Overview and Reviews
Performance
Transparency. Clarity. Accuracy.
Kali Audio's Lone Pine Series studio monitors are designed to allow you to hear every detail that's happening in your mix.
This starts with an exceptionally accurate frequency response. Whatever is present on your mix is what you'll hear in these monitors. Nothing is boosted or suppressed to cover flaws or try to sound more pleasing.
With the LP-6 and LP-8, you can mix with more confidence, and you can also be assured that your mix will translate as best as possible to whatever systems your audience is using.
The 2nd Wave goes even further, utilizing a more robust DSP for an even flatter frequency response on the top end.
LP-6:
80W
Class D Power
39 Hz
Lower Frequency Response
39 Hz
Lower Freq. Response
< 3% System THD
94 dB @ 1M
115 dB
Max SPL
LP-8:
100W
Class D Power
37 Hz
Lower Frequency Response
37 Hz
Lower Freq. Response
< 2.5% System THD
94 dB @ 1M
117 dB
Max SPL
Features
3-D Imaging Waveguide
Hear three dimensional sound from a stereo pair of speakers.Dual-Layer Voice Coil
Large diameter voice coil allows for low distortion and high dynamic range.Low Noise Port Tube
Precisely engineered using airflow simulations for powerful bass without port noise.*On-axis response measured on a ground plane with 1/6th octave smoothing. Full resolution measurement data may be downloaded below.
This means that anywhere within that listening distance, you can listen for long periods of time at reference volume, and momentary peaks such as bass drops or explosion effects will come through clearly and with minimal distortion. The LP-6 has enough output for most 1-2 person setups, and the LP-8 can handle larger setups easily. Full output specifications, along with maximum listening distances, can be found in our user’s manual.
Bass on the LP-Series monitors is delivered by larger magnets and larger voice coils than any comparable speakers on the market. This gives you more accurate bass response that extends lower, so you can dial in exactly the low end sound you need. Bass response is not boosted or overhyped, but you can be sure that you’re hearing the bass that you have on the track.
Protective limiters prevent harmful voltage from ever reaching the drivers, so there is no risk of blowing these speakers. These have been updated for the 2nd Wave, allowing for 3 dB higher output.
Both models use 40W for the 1” soft dome tweeter. The LP-6 uses 40W for the 6.5-Inch woofer, and the LP-8 uses 60W for the 8-Inch woofer.
A speaker’s given position in a space can drastically change it’s frequency response. A speaker placed against a wall or on a desk will sound very different than a speaker placed on a stand, even in a well-treated space. Hard surfaces like walls, desk tops, and recording consoles can change the low end frequency response of the monitor, and degrade the overall clarity of the sound.
Happily, most of the common positions are fairly predictable and easily corrected.
Kali’s team did our Boundary EQ tuning at The Village Studios in Los Angeles, and came up with boundary compensation EQ settings to help you get the optimum sound for where you need to put your speakers. For the 2nd Wave, the boundary EQs have been updated for using the speakers on a desk with monitor stands.
Combined with the LF and HF trims, this will ensure that the speakers sound their best no matter what room you’re mixing in, or where the speakers are placed.
Easy Connections
The LP-6 and LP-8 both feature balanced XLR and TRS inputs, and an unbalanced RCA input.
The RCA input can be set to -10 dBu sensitivity when you’re using consumer devices like a laptop or smartphone’s headphone jack.
The waveguide on the Lone Pine Series studio monitors ensures that the directivity of the loudspeaker is smooth throughout its frequency response. What’s more: it’s calibrated so that the sound power of the loudspeaker helps you to perceive sound accurately.
In practical terms, what this means is that you’re hearing spatial details in the recording that allow your brain to place elements of the recording in the space around you. This gives the speakers a more natural, lifelike feel that exposes more of the detail of the material that you’re working on. This level of detail makes it easier to make critical decisions, as well as making these monitors pleasurable to mix on and listen to in general.
Low Noise Port Tube
We wanted to put a port on the front of the LP-Series studio monitors so that they could be used in small spaces where they’d be placed against walls. At the same time, we didn’t want noise from the front port to distract from the accuracy of the speaker, so we developed a special front port that doesn’t make noise.
On most port tubes, air leaves at different speeds from different points of the opening, creating noisy turbulence. This turbulence can be heard as “chuffing,” or an audible air sound coming from the monitor. This sound will add to the noise floor and obscure the details of the low end.
The port tube on LP-6 was designed to ensure that all of the air leaves the port tube at the same velocity. This helps add to the low end response of the speaker, while keeping the bass clean, tight, and devoid of extra noise.
Immersive and Mounting
Kali’s LP-Series speakers represent one of the most budget-friendly ways to get into immersive mixing formats like Dolby Atmos. With complete systems starting at around $3000, you can build an immersive mixing rig without breaking the bank. Importantly, Kali’s users enjoy excellent translation across a variety of systems, so when you’re mixing a high profile project, you know your client will be happy and the mix will sound its best.
Specifications
LP-62nd Wave | LP-82nd Wave | |
---|---|---|
Powered: | Yes | Yes |
Amp Class: | D | D |
Power Config: | Bi-Amped | Bi-Amped |
HF Power: | 40 W | 40 W |
LF Power: | 40 W | 60 W |
Total Power: | 80 W | 100 W |
HF Driver: | 1-Inch Textile Dome | 1-Inch Textile Dome |
LF Driver: | 6.5" Optimized Paper6.5-Inch Optimized Paper | 8" Optimized Paper8-Inch Optimized Paper |
Crossover: | 1500 Hz | 1800 Hz |
Frequency Response (-10 dB): | 39 Hz - 25 kHz | 37 Hz - 25 kHz |
Frequency Range (±3 dB): | 47 Hz - 21 kHz | 45 Hz - 21 kHz |
Recommended Listening Distance: | 0.5 - 2.5 Meters | 0.5 - 3.5 Meters |
Max SPL: | 115 dB | 117 dB |
System THD: | <3% from 80 Hz to 1.7 kHz <2% above 1.7 kHz (90dB SPL @1m) | <2.5% from 80 Hz to 400 Hz <1.4% above 400 Hz (90dB SPL @1m) |
Unbalanced Inputs: | 1 x RCA | 1 x RCA |
Balanced Inputs: | 1 x XLR, 1 x TRS | 1 x XLR, 1 x TRS |
TRS/XLR Input Sensitivity: | 94dB SPL @1m (anechoic) for +4dBu input | 94dB SPL @1m (anechoic) for +4dBu input |
RCA Input Sensitivity: | 94dB SPL @1m (anechoic) for -10dBV input | 94dB SPL @1m (anechoic) for -10dBV input |
Enclosure: | Front Ported | Front Ported |
Height: | 14.125 Inches (35.9 cm) | 16.5 Inches (41.9 cm) |
Width: | 8.75 Inches (22.2 cm) | 10 Inches (25.4 cm) |
Depth: | 10.25 Inches (26 cm) | 11.25 Inches (28.6 cm) |
Product Weight: | 15.54 lbs (7.05 kg) | 19.8 lbs (9 kg) |