Kali IN-8 Second Wave || Masterful Music on a Budget

[@TexasCorgiGun]

Kali is one of the few audio companies that didn't increase the prices because "chain supplies issues COVID and other BS" almost everybody else went bananas with their pricing just taking advantage of the situation, respect for Kali.

[@CC-xu2yz]

Ultimately, those businesses that don't raise prices will suffer greatly or fold. Simple economics.

[@musadays8083]

Big ups & respek to them 🔥🙏

[@megalodon1726]

They increased the price of the WS-12 subwoofer from $599 to $799.

[@hienvu1714]

Timbre is a French word and that might be why it looks and sounds funny to you :) Most French words that end with re - metre, filtre, lettre, theatre... are changed to er in American English - meter, filter, letter, theater but once in a while, a word remains in it's original English form and confuses the heck out of us Americans! :)

[@mp88mp88mp88mp88]

Thanks to Erin and whoever sent them in. Another useful review of affordable speakers.

[@adammercysystem6450]

I honestly don't think you'd need a sub with these. On initial listen I was blown away by the low frequency response. Could hear/feel around 40Hz clearly in the room I listened in.

[@hienvu1714]

There are lots of speaker reviews on KZbin - Erin's is the one to watch!

[@johnswiftmusic]

I 100% agree with this my roommate just got some and they’re absolutely unbelievably good

[@johnschlanger1799]

Just ordered these! Great review gave me the nudge i needed to finally pick SOMETHING. Thanks man. Subscribed.

[@colinkyffinmusic323]

I got the in5's. I was going to get the v2 in-8's, but they were back ordered until probably Feb or Mar '22, so I took a chance with the 5's after checking out your review and others. I'm glad I choose the in5's. Per your observations on your in5 review, the bass profile is almost identical to the in8's until you get way way down into the sub frequencies. What I'm hearing in the bass range with the 5's is very representative and sufficient for what I'm doing and my mixes are translating really well on a bunch of systems (laptop speakers, auto, consumer speakers, etc.). I also took to heart the flattering comments you made about the 5's bass response in your review of them. In addition, per your review of the 5's and my observations, they don't seem to have the resonance issues you mentioned on the 8's, nor the harshness in the 4-5K region (you mentioned the 5's may have be "slightly" lacking in that sibilant area . . . fine with me :) ). FYI - I have a small space and monitor at the 3-4 foot (1 to 1.25 meters if you will); if I had a larger space, or needed the super-sub thump, perhaps I would recommend the in8's, and/or adding a sub-woofer. That's my take. Thanks for the great work Erin. PS - My second system is the iLoud MTM, which I love and are a great compliment to the Kali's. The Kali's have a greater depth of field and reveal great detail in the mids (all the warts), while the iLouds seem to reveal verb, ambience and stereo positioning more clearly, and the general tone makes for more enjoyable consumer-ish listening (at least to my ears). They work very nicely together.

[@APSuk2]

Great stuff as always Erin, finding these diamonds in the rough show you can get excellent performance without breaking the bank. I just need to find a great passive speaker in this price range for surround duty. Thanks for all your hard work & dedication.

[@Aruba-ei6xx]

I purchased the Kali IN-8v2’s along with the Kali WS-12 sub and love them! I spent some considerable time figuring out the best position for these to counter a few room modes. I found the best position for me was throwing the monitor/ tweeters aimed at my shoulders vs ears. I selected the slider to reflect them against the wall and also used the +2db high shelf. This seemed to work best along with some decent acoustic paneling. I compared the Kalis vs the Focal EVO 80s and Adam’s TV8s at Sweetwater’s monitor room in Fort Wayne,IN. The Focals had thee advantage with extended low end, Adam’s with a very nice colored high end, but the IN-8s won hands down in the mid range. They really shine in the 250Hz to 3k region. I also ran a few Sonarworks sound ID calculations but only needed as a reference. In my opinion, I like the up front mid range and is extremely critical for mixing decisions for my needs. For their price point, I haven’t found anything better at all

[@morespinach9832]

So only for mid range.. 😅

[@airtow6766]

How I missed seeing your channel all this time is a mystery, but I'm subscribed and have a lot of catching up to do. :)

[@mohamedahmed1023]

I'll be watching eagerly to see what Kali does next. They're doing great things in the budget to mid-range space. Looking to see what they can we do if they were to build monitors that are 2-5X the price of the IN-8s.

