KRK RP5G2 Rokit Studio Monitor and KRK10s Subwoofer
SUB SOUNDS ABOVE PAR
Justin Lassen
January 1, 2009 Source: Studio Monthly
SUB SOUNDS ABOVE PAR
For the past 20 years, KRK Systems has been manufacturing high quality monitors and subs for studios. With the new KRK10s powered subwoofer and RP5G2 Rokit powered studio monitors, KRK makes it possible to have high quality monitoring that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Though these speakers are relatively inexpensive, KRK doesn’t sacrifice on performance either. I reviewed these speakers in three different studio, locations and I found them to be more than just the pretty package they came in (which features a new curved baffle design).
For this review, I placed them in the center of a square room, and also on the far side of a rectangular room. In each setting, they were both natural sounding, and they transparently re – created the full spectrum of audio that I was testing through them. Even at high decibels, they were still crisp and precise.
Sound Clarity
Anytime I test new speakers, they have to pass five different sets of musical tests according to specific artists I play through them. On the oomph side, I test Dr. Dre, Aphex Twin, BT, Nine Inch Nails and Rob Dougan. These are artists that fully utilize a crisp, bombastic frequency range in their finished music. The KRK10S and RP5G2 passed this first test with solid marks. The tracks sounded clean, full and hard-hitting at varying levels and were focused when I was seated correctly in the room. The bass sound shook my heart with its warmth. On the lighter side, I tested Rachmoninov, Enya, James Horner and Brian Tyler. The combo excelled with this musical style, too, capturing the subtleties, even with quick switches from quiet to loud. Overall, I felt the Rokit monitors and subwoofer captured the range I require for a dynamic listening and playback experience.
Audio on the Road
I then used the speakers during the mastering process of two of my upcoming CD releases to see how well they would work in a real-world scenario. They sounded great no matter where I was (traveling across two states), or what I was putting through them (classical, remixes or rock). Throughout the journey, I appreciated their handy flexibility — they support XLR, RCA and TRS cables. In one studio I could take advantage of the XLRs and didn’t have to worry when the next studio had only fit RCA cables. I was happy that the back of the sub allowed for this sweet possibility (complete with cross-over control, and footswitch shut-off/on for the sub) and room setting controls for each speaker and sub.
The value increases when you factor in that this would be an awesome surround system, even with multiple subs in use, for some serious cinematic mixing. The RP5G2s are also relatively compact, allowing me to move them from studio to studio quite easily. Setup was even easier, no matter where I brought them. The manual is very easy to read and you’ll have no trouble looking up technical setup information for each of the features or for a surround setup.
( Close-up)
Wrap-Up
A small point, but worth mentioning, is how well designed the packaging is that the speakers and sub come in and how much stability and security they seem to provide. KRK obviously cares a lot about its products and wants to protect your investment from the moment the studio monitors leave the factory to the moment they arrive at your door.
I’d recommend the 2.1 system to anyone who needs an effective, simple, setup that can work in diverse environments and with diverse styles of music, from the bombastic rock down to the subtlest of ambient music. These things work great, look sleek and keep you focused on what is most important: the music itself.
SUMMARY: KRK’s sleek new second generation monitor and sub systems combine affordability with bombastic performance
TARGET APPS
Professional music production, monitoring, mixing and Mastering system
WHAT IT COSTS YOU
$299 (KRK10s subwoofer)
$149/each (RP5G2 studio monitor)
WHAT’S COOL
Affordable 2.1 system, clear and full sound, attractive studio design, easy to set up and use
WHAT’S MISSING
It’s pretty solid as is, nothing to complain about
Ratings
Products are rated for features, performance, ease of use and overall value.
Since rear – firing ports can create bass coupling with walls and corners, KRK switched it up by placing them in the front. This means no worrying about placing your speaker’s back to a corner.
Another handy feature: You can plug in a standard footswitch to bypass the KRK10s and send full range audio to your top monitors.
Comments (4) for "Psyop Enchants a Sustainable Message for FedEx"
1.
Justin Lassen's review is trite and inadequate. It does readers no service to learn that he likes or dislikes something, and in the case of a magazine targeted at editorial suites, it is misguided to employ a reviewer who uses his five or ten favorite music CD's as criteria for evaluation. In the case of very small 2-way loudspeakers (5-inch driver), a significant portion of the full frequency spectrum is missing, but the upside is that the speakers themselves fit in small places, such as on the shelves of a small editing desk. Manufacturers compensate by adding a bass port and selling a compatible subwoofer. This creates a unique, distinctly unnatural low end because the low midrange and upper bass simply don't image in stereo as the upper mids and highs. There is always a resonant fundamental created within the cabinet that emits from the port -- same as if you blew across the opening of a soda bottle and heard a note -- based on the cubic volume of the speaker cabinet. This fundamental is present any time the cabinet is energized and it appears in the sound whether it is present in the recorded sound or not. The cabinet resonance obscures desired sound at both the fundamental and at mathematical multiples of the fundamental frequency, and this comb-filters midrange response. That is why ported enclosures have bass power but no not have accurate bass response, nor do they have good low-midrange imaging. And with a five inch driver, the sub is asked to fill in too many octaves on the low end octaves where bass transients are reproduced with sloppiness because of the poor dampening response of a large mass driver. So again, you get chunky warm thick bass with very poor accuracy. That makes it easy to be fooled, as an editor or mixer, into thinking that you have a real warm sound on your hands. You may EQ to roll bass away, or you may add unnecessary treble only to find later on TV that you've gone too far. These are the compromises you accept when you go with a small satellite system like this. Finally, your "smart advice" that because the port is in the front you can freely put these against a wall is incorrect misinformation. Bass radiates omnidirectionally from the cabinet, like lantern light. It absolutely will couple with a wall, adding 3 dB of bass response, or with a corner, adding 6 dB. Give us a more responsible review next time, please.
Posted by Mark Schultz on Saturday, January 10, 2009 @ 10:38 AM
2.
Hey, Mark Schulz. This isn't a scientific magazine, it's a review. And guess what? Reviews are often (almost always, in fact) based on what the reviewer likes. From what I have researched about said reviewer, he has the credentials to make these claims. I am a long-time subscriber of this magazine, and it has never steered me wrong.
Posted by Dana Kim on Thursday, January 29, 2009 @ 04:36 AM
3.
Mark, put down the oscilloscope and give em a listen. You may be surprised. I am old school and have worked with Altec 604s, Jbls, Auratones, and a host of monitors that produced hundreds of gold records. There are no perfect monitors. They are simply tools for working with sound. As near field monitors go these KRKs sound pretty good. Bang for the buck... very good. If you can't get a good mix on em, ummm... it isn't the monitors.
Posted by ivp0 on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 @ 01:46 PM
4.
I just purchased this 2.1 system and it sounds great. Mark has solid criticism but like Dana and ivp stated, it doesn't seem necessary. Justin Lassen, without even knowing him, does just fine translating his experience with the KRK's. I would automatically assume, based on his conviction of words, that he knows what he is talking about and has the credentials to back it up. Plus, I feel better knowing I just purchased something that others think sound EXCELLENT as well. Cheers.
Posted by Mike Lo on Friday, March 4, 2011 @ 10:11 PM
