for reverb to see if the speakers could render the reverb properly, which is something many speakers simply fail to do.
Results of the search:
- Against all expectancies, all the major contenders turned out to be crap. And i mean absolute garbage. Given that we both had exactly the same criticism about each speakers we listened to, i'm pretty sure we weren't being delusional. Now it is possible that the set-up in the stores were not optimal, and maybe the passive speakers were linked up to a bad amp, but most speakers were active & linked to the source via a professional monitoring system with lots of switches designed specifically for this purpose.
- Genelec flaws: no mids AT ALL, same power as a bad car stereo, no bass.
- Dynaudio BM15 ACTIVE: absolute crap amplification, rubbish.
- ADAM A5: aggressive mids, crap treble, no bass. Absolute GARBAGE.
- Yamaha (new NS-10 style speakers) & M-Audio: average sound, not enjoyable at all.
- Most speakers had a very aggressive sound in the mids or treble, and lacked bass. Even in the very expensive range of speakers, none managed to impress us and virtually all were flawed in some aspect that alone would render them totally useless & unbearable.
- The last store we visited was definitely much more pro (Sound Factory) and had real speakers. They played us some PMC passive speakers linked to a 300 stereo amplifier. We were AMAZED. They were fantastic. Well, these were not the most expensive (around 1000 a pair i think), and by far the best. They aren't used at Abbey Road for nothing then...
We then told the salesman we had already heard his Dynaudio BM15's and said we hated them & didn't want to waste his time with those -- "skip em!", we said -- but he had the passive version. And they were very good. The difference was AMAZING. In other words, manufacturers of speakers know how to make speakers, not amplifiers. So get the passive version of whatever you want, and add your own amplifier, the result will be incredibly better, i assure you.
So far the PMC were the best and the Dynaudio were not bad but not cheap. Just out of curiosity i asked to check out the tiny JBL 2325P's that were a ridiculously cheap 400 and were active...i said to him "i guess the JBL are crap but let's give em a try anyway, just to see"...he replied "no, they're not bad actually".
With my friend we both looked at each other with big eyes, we were very pleasantly surprised...they weren't quite as good as the PMC but they easily beat all the others we'd listened to that day.
I ordered this in the US because i now live in Mexico. I got them here on Amazon for 400$ (470$ or so with shipping), with 2 Samson speaker stands and 2 Wirlwind XLR cables. I just set them up today, on their stands.
I don't have a proper good quality source at the moment, my SACD player is in France, so i tried first via the minijack output of my Toshiba P300 laptop and the sound was harsh & had some very apparent artefacts due to the extremely bad quality of this output (Toshiba should be ashamed, really). I then switched to my Archos 5 mp3/video player and the sound is incomparably better. Not perfect, of course, we're not talking about a proper HQ source here, and remember the connection is a cheap minijack=>RCA cable, nothing like XLR=>XLR.
On bad recordings, or old ones, the sound is not so good, and indeed that's exactly how it should be: these speakers tell you when the source is bad. But switch to Kate Bush's Aerial album (her latest, from 2005 i believe), encoded in high quality by myself, and the bass response is amazing, everything is perfect.
Summary:
- Incredible bass response for 5 inch woofer, simply amazing. And it doesn't sound artificially boosted as on some speakers that just try too hard.
- Very well balanced & detailed mids & treble. Although i do prefer the treble & mids on my previous speakers (B&W DM602 S2 -- Bower & Wilkins make excellent passive speakers, with kevlar woofers & perfect tweeters, but you need to be very careful positioning them to get good bass response). But these JBL 5" woofers provide more oompph in the bass than by much bigger B&W's used to. Quite amazing, really. And it's not muddy bass, it's clean, well controlled, has fast attack and nice round oompph. I can hardly imagine how good the 2328p's must be! They were much more expensive, though, & too big & heavy for my needs.
- Very small in width but deep & quite heavy (7.7kg).
Manufacturer's specs seem accurate upon listening (for once) and outperform by far much bigger & much more expensive speakers:
43Hz-20Khz
55 W LF - 35 W HF (don't let this fool you, these speakers are loud enough to make you deaf for indoor use).
You have a treble +/- switch on the back & the same for bass. These work rather well but don't feel too solid & i wouldn't play around with them too much.
The volume knobs are not smooth but have small 'steps' to them so you can set both speakers to exactly the same setting easily. They have a good feel to them.
You have line balanced ins on XLR & TRS jacks, plus unbalanced line in on RCA/cinch.
The on-off switch on the back is silent & a blue light on the front tells you when the speakers are on.
Overall opinion:
The best active monitors by far in 2009-2010 for this money or size? I'd bet they are, yes.

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The JBL LSR2325P Powered Studio Monitor is a bi-amplified 2-way model with a detented level control that allows fine adjustment of individual speaker levels to balance the speaker in your system. Low Frequency and High Frequency Trim controls let you tailor the speaker's response to preference or room acoustics. A neoprene rubber pad on the bottom of the speaker provides acoustic isolation and increases stability when the speaker is placed on a speaker stand or a console top. Mounting points are included and the enclosure has been reinforced for safe mounting using industry-standard mounting hardware. Featured to integrate into professional systems, the LSR2325P includes balanced XLR, balanced 1/4 inch and unbalanced RCA inputs that allow connection to a wide range of playback sources including computer audio workstations, professional mixing consoles, as well as consumer playback systems.

