Kali Audio LP-8 2nd Wave

2-way active 8-inch studio monitor

The Kali LP-8 2nd Wave is an 8-inch active studio monitor, bi-amped in class D (100 W), designed for recording, mixing and production. Its low end reaches down to 37 Hz (-10 dB), and its room adaptation settings keep it accurate in a home studio as well as in a larger room.

Extended low end and a coherent stereo image

The 8-inch paper cone woofer uses a large voice coil and magnet for greater linearity, dynamic range and extended bass with low distortion. The front port is shaped so that air leaves it at a uniform velocity: the low end stays clean, with no port chuffing. The 1-inch textile dome tweeter sits in the 3-D Imaging Waveguide, which matches the sound reflected by the room to the direct sound and produces a stereo image wider, taller and deeper than the space where the speakers are placed.

What is new in the 2nd Wave

This second generation of the Project Lone Pine range takes the original LP-8 and adds a new amplifier with 12 dB less self-noise: the speaker stays silent when nothing is playing. More sophisticated limiters allow 3 dB more output with no risk to the drivers, and the input sensitivity has been revised by 3 dB for more output from the same signal. A more robust DSP smooths the high-frequency response, the transducers are lighter, and a new compensation setting has been added for use on a desk with monitor stands.

Settings to suit your room

On the back, eight DIP switches control the DSP. The first three select one of eight placement compensations (boundary EQ) developed at The Village Studios in Los Angeles: on stands away from walls, 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 or a studio desk. Low and high frequency trims of ±2 dB fine-tune the result for the room or your taste, and the last switch enables the RCA input. A settings guide is printed on the back of the speaker, and the volume runs from -∞ to +6 dB with a centre detent at 0 dB.

From home studio to larger room

The Kali LP-8 works at listening distances from 0.5 to 3.5 m. Kali designed it to hold 85 dB continuously at 3.6 m with 20 dB of headroom for peaks, which also makes it suited to larger rooms where up to three people are listening. It connects to an audio interface or console via XLR or balanced TRS jack, and to a turntable, computer or smartphone via RCA. The switch-mode power supply accepts any mains voltage. Sold individually: you will need two for stereo listening.

Specifications

• Type: 2-way active studio monitor, front-ported bass reflex
• Amplification: class D, bi-amped, 100 W continuous (60 W LF, 40 W HF)
• Woofer: 8-inch, paper cone
• Tweeter: 1-inch textile dome, 3-D Imaging Waveguide
• Crossover: 1800 Hz
• Frequency response (±3 dB): 45 Hz to 21 kHz
• Frequency range (-10 dB): 37 Hz to 25 kHz
• Max SPL (peak at 1 m): 117 dB
• Harmonic distortion: < 2.5% from 80 to 400 Hz, < 1.4% above 400 Hz (90 dB SPL at 1 m)
• Recommended listening distance: 0.5 to 3.5 m
• Balanced inputs: 1 XLR, 1 1/4-inch TRS jack (+4 dBu)
• Unbalanced input: 1 RCA (-10 dBV), enabled by DIP switch
• Sensitivity: 94 dB SPL at 1 m for +4 dBu (XLR/TRS) or -10 dBV (RCA)
• Settings: 8-position boundary EQ, LF trim ±2 dB, HF trim ±2 dB, volume from -∞ to +6 dB
• Power: 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz
• Cabinet: vinyl-wrapped MDF, black
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 419 x 254 x 286 mm
• Weight: 9 kg
• Sold individually