Alesis Introduces M1 Active Mk2 Bi-amplified Reference Monitor

M1 Active Mk2 Bi-amplified Reference Monitor (Click for a close-up)

Alesis introduces the newly designed M1 Active Mk2- the next generation of Alesis' M1 Active Biamplified Reference Monitor. Improving on an award-winning formula, Alesis re-engineered the speaker components to produce the powerful M1 Active Mk2. Listing at $649/pair, M1Active Mk2 maintains the competitive price of the original M1 Active and will ship in February 2001.

M1 Active Mk2's internal active crossover and newly-designed dual amplifiers ensure a broad, extremely accurate frequency response, clear imaging with a wide sweet spot, high power handling and detailed high and mid frequency. Utilizing custom drivers for the most linear, low distortion response in powered monitoring applications. Its 6.5" woofer cone is formulated from a high tensile strength, low weight, non-woven carbon fiber providing quicker transient response in the low frequency range and a vast improvement in the detail of critical upper-mid frequencies.

The Alesis engineering team redesigned M1 Active Mk2's 1" pure silk tweeter dome which offers a natural response and aids in preventing ear fatigue during long mix sessions. M1 Active Mk2 also features an internally-mounted phasing plug and is ferrofluid cooled to maintain the best balance of transient response to power handling.

Two audiophile-quality amplifiers-a 75-watt woofer amp and a 25-watt tweeter amp were developed for the M1 Active, along with 8th-order high-and low-pass electronic crossover filters. The critical crossover point was reduced from 1.5 kHz to 2 kHz to improve mid-frequency response and midrange coloration. Time alignment circuitry in the tweeter section of this crossover maintains synchronization of the high and low drivers, avoiding the time smear that is typical in less-advanced powered speakers.

Product Manager Randy Neiman relates, "The original M1 Active has become the most popular active monitor at its price point. And now, with newly designed components, we're able to offer an even more powerful and accurate speaker, at the same price point. That's pretty amazing."

With a new professional cabinet design, M1 Active Mk2 offers smooth radiused corners for reduced edge-diffraction, and magnetically shielded drivers to allow for placement in close proximity to computer and video monitors. They may be mounted in either a horizontal or vertical placement to best fit the studio's requirements.