Updates to best-selling reference monitors deliver refined sound with a new design
M-Audio, a leading provider of creative tools for musicians and a part of Avid Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVID), today announced an update to the popular Studiophile™ BX5a and BX8a reference monitors. The M-Audio Studiophile BX5a Deluxe and Studiophile BX8a Deluxe monitors feature new waveguides, enhanced driver integration and other advancements to deliver a cohesive and refined sound.
The Studiophile BX5a (pictured top) and BX8a Deluxe (pictured below) monitors update the best-selling M-Audio BX5a and BX8a systems with a variety of enhancements. New waveguides deliver excellent imaging. Custom amplifier tuning enhances the integration between the high and low frequencies, delivering refined spectral balance and a smoother response. A new low-frequency transducer in the BX5a Deluxe system adds extra definition to the bass response, while the BX8a Deluxe system features tight tuning to generate surprisingly large sound for its modest footprint. Elegant industrial design completes the packages.
The Studiophile BX5a and BX8a Deluxe monitors feature 5″ and 8″ Kevlar low-frequency driver cones, respectively. Kevlar’s high mechanical and thermal resilience makes it ideal for speaker cones. These low-frequency drivers also employ a curved cone design, high-temperature voice coils and damped rubber surrounds that provide percussive musical bass. The Deluxe monitors also feature new waveguide-loaded high-frequency drivers with natural silk domes to deliver pristine top end that is gentle on the ears.
The BX5a Deluxe monitors provide 70 watts of bi-amplified power, while the BX8a Deluxe monitors deliver 130 watts. The speaker designs also feature finely tuned crossovers and system electronics to ensure that both the high- and low-frequency drivers are asked to deliver the frequencies they are most effective at reproducing. This enables the systems to retain a smooth spectral balance. Magnetic shielding allows users to set up the monitors near other electronic equipment without fear of interference. The systems also have a power indicator and volume control.
“The combination of accurate sound and premium components propelled the original Studiophile BX and BXa series monitors to quickly become best-sellers,” said Adam Castillo, marketing director at M-Audio. “Now the BX5a Deluxe and BX8a Deluxe systems deliver a new performance standard for compact and mid-sized reference monitors. The BX8a Deluxe delivers clear highs that don’t fatigue the ears, an integrated and well-defined mid range, and as much bass as many 2.1 systems. The BX5a Deluxe provides rich, detailed sound across the entire frequency spectrum, including defined bass that belies the monitor’s small footprint.”
The Studiophile BX5a and BX8a Deluxe monitors are currently expected to ship in the first quarter of 2008 at MSRPs of USD $399.95 and $599.95 per pair, respectively.
M-Audio Studiophile Monitors
The initial release of the M-Audio Studiophile series defined a new price point for professional-quality reference monitors, and the BX5 monitors quickly became bestsellers. The Studiophile BX5a and BX8a upped the ante with Kevlar drivers, silk high-frequency drivers and other enhancements — and continued to outsell other monitors in their class. The BX Series Deluxe monitors improve upon this success with a variety of sonic and aesthetic enhancements.
