M-AUDIO CX8 - Manual (Page 5)

5
English
Studiophile TM CX8 User Guide
Note that the placement and
orientation of the CX monitors
within your studio is important
and correctly placed speakers will
result in improved imaging, clarity,
and overall performance. This
topic is covered in detail in the
“Setting up CX Monitors” section
of this guide.
Also note that the CX monitors
feature several switches that
help you contour the speaker
to your specific studio. When
these switches are left in
their default position, the CX
monitor will closely resemble the response characteristics shown in the acoustic
frequency response graph in the appendix. These anechoic* measurements represent
performance of the speaker in an “ideal” environment similar to that found in a
high-end recording studio with carefully tuned acoustics. In the real world, however, the
acoustics of your specific studio (or the placement of your speakers within the studio)
may cause your monitors to exhibit too little (or too much) bass, midrange, or treble.
To help compensate for this, the rear-panel switches contour the frequency response
of the speaker specifically to your studio. These switches are covered in detail in the
“About the Rear-Panel EQ Contour Switches” section of this guide.
*About anechoic chambers:
An anechoic chamber is a room in which the
floor, ceiling, and all walls are covered with
sound-absorbent acoustical wedges. These
wedges prevent sounds created within the room
from reflecting back and influencing the acoustic
measurement of the loudspeaker.
Anechoic chambers are considered to be
acoustically “neutral” spaces since the room itself
does not impart any kind of sound to an acoustical
source contained within the room. Because of
this, loudspeakers (including CX monitors) are
commonly measured and tuned in such rooms.
It’s in the details:
Did you know the shape and materials of a speaker cabinet can greatly affect the overall
sound of a speaker?
Your CX monitors feature thick walls and a carefully placed internal brace to prevent the
speaker from resonating at low frequencies. This means that the speaker cabinet itself will
not ring along with the low frequency sounds in your mix (such as a kick drum or a bass).
This translates into more accurate bass response.
Furthermore, the rounded (“radiused”) edges and contoured waveguide surrounding the
tweeter are not just cosmetic touches intended to improve the appearance of the speaker.
These features help spread high frequencies evenly around the room and widen the “sweet
spot” between the two speakers.