M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair)
- Price: $179.00
-
Discontinued- View a similar item
The Studiophile AV 40 monitors are an ideal choice for desktop recording. With 4" polypropylene-coated woofers, 3/4" silk dome tweeters, and 40W of total amplifier power, the speakers deliver a wide frequency response of 85Hz to 20kHz for clear, accurate audio. The left speaker acts as the primary, housing the input and output connectors, power switch, and volume control. A simple cable connects the left speaker to the right one.
RCA and 1/4" input connectors are provided for versatility. The vinyl-laminated MDF cabinets are magnetically shielded for safe use near video monitors. An auxiliary 1/8" input and an 1/8" headphone output are located on the front panel of the left speaker for easy access. A bass boost switch is also available to provide extra low-end response.
- Pair of high-quality desktop monitors
- 20W-per-channel of amplifier power
- Left/main speaker has all controls and connectors. Connection to the right speaker is via standard speaker wire
- 1/4" and RCA inputs for versatility
- 1/8" aux input and 1/8" headphone output on left speaker
- 4" woofer and 3/4" tweeter provide clear, accurate audio
- OptImage III technology improves detail and clarity and improves efficiency
- Magnetically shielded for use near video monitors
- Bass boost switch adds extra low-end response, ideal for hip hop and dance music
- Vinyl-laminated MDF cabinet with bass reflex port
| Low Frequency Driver | 4" (102mm) Polypropylene-Coated Cone |
| High Frequency Driver | 3/4" (19mm) Silk Dome Tweeter |
| Amplifier | 20W Per Channel |
| Crossover | 2.7kHz |
| Frequency Range | 85Hz to 20kHz |
| Maximum Sound Pressure Level (SPL) | 101.5dB @ 1 meter |
| Connectors |
2 x RCA Phono Line Inputs (L, R) 2 x 1/4" TRS Inputs (L, R) 1 x 1/8" Aux Input 1 x 1/8" Headphone Output 1 x Spring-Loaded Output (To Right Speaker) 1 x Spring-Loaded Input (On Right Speaker) 1 x AC Power In |
| Input Impedance |
10 kOhms Unbalanced 20 kOhms Balanced |
| Controls and Indicators |
1 x Volume Knob with Blue Power LED Ring 1 x Bass Boost Switch 1 x Voltage Selector Switch 1 x On/Off Switch |
| Shielded | Yes |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 8.75 x 6 x 7.25" (222 x 152 x 184mm) |
| Weight | 14 lbs (6.3kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 115 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
99%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Good audio (101)
- Easy to use (85)
- Compact (49)
- Versatile (43)
- Lightweight (20)
Cons
- Bulky/heavy (27)
Best Uses
- Home studio (69)
- Amateur recording (48)
- Professional recording (16)
- Performances (8)
- Smaller rooms / apartments (8)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Experienced (73), Novice (17), Professional musician (12), Audiophile (7)
Most Liked Positive Review
Strong ENTRY LEVEL studio Monitors
I have been producing my own music for about 8 Months using Ableton Live 7.0. I was extremely frustrated for a long time when I listened to my songs on speakers. (previously I have...Read complete review
I have been producing my own music for about 8 Months using Ableton Live 7.0. I was extremely frustrated for a long time when I listened to my songs on speakers. (previously I have been producing with headphones only in hopes of creating true sound that can be translated somewhat clean to any speaker.) I searched for 50+ hours in total for the right monitors for me. I considered active, passive and even some standard computer speakers that would give me a true flat mix. I would for sure prefer monitors with at least a 5-6" speaker for the expanded spectrum of clean highs and lows but I was looking at near $500 for that. I am not a professional. Therefor, I landed on these bad boys. A cheap price tag for the entry level clean sound I was looking for to create the best mix on my tracks.
Many people give these speakers a bad review for several reasons.
1) They lack the booming low end many people (including myself) crave.
- I will agree. They do not have that Deep, deep bass. They have VERY clear lows that are not bumping but enough to make you move. They also produce a sound that lets you hear and dissect EVERYTHING that's going on in a song. Really useful for mixing. And that is what these speakers are made for. NEAR-FIELD monitoring.
2) They are bulky and heavy
-I also agree here. That is the price you pay to get huge sound out of relatively small speakers and if you have a microphone/keyboard/mixer/sequencer/Midi control surface etc. along with your set up, these are not a huge addition. I would not recommend these to anyone looking for a mobile set of monitors as they are indeed quite heavy. Go with something smaller like the USB Alesis ActiveOne monitors or something.
3)The quality of sound goes down if you are not right in front of them.