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Numark NS7 DJ Turntable Controller with Serato ITCH Software Review

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(More customer reviews)Coming from a turntable and vinyl background, I was and still am excited about this product. I purchased it and have been very content. The unit is about 35lbs. and VERY solid. I have to get use to scratching on it compared to turntables. The platter should have been made 9" but I'm taking it in stride. All crossfaders have a quality feel, no static and the scratch curves feel as good or better than my Rane TTM57sl.
My only complaint is that Numark did not future-proof this unit with effect buttons. I find the software (Serato iTch) and mixing is (CURRENTLY) a little more boring than Serato Scratchlive and my 57 mixer. Serato is supposedly working on effects and making iTch's software closer in features to Scratchlive.
I purchased the Numark case with the unit and REALLY love doing mobile gigs now. No more individual TT cases and mixer cases. No more RCA and ground wires and at least 15 minutes less setup time. I'm saving close to 70 lbs. in travel weight too. One bit of advice is to be wary of using PCs with this unit. I have a Unibody Macbook Pro 2.66Ghz but struggled making a Core2-Duo 2.2Ghz 4GB ram PC work "glitch-free" with the NS7 and iTch. It had quirky behavior while tracks were playing, random stops and various audio dropouts. Many PCs will (by default) have IRQ sharing which can hose up USB connectivity (the main source of NS7 communication to your laptop) if there are conflicts.
In troubleshooting, I had to insure bluetooth, anti-virus, firewalls, NIC cards, screen savers, wireless Network cards, on-board video and all sorts of services were disabled on the PC (a TOTAL administrative nightmare!) and still ended up having to run the latency at 5ms or greater for decent performance. My mic had major echo delay with this setting so enough was enough.
I purchased the MBPro and have not had a SINGLE glitch since. My latency is at 1ms AND I can run apps in the background while DJ'ing without problems. I highly recommend the NS7 (with adequately powered MAC) for any mobile DJ.

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Designed in collaboration with Serato, the Numark NS7 DJ Turntable Controller combines an all-metal chassis with adjustable torque, motorized, aluminum-turntable platters, vinyl, and a professional audio interface to deliver a complete performance solution that will satisfy even the most hardcore turntablist.
It offers a full complement of premium faders, knobs, buttons and the new Strip Search virtual-needle-drop control, which integrates seamlessly with the included Serato ITCH software. The NS7 delivers hands-on control of every aspect of Serato ITCH and sends data to the software more than ten times faster than standard MIDI resolution. And because it was designed for ITCH, NS7 setup time is the bare minimum--no tweaking, no mapping; just plug and perform.
The NS7's dual decks flank the mixer section. Its recognizable, professional appearance is supported by clean design in matte and glossy black. The entire unit is housed in a heavy-gauge, industrial-strength metal casing that is ready for the torture of travel.
Key Features
High-resolution controller built for Serato ITCH and compatible with Scratch LIVE libraries
Direct-drive, motorized turntable platters with classic and modern feel settings
Includes Serato ITCH DJ software, fully pre-mapped
Audiophile-grade audio circuitry with mic and line inputs, system and cue outs
Extensive loop, cue, and track-access controls
Strip Search (patent pending) virtual-needle-drop control
Controls most MIDI applications without requiring a mouse or keyboard
Rugged, all-metal construction
High quality, replaceable, customizable CP-PRO crossfader and D-TYPE line faders
Support for Whitelabel.net files in ITCH
Mix using either 33 RPM or 45 RPM speeds

Perfect Feel The NS7 has two seven-inch, motorized, high-torque aluminum turntable platters, and the turntable controls feature modern and classic settings that alter the feel to model the feel you prefer. Seven-inch, legit vinyl records with 45 RPM adapters sit on real slipmats--no simulation.
Solid, rugged, rubberized buttons and knobs compliment a high precision, replaceable CP-PRO crossfader and D-TYPE line faders for an unquestionably high-quality feel. The CP-PRO digital-VCA crossfader has a solid feel that is smooth and rigid. Like the crossfader, the D-TYPE digital-VCA line faders are replaceable. The crossfader offers contour adjust and reverse adjustment, enabling you to customize its operation.
System Simplicity Forget the mouse and the keyboard. The NS7 renders ITCH software perfectly simple to operate, with its click knob and large, backlit buttons navigating though your music library. You'll spend less time looking at the screen and more time enjoying performing thanks to the visual feedback you get from NS7's more-than 100 LEDs and more-than 100 hands-on controls.
A single USB cable between NS7 and your Mac or PC is all you need to send audio and data back and forth. The NS7 has onboard audio outputs so it's the only piece of gear you need to connect to the PA system or powered speakers. It outputs 24-bit, 44.1 kHz digital audio to the sound system on XLRs and RCAs. The front panel contains mic input, RCA line input, and both 1/4" and 1/8" headphone outputs with volume control.
The NS7 comes with an integrated laptop stand that supplies safe, secure mounting for your laptop. You can use an ultra-small space because NS7 elevates your laptop off the table.
Precision Control The NS7 sends control information over USB at more than ten times the standard MIDI rate. This innovative communication technique yields extremely high-precision, low-latency control.
There's nothing like dropping the needle on a record for quickly locating a point in the track, and with Strip Search--the unique virtual-needle-drop touch strip--you can locate a point instantly within the track using the on-screen waveform
Five hot-cue-assign buttons on each deck digitally mark your cues on the track. These marker points are recallable in ITCH and Scratch LIVE, and you can load Scratch LIVE cue points in ITCH.
Each deck offers an extensive Serato-style loop section, and you can choose between manual and auto-loop functions and an automatic BPM analyzer further assists loop makers. Creating automatic smart loops of any measure length is a breeze, and you can mutilate and modify to heart's content with a variety of controls such as Doubling, Halving, Shift, and manual controls.
Audio Quality The NS7 contains a host of professional audio connectors and a multichannel, 24-bit USB digital-audio interface. The high-definition post-mix analog audio output features a minimized circuit path with containing only one audiophile-grade bipolar capacitor. This optimized design maximizes phase coherence, ensuring that audio is tight and punchy.
Serato ITCH Software IF you use Scratch LIVE, you'll become quickly familiar with Serato ITCH. Because ITCH doesn't require a timecode interface, your system can be as simple as, say, NS7 and your computer. Since ITCH makes timecode a thing of the past, you won't need to worry about needles skipping or vinyl wearing out. You can load your Scratch LIVE crates, loops, presets, and cue points seamlessly in ITCH. The NS7 also works with most other MIDI DJ software and supports iTunes.
ITCH handles audio processing and mixing including channel fading, EQ, crossfading and track trim are processed for outstanding control and management of your tracks, ease of recording your set, clip-proof gain management, and BPM calculation using the power of your computer's processor.
The History function in ITCH keeps a comprehensive record of every track played and exports sessions from your history to 'txt', 'csv', or 'm3u'. ITCH also has a Loop Roll function that provides a looping effect where the playhead jumps back to normal time when you release the loop. Built-in key support ensures that ITCH reads key tags from MP3 files and displays them in the 'key' column in your library.

