M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 Active Studio Monitor Speakers (Pair) (OLD MODEL)

The AV 40 has a sonic signature similar to the larger M-Audio BX5: neutral and balanced but with less power and bass reach. Compared to typical computer speakers, the AV 40 are a little understated but that's because they lack bass bloat and exaggerated highs. The even keeled tonal signature is designed for accuracy but is still pleasing and easy to listen to for hours.These monitors are powered with a single stereo amplifier on the left monitor. The right speaker is passive and tethered to the left with a speaker cable. For near field monitoring, there's plenty of power at half volume and can get really loud if cranked. These are directional speakers and render placement of instruments in a stereo soundfield accurately as long as you sit in the sweet spot a couple feet out (your head should form a triangle with the speakers). That diffuse room filling tone typical of home theatre speakers is MIA. Unlike most speakers, there is little rear projection. Perfect for not bothering family or neighbors but bad for parties.I mainly use the AV 40 to sound check my acoustic guitar recordings after laying down the track or mixing on my BX5 monitors. The bass extends down to a clear 80Hz, the lowest note of the guitar. If you track bass guitar and kick drum you'll want larger speakers (BX8) or a sub but these are fine for straight guitar.I positioned the AV 40 an inch from the sides of my iMac and there is no interference or RFI, so shielding is effective. The rear of the left monitor (the powered one) is very warm after a few hours but runs cooler than my BX5. I recommend turning the AV 40 off when not in use: saves both electricity and wear and tear on circuits. Plus, I find computer beeps and warnings in Hi-Fi stereo unpleasant.There isn't much in terms of controls: power switch on the rear and an illuminated volume knob on the front panel. Ins and outs are more extensive than typical computer speakers: TRS, RCA and 1/8" stereo, but no XLR. A speaker cable and input cable (RCA to 1/8" stereo jack) are supplied.These are handsome units but blend in well with most gear: black finish goes with anything! Construction appears excellent with dense particle board (MDF) cabs covered in satin black vinyl, metal back plate (heat sink) and black plastic front molding around the drivers. These monitors are smaller than most units with the same sized bass driver. Unlike most mixing monitors, the AV 40 have protective grills. So no worries should a careless finger or chopstick befall them.LAST BLURB: These are wonderful monitors for a home studio mixing, or just kicking back and cranking iTunes: compact, good looking, accurate and an amazing value.

Bought these back in 2014 fearing that they would eventually burn out in two years thanks to all the previous reviews. Well I got almost 4 years out of them before the output volume suddenly became so weak that I could max out the volume knob and just barely be able to hear anything coming through them. Not to mention they have started to emit a hissing sound when nothing is coming through. Thankfully the headphone jack still works which makes them currently listenable, but I feel they are suffering the same problem many others has posted about already with overheating issues and blown capacitors.However, up until this point I have to say the sound quality of these speakers is fairly decent. I'm by no means a competent amateur music producer/mixer, but they offered a lot of clarity and quality to my recordings and listening experiences. Plenty of volume and range to jam out with when casually listening, and enough detail to hear subtle mistakes/imperfections in your recordings both for vocals and instruments. For the price point they served me well after years of heavy use, but I wished they could have lasted longer.

I've read the bad reviews about these speakers but I ordered them anyway and yes, after a year of normal use, the main power speaker cuts in and out. I've found a solution if you're comfortable taking apart the unit. Get some contact cleaner, unplug from the outlet and take apart the speaker. Be careful not to touch any of the electronics because this unit, even unplugged, will store an electrical charge. Unscrew 10 screws and take off the back plate. Inside the cabinet are four screws you will remove to get the front plastic part off. The volume knob is attached with two very small screws. The black plastic volume knob is hard to take off, but I wrapped it in tape and it was easier to pull. Unscrew the washer holding on the white plastic housing around the pot. Spray the pot with the contact cleaner and work it in. Be liberal with the contact cleaner and sue it in a well ventilated area. You should feel the pot loosen up after a few sprays and turns of the knob.After reassembly the speakers work again. Keeping them alive for $8 I paid in contact cleaner and 20 minutes of work seems like a fair trade for another year, maybe more! I'm not a fan of spending lots of money on my setup.In conclusion, these speakers are great in my small apartment. I've never had them up past the 11'o'clock position because they get loud. I'm not an audiophile so I don't really care about small nuances. They work, they let me listen to my music. I have them plugged into my AT-LP120 and i also use them with my iPod connected to the aux input.

