Alesis M1Active 520 USB Studio Monitors  

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#580881000000000
  • MSRP:
    $399.00
  • Your Savings:
    - $200.00
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  • Your Price:
    $19900

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Alesis

An affordable studio monitor pair with uncolored audio reproduction and built-in USB interface.

M1Active 520 USB is a studio monitoring system designed for professional studio use with an internal digital-audio interface. M1Active 520 USB is a pair of active, bi-amplified, two-way reference monitors that play from 20,000 Hz all the way down to 56 Hz to cover nearly all frequencies audible to human ears. You can take digital signal out of your computer via USB and input it to M1Active 520 USB thanks to their digital input. Priced attractively for any studio's budget, M1Active 520 USB perform with linearity, clarity, and neutrality typically reserved for monitors that cost much more.

Reference Monitoring
Alesis has built M1Active 520USB around their popular five-inch polypropylene low-frequency driver for full, smooth response in the low end and a one-inch silk dome high-frequency driver for absolute clarity in the highs. A custom crossover avoids the crucial vocal midrange, ensuring that your mixes sound the way you recorded them. The low-resonance bass reflex cabinet features radiussed edges to reduce edge diffraction and a tuned port for bass extension. A bass boost switch offers low-frequency enhancement to further accommodate for room conditions requiring a little more output in the low end.

Professional Monitoring Options
When you reach for the convenient front panel volume control, you can be confident that the power you need will be there with M1Active 520 USB's bi-amplified design delivering 25W to the tweeter and 50W to the woofer. Like the rest of the M1Active series, M1Active 520 USB are magnetically shielded, so there's never an issue of placement near computer screen, LCDs, or hard drives. The front-panel stereo 1/4" headphone output mutes the loudspeakers when connected. When you connect headphones, the main volume control automatically switches to controlling the headphone output. M1Active 520 USB feature a large, front-panel, bi-color indicator that indicates presence of signal in blue and clipping in red for instant feedback on system status.

Extensive I/O
Professional quality analog input jacks are located on the rear. Two balanced-1/4" inputs enable engineers to connect a stereo source or two mono sources. For convenient recordings, simply connect the stereo output of a mixer. You can create complete recordings with no additional audio interface. The speakers are interconnected using a standard XLR cable for secure, professional connection. For worldwide operation, M1Active 520 USB features a voltage-switchable power supply.

USB Digital Audio Interface
In addition to their capabilities as traditional monitor loudspeakers, M1Active 520 USB monitors contain a USB audio interface. Connected audio sources such as mic preamps and instruments can be recorded directly into your computer at 16-bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz. Simply plug the USB cable into your computer. No special drivers required. And when it's time to listen back to your mixes, that same USB cable sends 16-bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz, stereo audio from computer to your M1Active 520 USBs. No more complicated interfaces and messy cable tangles.

Features

  • Two-way, active, bi-amplified pair of reference studio-monitor loudspeakers
  • Wide, 56 — 20,000 Hz frequency response
  • Five-inch lightweight polypropylene woofer with 50W RMS
  • One-inch silk-dome tweeter with 25W RMS
  • Integrated USB audio interface with 16-bit, 44.1/48 kHz recording and playback
  • Two balanced-1/4" inputs
  • Stereo, 1/4" headphone output
  • Magnetically shielded for placement near TV and computer monitors
  • Low-resonance cabinet with tuned bass port
  • Bi-color signal/clip indicator
  • Switchable power supply ensures worldwide operation
  • Includes
  • Two M1Active 520 USB loudspeakers
  • XLR interconnection cable (6 ft)
  • USB cable (6 ft)
  • IEC power cable
  • Quick start manual
  • Safety and warranty guide

Accurately hear your tracks and get USB connected too! Order today.