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Tascam US-122L Audio/MIDI Interface Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this Tascam about a year ago and I am very happy with so far. I am using a laptop running Windows XP and haven't had any problems with the device. I find the handling with the Tascam rather easy and think that for this price it is a perfect audio interface for beginners. (And even though it's a little embarrassing to me to mention how "badly" I treat my equipment sometimes, I have to say that I dropped the interface several times and it's still working fine! ;-)). I have connected my electric guitar with it, my keyboard (via both, 1/8 and midi) and I tried different microphones with the Tascam and each of them were picked up just fine.
I really didn't have problems with it and would recommend it as a "beginner's device".

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The follow-up to our mega popular US-122, the new US-122L delivers everything you'd want in a portable audio/MIDI interface.Record two tracks at a time with zero latency; whether you have a PC or a Mac, your song ideas go down in real time, real easy. Its size means you can take it anywhere you take your laptop, yet it's packed with features that make buying it an audio no-brainer. MIDI input and output, high quality mic inputs, 96kHz/24-bit recording (better than CD quality)-all the stuff you'd want without the fluff you wouldn't. The US-122L: the answer to your recording needs.

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Tascam FIREONE Firewire Audio Interface Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently upgraded to a MacBookPro with Logic 7 on it. I needed a control surface that was Firewire based and would allow good functionality and portability. This audio interface/control surface provides a nice touch. I went from an Ozone Midi controller to this because this one was Firewire-based AND I never was into using the keyboard. For my purposes, plugging a mic, guitar, bass and electronic drums this was a great option. It took a little bit of fiddling to work with a MacBookPro (with Tiger and Leopard) and involved a rollback of Firewire drivers/firmware which is available on the Tascam website.
Without the rollback, the control surface will not work (or will work unpredictably). This is a Mac/Logic 7 issue. Anyway, I'm pleased. It looks great, works great (after Fix for Mac OS X 10.4.10 FireWire) and seems very durable.
Time will tell.

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2-Channel FireWire Audio Interface. Large weighted backlit Jog Wheel. Programmable Function Keys. MIDI I/O. Includes recording software

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Edirol FA-66 6 x 6 FireWire Audio Interface Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using this product for about a year now and it has some real strengths in terms of audio fidelity and everything being in the one unit. I shared some of the difficulties of the last user initially, using a Dell Inspiron 8600, but was able to resolve them. The FA-66 can be resource fussy - not much extra needs to be going on with the computer before there is skipping. Maxing out the buffer fixes this, but this is devastating in terms of latency. The Windows that ships with Dells is less customisable than plain-vanilla Windows, and does have lots of things running in the background. I eventually identified that the anti-virus software was launching a separate app to check for updates (every 10 minutes!) and that this was causing skipping. Audio programs themselves - despite being resource intensive - don't seem to cause the problem. Once I disabled this app everything was good and I could operate at latencies of about 4ms without any problems.
There are a lot of good external units out there of which this is one. It really comes down to what you want and what software is packaged with the unit. 192KHz is overkill since consumer products like these have too much DAC jitter for this to be relevant. 96KHz is probably pushing it. But for straight-forward home or field recording where you don't want to bother with a mixer or a separate midi box, this is hard to look past. The inclusion of an analogue limiter sets it apart from offerings from M-Audio and the like, it is solidly built and having phantom power is very handy.
November 2007 Update - I've been using this with a MacBook Pro for a year now and its a dream. My recent purchase of Apple Logic Studio completes a really solid set up, exposing me to the harsh reality that any remaining limitations are user-based.

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6 x 6 FireWire Audio Interface

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M-Audio Torq Xponent Advanced DJ Performance/Production System Review

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(More customer reviews)So after scouring the internet for reviews of the xponent, and having used its cousin the Torq Mixlab and getting down the basics of CPU based DJing, I am proud to say that I couldn't be happier with the Xponent. I got it a few weeks ago, have a Macbook that runs great with it, and have so far had no problems whatsoever. The software is fast and loads my itunes library (over 16k songs) in about 30 seconds. One of the best features of the Torq software is how it figures out (or you can override) the beat of each song and SAVES it. This means that when you're spinning, you can sort by BPM and see the 20 songs that are close in BPM that you have used before. This makes song selection a pleasure!
All the switches and knobs are very responsive, and as a person who basically started DJing (beatmatching, mixing, cueing) a month ago, I feel right at home here. The loop features are easy to use and drop in, and the sampler is very powerful and easy to use. I just spun a big house party with this thing a week ago and it went great! The effects are fun, and using the mouse pad like a Chaos Pad allows for some cool remixing on the fly. I find that scratching is easy to do and there are various settings to determine how sensitive the wheels are.
All in all, this is a great product for a novice or someone who likes to pick music and wants to get into real mixing. If you're the person always holding the iPod at the party but want more control, this is definitely a great place to start (and as far as I'm concerned, finish). As for all the haters of digital DJing, I don't really care, its much easier than bringing vinyl and remembering BPMs and you can plug in someone at the party's ipod and use their music in real time. I find that the Xponent is extremely versatile, perfect for a beginner or seasoned DJ alike, and it and its grandchildren will be leading us into the future of DJing. Hope this helps, there is a lack of people talking about the Xponent and its a truly great device that has allowed me to finally do something I've wanted to do for years, but I've never had the resources to get set up with vinyl and dj lessons.
Cheers!
-DP


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The professional-grade Torq Xponent system seamlessly integrates high-performance DJ software with a fully functional hands-on controller, representing a new era in digital DJ performance and production. The Xponent hardware combines the features of a two-channel DJ mixer with CDJ-style tactile controls, letting you cue, mix and manipulate digital files without touching the host computer. In addition to the essentials, M-Audio Torq 1.5 software delivers a variety of real-time creative tools to take your sets beyond the ordinary--and the Xponent hardware control surface puts all that power right at your fingertips. This integrated solution opens the door to new techniques that are simply impossible with traditional DJ setups.

