7.1.4 Immersive Audio Studio Monitor System With Apogee Symphony I/O MKII 16X16 Thunderbolt Audio Interface

Perfectly compatible with a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos setup, this kit featuring FOCAL studio monitors and Apogee Symphony I/O Mk II Thunderbolt audio interface is primed to impress. To fill out the main LCR, surround and ceiling, this kit includes seven Alpha 65 and four Alpha 50 powered studio monitors from FOCAL, while a Sub One powered studio subwoofer provides superb low end. Combined with a top-of-the line 16x16 Symphony I/O interface, these monitors deliver all the immersive detail needed for producing with—and enjoying—Dolby Atmos.

Alpha 50 EVO and Alpha 65 EVO Powered Studio Monitors

Using cutting-edge materials and engineering practices, the Alpha 50 and 65 EVO have been designed from the bottom-up to improve on its predecessor’s performance. The Alpha 50 and 65 EVO are sonically and functionally versatile, making it the perfect solution for any guitarist, drummer, synthesist, DJ, producer or engineer. The Alpha 50 and 65 EVO are honest and accurate while providing all of the detail that you need in a critical listening system, allowing your mixes to translate perfectly to other playback systems. At the center of the new powered Alpha 50 and 65 EVO is the new Slatefiber driver. Handmade in the FOCAL workshop in Saint-Étienne, France, the unique characteristics of the Slatefiber have dramatically improved the overall dynamic range, impact and low-frequency extension compared to its predecessor. The driver allows for a tighter response that handles bass signals with ease, such as those present in contemporary electronic, pop and dance music—yet it eliminates unwanted and messy artifacts sometimes associated with those types of signals. Whether it’s music production, recording, mixing, post-production or podcasting, the Alpha 65 EVO delivers an accurate and enjoyable experience.

The updated 1” Aluminum inverted-dome tweeter recreates the smallest nuance with exacting clarity, without a hint of harshness. It delivers the detail you need without the fatigue. Beyond impressive sonic characteristics, the Alpha 50 and 65 EVO are more functional than ever. These monitors offer RCA, TRS and XLR inputs to flexible connectivity, as well as convenient mounting points for use in immersive audio scenarios or even tight spaces. They’re a valuable tool for any creator, whether professional or hobbyist. The 50 EVO model features a 6.5" driver, whereas the 65 EVO includes a 5" driver. Both models come with a 55W amplifier for the woofer and a 1" aluminum inverted dome tweeter (25W amplifier). The Alpha 50 and 65 EVO have a frequency response of 40Hz to 22kHz (+/–3dB).

Sub One Powered Studio Subwoofer

Sub One is a testament to FOCAL's spirit of innovation. Thanks to its precision and extremely low distortion, Sub One provides an ideal complement to the Alpha Evo and Shape lines. For the speaker drivers, the engineers have chosen double-skinned Slatefiber cones. The two aligned cones offer even greater rigidity, ideal for a subwoofer. Thanks to its front-firing ports, Sub One can be easily positioned in any setup, integrating easily into a room, along a wall or under a desk.

The Sub One is composed of two 8" Slatefiber cone woofers, manufactured in France by FOCAL. With a total RMS power of 200W, it covers a frequency range from 32Hz to 120Hz and provides excellent dynamics.

Symphony I/O Mk II 16x16 Thunderbolt Audio Interface

Symphony I/O Mk II is a multi-channel audio interface featuring Apogee’s newest flagship AD/DA conversion, modular I/O (up to 32 inputs and outputs), intuitive touchscreen display and optional world-class microphone preamps. Designed to deliver professional sound quality for audio recording, mixing and mastering, Symphony I/O Mk II is the ultimate music production centerpiece for any modern studio. The new Symphony I/O Mk II comes with direct connectivity to one of three different platforms: Thunderbolt, Pro Tools HD or Waves SoundGrid network. There is a Symphony I/O Mk II solution for everyone; the home studio, project studio, commercial recording studio and scoring stage. Choose from four base I/O configurations, 2x6, 8x8, 16x16, or 8x8 with eight mic preamps and easily expand as your studio grows. With two module slots and the capacity for up to 32 inputs and outputs of A/D & D/A conversion per unit, Symphony I/O Mk II offers the best per-channel value of any interface in its category.

Apogee engineers have made it their passion to improve every new flagship product by using the latest in electrical components and designing optimized circuitry that often exceeds the expectations of the component manufacturer. This is the Apogee Advantage. Symphony I/O Mk II is the culmination of this 30-year commitment and raises the bar on all Apogee products before it with even better audio clarity and sonic transparency. In fact, when equipped with either the new 8x8 or 16x16 Mk II I/O modules, Symphony I/O Mk II outperforms all other multi-channel audio interfaces available for Pro Tools HD or Thunderbolt based systems, making it the flagship audio interface for the entire professional audio industry and the obvious choice for countless GRAMMY winning artists, producers, songwriters and engineers.

For connecting to a Thunderbolt equipped Mac running Logic Pro X or any other Core Audio compatible DAW. Up to 32 simultaneous inputs and outputs per unit/system and latency as low as 1.35ms in Logic Pro X (96kHz/32 buffer). For connecting to an existing Pro Tools HD Accel, HD Native or HDX system via Digilink connector. Up to one Symphony I/O Mk II unit connected to each HD Digilink port (max. 32x32 per unit).Connect to the Waves SoundGrid System for studio, live and post-production audio networking with real-time DSP for Waves and SoundGrid compatible third-party plug-ins.

All of Symphony I/O Mk II’s essential input and output settings can be accessed from the front panel touchscreen. Change your input selection, monitoring levels, mic pre gain or calibrate your Symphony I/O Mk II to match the levels of the other analog gear in your system. A high-resolution TFT display delivers all the visual feedback critical for recording and monitoring. Without looking at your computer, Symphony I/O Mk II lets you see metering for up to 64 channels of I/O, 32 in x 32 out—signal levels, polarity, muting, phantom power and Soft Limit.

Whether you record with a vintage Neve console, the best Neumann microphones or colorful mic preamps, a high quality AD converter is imperative to capture every nuance of your analog gear into your DAW. Without this, you will miss many of the subtleties and details that simply cannot be added back later with plug-ins. Similarly, the DA stage is essential to your perception of the recorded audio tracks. When mixing, regardless of what speakers you are using, if the converter is masking or having any effect on your audio, you could end up overcompensating with EQ, compression or other effects and failing to address other problematic details. With Symphony I/O Mk II, you will hear more definition in each track and instrument of the mix, making it easier for you to make intelligent adjustments and achieve the ideal balance. Tracks will blend more harmoniously and mixing will simply be easier. The high end will be clear and not as brittle while the low end will be tighter than ever and more defined. This sort of unmatched audio quality can be noticed and appreciated by any listener.