KRK Systems VXT8 Monitor Review
Do KRK’s VXT monitors share the same design philosophies as the company’s flagship Exposé range? Huw Price finds out...
Price: £918.00
Manufacturer: KRK Systems
Website: http://www.krksys.com
With new custom-made drivers and a curved front panel for improved imaging, the VXT series certainly looks good. Add to that a slightly bulbous cabinet design to provide improved structural integrity, an extended low end and slotted ports that are claimed to greatly reduce turbulence, and you can begin to understand the appeal of these monitors. The custom-designed woven Kevlar low-frequency drivers promise faster attack times, while the tweeters provide enhanced high-frequency extension with improved distortion characteristics.
The power amplifiers contain three active filters – subsonic, low-pass and high-pass. Output levels are balanced to match the drivers’ sensitivity and power handling, while there’s a defeatable limiter for extra protection (KRK recommends using this only if you are pushing the speakers hard). An indicator on the front baffle helps to determine optimum output levels.
An input sensitivity control is mounted at the rear, with a 30dB to +6dB range. The factory preset is +6dB and KRK suggests that adjustment isn’t necessary, except in surround sound applications. EQ adjustment is fairly straightforward: a three-way switch sets the high-frequency response at fl at or +1dB/-1dB at 2kHz, while another three-way switch adjusts the low frequency response if ideal placement, away from corners and walls, can’t be achieved. The space settings are whole, half and quarter, with increasing
amounts of bass roll-off.
Matter of integrity
The cabinet’s inner and outer walls are filled with ABS structural foam, providing higher structural integrity than standard cabinet materials. This means the walls can be relatively thin and the interior volume greater, offering an extended low-frequency response in comparison to many other monitors with equivalent exterior dimensions. Structural foam also acts as an acoustic damper that minimises cabinet resonance. Since the cabinet is molded, there’s no necessity for parallel internal surfaces, with their accompanying standing wave issues.
KRK can be forgiven for the rearmounted power switch because there’s an Audio Mute feature controlling a timing circuit that shuts off the power supply after 20 minutes if no audio signal is detected.
The only flat exterior surface is the base, so forget about placing the VXT8s sideways on your meter bridge. Although the VXT8s perform well enough at low levels, they sound a bit soft in the treble. Things improve drastically when they are turned up and begin to shift some air. Perhaps this explains why KRKs have always been a popular choice among producers of rock and electronica, but we felt more confident with the HF lift engaged.
When we fired up the VXT8s for the first time, we detected a slight hum emanating from both speakers, although ground lift switches eliminated the problem. This is a great ‘real world’ feature as power supply arrangements are often less than ideal.
In the detail
The VXT8s are not the most forensically detailed monitors, and neither the left/right or depth imaging could be described as top drawer. Most bass lines come across strongly and enthusiastically thanks to a well-defined and slightly forward lower midrange, but dubbier bass sounds, where the sound is oriented towards the fundamental, were slightly laboured and vague in our room – yours might sound different. Individual instruments in some reference mixes sounded more squashed together and less transparent than usual, but the VXT8s fared very well with simpler mixes and acoustic material.
We used the KRKs for some quick reference mixes and they translated fairly well onto other systems. They were also very easy to listen to over long periods and they can provide massive volume when needed. We’d suggest that a familiarisation period might be required before you could achieve consistent results when mixing, but nevertheless, we couldn’t help liking the VXT8s.
KRK VXT8 Review Summary
Room-filling and enjoyable sound with several invaluable real-world features. Might be best suited to tracking rather than critical mixing or mastering.
See also
Monitor Reviews
KRK V6 Review
Choosing & Using Monitors
Score: 7
This review first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 58
Filed under
Hardware,
KRK Monitor Reviews,
Reviews,
Studio Monitors
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Comments
Joe Jaycock - 28 February 2011, 02:37 PM
These are a lot sleeker looking. They seem to have got a lot more rounded. Bublous indeed. As long as they sound as good as any of their previous offers, all should be well!
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