Rock-Solid Professional DJ Hardware The Torq Xponent hardware/software system delivers everything a professional DJ needs to perform with a computer. Xponent is both an advanced MIDI control surface for Torq software and a four-output USB audio interface that includes two stereo RCA outputs and a standard 1/4-inch headphone output for cueing. Every control on Xponent boasts the same rock-solid construction and rugged feel as traditional DJ hardware. So if you're ready to make the leap to the world of software-based DJing, you'll feel right at home with Xponent.
Get Inside the Mix Torq 1.5 DJ software makes it easy to go beyond basic beat matching and crossfading between tracks. With a 16-cell, tempo-synced sampler, easy looping capabilities and multiple cue points, you can chop up a song--on the fly--and reorder, remix and extend any section you want, all while staying perfectly in time. The QuickScratch feature lets you instantly scratch with any two loaded samples. Tempo Anchors remove tempo variations from your tracks--or cause other songs to adopt the tempo changes--making mash-ups and live remixes a breeze. Tempo Master synchronizes all tracks, samples and effects within Torq, while MIDI clock transmits tempo information to outboard hardware and other computers so you can collaborate with friends. And if you also want to produce, Torq is ReWire-compatible with Pro Tools M-Powered software and other popular applications.
Advanced Effects Processing Torq 1.5 gives you 10 essential effects right out of the box for dynamic manipulation of your tracks. Imagine the possibilities of stacking multiple distortion, filter, repeat, chorus or bit-reduction effects while mixing between songs. You can turn any track into your own original creation--and even record it on the spot with the integrated performance recorder. Torq also allows you to create recallable snapshots of your favorite EQ, effect and mixer settings, and even supports the vast world of third-party VST effects plug-ins.
Dynamic Control Over Torq 1.5 Software The best DJ tools allow you to get your hands on your music--from cueing to beat matching to scratching. M-Audio designed the Xponent control surface with full-size, DJ CD-player-style controls so you can get into the music and engage the crowd during each moment of your set. Xponent features 64 assignable backlit buttons (including Play, Cue, Seek, Loop, Key and Sync controls), two volume sliders, eight assignable knobs for effect control and two 100mm pitch sliders. The built-in touchpad/assignable X/Y controller allows you to control your mouse or the effects in Torq, so you never have to take your hands off the unit in the middle of a performance.
Made to Work Together Torq 1.5 DJ software for Mac and PC automatically configures itself to work with Xponent--every hardware control is pre-mapped to its corresponding function in Torq. It's easy to get up and running with Xponent because all of the hardware controls are located exactly where you'd expect them to be. The transition into digital DJing couldn't be simpler.
Plays Well with Others In addition to VST compatibility, Torq 1.5 software can interface with any ReWire-compatible host application. You can easily route the output of Torq to a program like Pro Tools M-Powered and explore even more performance, production and sound design possibilities. When ReWired to a host application, the tempo of Torq automatically locks to the current session tempo, so you never have to worry about syncing playback between Torq and your preferred DAW. In addition, the Xponent control surface can be MIDI-mapped to other digital audio workstation software including Ableton Live.
What's in the Box Xponent USB DJ Controller and Audio Interface, Torq CD-ROM (Torq Software, Xponent Drivers, and Documentation), USB Cable, 12VDC 1000mA Power Supply, Quick Start Guide

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Focusrite Saffire LE 6 In/8 Out Version 2 Firewire Audio Interface Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had this soundcard (audio interface would be more accurate) for about 2 years, and since that time there have been alot of new USB and some firwire soundcards put on the market. Alot of the newer interfaces are also smaller by comparison but I still think that this as a serious recording interface can't be beat.
I recommend the Saffire LE over the Saffire because the main difference is the Saffire (399) version has sound effects built into the soundcard, and the Saffire LE has the effects bundled as VST plug ins which can be used with any VST compatible program (requires registration though).
I have this soundcard and a Echo MiaMIDI Digital PCI Audio Interface (another workhouse, had over 5 years), and I use this for either laptop recording, or hook it up to my desktop when I want to record straight from an instrument. I've recorded digitally and analog from an MPC 1000 and 2000, and various midi keyboards, also used the mic inputs with a Shure microphone, great quality.
The reason for four stars instead of five? If you use this soundcard with a MINI-firewire plug, like the ones built into most Dell laptops, make sure you have the latest version of the firmware to make up for any latency (delay, audio dropout) coming from using a mini-firewire plug versus a regular Firewire 400 or 800 port. This shouldn't be a problem on Macs or most PCs desktops with FIREWIRE PORTS, but it was a small issue when I first started using it with a Dell laptop, after updating the software the latency issues were greatly improved (basically non-existant). And again this is a FIREWIRE ONLY audio interface, it WON'T WORK WITH USB! Hope this is informative, have fun!

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Focusrite Saffire LE is bundled with a host of other software titles and audio samples. Focusrite Saffire LE FireWire Audio Interface ensures the recording musician has¡­. Buy Focusrite Saffire LE FireWire now! Buy Focusrite Saffire LE FireWire now!

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Yamaha HW10W 10" Powered Studio Monitor Review

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(More customer reviews)speaker did a great job until today where it seems to be blown. is there any type on manuf. warranty on this?

