Event Opal vs Unity The Rock vs Pelonis 4288

[psycho_monkey]

I can't offer any comparison opinions, but I felt the rocks were really accurate monitors - some of the best I've enjoyed using.

Your room will be the limiting factor I should think - small rooms simply can't fit enough bass trapping in!

[George Necola]

the rocks have been good to me.

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[Enlightened Hand]

Originally Posted by LesC

...You may well ask why I don't try out these monitors in my own studio. My room is small, 12 x 16 x 8 (H) small, and I'm willing to do whatever room treatment will be required. I'll be talking with GIK and RealTraps about that...

That is the most important step.

Honestly, it doesn't matter which you pick. In a great room they'll all work just fine. It will come down to your personal preference. Asking someone else is like asking someone else to test drive a car that you're interested in. Ultimately their opinion doesn't matter. But your room does matter, more than which brand name is on the box of your speakers.

If you want honest opinions, and not mostly unqualified user anecdotes and the ubiquitous BS then the types of folks that most likely give those are those that review gear as an occupation. A professional user gets what they personally like/want and is very unlikely to seriously do "head to head" types of comparisons.

You might try checking over at SOS forums. Hugh Robjohns reviews stuff like this all the time and despite what people might conjecture about SOS, I have found, through my use of gear they happened to have reviewed, that they don't typically stray far from honest, real world experience based opinions about gear they've covered.

[sergioelectro]

The opals here seem to receive a lot of positive feedback an appear to be a very accurate monitor with the advantage of going very low in frequency ( no need for a sub!)

Sergio

[LesC]

Enlightened Hand, unfortunately I haven't found any professional reviews of the Rock Mark II or the 4288 or the 42/42lf combination. But even if there were, I certainly don't think they lie, but I would say the reviewers "accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative". Because of this, the few times I've had private discussions with professional reviewers, what they actually think about a product is very different from what they write. I realize they're just doing their jobs and their advertising would disappear if they started giving completely honest reviews and comparisons of products.

I like SOS, and I like reading the Hugh Robjohns reviews, but sometimes in the list of alternatives, it gets quite ridiculous. For example, in the Munro Eggs review, Hugh stated: "I’ve not come across any other egg-shaped speakers, although the current Genelec range does go quite some way in a similar direction. I can’t think of any other active monitors in this market sector that include a basic monitor controller either." I think most people would want a comparison of monitor performance, regardless of the shape. Maybe that's just me.

[LesC]

Originally Posted by sergioelectro

The opals here seem to receive a lot of positive feedback an appear to be a very accurate monitor with the advantage of going very low in frequency ( no need for a sub!)

Sergio, I believe the Opals go down to 35Hz at -3db, the Rocks go down to 33Hz at -3db, so the Rocks shouldn't need a sub either.

In May, SOS had an "Active Nearfield Monitors Spotlight", where they summarized their highly rated models of the last few years. Included in the list of 10 monitors was the Rock, with no trace of the Opal. Reading between the lines, I might conclude that the Rocks are rated higher in their price range, though I'm not sure if that was the intent.

[Andy_bt]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

I can't offer any comparison opinions, but I felt the rocks were really accurate monitors - some of the best I've enjoyed using.

Your room will be the limiting factor I should think - small rooms simply can't fit enough bass trapping in!

Hi, did you listen to Mk1 or Mk2?
I'd be interested on some feedback about the lows of the new version. Being a closed design reaching 35-40Hz seems quite a good perf.
A.

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by LesC

In May, SOS had an "Active Nearfield Monitors Spotlight", where they summarized their highly rated models of the last few years. Included in the list of 10 monitors was the Rock, with no trace of the Opal. Reading between the lines, I might conclude that the Rocks are rated higher in their price range, though I'm not sure if that was the intent.

SOS, Hugh Robjohns review of the PSI, he mentions 'Opals', but not 'the Rock' in his so called list of top monitors---and yes, Hugh Robjohns did review 'The Rock's' one year prior to this statement>

"Reviewing monitor loudspeakers is always a challenge. The technology involved in the vast majority of cases is very mature and with few significant variations. Consequently, the vast majority of monitors perform adequately and comparably to their peers at any given price level. Very few are unusably poor, but equally, very few stand out as exceptionally good. In fact, I can count those models I have reviewed that I would suggest fall into the ‘outstanding’ category on the fingers of one hand. My list would include PMC’s AML1 (September 2001), Earthworks’ Sigma 6.2 (April 2003), and K+H’s O300 (October 2004), with honourable mentions going to Acoustic Energy’s AE22 (May 2008) and, although I didn’t review it, Event’s Opal (August 2009).