[@vipingkumar]

same boat here

[@GSP-76]

@@vipingkumar They've already released v2 of existing speakers which fixed noise issues, etc. I'd rather they focus on just improving as much as possible in their current price range and price speakers 2x the cost out of the market.

[@vipingkumar]

@@GSP-76 yah.. They released v2 almost one year ago. Now waiting for something new innovations

[@morespinach9832]

Sadly their sound reflects the “budget to mid range” quality.

[@abdo-dr1tu]

We want a Neumann KH120 and Kali IN8-V2 showdown. maximum loudness, internal noise/hiss, Harmonic distortion, inter-modulation distortion, the whole thing :P Please make it happen!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

If someone seeing this has a KH120 they want to send I’d be happy to test it. 👍😎

[@editorjuno]

The KH120A (a) at $729 apparently sells for *almost double* the price of the latest IN-8 each and, (b) with its smaller woofer, is probably more comparable to the IN-5. If the latter surmise is true, that would mean it would cost you *more than twice* the price of the most directly competing Kali Audio product even though it's a two-way design.

[@bbfoto7248]

@@ErinsAudioCorner @abdo 123 Erin, I've got a pair of the little Neumann KH 120-A's that I could send to you that I've been using in the home studio since shortly after they were released. I believe that B&H stocks them as well, so that might be a better/faster option if you still have the test/review shipping arrangement with B&H and would like a "fresh" pair to test. But LMK? IMO the KH 120-A are impressive in all regards, especially for their size. You wouldn't think that they could provide such bass response in such a tiny form factor. And with the adjustable frequency trim levels, the bass response remains clean and detailed. Impressive even for acoustic upright double bass. Of course, as with any other tiny 2-way, you will want to pair them with a good subwoofer for true low-end impact. I think it's safe to say that the Kali IN-8 would probably win in terms of pure output capability. The KH 120 are *TINY* and are a 2-way design meant for NEARFIELD monitoring, whereas the IN-8 are 3-way with a significantly larger woofer and can pull-off midfield duties as well. For reference, the KH 120-A dimensions: H 10.875 x W 7.125 x D 8.625 (277mm x 182mm x 220mm)...i.e. true bookshelf size! I will know soon enough regarding the output capability as I was just informed that I actually won 1 of 3 pairs of IN-8s in a giveaway from another KZbin channel. :-) The KH 120-A also have built-in Limiters that operate independently for each tweeter and midwoofer. The front panel Neumann logo glows White to indicate its "Power On" state, and it blinks RED when the Limiter engages. The front panel LED logo can be dimmed or turned off if desired. @Bruce Morgen With the Neumann's, the extra cost is due to their incredible build quality and unit-to unit-consistency & QC. Even though they are sold individually, Neumann guarantees "matched pair" performance levels out of the box. The entire enclosure is a robust cast aluminum shell and one-piece front baffle, and they have integral protection grills over both drivers. The KH 120-A's waveguides are designed to provide Wide Horizontal Dispersion BUT fairly Narrow Vertical Dispersion in order to minimize reflections off of the mixing console surface and/or floors & ceilings. So it's important to remain within their narrow vertical listening window and on-axis to the tweeter. But their horizontal sweet spot is decently wide. These things are built like tanks as they are intended to be a small, but high-quality PORTABLE monitoring solution for traveling/touring FOH mix engineers and for use in mobile live-event broadcast trucks, as well as your typical studio environment. Erin, you had perfect timing for this Kali IN-8 review, as now I'll most likely use your results to guide my corrective EQ decisions and/or see what DL applies and see how it correlates. :-) 👍 I'd be willing to ship my KH 120-A's to you after I receive the IN-8's and have at least a few days with both of them. Unfortunately, at this point I can't tell you when I'll be receiving the IN-8's as they are shipping direct from Kali Audio. So perhaps I could go ahead and send you the KH 120-A's and do my own comparison later on. Let me know, mate?

[@editorjuno]

@@bbfoto7248 -- I wasn't implying that there was no justification for that big price differential, just that the performance differential between the KH120As and the (roughly equivalent in size) IN-5s might be too small to be significant in most applications that don't require "built like tanks" durability. I'm a big admirer of Neumann (and Genelec) stuff, BTW -- but they're strictly pro products that lack such home user niceties as an RCA input jack option and appear to be way behind the newest Kali three-way models in terms of price/performance ratio. Peace.