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The HS10W powered subwoofer complements the HS speakers and easily handles today's bass-enhanced music or the most dramatic surround effects. The HS10W woofer uses a bass reflex design cabinet that maintains high efficiency and low distortion. The HS Series has been designed to provide exceptional clarity and flat response, so if your mix sounds good here, it will sound good everywhere in 2:1 (Stereo) or 5:1. The HS10W powered subwoofer contains a long-stroke, 8-in. 120-watt woofer and bass reflex design cabinet that maintains high efficiency and low distortion. Connections include dual XLR and 1/4-in. inputs, and three balanced XLR outputs (Mix, L&R). Controls include master level, phase and low/high cutoff frequency. The HS10W complements the HS speakers, and easily handles today's bass-enhanced music or the most dramatic surround effects.

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M-Audio Studiophile BX8a Deluxe 130-watt Bi-amplified Studio Reference Monitors Review

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(More customer reviews)I picked up a pair of BX8a Deluxe speakers on Amazon for a great price. I did some reading online and read about speakers randomly dying after purchase, but the price was just too good and I decided to roll the dice.
Well, 2 months in, my right speaker went bad and never would work properly again. When I would turn it on, the woofer would pop, go full throw, and emit a 60Hz hum. Very bad stuff. I looked at my return / repair options and found I had to return them to M-Audio to get it repaired.
I looked at the M-Audio forums and read quite a bit more about M-Audio speakers failing, and decided I'd take my chances and crack open the speaker to see if I could figure out what was wrong instead of suffering through a potentially long and painful RMA cycle.
3 hours later I had discovered the problem: a short circuit on the main amplifier board, underneath the tweeter's power amplifier chip. The amp is a TDA2052 made by STMicroelectronics. You can look at the datasheet here: http://www.st.com/stonline/products/literature/ds/1585.pdf
The short was between pins 4 and 6 of this chip, so it was connecting the negative power supply voltage to the audio input pin on both the tweeter and woofer amplifier - very bad! This explains why I could hear 60Hz power line noise on the speaker every time I turned it on.
I was about to start probing each pin on the TDA2052 to see if I could figure out what wire on the circuit board had a problem when I discovered the short between pins 4 and 6. I carefully removed the solder flux and other debris between the two solder pads and plugged the circuit board in, and the problem was gone. You can see a picture of my circuit board and the location of the short here: http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3357/img0054un5.jpg
As to why the short-circuit suddenly occurred 2 months after purchase - I can only speculate. One possibility is the dreaded "tin whiskers" problem that has been plaguing electronics manufacturers for years. You can read about it here: http://nepp.nasa.gov/WHISKER/
Since lot's of people are reporting random failures of these speakers, this is a possibility. There are a couple ways to remedy this, but they all involve tweaking the manufacturing process of the circuit board, and this might not be an option because it would impact the cost and profit margin on these speakers. The other possibility is that the assembly quality control is not good enough on these circuit boards and they are not adequately stress tested / verified before being put into the finished product. Again there is a cost issue and I'm just speculating.
Overall I must say the speakers are an excellent value for the price. The speaker box construction is solid, the speakers are decent, and the electrical design is good enough - simple and effective. I am impressed with this product, and it is unfortunate such a great product is subject to such a high failure rate from what looks like a manufacturing/quality issue and not a design problem. I just hope M-Audio can remedy the issues long term as I'd like to see them continue to develop quality products.


Click Here to see more reviews about: M-Audio Studiophile BX8a Deluxe 130-watt Bi-amplified Studio Reference Monitors

Recording professionals around the world trust M-Audio Studiophile reference monitors for exceptional sonic accuracy. The new Studiophile BX8a Deluxe system builds on this legacy with new waveguides and enhanced driver integration for greater high-frequency clarity and refined sound. The magnetically shielded monitors feature 8-inch curved Kevlar low-frequency drivers plus high-temperature voice coils and damped rubber surrounds for durability and fidelity. The 1-1/4-inch natural silk, waveguide-loaded tweeters deliver a high end that's both clear and easy on the ears. Custom-tuned crossovers distribute 130 watts of bi-amplified power for optimal frequency handling by each driver.

Deluxe Edition The Studiophile BX8a Deluxe monitors update the best-selling M-Audio BX8a system with a variety of enhancements. The new waveguide delivers a cleaner sound. Custom amplifier tuning enhances the integration between the high and low frequencies, delivering refined spectral balance and a smoother response. An elegant new industrial design completes the package.
Kevlar Low-Frequency Drivers To insure a lifetime of service, we constructed the BX8a monitor's 8-inch low-frequency driver from woven Kevlar. Kevlar's high mechanical and thermal resilience makes it ideal for use in speaker cones. Our engineers also created a curved conical design that improves room dispersion. High-damping reliable rubber surrounds provide percussive musical bass, and insure that the cone reaches its optimal excursion for accurate reproduction. And our high-temperature voice coils reduce power compression, guaranteeing that your monitors will deliver full performance hour after hour.
Silk-Dome, Waveguide-Loaded, High-Frequency Drivers Our high-frequency domes are made from natural silk to counter the high Q ringing that is inherent in the poorly crafted metallic materials often found in other monitors. In addition, our new waveguides refine the high-frequency response. M-Audio's FerroFlow technology uses ferrofluid liquid cooling to dissipate heat for maximum efficiency and extended usage.
Bi-Amplified Efficiency Active monitors have a distinct advantage over unpowered monitors because the built-in power amps are specially designed to work with the drivers and crossovers in a tuned system. Bi-amplification further refines the concept by dedicating separate power amps to the highs and lows. Combined with a finely tuned crossover, this design insures that both the high- and low-frequency drivers are asked to deliver only the frequencies they are most efficient at reproducing.
Rear-Ported Cabinet Design The Studiophile BX8a Deluxe monitor's cabinet is integrally designed with its other components for optimal performance—right down to rounded corners for reduced edge diffraction and superior imaging. Custom rear-port design audibly reduces the turbulence and resulting distortion caused by poorly designed ports.
Magnetic Shielding Unchecked, the electromagnetic waves emanating from your speakers can wreak havoc with your computer's video monitor or a nearby TV. The BX8a Deluxe is magnetically shielded so that all of your electronic equipment can coexist without interference.
What's in the Box Two BX8a Deluxe Speakers, Two Detachable AC Power Cords, User's Manual

