Portable Studio Monitors for Pros on the Go

Studio displays are identified for a lot of issues, however being light-weight and simply moveable isn’t one in all them. For many individuals, the one choice for severe audio or video work on the go is to make use of headphones. The KRK GoAux 3 intention to unravel this drawback, as they’re way more moveable than different displays.

KRK’s Rokit sequence of studio displays have been a stable, inexpensive alternative for musicians, producers, and content material creators for years now. The GoAux 3 and GoAux 4 have an identical look, however they’re far smaller and meant to be taken with you wherever you go. We’re trying on the GoAux 3, the extra moveable of the 2.

Are the KRK GoAux 3 a greater choice than hitting the highway with nothing however your laptop computer and a set of headphones? Generally, completely.

Construct and Design

• Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.37 x 4.72in (172 x 111 x 120mm)
• Weight: 6.94lbs (3.15kg)
• Enclosure materials: ABS

It’s powerful to get a good suggestion of how small the GoAux 3 displays are till you see them in individual. They’re slightly below seven inches tall, and because of the ABS enclosure, they weigh in at slightly below seven kilos. Whereas they’re gentle, they don’t really feel flimsy or fragile in any respect.

These are supposed to be moved round and utilized in a manner that you’d by no means be capable to do with full-size studio displays. In that facet, they’re nearly extra like a Bluetooth speaker. That mentioned, these don’t have any type of IP rating, so make certain to attempt to hold them indoors.

Due to the small dimension, getting the audio system at ear peak, the place studio displays typically needs to be, is hard. As a substitute, KRK consists of two isolation stands that may angle the audio system to intention them on the correct peak. These connect with a single screw for every speaker on the backside of the bottom.

You may make audio system as small as you need, however carrying two audio system and some cables isn’t straightforward no matter dimension. That’s why KRK features a helpful carrying case. There are two padded sections for securing the audio system, in addition to one other part for the isolating stands.

Pockets on the skin of the case and the within of the zippered cowl maintain your cables and different equipment.

Connectivity

• Inputs: RCA, 3.5mm aux, Bluetooth
• Outputs: 3.5mm headphone jack with automated speaker mute
• Bluetooth model: 5.0

There are two analog choices for connecting your pc or audio interface to the GoAux 3: a pair of RCA inputs and a single 3.5mm auxiliary enter. The bigger GoAux 4 additionally has a set of 1/4-inch inputs, which might be good to have on the GoAux 3, however contemplating the small dimension it is sensible that they’re not current right here.

For those who’re utilizing the audio system only for basic music playback or as pc audio system, you’ll recognize the Bluetooth connectivity. Pairing is straightforward, because of a devoted button on the again of the appropriate speaker. Not everybody within the GoAux 3 will need or want Bluetooth, nevertheless it’s helpful to have for the sake of comfort.

One other helpful contact is the three.5mm headphone jack on the entrance of the appropriate speaker. In some circumstances, you’ll be plugging these into your pc’s headphone jack, so with the ability to plug headphones in with out unplugging the audio system is helpful.

The audio system routinely mute while you plug in headphones, which is one other helpful contact.

Portability and Setup

We’ve already touched on the carrying case, however the way it’s laid out inside makes setup a breeze. Taking the audio system and stands out, then attaching the audio system to the stand takes a minute or two. Attaching the speaker cable and plugging them into the wall takes even much less time.

One unusual contact is simply how lengthy the cable to connect the left speaker to the appropriate speaker is. KRK recommends inserting the audio system round three to 5 toes away from one another, and the cable will allow you to place them a lot additional than this.

An extended cable is much less of a difficulty than too in need of a cable, nevertheless it’s nonetheless an odd alternative. The cable additionally makes use of four-pin connectors that may look extra at residence inside a PC, however no less than the locking nature of those connectors means you don’t have to fret about by chance unplugging one.

KRK supplies an app for establishing its displays, the KRK Audio Instruments app, obtainable for iPhone and iPad in addition to Android gadgets. It doesn’t management something on the speaker straight, nevertheless it does supply a device for correctly aligning your displays and measuring your room.

The entrance of the speaker has a quantity knob that additionally acts as a multifunction button, letting you flip the audio system on and off (there’s one other energy change on the again to completely flip it off) and mute them. The again of the speaker additionally options two buttons that cycle by means of corrective EQ modes.

These two switches, labeled LF and HF for low frequencies and excessive frequencies, every toggle by means of three modes. The default is flat, however you can too increase by two decibels or minimize by three decibels. We’ll have a look at how these have an effect on the sound within the subsequent part.

Sound High quality

• Drivers: 3-inch woven glass aramid woofer, 1-inch smooth textile dome tweeter
• Crossover frequency: 2.5kHz
• Energy output: 60 watts RMS bi-amplified class D amplifier
• Frequency vary: 60Hz – 22kHz

The GoAux 3 will get the quantity within the identify from its three-inch glass aramid woofer, whereas the GoAux 4 has a four-inch woofer. Each fashions use the identical one-inch smooth textile dome tweeter.

The audio system sound a lot larger than the small drivers would indicate. Not solely is the soundstage spacious and detailed, however the bass is extra highly effective than you’d count on. That is largely because of the port on the again of every speaker, which is doing stable work right here.

Adjusting EQ by a couple of decibels right here and there doesn’t seem to be it will make a lot of a distinction, nevertheless it does. That mentioned, that is corrective EQ meant to assist the audio system match higher for various working environments. You may’t actually make something sound unhealthy by adjusting the EQ, even for those who’re attempting.

I began listening with a music I usually use to check audio system, The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s “Take Five.” This music actually reveals off the imaging of those displays, which is frankly beautiful for the scale. The saxophone appears to drift in the midst of the air, reminding me of a barely scaled down model of the imaging from my bigger traditional studio displays.

The bass line on Enon’s “In This City” is spectacular contemplating these are 3-inch drivers, and that’s with the low frequency EQ change set at impartial. Partaking the 2dB increase through the button on the again, it does certainly barely increase the bass, however not in a manner that makes the audio system sound much less pure.

In comparison with the opposite songs I listened to throughout testing, Joe Walsh’s “Mother Says” sounded slightly muffled within the highs. Utilizing the onboard excessive frequency increase introduced out that slight further little bit of element that had been lacking, with out making it sound overly trebly.

Nearly as good as these sound, the small dimension means you’re not getting any sound under 60Hz. For those who’re utilizing these for audio work, and you must handle low bass frequencies, chances are you’ll wish to pair them with a set of headphones you belief to verify the low finish.

Ought to You Purchase the KRK GoAux 3?

Have you ever ever discovered your self wishing you had audio system with you, however you didn’t? As a result of that’s the deciding issue in terms of whether or not these are for you. At first, the KRK GoAux 3 are drawback solvers, and so they do an impressive job at that.

These audio system sound unbelievable for the scale, however they will’t outperform physics. Bigger audio system are at all times going to have a spot as a result of they merely sound larger. That mentioned, the KRK GoAux 3 aren’t just for professionals on the go. These would make a fantastic set of pc audio system, assuming the value doesn’t put you off.

These aren’t the one small audio system obtainable. For instance, the Audioengine A2+ are nice for those who simply wish to hearken to music. That mentioned, for those who want clear, correct monitoring wherever you go, these are probably the best choice obtainable for the value.