Kali Audio LP-6 2nd Wave

2-way active studio monitor, 6.5-inch woofer

The Kali LP-6 2nd Wave is a bi-amplified active studio monitor designed to judge a mix accurately in a home studio or a small control room. It combines a 6.5-inch woofer, a 1-inch textile dome tweeter and a waveguide dedicated to stereo imaging. Built-in settings adapt it to where it actually sits in the room.

Accurate sound and a clear stereo image

The 3-D Imaging Waveguide keeps directivity smooth across the whole frequency range. Sound reflected by the room stays consistent with the direct sound, which helps place each element in the stereo field and in depth. The woofer uses a large-diameter dual-layer voice coil and an oversized magnet for low distortion and wide dynamic range. The bass is not artificially boosted, and the front port is shaped to avoid chuffing noise. Response runs from 47 Hz to 21 kHz at ±3 dB.

What is new in the 2nd Wave

This second generation of the Project Lone Pine range improves several aspects of the original LP-6. Amplifier self-noise is 12 dB lower, so the monitor is very quiet at idle. More sophisticated protective limiters allow 3 dB more output with no risk to the drivers. A more robust DSP smooths the high-frequency response, natural-finish cones with less material improve driver efficiency, cabinet construction has been revised to age better, and the boundary compensation EQs have been retuned, notably for desktop use with stands.

Settings to suit the room

On the back, three DIP switches select one of eight boundary compensation EQs developed at The Village Studios in Los Angeles: on stands in free space, on stands close to a wall or against a wall, on a console bridge, on a desk away from walls, close to a wall or against a wall, and on a desk with stands. Four more switches adjust bass and treble by ±2 dB, and a last one enables the RCA input, switched off by default to prevent interference. A quick reference guide is printed on the back of the monitor.

Use and connections

The Kali LP-6 is designed for nearfield listening, between 0.5 and 2.5 metres, which matches the modest rooms of a typical home studio. It connects to an audio interface or a mixing desk via balanced XLR or TRS jack (+4 dBu), and to consumer sources such as a computer or a smartphone via the RCA input (-10 dBV). Volume goes from -∞ to +6 dB with a centre detent at 0 dB, and the switch-mode power supply accepts any mains voltage without adjustment. Sold individually: you will need two for stereo listening.

Specifications

• Type: 2-way active studio monitor, bi-amplified
• Amplification: class D, 40 W (HF) + 40 W (LF), 80 W continuous
• Tweeter: 1-inch textile dome
• Woofer: 6.5-inch, optimised paper cone
• Crossover frequency: 1,500 Hz
• Frequency range (±3 dB): 47 Hz to 21 kHz
• Frequency response (-10 dB): 39 Hz to 25 kHz
• Max SPL (peak at 1 m): 115 dB
• Harmonic distortion: < 3% from 80 Hz to 1.7 kHz, < 2% above 1.7 kHz (90 dB SPL at 1 m)
• Sensitivity: 94 dB SPL at 1 m for +4 dBu (XLR/TRS) or -10 dBV (RCA)
• Inputs: 1 XLR and 1 TRS 6.35 mm jack balanced, 1 RCA unbalanced
• Controls: volume (-∞ to +6 dB), 8 boundary EQ positions, LF trim ±2 dB, HF trim ±2 dB, RCA input enable
• Recommended listening distance: 0.5 to 2.5 m
• Enclosure: bass reflex, front port
• Cabinet: vinyl-wrapped MDF
• Power supply: switch-mode, universal voltage
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 35.9 x 22.2 x 26 cm
• Weight: 7.05 kg
• Sold individually