ESI uniK08

An 8-inch woofer and a ribbon tweeter form the basis of the ESI uniK 08 active two-way studio monitor. The two drivers are amplified separately: 60 W power the Kevlar woofer and 30 W the tweeter. The ribbon’s lightweight diaphragm is designed for fast transient response and low distortion.

For connection to an audio interface or mixing desk, the monitor has an input for balanced XLR or unbalanced TS signals. The input impedance is 42 kOhm for a balanced connection and 8.5 kOhm for an unbalanced connection. A level control on the rear ranges from minimum through the 0 dB centre position to maximum; at 0 dB, the recommended calibrated input level is set.

Two further settings are available to adapt the monitor to the room and system: the high-frequency cut lets you adjust the treble range to the acoustic conditions, while the bass cut supports use with a subwoofer or in particular room situations. The specified default settings are 0 dB for the high-frequency cut and 50 Hz for the bass cut. Set multiple monitors as identically as possible.

The cabinet has a rear bass reflex port, which must be kept clear during operation. Placement should also be considered: the monitor is designed for vertical orientation and should not be used horizontally. Keep the port unobstructed and leave sufficient space from the rear wall so that air circulation is not impeded.

A blue LED on the front indicates when the monitor is switched on. The cabinet is made of MDF and has a black high-gloss front panel. At 7.9 kg, and with its compact dimensions, the monitor can be integrated into a suitably sized studio setup; the crossover separates the low- and high-frequency ranges at 2.4 kHz.

The active 8-inch reference monitor is suitable for studio setups where you need a separate input for each signal, an adjustable input level and adjustments for treble and bass. It is also designed for stereo and surround configurations; when positioning it, take its vertical orientation and the necessary clearance behind the cabinet into account.