[Listening test] Kali Audio IN8 2nd wave three-way Active Monitor Loudspeakers

Product: Kali Audio IN8 2nd Wave - active monitor loudspeakers
Manufacturer: Kali Audio - USA
Suggested retail price: 900€/pair
Reviewer: Lucio Cadeddu - TNT Italy
Published: November, 2023

Active speakers are a smart way to simplify and reduce the size of a HiFi system: simply connect them to a source and that's it. This solution, which is typical of studio monitors for professional use, has always scored high in my personal wish list. The advances in the quality of professional monitors have been enormous in recent years, so much so as to stimulate the interest and curiosity of the audiophile community, which has always seen “pro” components as largely insufficient or too “specific” for home use.

A reader, intrigued by the many positive reviews they have received worldwide, suggested we should review the speakers under consideration here, the Kali IN8 2nd Wave. They are a somewhat improved version of the original IN8, designed and engineered in the United States by Kali Audio (Kali, as in California) but, in keeping with the practice of 99% of audio companies nowadays, manufactured in China. The IN8 2nd Wave is the top model in the company’s range of active monitors, and within a few years they have had enormous success in many recording studios, adopted by internationally renowned sound engineers (just browse the Kali Audio YouTube channel for testimonials). Hence, my curiosity was highly aroused, and I asked Mogar Music, the Italian Kali Audio distributor, to send me a pair to review.

A closer look

The IN8 2nd Wave are not the usual studio monitors, in fact, they are not even “usual” HiFi speakers. They are three-way speakers that use an unusual concentric (coaxial) unit for midrange and tweeter which, unlike similar designs, covers a large part of the audio range, leaving the 20 cm woofer, which has voice coil ventilation, to cover the low range up to just 280 Hz. In practice the entire mid-low, medium and high ranges are reproduced by the concentric unit. The woofer is loaded by a front-firing bass reflex enclosure with a unusually shaped port.
Onboard class D tri-amplification is sufficient to the drivers' needs, supplying 60 to the woofer, 40 to each of the midrange driver and tweeter. The innovations, however, do not end there, because the speakers are managed via an internal DSP, based on a PCM1863 A/D converter, which controls various parameters and serves as an active crossover. Therefore it is a true active multi-amplification system. In fact, through a series of dip-switches, the frequency response of the speakers can be precisly tailored to suit any room need and any kind of installation: near/far from the rear wall, free field, positioned in a traditional way or on their side, on a control desk, on a desktop and so on. The cool thing is that these parameters are adapted not simply by increasing or decreasing certain frequencies, but by completely modifying the response curve of the speaker within ±2dB both up and down. The DSP also controls the output level of the drivers, protecting them in case of overload. There are three line inputs: XLR, RCA and TRS and each speaker has its own volume control. This model offers no type of wireless or digital connection, although a smaller model, the MM6, has all these features. I'd love to see a consumer version of the IN8, though.

The external and internal construction is of excellent quality, if we take into account that the asking price, 900 euros per pair, is considered high for the pro market. The cabinet is solid and well damped, and the woofer appears to be of excellent quality. The medium-high coaxial unit is enclosed in a single rear shell and I preferred not to dismantle it (see the pic above).

Kali Audio does not hide behind amazing claims and releases a very rich set of measurements, in CLF format, to show the remarkable linear frequency response, the low distortion figures and on- and off-axis behavior.

Claimed tech specs

The War of the Worlds

The pro world and the HiFi world have always been quite far from each other: audiophiles snub professional products as too “crude,” and pros snub HiFi products as not faithful enough to the original sound and, moreover, too overpriced. This “war of the worlds” began slowly becoming meaningless immediately upon appearance of very good sounding monitors on the professional market. This “war of the worlds” is slowly becoming meaningless, as soon as very good sounding monitors began to appear on the professional market. I might redirect you to our test of the M-Audio BX8 D2 which was very positive, especially because of the very high quality/price ratio of these speakers. We recently tested small active speakers with an even more astonishing quality/price ratio, the Lonpoo LP42X which in some ways had embarrassed - in a direct comparison - the much larger and more expensive M-Audio.

I'll immediately clear the field of wrong expectations: these IN8s outclass the small Lonpoos in practically all parameters. On the one hand, as the IN8s cost 9 times as much, this result is not surprising, but on the other this condition is not of itself sufficient; sometimes less expensive components can give hard time to more expensive ones. Such is not the case here, however.

The IN8 2nd wave have a big, full vibrant sound, with a wide and very precise soundfield, as befits a studio monitor, which must let the sound engineer hear everything—the good, the bad and the ugly—of any recording. However, you should not imagine that these speakers are ruthless or hyper-analytical. Rather, their sound follows the best tradition of good HiFi speakers: powerful and deep low range, excellent power handling, detailed but non-fatiguing mid-high range, very low distortion even in the most complex and difficult passages.

Tonally I would define them as neutral, with a low range notable in terms of control and articulation. Entrusting a large part of the audio range to a small concentric driver greatly helps emission coherence, in the sense that, for example, voices are mainly reproduced by the mid-high unit, and the woofer, working below 280 Hz, does not alter them, as often happens when you force large woofers to work in the midrange area. This approach allows, among other things, an easier life for the woofer itself, which is hence capable of going down to 45 Hz at just -3dB and to 37Hz at -10dB with an impressive maximum sound pressure of 117 dB.

