Looking for studio reference monitors that are small and light enough to throw in a bag for travel or for portable use, compact enough not to overwhelm your desk, accurate enough to use to mix with confidence, and loud enough to provide the visceral thrill we all crave when listening to music? And wouldn’t it be cool if you could tweak the response of the speakers, and even use Bluetooth for wireless playback? And wouldn’t it be even cooler if they didn’t cost an arm and a leg?
That’s a tall order — typically, smaller monitors can meet a few of those requirements, but not all of them. For example, there are many tiny monitors, but few of those can deliver enough bottom end or headroom to really serve as reference monitors for mixing.
A speaker that does fill the bill is the new iLoud Micro Monitor from IK Multimedia. With a 3″ neodymium bass driver, it fits the compact and light weight requirement. Yet, frequency response reaches down to an amazing 55Hz (-3dB); real, solid bottom end. Frankly, I was blown away by the bass response, which also elicited surprise when I demoed the speakers for other engineers here at Sweetwater — everyone who listened to the iLoud Micro Monitors asked if there was a subwoofer attached!
The top end is delivered by a 3/4″ silk dome tweeter that’s smooth sounding, yet detailed, and tops out at 20kHz (-3dB). The tweeter plays a crucial role in also helping the Micro Monitors deliver excellent stereo imaging and clarity of placement when mixing tracks across the stereo field. The speakers are driven by 25 watts of bi-amped power each and can crank out a surprising amount of volume.
All of the electronics and connections are housed in one “master” speaker, while the other serves as a “satellite,” connected by a supplied 4-pin stereo-link cable. The back panel on the master speaker sports a power switch, a volume control, and three equalization/response switches: 3dB high-frequency cut, 3dB low-frequency cut, and “desk” switch for moderating the effects of placing the Micro Monitors on a flat surface such as a desk or table. The Micro Monitors feature built-in adjustable isolation stands that flip back for safe and more compact transport. You can also mount them to a mic stand — there are threaded inserts on the bottom.
Analog connectivity includes left and right RCA unbalanced inputs and a stereo 1/8″ TRS connector. Plus, the iLoud Micro Monitors have built-in Bluetooth connectivity, so they’ll hook right up to your computer, iPad, iPhone, or other Bluetooth-capable device without need for wires.
Just over 7 inches tall, 3-1/2″ wide, and well under four inches deep, the iLoud Micro Monitors are streamlined and clean looking. They feel comfortingly solid and are stable when positioned on their integral isolation stands. Their response measures amazingly flat — check out the frequency response chart below.
Setting up the Micro Monitors is a breeze. Just plug them in and set them where you like. Adjust the isolation stands to your satisfaction. If you’re on a desk or table, switch on the “Desk” switch on the back. Play music you’re familiar with, and tweak the high and low EQ/response switches to tailor the response to what you want to hear. Start listening or mixing. It’s really that easy. Even connecting by Bluetooth is simple and foolproof.
Sonically, I’ll return to the statement I made earlier: I was blown away by the bass response. But I was also pleased with the overall sound, detail, dynamics, and response of these speakers. I used them for extended listening to familiar recordings to acclimate myself, then crafted a couple of quick mixes, which ended up being used for several of Sweetwater’s Youtube demos (such as the intro and outro on my video demo of the Antelope Audio Zen Tour, for example.) I found it effortless to put together a mix that held up well for playback on other systems — the results rivaled mixes I did on larger and more expensive monitors.
The IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors get a solid thumbs up from me. They sound great, they’re light and compact, they’re well suited for travel and portable use, and I love having them as serious reference monitors for my desktop music-making rig. They’d make great “alt” or second monitors for a larger studio as well.
The mistake, given the price and size, is to assume the iLoud Micro Monitors are “regular” consumer computer speakers. The truth is, these are studio reference monitors, through and through. Check them out!
