M-AUDIO
Jan 1, 2003 12:00 PM, By Joe Silva
Although piecing together a track through your trusty headphones isn't impossible (Kid Koala's “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,” for instance, was largely recorded in that fashion), there's really no substitute for a reliable set of monitors. The choices, like all things audio, are only limited by your purse strings.
Given that M-Audio had dipped its toes in nearly every other aspect of the production game, it should have come as no surprise that the company added monitors to its already rich portfolio of audio solutions. Although most people aren't too keen on getting their hands on the first run of any product line, M-Audio's entry-level Studiophile SP-5B monitors might give you cause to think otherwise.
The SP-5Bs are biamplified nearfield reference monitors. To those new to the game, that means that both speakers are outfitted with onboard power supplies and are to be used close to the physical mixing location. Nearfields are found both in small project studios and professional settings because they are meant to simulate a listening environment similar to that of a decent stereo hi-fi setup. The goal of a nearfield setup is to let you hear as much of the audio spectrum as possible in its most naked state. Specifically, nearfields are supposed to deliver a happy medium, in which the character of the unit isn't slanted too far in either direction of the audio spectrum.
The SP-5Bs weigh in at 11 pounds each and are handsomely done up in sturdy matte black high-density MDF (medium-density fiberboard) enclosures. Like most nearfields, neither portion of the unit is shielded by any sort of grille, so you may want to exercise some care when handling the SP-5Bs, despite their low weight and small footprint. Because the monitors are powered via separate power cables, a cool blue LED above each woofer lets you know that the speaker has power. Rocker switches at the back of each monitor turn the SP-5Bs on and off. The rear panel also contains connection points for XLR inputs, both balanced and unbalanced TRS ¼-inch jacks, volume controls and a sizable hole that M-Audio has dubbed the Sub-Frequency Port. The Sub-Frequency Port is really just a vent that is meant as an exit point for low frequencies.
The SP-5B's woofer is a 5.25-inch magnetically shielded mineral-filled polypropylene cone with a high-temperature voice coil and damped rubber surround. The polypropylene is used, according to the manual, to work against the input signal at a level of accuracy that should ensure that even the smallest signal is presented truthfully. The silk-dome tweeter sits in a swivel base, which can be used to tweak the direction of the component as needed. The manual suggests that you only do this in “extreme cases,” when the placement of the monitors is such that the additional adjustment is absolutely necessary.
The internal guts of the SP-5Bs are touted as being able to deliver a signal-to-noise ratio of less than 100 dB, a frequency response between 33 Hz and 22 kHz, and a crossover point of 2.7 kHz. What will matter most to the layperson is that the SP-5Bs pump out 75W of juice and are built to adequate specs, depending on the type of work they're being used for. For instance, it's pretty easy to hear that the SP-5Bs are not particularly bass boomers, but running several kinds of rock and electronic mixes through them showed the monitors to have decent response to both Led Zeppelin kick drums or Bedrock-style progressive-house beats.
Moving them closer to a hard, reflective surface (like the brick walls in my work space) seemed to fatten up the sound. The SP-5Bs did have enough bottom end, however, to solicit at least one or two thumps of disapproval on the ceiling from the downstairs neighbors during testing. The top end of the audio spectrum was fairly pleasing straight out of the box. The clarity that I witnessed while listening to vinyl off of my old Technics SL-D2 deck, CDs, PC-generated audio or even radio streams from the Internet was crisp and clean.
One design quibble that was honestly frustrating involved the nonstepped volume knobs. Although you can meticulously set the levels of each control, I began to doubt my adjustments once I positioned the monitors in my production space. That was a mild hassle given that, try as I might, my work space is a rat's nest of cabling, and every time I felt compelled to check the individual volume of a unit, I had to either tip the SP-5Bs forward or risk straining their cabling as I turned them around to check my settings. Had the knobs been stepped so that each adjustment was snapped in place, setup and subsequent tweaks would have been far easier.
The price of the SP-5Bs has dropped since they first appeared, which makes them an attractive option, despite the appearance of their newer siblings, the BX8s. Undoubtedly, higher-quality units are out there, but the SP-5Bs are an admirable starting point for budgetwise project studios.
Product Summary
M-AUDIO
Studiophile SP-5B monitors
$399.95 (pair)
Pros: Affordable. Respectable sound quality for price range. Cool blue LED.
Cons: Limited bass response. Nonstepped volume knobs.
Overall Rating: 4
Contact: tel. (800) 969-6434
e-mail sales@midiman.net • Web www.m-audio.com
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