Kali Audio LP-8V2 8" Powered Studio Monitor - 100W Speaker System with Boundary Compensation EQ Settings - for Mixing, Recording, Audio Production - XLR, TRS, RCA Input Ports, Single, Black

18-month update: I am sitting in my studio just listening to music while working and I was, once again, struck by how great these monitors sound. I felt like I had to come back and do another update. I have been working on these monitors 5-6 days a week for a year and a half. I probably average 6 hours a day listening critically on them. I remain in awe at how great they are - not just compared to other speakers at this price, but compared to every professional studio monitor I have ever heard. These things are amazing!6-month update: My impression of these speakers has only improved. I have used them very heavily for over 6 months now and they have not let me down. They are extremely accurate, yet very comfortable to listen to for long periods. I have done dozens of critical mixes on them and they translate perfectly. I would very happily buy these monitors again, and likely will.Original review: Wow. These things are so great I almost can't believe it. I have worked in professional audio and video production for over 20 years and I have owned a lot of very high quality audio gear. I needed to set up a new small video editing suite and needed a pair of accurate near field monitors with the ability to reproduce deep bass. I had heard good things about these monitors, so I figured I would give them a try. For the price, I couldn't go wrong. I AM SO HAPPY I DID!These monitors sound like much more expensive monitors. I had a pair of JBL LSR-28Ps that I loved and these have a very similar sound. They have a deep but tight low end, mild mids, and accurate but pleasing highs. Like the JBLs they are very pleasing to listen to for long periods of time, but are accurate enough to do critical mixing on.The only slight (and I mean very slight) negative to consider with these speakers is that they are ported and if your speaker placement isn't ideal they can sound a bit tubby. Because of my room layout, when I first set them up they were a bit higher than they should have been and the ports were right at ear level (about 40 inches away from my ears). Using my speaker pads to aim them down a bit and moving them a bit further back completely fixes this. The dip switches allowed me to get the speakers sounding flat in my room very quickly and easily (they print the instructions on the back of the speaker for easy setup).Even if you have the budget for more expensive monitors, unless you know exactly what you want,I highly recommend these speakers. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Watch the YouTubes, imagine they're as great as they seem. Not to worry, they are great monitors and more.I bought one shopping not near field, but more monitors used for live music rehearsal. These will be placed on stands ear level, 5-6' away. My E-drum kit buddy has a floor wedge that sounds like loud mud. Thought a powered monitor that sounds good full range may work better placed closer to his ear. PA powered speakers are around the same price basically having better grill protection. Problem is, they don't sound accurate, they just get loud. The Kali completely blew me away how clean and how punchy it is. I ordered a second for a stereo monitor system in the room we practice. Things are killer now controlled with a single vol. knob and source switching box.Glad I snagged the 8's. I had a Polk 10" front firing sub. The shocker was, when the Kali's are kicking, the sub blends in not able to detect it's in the party. I have a Sub in/out switch on the controller. Only when you raise the sub volume way high, you notice the low end becoming louder. Not kidding, these things reach down 60Hz and below no issue never chuffing from the front port. Dead silent at idle. I removed the sub as no need. First 'bookshelf' speaker I've ever heard hit those lows. These bad boys are all about smoking the competition. Studio monitors they might be they'd fill a fairly large living room where they'd destroy a sound bar for movie fun. These are powered speakers that can serve many rolls. Band practice, home stereo, making jaw dropping party noise, or... mixing. The amp has limiter protection to save the drivers from spikes and bad things. $300, 2-way bookshelves or PA monitors do not. She's a tool, bang away, you'll dig these.

The Kali LP-8s are excellent studio monitors for the price. These are 8 inch speakers and may be a little larger than you're expecting. I would consider them midfield monitors rather than nearfield monitors.The frequency response is great, and there are dip switches so you can tune the tonal balance to work for your room depending on monitor placement.They sound plenty loud, but they also work well at low volumes.There is a hiss, though. A noise that comes from the speakers whether anything is playing or not. It's a little louder than most studio monitors. If this is a concern for you, the Kali LP-6s hiss is 2dB quieter than the LP-8s.There's also the IN-5s and the hiss is 12 dB quieter, apparently. The SECOND generation of IN-8s also got the hiss reduction update, but these are considerably more expensive.The hiss is quieter than a computer fan, and it's fine for a typical home studio environment. You don't notice it when music is playing, but you can tell they're on. I would plan to keep them at least 4 feet from you though, so you don't hear it as much.I don't know how "flat" the frequency response actually is. When I calibrated them with Sonarworks SoundID Reference, it made a significant difference. SoundID Reference did make them sound clearer, but it added too much high end and I actually prefer to use the speakers without it.Bottom line -- these are excellent speakers for the price, but most home studio users who are looking for nearfield monitors would probably be better off with the LP-6s since they're a little smaller and have 2dB quieter hiss.These are perfect second monitors -- midfield monitors. Further away, bigger, deeper sound. The frequency response goes low enough that I don't feel like I need a subwoofer.I'm happy with my purchase and would probably buy Kali again.