Digidesign Reference Monitor Series Speakers

[rockmixer]

From digidesign.com:

Reinforcing the company’s unswerving commitment to absolute audio quality throughout the signal chain, Digidesign today announced a new family of bi-amplified, professional-grade studio reference monitors—the Reference Monitor Series (RMS). Developed jointly with PMC (the Professional Monitor Company, based in the UK), the new RMS monitors unite Digidesign’s deep expertise in digital audio with PMC’s legacy for fine, cutting-edge loudspeaker designs and meticulous manufacturing.



“For many years Digidesign’s commitment to developing state-of-the-art professional recording technologies has helped artists, engineers, and producers alike create award-winning recordings with unrivalled audio purity,” explains Gannon Kashiwa, market manager for Digidesign’s professional products. “The new RMS monitors are a natural complement to our existing product line and a logical extension of our commitment to achieving consistent and pure sound from input to output.”



Kashiwa continues, “PMC and Digidesign share similar philosophies, which made them the logical partner for us. Their technology portfolio is impressive, and PMC reference monitors continually receive accolades from those who credit the designs with helping them achieve better mixes. We are pleased to have worked with PMC on the development of our RMS monitors and we feel strongly that the results speak for themselves.”



Available as a 5.5-inch two-way (RM1™) and a 6.7-inch two-way (RM2™), the Digidesign® RMS monitors incorporate innovation in almost every aspect of their design—from amplifier topology to acoustics and the deployment of advanced digital signal processing. Key technologies employed in Digidesign RMS monitors include the following:



Advanced Transmission Line Technology

Digidesign RMS monitors employ PMC’s Advanced Transmission Line (ATL™) technology, which combines sophisticated cabinet engineering, proprietary drive unit and crossover components, and patented absorption materials to deliver enormous benefits over sealed and ported designs. As a result, Digidesign RMS monitors deliver improved audio resolution with a higher sound pressure level, reduced distortion, flat frequency response, and deeper, more defined bass frequencies than other speaker designs of similar size. And since the frequency response remains consistent at all volumes, there is no need to crank the volume in order to achieve maximum bass response.



Bass Port Emulation

Although ATL technology provides a more accurate bass response than traditional ported designs, PMC and Digidesign engineers developed a unique Bass Port Emulation feature that allows the monitors to emulate the tonal characteristics associated with ported bass reflex speakers. As a result, the Digidesign RMS monitors make it easy to hear a mix as it truly sounds as well as how it translates to a ported speaker. With the Bass Port Emulation off, the frequency response is flat and free of any additional coloration.



Onboard DSP Engine

Both monitors benefit from a 48-bit, fixed-point digital signal processing (DSP) engine that manages various tasks, including the monitors’ complex frequency crossover, speaker positioning EQ settings, trim level, and Bass Port Emulation.



The two-way, DSP-based digital crossover features revolutionary steep and pure filter designs that ensure an exceptionally clean transition, with virtually zero phase shift, between the two drivers’ response curves and roll-off rates. The net result is the ideal transition between the high frequency and low frequency drivers as well as superb phase response over a wider listening window.



Superior, Analogue-Controlled, Class D Amplification

Each driver in RMS monitors is powered by independent, analogue-controlled, Class D amplifier, which combines the efficiency and size advantages of digital amplifiers with the precision, control, and sound quality of audiophile linear amplifiers. The power amplifier section within each speaker is 92% efficient in comparison with a linear Class A amplifier, which generally operates at around 50% efficiency. This means more power for the speakers and less escaping in the form of heat. And unlike typical Class D amplifiers that have a load-dependant frequency response, the specially-designed Class D amplifiers in Digidesign RMS monitors can sense the loudspeaker voltage directly and provide an extremely accurate frequency response regardless of the reactive load presented by the transducers.



Amplifier performance is further enhanced with the inclusion of a linear power supply, which provides two times the peak current headroom and better noise isolation than typical switch mode designs.



RM1 and RM2 Specifications:

· 5.5-inch (RM1) or 6.7-inch (RM2) LF driver optimized for the ATL design

· 1-inch soft dome, ferrofluid-cooled HF driver

· Independent, analogue-controlled, Class D amplifier for each driver

o RM1: 80w LF, 50w HF

o RM2: 100w LF, 50w HF

· Balanced analogue input (XLR)

· AES 3 digital input (XLR)—accepts 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz sample rates

· AES digital input (RJ-45)

· AES digital THRU connector (RJ-45)

· HF control: adjustable from -4 dB to +3 dB in 0.5 dB increments

· LF control: adjustable from -4 dB to +3 dB in 0.5 dB increments

· Channel Assign: select which AES digital input channel (left or right) to produce

· Gain Trim encoder: set the input sensitivity from 0 dB to -15 dB



The Digidesign RMS monitors are currently on display at the NAB show in Las Vegas, booth SL106. Both models will be available May 2007 at a price of $1,249/€1100/£750 for each RM1 and $1,749/€1540/£1050 for each RM2.

[jdjustice]

the most interesting part of this to me is that Avid/Digi is getting into the monitor business.
they just don't stop expanding their reach!
PMC is a great loudspeaker company; we'll have to see if these monitors live up to their name....

~j.d.

[mixerguy]

The monitors may be great, but will they need $200 software upgrades every 9 months?

[AnonJack]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

The monitors may be great, but will they need $200 software upgrades every 9 months?