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Phonic Portable FireWire Unit FIREFLY-302 Review

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(More customer reviews)Is this thing plugged in? I mean, it must be, because all my audio software works perfectly, but there aren't any little pictures or spinning things or eye candy to let me know I've got something hooked up. I guess Phonic are too busy making things that just work right to throw a few dozen latency-bloating apps into my system tray, but couldn't I at least get a useless mixer? Or a control panel whose only purpose is to play noise sequentially through each channel? Or just some light-blue windows like Creative are so fond of tossing around? Oh well, I guess this will have to do.
It works seamlessly with Live and Reason, and even my Windows games patch through the Firefly rather than the on-board once it's plugged in. My only complaint is the absence of a 1/4" mic-in for my unamplified electric guitar, which shouldn't be an issue if I use a 1/4"-to-XLR adapter or just amp the signal going into the line-in port.

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5 x 6 24-bit/192kHz FireWire stream I/O2 x 2 analog operation (RCA)Front-panel microphone in (XLR) with +48V phantom powerHeadphone output with dedicated level controlLow-latency ASIO software direct monitoringPower indicator LEDPowered via FireWire bus or included DC power supplyDual FireWire ports (6- and 4-pin) with bus-powerEasy-to-see accurate LED sig and clip indicators for input and outputMac OSX and Windows XP, Vista and 7 compatibleThe new Phonic Firefly 302 Plus Portable FireWire unit is an easy-to-use, high-quality interface for songwriters to record guitars, keyboards, vocals and more to the computer. Featured are 3 analog (XLR, 1/4" and RCA) inputs and 2 analog outputs, which are streamed to and from the computer in real time through the 24-bit/192kHz FireWire connection. Compatible with the most popular of Digital Audio Workstation software, this compact, bus-powered unit is small enough to go anywhere you want to take your music. Both simple and compact, the Firefly is the most convenient FireWire audio device you will find.

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JBL CONTROL 1 PRO High Performance 150-Watt Miniature Studio Monitor Speaker, Black, Sold as Pair Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have owned three sets of Control 1s over the years. Always liked them and have several times bought other speakers and brought home, only to decide after comparing head to head, that the Control 1's are superior. I highly recommend them because the sound is great, they are indestructible, and shielded, so you can place anywhere (next to your amp, TV, or a PC Display).
First pair were stolen (thieves stole only the Control 1s! they had good taste!), so I bought new pair of the Control 1 eXtremes, the more consumer oriented version. Loved them and have had for a couple years. Recently bought another pair of Control 1's, this time the Pros. Most people won't tell much difference between either version, especially at low-mid level listening volumes. The basic differences are that the Pro's are 4 ohms. They will play louder than the eXtremes. The Pro's also have protection against overload. Bottom line is that if you want something that can occasionally jam very loud, the Pros are a bit better choice but the eXtremes will work just as well for most people and are a better choice if you plan on using them as a surround speaker (because they are 8 ohms and will match your others speakers better, load wise).
But overall, either version of the Control 1's are a great choice. Choose Pro's if you want to jam them as a single stereo pair, choose the eXtremes if you want 8 ohm speaker compatibility.

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Next Generation JBL High PerformanceBlack 150W Miniature Multi Purpose Speaker, Wall Mounts Included and an 80Hz to 20KHz range.Packed in Pairs.

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Mackie MR5 MR5 Reference Monitor (Single Speaker) Review