M1Active 520 USB Studio Monitors Specifications:

  • Low-frequency driver: 5" lightweight, magnetically-shielded, ultra-stiff polypropylene cone with rubber surround and high power handling voice coil
  • High-frequency driver: one-inch silk dome with magnetic shielding
  • Frequency Response: 56 - 20,000 Hz
  • Power: 50 W / 25 W per channel RMS
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >90dB weighted
  • Digital Conversion: 16-bit delta sigma, 44.1kHz or 48kHz sampling rate
  • Inputs: two balanced-1/4"
  • Polarity: Positive signal on "+" pin creates forward cone displacement
  • Input Impedance: 10k ohms
  • Input Level: -10dBV nominal, balanced
  • Dynamic Range: >80dB
Write a Review Overall Rating Customer Reviews 4 See all 4 customer reviews...

These speakers are excellent for the price!

| Review By: Burton Gestner | 5 months, 3 weeks ago

5 people out of 5 found this review helpful

Features:
Quality:
Value:
Overall:

I got these for my birthday a month ago and they sound fantastic! Crystal clear at high volume. Nice flat response so what you hear is the real deal. Great for mixing/playback. I haven't used the usb interface yet so I can't review that part but I hooked them up to my Tascam multitrack with some Monster cables (dual 1/4" to RCA) and WOW! I was really suprised at how good they sound. If you're on a budget like me these are perfect. (M.F. had them on sale) Highly recommended.

Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
Yes
Musical Experience:
over 30 years as an active musician
Style of music you play:
Contemporary Christian/Rock/Pop
Where you live:
IL

Did you find this review helpful? yes no1099249

Decent, but beware false marketing!

| Review By: JimL | 1 year, 6 months ago

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

Features:
Quality:
Value:
Overall:
I don't know about using these for monitoring.  I bought them for listening to music on my PC at work.  They are a big step up from computer store speakers unless you want to hear the kind of booming bass notes that only a subwoofer can provide. The build quality looks a little tacky compared to more expensive monitor speakers, but again, it seems a good step up from computer store speakers. I knocked them in the features department because the only signal input (apart from the built-in USB sound card) is a pair of 1/4" balanced TRS jacks that are hard-wired for a -10dBu signal level.  There's no provision to connect a +4dBu source, and RCA connectors or a 3.5mm stereo TRS jack would have been more appropriate for a -10dBu input.  (How come they managed to put all three kinds on the tiny '320 USB' speakers?) There seems to be some confusion in the marketing department.  An M1 Active 520 USB pair is NOT the same thing as an M1 Active 520 pair with USB added.  It's a different design.  It's less powerful, and it's actually a pair consisting of one active speaker and one passive speaker with a proprietary six-foot cable between them.  Some vendors will tell you, "A 1"-thick front baffle minimizes speaker resonance and..."  That may be true of the M1 Active 520 speakers, but the front baffle of the M1 Active 520 USB speakers is only 1/2" thick (I measured it.)
Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
No
Musical Experience:
Hobbyist
Style of music you play:
Various
Where you live:
Pittsburgh, PA

Did you find this review helpful? yes no844875

Alesis has done it again.

| Review By: RedRobin62 | 1 year, 11 months ago

0 people out of 0 found this review helpful

Features:
Quality:
Value:
Overall:
It took a while to set up my 520's (buffer issues finally solved by using Total Recorder 8.1), but once that was accomplished I opened up a whole new world for myself. Boy! These speakers are amazing. How Alesis makes these products and releases them at these prices is beyond me.
Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
No
Musical Experience:
Recording Engineer
Style of music you play:
Rock, Reggae, Ska
Where you live:
Seattle, WA

Did you find this review helpful? yes no910335

Decent monitors for the price

| Review By: Drummer62 | 2 years, 4 months ago

0 people out of 1 found this review helpful

Features:
Quality:
Value:
Overall:
The USB is handy for a good line level input for a mixer. 16 bit and no ASIO though. Great sound quality, build quality, more than enough power, and it was pretty easy to get a good mix out of them considering the price. I'm definately impressed with them.
Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
No
Musical Experience:
Hobbyist
Style of music you play:
Any
Where you live:
NY

Did you find this review helpful? yes no865999

See all 4 customer reviews...
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