Kali Audio's Santa Monica Series Goes Active
As the first powered member of Kali's flagship Santa Monica series, the SM-5 combines the company's proven 3-way coincident architecture with no-compromise components and cutting-edge DSP. It comes equipped with a 5-inch woofer and a low-noise port tube for deeper low-end extension. Meanwhile, a coaxial 4-inch midrange driver houses a 1-inch aluminum-dome tweeter, while a low-diffraction baffle certifies rock-solid imaging and a smooth on-axis response. The SM-5's user-definable DSP parameters allow you to fully calibrate each speaker to your studio environment. To top it off, you get real-time control of the SM-5's EQ, delay, and trim functions, as well as locate, mute, solo, and dim functionality over an Ethernet network using the Kali Control Panel app. The SM-5 is ready to mount, enabling flexible placement in any studio — including as an overhead in an immersive audio system — and its recessed input panel allows for flush wall placement. Most importantly, no matter how you deploy this speaker, you can trust the SM-5 to produce a complete, accurate representation of any source material.
Related Videos: SM-5 5-inch Powered 3-way Studio Monitor
Custom-designed drivers reveal every detail of your mix
For the SM-5, Kali Audio pulled out all the stops. The speaker comes loaded with three drivers: a 5-inch woofer, a 4-inch midrange, and a 1-inch coaxial tweeter. The flux-stabilized woofer delivers deep, powerful, and distortion-free bass. From there, the 4-inch midrange and coaxial aluminum-dome tweeter deliver lifelike imaging, thanks to the midrange driver's optimized waveguide profile. Each driver is engineered to handle high SPLs with ease without sacrificing their smooth response and vanishingly low distortion. The three drivers, together with the low-noise port tube, deliver immaculate stereo imaging with a smooth response. Whether you're using them in a stereo setup or as part of an immersive audio setup, the Kali Audio SM-5 will impress you with its clear and crisp sound.
Thoughtful touches elevate the design
Digging deeper into the Kali Audio SM-5's design reveals several features that enhance sound quality. First, the low-diffraction baffle eliminates on-axis diffraction, which results in spectacular stereo imaging. The 3-way coincident architecture yields lower distortion than comparable 2-way configurations, while the special geometry of the aluminum-dome tweeter reduces high-Q ultrasonic resonances, eliminating the harsh sound that plagues many metal-dome designs. As if that's not enough, the SM-5 also brandishes neutral tuning and a DSP-powered limiter right out of the box, and you can access an 8-band EQ, delay, and trim controls with user-definable parameters to calibrate each speaker to your studio and application.
Network control with Kali Control Panel app
The SM-5 brandishes an Ethernet port, granting you access to per-speaker EQ, delay, and trim parameters, as well as functions like locate, mute, solo, and dim, right from the Kali Control Panel app — in real-time. When networked, the SM-5 also enables you to switch effortlessly between scenes, allowing for button-press switching between whole-system tunings. The engineers here at Sweetwater have found that the SM-5's network control will enable you to program configurations for different room EQ curves or for different listening positions in the room — on all the speakers in your setup — in one convenient step. Don't have access to an Ethernet network? No problem. You can also load your settings to one speaker at a time using a thumb drive and the SM-5's built-in USB port.
Kali Audio SM-5 Feature:
- Superb 3-way active monitor that's ideal for immersive audio and surround setups
- Flux-stabilized 5-inch woofer offers clear, powerful bass with low distortion
- Coaxial 4-inch midrange driver and 1-inch aluminum-dome tweeter provide sharp, lifelike imaging with impressive directivity
- Low-noise port tube delivers extended bass response
- 3-way coincident architecture delivers lifelike imaging
- Low-diffraction midrange baffle ensures a smooth on-axis response
- Includes neutral tuning and a DSP-powered limiter right out of the box
- 8-band EQ, delay, and trim controls with user-definable parameters offer effective room calibration
- Gain real-time control of multiple parameters over an Ethernet network using the Kali Control Panel app
- Built-in USB port allows for per-speaker configuration via a thumb drive
- Ready to mount — contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for mounting hardware options
- Recessed input panel allows for flush wall placement