However, the time has now come to introduce my second hand to the count, because I have to add a new contender for the honour: PSI Audio’s A21M monitor (and the A17M too). In short, these speakers are extraordinary and deliver a level of performance and accuracy that vanishingly few two?way designs can match, and which would shame a great many three?way offerings. There is no denying that they are expensive, but the cost is comparable to the few other monitors of similar performance and size. Auditioning is highly recommended for serious high?end monitoring applications. "
--Hugh Robjohns

What does that mean? Well, not much to me, but I'd thought to add the counter point for balance.

[LesC]

Yes, I found it interesting that Hugh puts Opals in his list of top monitors, though he didn't review them. I respect him, so I think he probably has listened to them, but it's possible he's just going on hearsay from other reviewers that he trusts.

The Rock Mark II has recently come out, so it has not been reviewed by SOS or Future Music or anybody else that I can find.

Having said that, the excellent reviews of the Opal and the original Rock, coupled with almost identical specs of the current monitors but one ported and one not, are the main reason I want to compare them. I'm just in the process of trying to do that, hopefully within the next week or two, in a studio owned by a store that carries one of them.

I have no doubts that the Opals and the Rocks are both great speakers, and I'm hoping that whichever one I like better in the studio will work in my small room. If not, then I'll just go with the Pelonis 42/42lf, which should be easier to place.

In the meantime, I was hoping that there might be some slutz that have already done this comparison, and I would value their opinion.

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by LesC

Yes, I found it interesting that Hugh puts Opals in his list of top monitors, though he didn't review them. I respect him, so I think he probably has listened to them, but it's possible he's just going on hearsay from other reviewers that he trusts.

I doubt very much that he would mention them to be in his top/honorable mention list w/o listening to them. Think he was just clarifying that he didn't review them for SOS.

But hey, could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time!

[LesC]

Fleaman, I think you're right, but I wish he would have clarified the statement, something like "I didn't review the Opals for SOS, but I've listened to them enough to place them among my top monitor recommendations."

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by Andy_bt

Hi, did you listen to Mk1 or Mk2?
I'd be interested on some feedback about the lows of the new version. Being a closed design reaching 35-40Hz seems quite a good perf.
A.

I'm guessing the mk1, they were in place fairly soon after they arrived in the uk.

[warhead]

The PSI Audio monitor range mentioned in the SOS review above is very much deserving of attention, we have both models mentioned here and without going into detail just yet I would suggest you all read their technology claims on their website and then know that we can confirm they all add up sonically to being what PSI claims as a result. They don't make claims via hype or marketing (they are such a good marketing company they've never had dealer presence in the USA until now...in other words these guys are all quality and technology driven, and do not think in terms of marketing!).

Very exciting stuff and we are blown away. Our friends in Europe have known something for a very long time we are just discovering about monitor possibilities.

More soon, but yes I would add them to a list of speakers that must be heard in this price range.

War

(on a side note, the Unity Rocks are here and while they are MK1 demo's we are waiting on the parts to arrive so we can upgrade them to MK2 before forming an opinion on that end result!)

[Andy_bt]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

I'm guessing the mk1, they were in place fairly soon after they arrived in the uk.

Thanks

Originally Posted by warhead

(on a side note, the Unity Rocks are here and while they are MK1 demo's we are waiting on the parts to arrive so we can upgrade them to MK2 before forming an opinion on that end result!)

Looking forward to it!
A.

[LesC]

Warren, I was hoping you'd give me your take on this, you sell almost every brand I'm interested in, and I know you only sell brands that you believe in.

Unfortunately, the only PSI model that's in this price range is the A17-M, and it only goes down to 50Hz at -2.5db. I'm assuming that I'd need a sub with it, so that puts it out of my current price range, though people I trust (including you) feel that they are wonderful monitors. Same thing with the Neumann KH120A and the Focal Solo6, the addition of a matching high-quality sub would be prohibitive.

