Turbo 5 Monitor Review - Reviews - Music Tech Magazine

Active monitors designed specifically for dance music have hit the shores of the UK. Huw Price listens in.

Price: £458.00
Manufacturer: Monkey Banana
Website: http://www.monkey-banana.de

Without doubt, this German monitor manufacturer has chosen an unusual name. Then again, this reviewer once toured Europe with a German support band called ‘Kinky Garlic’ sharing the bill. This was apparently hilarious, so we must resign ourselves to the fact that humour doesn’t always translate. Fortunately, music is a universal language.

The non-regular hexagon-shape enclosure prohibits the Turbo 5’s from being placed on their sides, but this shape was chosen because it is effective for minimising standing waves. The enclosure is made from MDF, with a bass reflex design chosen for ‘efficiency and optimal bass extension’ below 60Hz. MDF also damps vibrations from the drive units – which can cause distortion – while the internal surfaces of the cabinet are lined with 3cm-thick wool for extra damping.

Monkey business
The Turbo 5s are equipped with a custom-made Class-A/B amplifier built on professional-grade multi-layer PC boards with ‘audiophile-grade’ components. Thick-gauge ‘audiophile-grade’ cabling is used to connect the woofer and tweeter for ‘lossless signal transmission’. The amplifier panel itself is made from tempered steel for heat dissipation and vibration damping, and flush mounting screws ensure an adequate air seal with the cabinet.

Computer simulations were used to match the woofer to the cabinet and its bass reflex port. The port pipe itself is made by ‘green plastic injection molding’; as well as maximising the woofer’s acoustic output, it tunes the cabinet to the optimum frequency while minimising audible air turbulence at the opening. The throughput of air also helps to dissipate heat generated by the amplifier (in conjunction with an aluminium heatsink).

Connectivity options are extensive, and the Turbo 5s can operate in both the analogue and digital domains. In analogue mode you can opt for balanced XLRs or TRS jacks (RCA or mono jack connectors can be used for unbalanced operation). S/PDIF RCA In and Thru sockets do the digital thing, and there are switches for Analogue/Digital input mode selection and Left/Right channel selection (digital mode only).

For fine-tuning, three mini knobs set the input volume plus the high- and low-frequency response. All three have centre detents and the equalisation adjustment provides +6dB at 10kHz and 100Hz. The power switch is located at the rear and the illuminated monkey logo indicates on/off status.

Sounding off
In our test studio we occasionally experience noise issues when our auxiliary monitor screen is switched on. We leave it that way because it quickly identifies monitors that have adequate screening and properly conditioned power supplies. The Turbo 5s passed this test with flying colours.

We also learned that the Turbo 5s benefit from a warm-up period, after which the presentation seems to smooth out and mix elements gel better. The Turbos have a wide soundstage, crisp imaging and an unforced feel that’s both enjoyable and informative.

Bass is deep and full, although little happens below 40Hz and there is some audible port chuffing around 50Hz. This will probably pass unnoticed with most forms of music other than dub or heavy electronica, but if that’s your area you should probably be looking at Monkey Banana’s Turbo 10 subwoofer, too.

Hi-hats, cymbals and acoustic guitar transients display plenty of crispness and definition, while vocals had presence without sibilance. Our only gripe is that they don’t sound quite as wide and airy as some similarly sized monitors, such as the Focal CMS 40s.

Nevertheless, the Turbo 5s are accomplished monitors indeed, and on a note of preference we preferred analogue mode to the more forward vibe of digital mode. MTM

VERDICT
WHY BUY
Solid, controlled bass
Fatigue-free listening
Crisp imaging
Digital and analogue inputs

WALK ON BY
Power switch at rear
Some port chuffing

Very competent studio monitors that hold their own against big brand-name competitors.
★★★★★★★★

Score: 8

This review first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 102
Filed under Hardware, Monkey Banana Monitor Reviews, Reviews, Studio Monitors

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Monkey Banana Turbo 5 Monitor Review

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