Compared to the cheaper M-Audio BX8 D2 and D3, with woofers of the same size and similar cebinet dimensions, the IN8s sound larger and more precise, with less distortion and with an ease of emission unfazed by any musical genre. Even in the presence of killer low frequencies I did not hear any noise coming from the reflex port, which, evidently, has been very well designed. Active triamplification, then, has some obvious advantages.

The DSP greatly helps in correcting room interaction: you can decide the level of bass frequencies depending on the distance from the rear wall (if greater or less than 50 cm), and you can choose whether to give a little more boost in the medium-high range or not. After a few attempts, I kept them more than a meter from the rear wall, with the controls all flat, but each room is a story in itself. Be careful, because the bass is very powerful, and in certain installations it may be necessary to tame it a little bit. These speakers are best for medium-sized rooms, not for small rooms, and they can be listened to even from a few meters away. Nearfield listening is also possible, of course.

The DSP helps a lot to correct the interaction with the room: you can decide the amount of bass frequencies depending on the distance from the rear wall (if greater or less than 50 cm), and you can choose whether to give a little more boost in the medium-high range or not. After a few attempts, I kept them more than a meter from the rear wall, with the controls all flat, but each room is a story in itself. Be careful because the bass is very powerful, and in certain installations it may be necessary to tame it a little bit. They are speakers for medium-sized rooms, not for small rooms, and can be listened to even from a few meters away. Nearfield listening is also possible, of course.

Overall dynamics, both micro and macro, are excellent: IN8s are fast, clean, and free of any kind of bass overhang, as long as the positioning and interface with the room are adjusted meticulously. They can play very, very loudly, more than what is allowed in a normal home. The dynamic reserve of the amplification is excellent: even with the wildest rock tracks I didn't notice any particular compression, not even at levels beyond those normally acceptable in a flat, yielding SPL peaks of 105dB at the listening seat. The sound never becomes harsh or distorted before the built-in limiter kicks in (and no, you won't be able to make it kick in).

The concentric unit also yields excellent three-dimensional stereophonic image: the coaxial emission centers, with the midrange cone acting as a wave guide for the tweeter, allow for a precise, stable, and incredibly well focused sound-stage, even superior to that of passive HiFi speakers in the same price range. The sequence of the horizontal stage planes is also good, with a slight tendency to move closer towards the listener. What needs to be in the foreground is there in front of you, but not in your face. If you are a big fan of a stage that is located meters behind the loudspeakers, then, these speakers are not for you.

Complaints

Sound.
If you are ready to hear everything, good or not, that is in your records, these Kali Audio IN8s are unlikely to disappoint: they are meticulous and precise but not hyper-detailed performers. Those looking for warm, euphonic, sweet, and mellow sounds will probably not like the precision and unforgiving character of these monitors. However, I would recommend, even to this kind of audiophiles, to listen to these speakers whenever possible: you could discover details on your records that you didn't think could exist and, perhaps, you'll decide to free yourself from the sonic molasses you are used to owing to dull sounding HiFi speakers. If you are ready to hear everything that is good (and not good) in your records, these Kali Audio IN8s are unlikely to disappoint: they are meticulous and precise but not hyper-detailed performers. Those looking for warm, euphonic, sweet and mellow sounds will probably not like the precision and unforgiving character of these monitors. However, I would recommend, even to this kind of audiophiles, to listen to these speakers if possible: you could discover details on your records that you didn't think could exist and, perhaps, you'll decide to free yourself from the sonic molasses you are used to owing dull sounding HiFi speakers.

Value for money

For a pair of such good-sounding speakers, €900 or less, depending on the offers - for example, on some sites now they can be found at €700 - would be fairly inexpensive even for passive speakers. Further consider that these Kali IN8s save you money on amplification and even DSP and their quality/price ratio becomes truly impressive. For a minimal, good-sounding system, you need only add a quality source. €900 (or less, depending on the offers, for example on some sites now they can be found at €700) for a pair of speakers that sound so good, even if they were passive, is a fairly low figure. Further consider that these Kali IN8s save you money on amplification and even DSP and their quality/price ratio becomes truly impressive. For a minimal, good-sounding system, you need only add a quality source.

Conclusions

The war of the worlds between pro and HiFi seems to be coming to an end. Gone are the days of embarrassing studio monitors like the Yamaha NS10M; now they are able to satisfy demanding palates, for figures (I say this in a whisper, otherwise they'll rise the price!) which in a purely HiFi context belong to the entry-level category. To you, dear audiophiles, I suggest free yourself from prejudices and listen to them: many of your rock-solid certainties could waver dangerously. When will there be a consumer version of these IN8s, with remote control, digital inputs and Bluetooth? Please please please Kali!

Congratulations to Kali Audio for this well-made, fun and truthful product and thanks to Stefano Peloso and the Mogar Music staff for their kind support.

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Kali Audio IN8 2nd Wave - Tri-amped Active Monitors

The War of the Worlds

A closer look

Claimed tech specs

The War of the Worlds

Complaints

Value for money

Conclusions