@Kate Middleton
Is the question still relevant?

 

I did a direct comparison of Kali IN-8 (1st gen) vs Genelec 8331 and those Kalis sound so much better - but also hiss so much more (truth to be told, there is literally NO hiss if you connect 8331's via digital AES/EBU),
so Kali Audio for music, movies, games and any kind of work, but definitely keep Genelec for any kinds of restoration, intricate sound design, mastering and other critical stuff

 

Here's a review:

Kali Audio IN-8v1 3-Way Studio Monitor Review
www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/kali-audio-in-8v1-3-way-studio-monitor-review.24241/

 

Depending on your budget try and have a listen to the Dynaudio LYD 7 and LYD 8

 

Beware. Transient response is more important than frequency response.

 

This review informed my decision to go with KRK Series 4, which I am very pleased with:

https://gearspace.com/board/so-much...onitors.html?highlight=krk+v4+s4#post12506474

 

What do you mean frequency response? Transients is important yes, Adam has custom made rubber something for that purpose.
What is frequency response? You mean frequency curve?
I recommend ADAM even smaller ones. They sound rly good, at least those i have.
And also a treated room, with out treatment you would want speakers with control over frequencies like low, mid, high

Adam has an app for this, and integrates with sonarworks, i used sonarworks, but i have a treated room, so i have manually in the app adjusted the EQ like -6db 40hz, +2db 90hz, +2 125, -3 350 or whatever, cus i made a room "read" with sonarworks AND EQ Wizard which is free.

So good speakers is relative, you can buy best speakers on market, and it wont make a difference if your room is weak, like weak walls, windows, etc. I have windows, but double curtains of a soundproofed material, dont remember the name of them, and i have a lot of absorbers.

With the absorbers etc, and some adjustment i have a pretty decent curve, dips are still there, which is why i EQ some frequencies.

So i would take into account of frequency adjustment options. Most speakers have this, but check for software apps. Like Adam.

I can just recommend Adam because i had Focal twin shape, which was good sounding, but when i got the A77H's oh man, new world.

So for small room. Obviously smaller speakers, but its good if they go low in hz, like 38-45. Dont buy small speakers that go over 50hz imo. Unless you plan on connecting a sub woofer.

 

Dutch & Dutch 8c (or 6c if your room is really small).

Designed - unlike other monitors - to be positioned close/r to the back wall (and not disperse energy and create filtering waves as a result).

Highly (and I mean most highly) recommended. First noticed them in a studio in Seoul - jaw dropping imaging and tonal balance.

 

I'm not sure about pointless, doesn't the adage go: "there are no stupid questions - only stupid answers?"

Also, if you ask a stupid question, you may feel stupid; if you don't ask stupid questions, you will likely remain stupid.

Seriously though, it's sometimes through questions like these that one (observer, if not the OP) might glean some new information or recommendation outside of their normal circle of influence, or experience.

Food for thought.

 

That audiosciencereview test does not show time domain behaviour (waterfall) it only discusses the frequency response.

Yes.
One part of the sound is frequency related (the freqeuncy domain), the other part is time related (the time domain).
Most discussions in forums or tests are about the frequency domain.
But the time domain of a speaker is more important for monitoring.

The reason why NS-10 and Auratones have become reference monitors, although their frequency response is not that great is their - I believe to this day - unrivaled time domain behaviour:










If you have never worked with these speakers in a professionally treated room, you will probably not have an idea and therefore maybe not even believe it, how important the time domain behaviour of speakers is, to judge and dial in dynamics, transients, reverb/dly/chorus, imaging related issues.

A few more waterfalls:

















THE YAMAHA NS10M:
TWENTY YEARS A REFERENCE MONITOR. WHY?
P. Newell, K. Holland, J. Newell

 

Last edited by a moderator: Jan 8, 2026 at 9:08 AM

Coming in at over £12,000 they'd better have jaw dropping imaging and tonal balance!

 

Adam Audio A5X + T10S

 

Adam speakers are cheaper and reproduce the bass frequencies better, which is where most mistakes are made. Personally, I'm selling my HS7s to buy Adam T8V speakers.

 

Adam T8V good bass representation and sweet highs