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(More customer reviews)FIRST THING FIRST...
Forget speaker set-ups and systems that unnecessarily add treble and bass to the music you're listening to including ones with active equalization that determine on your behalf what you're ears should be perceiving at the moment and eliminating other frequencies that it believes aren't as audible anyway.
How about jumping back into studio monitors that deliver music the way the recording engineers meant it to be heard. Too expensive? Hold on. Not with a Mackie MR5. The price you pay is per piece all right, but don't forget these are powered speakers. And at this price point you get a flat frequency response which means there is no colorization. What is recorded is what you get.
Studio monitors used to be so expensive and out of reach that consumers were bombarded with those other brands that promised to wow your ears with a "perception" of full spectrum audio rather than actually provide your ears with, umm, a full spectrum.
Finally Mackie decided to release lower end audio gear with high end results that appeals to everyone else outside of the audiophile world.APPLICATION...
These speakers are built with 3 types of audio connections.
1. Balanced XLR
2. Balanced TRS (which also can accept unbalanced TS)
3. Unbalanced RCA
Originally intended for near-field monitoring as well as accurate enough for home studio mixing. But knock yourselves out in using these anywhere you see fit. If it's good for mixing, it's great for whatever else.
I used it as my desktop computer speakers. If your computer has a 1/8 stereo output a.k.a. mini-stereo then just purchase a simple (but solidly constructed) 1/8" stereo to RCA cable.HOW DOES IT SOUND...
GREAT! However, you need to re-orient your ears if you've been used to unnecessary and heavy equalized equipment. Take a moment to listen to your favourite CD. One that you are very familiar with from beginning to end. Turn off or flatten the equalizer setting. Take one pass on it and determine if you really to highlight or defeat certain frequencies only because you either have wall to wall carpeting and draperies or bare walls.
You're goal is to listen to music the way it was recorded. If you have unbiased speakers in all frequency range then you will notice nuances in the recording that you never even thought was there. Seriously.WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW...
Although this is the smallest of the Mackie studio monitoring speakers, it's still a force to be reckoned with in terms of performance, size and weight. And that's a good thing. It looks, feels and performs like any solid studio monitor. Nothing has been spared. Rather than spend money on marketing, they spend it on actual R&D and build quality.
Frequency response of 60HZ-20KHZ (+-3db) with internal bi-amplification of 55 watts (85 watts peak) for the low frequency and 30 watts (50 watts peak) for the high frequency. And don't be fooled by other speaker manufacture ratings stating 200 watts power which don't mean a thing unless they meant peak power before the internal fuse blows while already clipping at maximum distortion. Did you hear how loud your built-in television speakers can get. To think they are rated from 3 to 6 watts only. So with these truthful power rating, these Mackies are LOUD! Your ears neighbours will come knocking first before you can blow the fuse of these speakers.COMPARED WITH...
The truth is I was perfectly happy with my Blue Sky MediaDesk 2.1 speakers just because I couldn't afford a THX pm3-approved Mackie HR624 at that time. The frequency response was awesome at 35HZ-20KHz. The speakers were fully sealed which provided less distortion and true bass output. I tossed the boxes so I decided to sell them when I moved cross-country than risk damaging perfectly great speakers.
I now moved the Mackie MR5 pair to the living room and disabled the built-in speakers of the television and then obtained a pair of KRK Rokit Powered 6 Generation 2 studio monitors which is equally accurate as the Mackie, but has better frequency response at 48HZ-20KHz (+-1.5db) due to it's 6" low frequency driver.WHAT TO GET...
If you're budget allows for a Mackie, I would get an MR5. A cheaper alternative but still along it's price range is the KRK RP5G2 which also comes with a 5" low frequency driver. But for the same price as the Mackie MR5 is the KRK RP6G2 with better frequency response and a hefty weight and size to boot.
The difference is the porting on the cabinet. Mackie believes in using a rear port, while KRK argues a front port is better as it allows more flexible placement without fear from unnecessary bass response due from the rear ports when placed nearer against the wall.
My recommendation is to listen to both at your nearest studio monitor dealer that stocks both and decide. In the future you can expand to a 2.1 configuration to extend the bass response even lower by purchasing their own respective subwoofer counterparts. As usual, KRK products are better priced so this might affect your decision now the same way it did to me.
If you want a 2.1 configuration right now, then the Blue Sky MediaDesk 2.1 with it's sealed cabinet enclosure all throughout will make sure that the bass you hear is the bass coming from the subwoofer and not from any port which only exists to help extend bass response to a lower frequency.
Either of this you won't go wrong. But please do yourself a favor and get yourself a decent studio monitor than an exorbitantly priced speaker set from a manufacturer that (1) either advertises amplification and frequency response that can be achieved at full clipping power or (2) won't even advertise their specifications at all and then claim their "actual" performance doesn't do justice to the over-equalized supposed sound output.

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Thanks to its sophisticated design, our 5.25-inch MR5 Mackie Reference Monitor delivers superior sound with impeccable clarity?at an unbelievable price.

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Yamaha YPG535 Portable Grand Piano Package (with SK88B Survival Kit) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Nice keyboard, nice sound, feels like a real piano and it's got all the keys. I like that it includes a nice, stable music rest, keyboard stand, footswitch and power adaptor.
Lots of features too: fun sounds, (drum, maracas, bongos, etc. plus sound effects like phone, ufo, dog barking, etc)
It has a super metronome which you can adjust the tempo of, set the number of beats per measure, adjust volume, etc.
It records your performance which is nice, so my piano teacher can play something she wants me to learn, record it, then I can replay that when I'm practicing.
More features, too many to mention... If you'd like to start with something smaller or something less expensiv, I'd check out a Casio keyboard. Casio CTK4000 Premium Pack with Power Supply, Keyboard Stand and Professional Closed Cup Stereo Headphones, Casio LK100 Lighted Keyboard with Premium Accessories Package (this is the first one I got)

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The Yamaha YPG535 88 Key Portable Keyboard gives to the sound and feel of a grand piano in a portable package at an affordable price. The YPG535 offers a graded soft touch action that everyone from the beginner to the professional will love. The YPG535 also includes a stand along with a sustain pedal and power adapter. For the beginner, the built-in interactive lessons provide a user definable tempo that allow for learning at your pace. Yamaha YPG535 Features 88 piano-style keys with Graded Soft Touch 6-track sequencer allows you to record your own music USB & Flash ROM to download new Songs and Styles for playing 5 types preset Master EQ Interactive Lessons: Your Tempo mode helps you learn to play Backlit LCD, panel lights, pitch bend wheel Portable Grand Button: industry's best piano Yamaha XGlite/GM voices plus Sweet!, Cool!, Split & Dual voice Performance Assistant guarantees a rewarding music experience Music Database 267 keyboard setups by song title Optional BB1 keyboard bench. Click for more information. The Yamaha (YPG535KIT) 88 Key Portable Grand Piano includes a Yamaha Survival Kit! The Survival Kit is designed to provide you with everything you need to get started. Includes a two-year extended warranty, Watch & Learn DVD, grand piano key cover, stereo headphones, bonus coupons, Yamaha Survival Kit DVD-ROM. Piano Centric Features The Yamaha Portable Grand, YPG535 has an easy to use panel, a wealth of piano-centric features including 88 piano-style keys, Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance, high resolution stereo piano sample and comes with an attractive matching stand, PA

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Cakewalk Guitar Tracks 2.0 Review

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(More customer reviews)I have to say that I am really impressed with version 2.0 of Guitar Tracks. They completely redesigned the user interface, which looks great, and made it really easy to use. It's a full 8 track recording studio with input and output meters, and audio editing. Each of the tracks can now be mono or stereo and can use any DirectX audio plugin. It comes with Stereo Reverb, Chorus, Flanger, Delay and Parametric EQ plugins. It also has the Drag and Drop Drummer Lite software with a bunch of great drum loops, that intergrates with program. I was up and running in about 5 minutes.

