Alesis Launches ProLinear 820 DSP Studio Monitor
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ProLinear 820 DSP Studio Monitor
(Click for a close-up) |
January 19, 2001Addressing the need for greater accuracy in the audio control room, Alesis
announces the first in their new DSP-enhanced studio monitor series, the ProLinear
820. Featuring ultra-flat frequency response, outstanding performance characteristics,
and the ability for users to precisely customize speaker response using on-board
digital processing, the ProLinear 820 represents the first studio monitor to provide
greater level of accuracy using new Alesis digital technology. The ProLinear 820
will ship in the spring of 2001 at a suggested retail price of $1299/ pair.
In the conventional sense, the ProLinear 820 is a bi-amplified, 8-inch two-way
high-performance studio monitor, with outstanding base-line performance. But the
heart of the ProLinear 820 is a new Alesis DSP module, which provides a range
of new benefits. First, DSP is applied to each speaker right on the production
line to correct for very small variations in drivers, bringing system performance
to a new level of accuracy. The settings live internally and are specific to each
unit. Alesis Product Marketing Manager, Randy Neiman explains, "our proprietary
digital technology allows us to adjust for very small variations in drivers-something
that's always a concern-giving us a frequency response that's completely flat
from 40Hz to over 20kHz within 1.0dB, and that's amazing."
Beyond producing a very flat speaker, Alesis chose to provide a level of control
customers will find very attractive. Four-band parametric EQ with front-panel
controls allows the user to customize speaker response to his or her own taste,
and correct for anomalies in the acoustic environment. A front-panel module includes
controls for four bands of parametric EQ, frequency, gain, peak-to-shelf Q control,
and high-pass filter. The user can recall standard EQ curves stored in factory
presets, modify them and store them in user memory. Over time, as the user analyzes
daily mixes, he may decide the mixes need fine-tuning, or readjusting, such as
more top end, or correction in the low end. The Alesis ProLinear 820 allows him
to easily dial in the EQ settings he needs to produce perfect mixes. In this sense,
the ProLinear 820 can be precisely customized for personal taste. EQ can also
be applied to correct for standing waves and other problems in the listening position.
Director of Product Marketing Peter Chaikin relates, "This is the first
speaker to seriously address the need for personal customization. People hear
differently, and that's why two great mix engineers have different preferences
in monitors. ProLinear series starts with an accurate base-line performance and
allows the individual to customize the response to his or her own ears. We've
designed those settings to be programmable, giving musicians, engineers or any
listener the power to store his or her unique preferences. That option has never
been made available before in a personal reference monitor."
The ProLinear 820's module interface gives users four bands of fully parametric
EQ control from 20Hz-20kHz, with a range of Q factors, shelving and high-pass
filter. Eight factory settings provide typical low-and high-frequency boost and
roll-off curves, plus 8 user-definable programs to allow precise control and repeatability,
studio to studio, session to session, and user to user. The rear panel of the
ProLinear 820 includes a 9-pin serial interface, allowing the ProLinear 820 to
be connected to other ProLinear monitors, or to a computer. The serial link allows
all connected speakers to be controlled by any other speaker in the system, or
by the supplied Windows and Macintosh software- allowing for sophisticated configurations
in multi-channel applications and greater functionality in voicing the speakers.
Owners can adjust the response of their monitors in real-time using a computer
or a laptop, save the curves, and trade them via floppy disc or the internet.
The ProLinear software gives graphic representation and control of equalization
curves, and monitor "grouping" for surround or zone-mixing applications.
Settings can be saved and recalled, and uploaded to any ProLinear 820 via a computer.
The ProLinear 820 features a custom 8-inch polypropylene woofer and 1"
silk dome tweeter for very smooth response and high power handling and 100W and
50W amplifiers for the 8-inch and 1-inch low and high frequency transducers respectively.
The system provides a nominal output of 90db SPL @ 1 meter, and a maximum output
of 105db SPL @ 1 meter. Inputs are balanced XLR and 1/4" TRS type with switch-selectable
+4/-10dB levels. 9-pin serial In and Out connectors and power switch round out
the rear panel feature set and the 820 has an internal 90 volt to 220 volt switch-selectable
power supply. ProLinear 820 will ship in spring 2001 at a suggested retail price
of $1299/pair. For more information, visit their web site at www.alesis.com. |
