Design Philosophy
A studio monitor is really a tool used to aurally “measure” the changes in an audio
path. Ask any pro or semi-pro recordist what they think makes a great studio monitor
and you’ll get basically the same answers: “Accuracy, transparency, “flat response”,
and “the truth”.
Everybody is saying the same thing – they want the electrical signal going into a
monitor to be reproduced mechanically by the transducers and they want that to
happen without any degradation to the original signal. Professionals need to trust a
speaker to deliver their artistic vision in a way that will translate to a variety of audio
mediums. How you get there from a technical stand point is by designing a speaker
that eliminates or minimizes several damaging conditions. The KRK design philoso-
phy is manifested by paying very close attention to what we call the three corner-
stones:
1. Spectral Balance (Timbre)
What people tend to think sounds good is not necessarily “flat response.” A perfectly
flat monitor tends to sound harsh and abrasive – technically correct but not very
musical. Research shows us that a speaker with the proper spectral balance is most
often considered “a great studio monitor”.
Spectral balance is defined by:
• Smooth on-axis (not necessarily flat) response
• Smooth octave to octave response, free of coloration
• Smooth off-axis response (not flat)
From years of listening to feedback from some of the top engineers and producers
we’ve come to understand how a properly tuned monitor can become a valuable
recording tool.
2. Distortion Management – Physical (Non-linear) and Electronic
Distortion: Any loss or addition to the audio signal is a distortion. Various amplifier
distortions have been identified; the most commonly measured being intermodula-
tion, transient intermodulation and harmonic distortion.
Distortion can be present in an amplifier circuit but can really be a problem when the
waveform is impacted by physical conditions such as port turbulence and driver non-
linearity. KRK engineers implement design concepts that eliminate or minimize these
damaging conditions.
3. Resonance Management – Axial, Conical, Standing Waves, Cabinet edges,
Speaker frames, Cabinet geometry
Resonance: The prolonging of the sound at a certain frequency and the tendency of
something to vibrate at a particular frequency after the source of energy is removed.
Resonances also play a major role in impacting the performance of a speaker. KRK
design elements minimize cabinet vibration, speaker frames resonating or standing
waves inside the cabinet that impact the performance in a negative way.
Design Elements
Active Filter Crossovers -
The V-Series 2 power amplifier contains three active fil-
ters. (Subsonic, low-pass and high-pass filter) These three filters work together to
provide a seamless integration of the driver components ensuring a smooth spectral
balance.
Amplifier Design–
KRK’s amplifier consists of audiophile grade components and a
simple audio path for transparency. Output power is balanced to match LF and HF
driver sensitivities and power handling. Your V Series 2 Subwoofer uses a toroidal
power transformer for low hum and minimum noise.
Resonant Free Enclosure Design -
The cabinetry of your V Series 2 subwoofer is
constructed from inert _” medium density fiberboard. It is internally braced and care-
fully damped to minimize cabinet resonance.
Radiused Edges -
All cabinet edges and port openings are heavily radiused to
reduce diffraction resulting in better detail and stereo imaging.
Slotted Ports –
Slotted ports reduce the port turbulence and distortion commonly
found in poorly designed round ports.
Custom Made Drivers -
KRK is renowned for designing high performance studio
monitor drivers. Your V Series 2 is no exception. A woven Kevlar® LF driver was
custom-designed specifically for each model. Kevlar® is one of the strongest, light-
est, most rigid materials that can be used in modern speaker cone construction
Kevlar’s unique physical properties minimize axial or conical break up modes.
Defeatable Limiter -
Your V Series 2 subwoofer contains a very musical limiter cir-
cuit designed to mitigate the negative effects of over driving the amplifier or the
speaker. The limiter, when engaged, can greatly reduce the risk of harming a driver.
It can however be defeated using the “Clip Off/Limiter Switch” on the rear panel.
This is only recommended if you are using the product well within a listenable vol-
ume range. Use the indicators on the front baffle to help determine the optimum
level without audible distortion.
Low Frequency Defeat
Your KRK subwoofer is engineered to work in harmony with any KRK V-Series moni-
tor. It is an ideal addition in applications where precise, low frequency reproduction
and flexible monitoring and control options are required.
The LFD ™ footswitch allows for ultimate monitoring flexibility by enabling the end
user to defeat the subwoofer, and run the main/satellite monitors full-range during a
mix or playback. When the footswitch is activated the subwoofer amplifier output is
muted and the LEFT and RIGHT outputs pass a full-range signal to the main/satel-
lite speakers. This unique feature is incredibly useful for applications where low fre-
quency playback comparisons are necessary. The LFD Switch can also be useful
when determining subwoofer placement, the actual level of the subwoofer, and/or
the crossover points between the satellites and the subwoofer. This is accomplished
by comparing the system with the subwoofer engaged to the system with the sub-
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