As I've been thinking about this since starting this thread, I'm beginning to feel that psycho_monkey was right, the size of my room will be the limiting factor. I may not be able to do enough treatment (WAF is involved) to stop these speakers from overwhelming my room, though I've had fair success with subwoofers because of the placement flexibility. So I might have to go to something smaller, with a sub.

Warren, given the similar prices of the Pelonis 42/42lf and the Sonodyne SM100AK/SLF210v2, have you had a chance to compare them? You sell them both, would you be able to describe in which situations each would shine?

[LesC]

An update, though there doesn't seem to be much interest in this thread.

I decided to try The Rocks Mark II, so I spent the day with them in my studio, the first ones in Canada. I did as much testing as I could. I'm in a small (12 x 16 x 8 foot) room, untreated as yet, so I was worried that the low end (-3db at 33Hz) might be overwhelmingly boomy. As it turned out, nothing to worry about, the sound was beautiful across the spectrum. I didn't get much below 40Hz, presumably because of my room, but I will be looking at optimizing monitor placement and room treatment over the next little while. I've just received my calibrated Galaxy CM-140 sound level meter for use with REW, and I have the 1K ARC version 2. But, I guess because it's a sealed cabinet, the Rocks sound great in my untreated room.

One of the highlights of the Rocks was directly contrary to the Sound On Sound findings, though they reviewed the original Rocks. The stereo imaging was spectacular, even with two sets of monitors between them. Once I optimize their placement, imaging should be even better. And I certainly didn't hear any unpleasant brightness that was mentioned in another thread. I just heard detail throughout all frequency ranges that should make mixing a pleasure, though I didn't have a chance to try that today.

Long story short, my Rocks will be arriving on Friday, the second set in Canada. Anybody want to buy a pair of Tannoy System 800's with a Hafler TransNova amp?

[superwack]

I'm actually super interested in this thread and these monitors so thanks for the update! Let us (me?) know how you are progressing with them as you get then set up with REW, etc.

[LesC]

This is from my post in another thread:

"I just wanted to write a bit of an update. I got my Rock Mk 2's a couple of weeks ago. The service from Upper Westside Sound was incredible! Ian Smith actually brought me a demo pair, all the way from Montreal, and let me do as much testing as I wanted. I liked them, so I ordered a pair. Two days later, he brought me a brand new pair, all the way from Montreal again. Wow, I can't overemphasize the high quality of service from Upper Westside, and what a pleasure it was to deal with Ian.

As for the monitors themselves, the difference compared to my previous main monitors is dramatic. My previous monitors, which I will probably sell, are Tannoy System 800's with a rack-mount Hafler TransNova amp. The Rock's simply sound more alive, more present, there is more bass. The stereo imaging is amazing to me.

The surprising thing to me was that even in my small untreated room, which I do plan to treat, the Rocks's bass extension presents no problems. Playing one of my bass guitars through it, I could hear the fundamental tone of the low E at an apparent volume which matched any higher tones from my guitars. I realize that's only around 40 Hz, so I ran some test tones down to about 30 Hz, and the apparent volume declined rapidly.

I'm going to use REW and a calibrated SPL meter to help determine what treatment I need to get the most out of the Rocks. Unfortunately, I haven't had much chance to play with them or try much mixing, because of preparations for the new school semester that just started. As I get more time, I'll report back with any additional findings.

Thank you to Unity Audio, Upper Westside Sound, and Ian Smith!"

[LesC]

As I mentioned, I've only compared the Rock Mk2's to my old Tannoy System 800's. I would still love to compare them to Opals, 4288's, 42/42lf, and other mid-to-high end monitors.

If any of you are in the Toronto area and would like to do a comparison, please pm me and hopefully we can figure out an arrangement that would suit both of us.

[ToneRexx]

I checked very well the PSI A17 GREAT monitors, just they lack bottom (well are small speakers) they deliver a huge sound amazing stereo image, the center is just there, the only concern I have is that they are a bit dark (and I am not a fan of very bright monitors).

The Pelonis 4288 have great Low end, no need for a sub, the center is poor , hard to difference clearly the center from the sides and they lack low mids...funny crossover nastiness regardless what some gear manufacturer in GS say.

So what is the difference between the Rock and the Rock MKII?

How clear the center is?

are very bright?

