Digidesign Introduces New Line of Studio Reference Monitors at NAB

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 unrivaled audio purity," explains Gannon Kashiwa, market manager for Digidesign's professional products. "The new Digidesign 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, Analog-Controlled, Class D Amplification

Each driver in RMS monitors is powered by independent, analog-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, analog-controlled, Class D amplifier for each driver
• • RM1: 80w LF, 50w HF
  • RM2: 100w LF, 50w HF
• Balanced analog 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 for each RM1 and $1,749 for each RM2.