Studio wonders

Following on from last month's studio console showcase, S&S takes a look at some of the best studio monitors available on the market today.

Tannoy

The announcement of its merger with legendary guitar manufacturer Gibson at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, capped an important week for the well-known loudspeaker manufacturer, in which it also launched a significantly revised range of professional studio monitors.

Taking advantage of advances in digital speaker measuring techniques such as Klippell symmetry and non-linear distortion analysis, laser scanning interferometry, acoustic CAD simulation and the company's own acoustic technologies, Tannoy's latest additions to its Reveal and Precision ranges include passive and active models in a variety of sizes and outputs.

The latest active monitors in the Reveal range boast a comprehensive calibrated EQ facility for optimising mid/near/close field monitoring in full/half/quarter and eighth space environments.

Balanced analogue inputs are provided on all Reveal active models allowing either XLR or three-way jack plugs.

Additionally, Reveal D active versions accept a standard SPDIF digital input, retaining the signal in the digital domain.

The new Precision range combines the latest Tannoy Dual Concentric driver and WideBand technology to deliver near-field monitoring speaker designs that boast superior bandwidth, low levels of distortion, smooth response, accurate phase control and high sensitivity levels.

The monitors also display the benefits of Tannoy's approach to dealing with the acoustic effects of mid-, near- and close-field listening distances, in order to compensate for the relative size and distance of the acoustic source and resultant spherical/plane wave dilemmas.

A set of DIP switches on the rear control panel of the Reveal D and Precision D Active monitors allow the selection of an optimum speaker response for the most challenging monitoring situations, ensuring the frequency response is always as linear and flat as possible.

Optimisation can be preset for far-field (>2m), mid-field (1~2m), near-field (~1m) and close-field (<0.5m) situations in combination with free-space (4pi), half-space (2pi), quarter-space (pi) and extreme eighth-space (pi/2) corner situations.

As a result, the Active D monitors can be optimised for varying listening distances in challenging acoustic spaces; varying meter bridge positions, against and adjacent to walls or reflecting surfaces, in corners, in corners on shelves or brackets, table top / space-restricted PC/Mac-based sound editing environments and stand-mounted or soffit-mounted configurations.

Rigid cabinet designs, a choice of discreet or Dual Concentric point source, constant directivity drivers, WideBand technology and a powerful calibrated EQ facility, contribute to creating an impressive line-up of studio monitors.

Middle East distributors: Triad Technical Services (Jordan/Bahrain); Mansour Electronics & Techologies (Egypt); Pardis Trading (Iran); Delta Vision (Lebanon); Hitec Centre (Oman); Halwani AV Professional (KSA); Thomsun Trading (UAE).

Behringer

Behringer's latest professional reference studio monitors to hit the market are the B3030A and B3031A.

Unveiled at last year's Prolight & Sound exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany, the speakers represent the latest additions to the company's Truth series of active monitors, and supersede the B2030A and B2031A models respectively.

The loudspeakers boast a range of enhancements over the outgoing models. In the case of the B3031A, these include ultra-high resolution, two-inch velocity ribbon transducers, long-throw woofers with Kevlar cones and deformation-resistant aluminium die-cast chassis.

It also includes 225w bi-amped technology and an ultra-linear frequency response.

Other features include an active crossover network with fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley filters; separately controlled limiter for low- and high-frequency overload protection; an automatic standby mode (defeatable); servo-balanced inputs with XLR and ¼-inch TRS connectors; and magnetic shielding which allows the speakers to be placed adjacent to computer monitors.

The B3030A includes many of the same features, but is powered by 110w bi-amped technology. Additional features include a long-throw 6.75-inch woofer with deformation-resistant Kevlar cone and aluminum die-cast chassis.

Middle East distributors: Media International Trading (Egypt); Ertebat Sedaye Bartar Co (Iran); Loriana Audio Visual (Jordan); Triangle Sound & Image (Lebanon); The Specialists Establishment (KSA); Techniline Electronics (UAE).

KRK Systems

Established in 1994, US company KRK Systems has rapidly established a reputation for manufacturing quality studio monitors.

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