8 Inch Active Monitor Roundup
Three pairs of eight-inch active monitors all around the $1k-per-pair price point.
By Preshan John
8 September 2020
ADAM Audio T8V | Kali Audio LP-8 | PreSonus Eris E8 XT
Chances are, if you’re looking to spend ~$1k on a pair of active monitors, these options have popped up in your Google search results multiple times. Each pair has qualities we love and excel in different applications. We put them head to head in the hope of giving you a clearer picture of how each one may or may not work for your particular needs.
ADAM AUDIO T8V
First up we have the ADAM Audio T8V. A stylish contender with a bold and punchy sound, the T8V impressed us with its crystal clear stereo imaging and powerful bass response. ADAM Audio states its forte is for producing EDM, techno, trap and dub music (ie. bass-heavy genrés) and it’s easy to hear why. The U-ART tweeters provide a wide horizontal sweetspot with limited vertical dispersion to limit unnecessary reflections off desks or consoles. The only downside is the lack of a power status LED on the front. Maybe that’s to conserve energy because you may not turn the T8Vs off after hearing them.
KALI AUDIO LP-8
Second is the Kali Audio LP-8. The young California-based monitor manufacturer has received a torrent of rave reviews and we’re happy to join the list. The LP-8 is a beautifully articulate active monitor with several EQ presets onboard to compensate for different mounting positions. We thought the LP-8 excelled on anything we threw at it, especially source material containing acoustic instruments which are cleanly represented with its uncoloured and unhyped sonic signature. Front ported and with a wide sweetspot, the Kali Audio LP-8 is impressively neutral with precise, three-dimensional imaging and lots of headroom.
PRESONUS ERIS E8 XT
Third is the PreSonus Eris E8 XT. The Eris E8 XT is a ‘no bells and whistles’ design with front bass porting and the less common Class AB amplification. EQ knob let you boost or cut mids and treble by ±6dB, while the Acoustic Space switch gives you a 2dB or 4dB high shelf cut. You also get a switchable high pass filter at 80Hz or 100Hz. Wide 100° dispersion is achieved thanks to the Elliptical Boundary Modeled waveguide. With all the adjustments set to flat we were impressed by the Eris E8 XTs. Imaging was perfectly acceptable and midrange detail was forward and amply detailed. As the cheapest of the trio, they’re an excellent option for hours of accurate mixing.
COMPARISONS
ADAM Audio T8V
Woofer: 8-inch polypropylene
Tweeter: 1.9-inch ribbon
Port: Rear
Crossover Frequency: 2.2kHz
Amplification: Class D
Power (HF/LF): 20W/70W
Frequency Response: 33Hz – 25kHz
EQ Placement Presets: No
Kali Audio LP-8
Woofer: 8-inch
Tweeter: 1-inch soft dome
Port: Front
Crossover Frequency: 1.8kHz
Amplification: Class D
Power (HF/LF): 40W/60W
Frequency Response: 45Hz – 21kHz
EQ Placement Presets: Yes
PreSonus Eris E8 XT
Woofer: 8-inch reinforced
Tweeter: 1.25-inch silk dome
Port: Front
Crossover Frequency: 2.2kHz
Amplification: Class AB
Power (HF/LF): 65W/75W
Frequency Response: 35Hz – 20kHz
EQ Placement Presets: Yes
I may get lucky and be able to hear a pair of the Presonus Eris E8 XT monitors at Guitar Center. There’s a bundle deal going on at Sweetwater for $799. You get 2 E8 XT monitors and the Trembler 10 inch sub in that pack. I haven’t seen a deal in that price range for any other studio monitors.
For those who feel no need for a subwoofer. More power to them. I want a subwoofer so I can better fine tune my low end. As one guy posted on a You tube video I looked at. You can’t mix what you can’t hear.