-I would not recommend these for use if you are only going to be using them for gaming or movies. For about the same price you can get some sweet THX speakers from Logitech or Klipsch with the sub as well as a larger field of sound that fills the room much better. Once again. The M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 speakers are meant to be placed RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE!!! When they are, you hear things in songs you never have before.
BOTTOM LINE:
If you are new to the home music studio scene and learning more and more every day about your programs and equipment or you are more of a studio hobbyist, Get these for now until your talent outgrows them. They do exactly what they say and I am very happy with them. If I feel my knowledge and talent outgrows them, I will upgrade to some KRKs or something but right now, I love my AV 40s.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Decent ref monitors at a good price
I've had the AV 40's for about a month now and use them everyday. I rated them 3 stars because they perform as advertised. No better no worse. I use these for some...Read complete review
I've had the AV 40's for about a month now and use them everyday. I rated them 3 stars because they perform as advertised. No better no worse. I use these for some home recording, mixing, and playback. The sound is good until you really turn them up, then the drivers are overwhelmed pretty quickly. The bass boost is useless unless played at very low volumes.
I would recommend these to the hobbyist but a pro shouldn't even consider these monitors. I also wouldn't recommend these to the casual music listener. Unless your sitting in line with the speakers the sound quality drops off quickly.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 115 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
These speakers sound great,better than what i was expecting.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Durable
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Bass overlay
Best Uses
- Events
- Home Studio
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
The AV 40s are used as normal PC speakers. I've heard good things around M-Audio and thought these would be better than traditional PC speakers.
Good strong sound power with enough bass to keep anyone happy. The bass does cause an overlay problem that I haven't had a chance to resolve. I've turned off the back port with no improvement. Good volume range with no break-up. Wonderful highs.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
- Professional Recording
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
These were a huge step above the standard computer speakers I was using for doing small recording mixes and composing with virtual instruments and MIDI. I'm amazed at the sound quality and volume they're able to produce. They're also great for just listening to iTunes or CD recordings. I prefer classical and jazz music, so I don't need a lot of thumping low end bass. Maybe those who do might not be satisfied, but the bass output sounds excellent to me. The AV40's sound great over the entire spectrum from low to high. They make symphony orchestras or jazz ensembles sound like they're in the room with me. For the price, these monitors can't be beat.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Events
- Home Studio
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
Great bang for the buck with these monitors. Nice, tight, punchy base...strong highs and good through the mids. Obviously you can spend a lot more and get better but these are a great buy for the dollars. They also have a tons of power to get all the voluem you need. Our church uses them in our lobby and they have plenty of power to fill a large room. Selection of inputs is great too (RCA, TRS 1/4", and 1/8")
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Bulky/Heavy
- IT'S HUGE
- Pricey / Poor Value
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Games
- Home Studio
- Mobile DJ
- Music
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
I had a bad experience with some Bose Mediamate Speakers and was turned off from purchasing speaker systems for my PC for a while. If I decided to buy speakers, I stuck to cheapie $20 ~ 30 speakers because I had convinced myself that the sound from my music, work, and games weren't going to sound that much different (The Bose were nothing but [*] machines; too much thump, not enough texture).Boy, was I wrong.5.1/7.1 systems were never for me because I don't rely on positional audio. I wanted a 2/2.1 that could delivered clean sound, took up relatively little space, and could perform with the dynamic of my lifestyle (switching from music to games to work). These studio monitors got a nod because of numerous positibe reviews. I hadn't considered them because when I purchased my Bose Companions, Studio Monitors on PCs were terrible with games. By design, they're intended to be used by audio professionals to detect anomalies in sound. I guess that stuck with me.Fast forward a few years and studio monitors have evolved.I chose the Studiophile AV40 because of value and design. The amount of speaker you get for price is simply amazing. For a place on my desk, this competed directly against the AudioEngine A2. I liked the design of the AV40 better because the volume control was on the front, it had no power brick (I hate power bricks), the aux input was on the front, it had an headphone port, and the extra 10W ensured that the speakers had the power to deliver the clarity I desired. I was also not a big fan of the bass port "slit".To some the AE A2s may sound better. To me the AV40s sound the best.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
I'm into music on line.these speakers sound great,even better than I thought they would
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
Bought these speakers for use outdoors at a promotional event. Haven't yet had that event, but my test run on the speakers was impressive. Lots of sound, very clean. Really revealed the quality (or lack thereof) of the background music I've been using for promotional videos. They will become my desktop monitors for audio and video editing after the event.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
I've included these with several MacBookPro FCP mobile editing set-ups i've built and was so happy, I now include them on my desktop MacPros.