I'm not sure if I can call myself a 'musician' (and definitely not an audio engineer), but I like to play and record as a hobby. Therefore, I didn't want to spend much on my 'home studio' and tried to research for the best value for money in the 'budget' equipment range.I use this monitor with my macbook pro (I use Logic Pro X to record), and found it very good in giving me the right sound to play songs in different devices/speakers/phones (with is the main purpose of the 'flat' sound of a monitor). Before using this monitor it was nearly impossible to get the resulting audio right (i.e. some songs sounded amazing on my earphones, but awful on my bluetooth and laptop speakers). Now I really understand the importance of having a proper monitor to help with the audio mixing.As my ears are not well educated as an audio engineer would be, I couldn't see much difference with the ones that I've used in proper recording studios. Therefore I'm giving 5 stars based on meeting my sound expectations, price, built quality, look (yes, I want my home studio to look good!), connectivity, easy to use and versatility (as it can be used as excellent speakers).4 months of intense use, and I'm still very happy!

These look and sound great. The left-hand one definitely gets a little bit warm, so I wouldn't want to seal them in a bookcase surrounded with books and stuff - but no issues so far with them out on exposed shelves. The undersides are smooth but sheets of sticky-back foam are included to stop them slipping and skidding around.The sound is the best I've ever owned. At least on par with medium-high-end Sennheiser HD215 headphones. For the price, I'm very happy.I have an Ikea "FREDDE" workstation desk and these fit perfectly on the little side stick-out shelves, with enough connecting cable to hook the right-hand one (passive) up to the left (where the amp is). They also look great.If you had to put these the wrong way round due to where your available mains power is, you could fix it by plugging the phono cables on the rear in backwards (white in to red, red in to white) to pre-reverse the stereo sound, if that matters to you. Probably would if you're playing games on them.

I'm not an audiophile or any kind of phile in fact.I used to be a '£10 for speakers is enough' type of person but all changed with the 'black Friday week' deals.Tempted by the genuine price discount I've got these and ... I've started hearing sounds !Sounds that most probably were there before but the s***ty £10 speakers could not render. Suddenly, why playing, I could hear birds and insects and all sorts of ambient sounds and the music feels well rounded and full (hard to describe)Hard to describe but bottom end ... there is quite a difference between the £10-15 speakers and these, if you don't want to be bothered with surround and space eating subwoofers then these are the speakers you are looking for !

Absolutely ear-opening.If you are used to regular computer or low-end bookshelf speakers, these active speakers will blow your mind. If you are used to mid-range audiophile speakers, these will blow your mind even more.Built-in amp balanced active speakers are generally a bit crap or only 'really' good when paired with a real sub-woofer. Not these. These take your music collection, your videos, your video-calling, and learn what fidelity really is. I've had some vastly more expensive speakers driven by vastly more expensive amps that don't have this resolution.Nothing at this price range up to double or triple compares. Ignore any stupidity about them being a bit big or a little awkward or unsightly with the blue light in front.Here's the test to prove it: Get Donny Hathaway's "I believe to my soul". Listen on your current speakers for the separation between the electric bass and paired trombones. Then try the M40s. Most speakers muddy this combination, but the M40s bring out the slightly delayed brass attack and final 'wah' while still letting through the plummy electric bass note.Just get them and change your listening life.In case you're wondering, I'm not a paid shill, I'm a convert.

Well, I bought these in 2014 but haven't used them much at all due to various things going on with my life. I have just started to get into learning how to record on my PC. These speakers have always made a bit of a bang when I turn them on, but today there was a big bang, a spark and now the speakers are dead. I Suspect that the PSU has gone. I shall see if I can get them repaired/replaced under my statutory rights.They sound fine if they work but they shouldn't blow after only about a dozen or so uses.