production tools
studio monitors : all : indepth
new arrivals
specials + sale

production software
digital djing
vinyl to digital
sample + refill cds
hard drives + recorders

controllers
interfaces + soundcards
sampler + sequencers
synths + effects

sound mixers
recording mics + recorders
studio monitors

headphones
grado store
sefour store
accessories + books + dvd
blank media + covers
cables + adaptors
replacement parts

browse by manufacturer


search production tools


M1 Active 520 Monitors (Pair)
 
lab price: $199.00
list price: $299.00
available: restocking
item #: sp-028

add to watch list
email friend

lab recommended
INFORMED SUGGESTIONS...
Alesis: M1 Active 620 Monitors (Pair)
The big brothers.
click for more info
 

 
R E V I E W
OVERVIEW
Alesis has redesigned their famous M1 series of monitors, and introduced the 520 and 620 versions, featuring the same outstanding mix of performance and price point that has made the M1s a home & project studio mainstay for years.


New improvements over the old Monitor Ones include three rear-mounted eq switches for controlling high, mid and bass response. There is also a new "acoustic space" switch which allows you to tailor the sound to the size of your control room. Other than that, these monitors continue the M1 tradition of unparalleled accuracy for this price range. They boast a very loud output with a bass response which is specifically tailored for artists working in bass-heavy situations (hip hop, house, techno, almost any dance music).


Studio monitors are mainly used as a gauge for mixing recorded tracks, and the first thing people will tell you to look for when shopping for monitors is a flat response. The less "color" or distortion a monitor adds to your mix, the better a gauge it will be for how your tracks will actually sound outside of the studio. The main reason that the M1's have been so popular over the years is for their professional grade sound reproduction, heralded by nearly everyone as the flattest, best sounding monitors you can find anywhere near this price point.
K E Y  F E A T U R E S
- ACTIVE: or self-powered. An amplifier is built into the monitors and they plug directly into your mixer or sound device
- 2-way 75 watt active near-field reference monitors
- 5" low frequency woofer for clear bass and midrange
- 1" silk dome tweeter for clear highs without ear-fatiguing harshness
- high-precision drivers offer lower distortion and smoother frequency response
- acoustical waveguide for superior imaging with minimal diffraction
- 1" thick front baffle virtually eliminates speaker resonance
- magnetically shielded for close placement to video monitors in computer based music production studios
- 1/4" TRS input with volume control
- low frequency density switch for acoustic space adjustment of the monitors
- rear port design provides deep bass extension and increased SPL
- hi, mid, and low frequency EQ switches
- top mounted, integrated power switch/clip light bar
- voltage switchable between 100-120V and 220-240V
- weight: 16 lbs each
M A N U F A C T U R E R ' S  I N F O