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October 10, 2007 ../ TestDrive: KRK VXT8 MonitorsThe rule of thumb when buying a proper home sound system is that you should spend half your budget on the speakers. Although, you can't necessarily apply this formula to your studio, it does demonstrate how important a quality pair of monitors is to your kit. If you feel that your mixes come up wanting after hours of hard work behind your desk, it may be time to consider a new set of monitors.
  The Exposé and VXT monitors are a complete revamp of their monitor technology, and usher in a new era for the company. For fans of KRK, the concern kept what was working, like the Kevlar woofers, and changed what wasn't, the form factor. The difference is obvious when you first lay eyes on the VXT, all the boxy lines from past models have been softened with curves, replacing almost all perpendicular angles. My back noticed another big difference. The new KRK's are heavy. When unpacking the VXT8's, I was surprised at the girth of the monitors, they're monsters. Weighing in at over 40 pounds, they're over 30% heavier than their V8 Series 2 legacy counterparts. They even look fat. Their new rotund design gives them a plump, beer gut, which KRK claims provides "low resonance, improved structural integrity, extended low-end, and a wider sweet spot."
KRK redesigned the tweeter and woofer to deliver more clarity and increase the frequency response, now at a claimed 37Hz — 22kHz. Their custom-woven, yellow Kevlar woofer, an attribute that makes their monitors instantly recognizable, was lightened and stiffened to extend the low-end range and reduce axial disintegration. While the 100% silk domed tweeter has been tweaked to provide a faster transient response. The new KRK woofer has supreme bass definition and clarity. Producers of Drum'n'Bass, Hip-Hop, and other bass-centric genres, will be ecstatic on how the VXT's present the low-end spectrum with vibrant clarity. But you have to be attentive. Much of the brilliant detail and texture that you may have dialed will most likely not translate to consumer-level devices. The wonderfully disturbed low tones that you may have painstakingly created for your latest Drum'n'Bass opus will more likely come through more as a "feeling" than actual tone.
The good news is that KRK gives the user some ability to tweak the VXT's sonic signature with the 5-way dip switches on the rear of the unit, nicely safeguarded from accidental "dickering" with a protective hood. A HF Adjust modifies the high end up or down by 1 dB, not much latitude, but something. The LF Adjust dials in three low-end curves for tweaking the low frequencies to meet your room's response demands. These may do the trick for your kit, but will not correct all problems.
So here's the dilemma, I really enjoyed listening to the VXT's, but I don't think they're neutral enough for delicate mixing duties if you're working in any of the electronic music genres. They're just too much work. At $1200 a pair for full-featured, active monitors, the KRK VXT8's are a compelling option if you're in the market, but make sure you take a raw, unmastered mix of your latest club smash into a dealer for a demo. Only your ears will be able to tell you if the VXT8's will elevate your productions, or set you back. The Future: The VXT's present a significant leap forward for KRK in their mid-range line-up, and will certainly appeal to current users and fans of the brand, but the sound will not be enough to convert others outside the KRK family circle to adopt these monitors solely for mixing electronic music.
More information about: KRK's VXT Monitors>>> Back to Digihear?
Copyright © 2007 FUTUREMUSIC® All Rights Reserved. |
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   KRK's VXT8's sound amazing and won't empty your bank account, but aren't neutral enough for full-time monitoring duties.
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