No fuss...plug them in, string 'em together and you're mixing audio. Great flat, freq response...a weelittlebit bassy, but that's ok by me. Small profile, easy to travel with and great connectivity with AUX and Phone jacks up front. Phone jack cancels speaker output, perfect for mobile/multiple editing.
Pros
- Clear Sound
Cons
- Bulky/Heavy
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
Great sound, blow my Bose speakers away
Pros
- Clear Sound
Cons
- Breaks Easily
- Unreliable
Best Uses
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
I got these off B&H and they sound great, but there is a very weird issue with mine. The sound fades left to right. There is something wonky with the headphone jack on the right speaker that triggers it. [...] I'll send them back to the manufacture at some point, but for now I'm stuck with some buggy speakers!
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
I was looking for a good quality set of speakers for my computer to use for listening to music as well as monitors for home recording. This set does both very well for me.
I was a little concerned with no woofer but they respond to low frequencies very well without the now-traditional woofer. Bought them sight unseen, unusual for me, and I am quite pleased
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Lightweight
Cons
- A bit bass heavy
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
When I bought these monitors, my intention was to have a small pair of near field monitors that I could eventually upgrade. I still think this is true. While the sound is not exactly as flat as I was lead to believe, these are still a great pair of speakers. I use them for long hours with minimal fatigue. I recently bought a pair of yoga blocks to use as temporary stands and the sound quality noticeably improved. I intend to get a pair of proper stands and get the AV-40s off my desk as soon as possible.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Quality of Midrange
- Quality of Treble
- Versatile
Cons
- Lack a Pre-Out
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Computer Speakers
- Home Studio
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
After reading multiple reviews, I picked up a pair of the AV40s for use as near field monitors at my computer desk.I've been very pleased with the quality of the midrange and the high end. There is a decent amount of attack on the front edge of symbols and high hats. Notes recede into the distance naturally.Treble is clear and clean, without being bright. Midrange sounds natural.Guitars, percussion and vocals sound particularly realistic.Any sins here seem to sins of omission. Obviously, they don't handle the lowest octave of bass, but I haven't felt compelled to rig up a nearby subwoofer yet.I also own a pair of Audioengine 2 speakers, but I prefer the AV40s for their greater presence in the midrange and a better detailed high end.[...]
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Studio
- Professional Recording
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
Easy to set up. Arrived very quickly. Sound amazing for their size. Came with ALL accessories needed to plug-and-play.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
I have these little speakers on all my edit bays, from desktop to laptop. Plug and play, sound great, easy functionality. I use them to edit videos that primariy go online.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Studio
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
I bought these speakers for my daughter at Christmas to do some home recording of her original songs and that was her first reaction -"They sound amazing!" The price was the best I could find and the quality was what she was looking for in a monitor.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
If you're looking for something a cut above most computer speakers with a tight, direct, nearfield type of sound - I don't think you'll beat these for the price. Extra inputs are also a real plus on a set with such a small footprint. Crisp, clean highs, strong mids and more punchy low end than you'd think. Somehow the "audiophile" moniker does seem a little misplaced... these are, after all, intended to be used for computer audio which usually means .mp3s and other lossy formats which are a far cry from audiophile standards. In the same way, these aren't for serious home studio use either - they're great COMPUTER speakers. So hey, you're not going to mix commercially viable albums on these babies, but for computer/home theater use they shouldn't disappoint.
Pros
- Can play loud
- Clear Sound
- Easy To Use
- Great Sound
- Little distortion
- Versatile
Cons
- Bulky/Heavy
Best Uses
- Home Studio
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
I use these speakers on my desktop through my computer. I was looking for speakers that were loud, without distortion, and sounded great so that I can play guitar and bass along with my mp3's.
These fit the bill perfectly. I can hear all the nuances of the instruments and the bass separation is strong so that I can determine the song's bass line easily.
That said, they are fairly big for a desktop. But I accomodated them on each side of a 22" flat monitor
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
These computer speakers sound about as good as a pair of smaller desk top speakers can sound without a sub-woofer.........even better than many I have heard with a sub-woofer. They are always rated amoung the best and for good reason.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 - 20W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair):
Originally bought the Harmon Kardon Soundsticks II. Sent those back. They were nice looking and all, but the mid-range on the satellites was poor. I decided to go with the AV40s instead. Great choice, no regrets.
Only problem with these speakers is, as many others have stated, that the bass isn't great. These are not speakers for a dance party.
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Cables
- Price: $14.95
Speaker Isolation
- Price: $40.81
Stands & Support
- Price: $35.99
What's in the Box
- Power Cable
- User Guide
- 1 Year Limited Warranty
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