[ChrisDaniels]

Originally Posted by lesc

enlightened hand, unfortunately i haven't found any professional reviews of the rock mark ii or the 4288 or the 42/42lf combination. But even if there were, i certainly don't think they lie, but i would say the reviewers "accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative". Because of this, the few times i've had private discussions with professional reviewers, what they actually think about a product is very different from what they write. I realize they're just doing their jobs and their advertising would disappear if they started giving completely honest reviews and comparisons of products.

amen my friend!!!

[LesC]

Originally Posted by ToneRexx

I checked very well the PSI A17 GREAT monitors, just they lack bottom (well are small speakers) they deliver a huge sound amazing stereo image, the center is just there, the only concern I have is that they are a bit dark (and I am not a fan of very bright monitors).

The Pelonis 4288 have great Low end, no need for a sub, the center is poor hard to difference clearly the center from the sides and they lack low mids...funny crossover nastiness regardless what some gear manufacturer in GS say.

So what is the difference between the Rock and the Rock MKII?

How clear the center is?

are very bright?

ToneRexx, here is the info about the Rock MkII update: THE ROCK | Unity Audio |

In short, "The Rock now has a bass response of 33Hz at the -3dB point instead of 50Hz".

To my ears, the centre is clear, the imaging is excellent, and I don't find it very bright except when the source material calls for it.

I haven't been able to do as much with it as I'd hoped, because one of my UPS's decided to blow up (just before I got the Rocks), and took out my motherboard, PC power supply, and all disk drives (including my backups which happened to be attached at the time). So I'm just about finished getting back to where I was, though most of my music is gone forever.

[ToneRexx]

wow "The Rock" low end must be as good as the one in the Pelonis!

[George Necola]

the one thing that worries me the most with the rocks is, that the sound collapses at low volumes. I did some more testing and the lower mids are not acceptable. still the midrange is good, the imaging good. high distortion at high volumes like with ADAMs, but I like that.

I am on PSI25 now.. so everything I say, take it with a grain of "PSI"-salt.

cheers
George

Originally Posted by LesC

ToneRexx, here is the info about the Rock MkII update: THE ROCK | Unity Audio |

In short, "The Rock now has a bass response of 33Hz at the -3dB point instead of 50Hz".

To my ears, the centre is clear, the imaging is excellent, and I don't find it very bright except when the source material calls for it.

I haven't been able to do as much with it as I'd hoped, because one of my UPS's decided to blow up (just before I got the Rocks), and took out my motherboard, PC power supply, and all disk drives (including my backups which happened to be attached at the time). So I'm just about finished getting back to where I was, though most of my music is gone forever.

[Kevlar]

Originally Posted by George Necola

the one thing that worries me the most with the rocks is, that the sound collapses at low volumes. I did some more testing and the lower mids are not acceptable. still the midrange is good, the imaging good. high distortion at high volumes like with ADAMs, but I like that.

I am on PSI25 now.. so everything I say, take it with a grain of "PSI"-salt.

cheers
George

Hi George,
I'm really surprised that you're finding that with the lower mids at low volume. I honestly haven't heard anyone say this and I personally don't find this either and I often like working on them at super low levels. It's great that you like lots of the other Rock attributes though!

Just to mention there is a MK II Audio Media review up on the web site as some other GS readers were asking about MK II reviews, here's the link.

http://unityaudioproducts.co.uk/docs...audiomedia.pdf

Also the Future Music Mk II review is out this month and Hugh at SOS will be revisiting them very soon too.

[George Necola]

Originally Posted by Kevlar

Hi George,
I'm really surprised that you're finding that with the lower mids at low volume. I honestly haven't heard anyone say this and I personally don't find this either and I often like working on them at super low levels. It's great that you like lots of the other Rock attributes though!

Just to mention there is a MK II Audio Media review up on the web site as some other GS readers were asking about MK II reviews, here's the link.

http://unityaudioproducts.co.uk/docs...audiomedia.pdf

Also the Future Music Mk II review is out this month and Hugh at SOS will be revisiting them very soon too.

hi Kevin, as usual it can be the placement, to direct comparison to a speaker I know better or the source material.

cheers & hope you are doing well!

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[Kevlar]

News about the Unity Audio Avalanche sub-woofer at this location!!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-p...ub-woofer.html