Funny...people complain about company's not having enough upgrades/updates...and people complain about a company having too many upgrades/updates. Go figure. Is the HD upgrade really $200? LE upgrade was only $45...and it was a HUGE upgrade from 7.1 to 7.3 featurewise...

Very surprised about the monitors though. PMC is a very reputable company in the speaker segment of things. Wise move for Digi to hook up with them...can't wait to hear those things.

[Lindell]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

The monitors may be great, but will they need $200 software upgrades every 9 months?

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

The monitors may be great, but will they need $200 software upgrades every 9 months?

After watching my Logic dongle gathering dust, I'm feeling pretty good about the few bucks I shell out for my digi updates!

[Stiff]

Originally Posted by AnonJack

Is the HD upgrade really $200? LE upgrade was only $45...and it was a HUGE upgrade from 7.1 to 7.3 featurewise...

WELL... Normally the upgrade price isn't that low for LE either.

I don't think the upgrade prices are high. In fact, upgrading pro music software in general is not very expensive compared to other pro apps.

[The Press Desk at Gearslutz.com]

Digidesign Reference Monitor Series Speakers

Digidesign makes its foray into the loudspeaker market with two near-field monitor offerings — the RM1 and RM2 — co-developed with PMC, the Professional Monitor Company. The monitors unite PMC’s legacy of fine, handcrafted design and meticulous manufacturing with Digidesign’s deep expertise in digital signal processing (DSP) engineering. Both monitors also utilize PMC’s Advanced Transmission Line (ATL™) technology, which yields amazing high-resolution sound, unrivaled clarity, incredible dynamic range, and unprecedented low frequency accuracy. And with the revolutionary DSP-based digital crossover, which provides steep and pure filters with virtually zero phase shift, signals delivered to the drivers are completely distortion- and interference-free.

[redstudio]

I saw that... interesting to see what they sound like.. any one finds them let us know...

[George Necola]

thanx a bunch!

[Mind-Over-Midi]

Originally Posted by Jazzpunk

After watching my Logic dongle gathering dust, I'm feeling pretty good about the few bucks I shell out for my digi updates!

You got that right!

[The Press Desk at Gearslutz.com]

Whoops!

I edited someone elses post not mine, apologies

Anyhow, the full press release is at the top of this thread now.

I have some photos that I will post soon

[n8tron]

you can only use them with a digidesign cable plugged into a digidesign interface...

[Duardo]

...and you need an iLok.

[C/G]

This could be a good thing since there are not too many PMC dealers up here in Canada. Maybe the Digi/PMC partnership can bring these monitors into more retail stores at a not so wallet-crushing price. Any street price projections on these?

[eqverb]

Originally Posted by C/G

This could be a good thing since there are not too many PMC dealers up here in Canada. Maybe the Digi/PMC partnership can bring these monitors into more retail stores at a not so wallet-crushing price. Any street price projections on these?

The Press release said $1249 for the RM1 an d $1749 for the RM2.

I hope the PMC partnershipship is not simply a licensing deal to use the PMC "brand name" and that these are not similiar in quality the Roland D series monitors. Seem to me at these prices you can have your choice of Bluesky/Genelec/Adam/Focal .... etc.

On a more positive note if the sonic chracteristics/build quality are up to par with the suggested pricing maybe these might be a cheaper alternative to say something like a pair of K&H O300D's
Guess we will have to wait and "hear"

[eqverb]

Funny thing as I am looking closely at the picture.... they appear to me, to be a cross between Roland D series monitors and Event 20/20 P's ?
Hmmmm???

[allstar]

You can only hear 32 tracks at once on the RM1.

[eqverb]

Originally Posted by allstar

You can only hear 32 tracks at once on the RM1.

lol .... Dont give Digidesign any "ideas"

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by allstar

You can only hear 32 tracks at once on the RM1.

The jokes write themselves.

[thenoiseflower]

you guys are awful


the price IS interesting.

[bit mangler]

Good move by Digi bidnezwise but I really wonder their quality when it comes to things analog.I just hope it isnt one of those things where they use another company's reputation to churn out shitty stuff like Focusrite preamps or something like that.

[thenoiseflower]

and in turn convince the other company that cheaping out is the way to go....

[drmmrboy]

Originally Posted by max cooper

The jokes write themselves.

Too many jokes come to mind. I'll keep them to myself..


Is that price for a single?
RM1 = $1249
Pair = $2498..??

[everyday]

Originally Posted by rockmixer

From digidesign.com:


Superior, Analogue-Controlled, Class D Amplification

That sounds so warm...

[Jules]

Originally Posted by drmmrboy

Too many jokes come to mind. I'll keep them to myself..

[chardly]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

The monitors may be great, but will they need $200 software upgrades every 9 months?

And there 4000.00 a piecs HD. 600 a piece le but with no tweeter. 800.00 up grade.

[octatonic]

Am I the only one who finds the whole idea of monitors with built in D/A stages a bit pointless?

Converter tech is upgraded a hell of a lot quicker than monitor tech.
The whole idea of it seems back-asswards.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by max cooper

The jokes write themselves.

exactly.





having said that, i prefer ProTools to any DAW software!

anyway - I wonder if they are real PMC's, or in name only.

[Mr. Man]

Here's the basics from Mix
http://blog.mixonline.com/mixblog/index.php?s=RM2
I don't know if this picture is the RM1 or RM2 but they'll probably look similar,