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Guitar Tracks 2.0 is a PC-based multitrack recording program built for guitar players. Designed to be as easy to use as a multitrack cassette recorder or tape deck, this is a great musical sketchpad for guitarists and singers/songwriters. Use it to get ideas down quickly. Controls are logical and clear so you can lay it down and mix it up fast. Features include eight recordable tracks of digital audio, easy punch-ins, looping, locating markers, stereo equalizer, delay, flange, stereo chorus, reverb, and vintage amp simulation. Mix down to stereo WAV files to burn CDs or make MP3s for the Internet. Tune up quickly with a built-in chromatic tuner. Guitar Tracks works with any guitar or microphone.

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M-Audio Solaris Multipattern Condenser Microphone Review

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(More customer reviews)Happy with product, only took about a week. It actually came with a shock mount which that wasn't list to come with it. Thanks

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The Solaris is a large-capsule condenser microphone that sounds as good as it looks. Beneath the stylish exterior lies the best-sounding solid-state electronics available at any price. Vintage design principles merge with incredibly tight manufacturing standards to yield no more than +/-1dB of deviation across the entire 20Hz-20kHz frequency range. The industry-thinnest evaporated gold diaphragm also delivers incredible sensitivity. Multi-pattern architecture provides flexibility that makes it ideal for just about any miking situation--included capturing vocals, guitar, piano, drums and live events. It's like having three mics in one.

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M-Audio Studiophile BX5a Deluxe 70-watt Bi-amplified Studio Reference Monitors Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I compared these with the M-Audio AV40. I decided on these. They sound great. They're very clean and as other reviewers noted, a little directional. They are monitors. The cones are open and exposed, so I can't recommend them around small children. Their construction is solid with precise fit and finish. I really like them. There are a couple things you need to know about these before you decide to purchase them.
First, they don't come with cables. They accept standard XLR (3 pin) male plugs or standard 1/4 inch patch chord for the clean, balanced, installation needed in a recording studio. I purchased my cables from a local guitar shop (Guitar Player). Adorama sells special XLR stereo sets with a 3.5mm stereo pin for computers. That's a better set up than the two individual XLR cables and Y-adapter I picked up (less connections). This site (Amazon) lists them as "HOSA STEREO 3.5mm (M) - TWO XLR(M), 3m (9.9 ft.)". They also offer a 6 footer. If my cable set up gets noisy, I'll order one for myself.
Second, the speakers are a bit larger than your typical computer speakers, but not unwieldy. While I was at the Guitar Player, they had the BX8a speakers on display. They were a bit bigger, and also sounded very nice (hard to listen to them over the constant cacophony of disjointed, (bad) guitar and drum players).
The final consideration is that each speaker requires its own power outlet. Keep in mind that they are 70 watt, so make sure you shut them off when you're not using them (unless you like burning 140 watts for nothing :-) ). If you can accommodate the power outlet and cable requirements, these are well worth it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: M-Audio Studiophile BX5a Deluxe 70-watt Bi-amplified Studio Reference Monitors

Recording professionals around the world rely on M-Audio Studiophile reference monitors for exceptional sonic accuracy. The Studiophile BX5a Deluxe monitors update the bestsellers with new waveguides and enhanced driver integration for a cohesive and refined sound. The 5-inch low-frequency driver cones are crafted from Kevlar, an extremely resilient material. Curved cone design coupled with high-temperature voice coils and damped rubber surrounds deliver excellent fidelity and durability. The 1-inch waveguide-loaded, high-frequency drivers are made of magnetically shielded silk domes for a crisp top end that's gentle on the ears. 70-watt bi-amped power and expertly tuned crossovers round out a first-rate pair of reference monitors with a footprint small enough to fit just about anywhere.

Deluxe Edition The Studiophile BX5a Deluxe monitors update the best-selling M-Audio BX5a system with a variety of enhancements. The updated waveguide delivers excellent imaging. A new low-frequency transducer provides well-defined bass. Custom amplifier tuning enhances the integration between the high and low frequencies, delivering refined spectral balance and a smoother response. An elegant new industrial design completes the package.
Kevlar Drivers M-Audio's Studiophile BX5a Deluxe monitors employ Kevlar for low-frequency driver construction. Kevlar's high mechanical and thermal resilience makes it ideal for use in speaker cones. Our engineers also created a curved conical design that improves room dispersion. High-damping reliable rubber surrounds provide percussive musical bass, and also insure that the cone reaches its optimal excursion for accurate reproduction.
Silk-Dome, Waveguide-Loaded, High-Frequency Drivers Our high-frequency domes are made from natural silk to counter the high Q ringing that's inherent in the poorly crafted metallic materials commonly found in other monitors. In addition, our new waveguides refine the high-frequency response. M-Audio's FerroFlow technology uses ferrofluid liquid cooling to dissipate heat for maximum efficiency and extended usage.
Bi-Amplified Efficiency Active monitors have a distinct advantage over unpowered monitors because the built-in power amps are designed to work with the drivers and crossovers in a tuned system. Bi-amplification further refines the concept by dedicating separate power amps to the highs and lows. Combined with a finely tuned crossover, this design insures that both the high- and low-frequency drivers are asked to deliver only the frequencies they are most efficient at reproducing.
Rear-Ported Cabinet Design The BX5a Deluxe monitor's cabinet is integrally designed with its other components for optimal performance--right down to rounded corners for reduced edge diffraction and superior imaging. Custom rear-port design audibly reduces the turbulence and resulting distortion caused by poorly designed ports.
Magnetically Shielded for Desktop Use Unchecked, the electromagnetic waves emanating from your speakers can wreak havoc with your computer's video monitor or a nearby TV. The Studiophile BX5a Deluxe monitors are magnetically shielded so all of your electronic equipment can coexist on your desktop without interference.
What's in the Box Two BX5a Deluxe Speakers, Two Detachable AC Power Cords, User's Manual

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