[@bbfoto7248]

@@editorjuno No worries, Bruce. I was moreso stating that information for anyone who might read these comments and may not be familiar with Neumann products, and why there might be such a large price delta between them and the Kali's. Before I got lucky by winning a free pair of Kali IN-8's, I was seriously contemplating ordering the IN-5's just to see how they would compare in terms of overall SQ & Soundstage/Imaging to the KH 120-A's at roughly half the price. I did listen to them at a dealer and was impressed, but it's not the same as my room. Thanks to Erin's research, we have both had success in the past using other raw concentric MF/HF transducers such as the KEF UNI-Q's and 5" BMS 5CN162HE in DIY applications, so I was curious to know how well either of the off-the-shelf Kali offerings performed, especially at their price point. When the IN-8 v2/2nd Wave monitors were released, it made me somewhat indecisive and I hesitated on which one to go with, IN-5 or IN-8 v2. But luckily someone made that an easy decision for me. :-) Ideally, I would really still like to do a direct comparison between the IN-5 & KH 120-A rather than the IN-8. Beggars can't be choosers, though! My offer still stands if Erin wants to test my well-used KH 120-A's. I've sent him drivers to test in the past. - Billy B.

[@L.Scott_Music]

The thing about Kali speakers and the IN second wave speakers in particular, they are a great speaker to start with and you can make them punch way above their price point with Sonar Works correction.

[@RealLargeManTheGiantOne]

My right KRK RP7 G4 just died for the second time, thinking of replacing them with a pair of these which come bundled with sonarworks for 780 euros or something on thomann

[@sos-tegno]

great Monitor, just bought them after i saw your review and calibrated them with pink noise ... and they now sound astonishing... the calibration i put on my channel

[@coloaten6682]

Really enjoyed this review. It was useful 'cos I'm setting up a home studio on a budget but wanted good quality monitors. Pretty sure it's the IN-8 Second Wave! Thanks Erin :)

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Awesome! Glad to have helped.

[@stevenswall]

11:30 I wish I could remember the interview I saw it in, I think it was for the online HiFi summit, but Charles Sprinkle mentioned the edge and air gap had a negligible effect on the response and that that issue is the lip of the waveguide surrounding the midrange. I used to think it was the air gap too since that seemed like the most ragged discontinuity.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

The frequency this occurs at is high which means it is a short distance away. It’s not so much the air gap. It’s the portion of the former that sticks up a few millimeters.

[@jealimusic]

I just bought them im very very hyped with them

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Nice! They're killer speakers.

[@siddantsharma3681]

After 1 year what's ur Review How many mixes u have done and How well they translate?

[@emblaize88]

Appreciate the review!

[@Bardyshh]

Hi Erin, Thank you for your excellent job you done, quick question : I envisage a small home theather room (18ft lenght, 13ft wide) with 3 IN8v2 in fronts, and IN5 in surround. I will use 2 subs in this room and I will be 11 feet away from the center speaker. Do you think the IN8v2 is a good choise for my future theater? My listening volume is about -15 / -20db when I watch a movie. Thank you again Erin. (I'm French so sorry for my English 😜)

[@hienvu1714]

What are you using as a surround sound processor? If you're using an A/V receiver, I'd stick with passive speakers.

[@Bardyshh]

@@hienvu1714 nothing ATM, but I envisage marrantz AV7706 processor

[@stevenswall]

7:40 Genelec minimum diffraction coaxial drivers with minimum diffraction enclosures have no inherent issues with on axis frequency response. All other coaxials with air gaps, edges or surrounds to cause diffraction, etc. that statement seems to be true. I beat this like a dead horse because on the high end I want more companies to start competing.

[@steakhoux]

Imo KEF are the only ones that come close. You are right there should be more competition instead of focussing on expensive tweeter materials and stuff.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Yep. Kef is really good at this.

[@stevenswall]

@@steakhoux Agreed. Need them to make an active r3, or something better than the new LS50w II which I'd rather have a Kali and Chromecast.

[@stevenswall]

@Clinton Stewart Depends what you want. The A77x has a little higher SPL but poor vertical dispersion. Likely poor horizontal dispersion too with a horizontal MTM design like that.

[@stevenswall]

@Clinton Stewart You'd have to compare measurements if you've heard one or know the spec you're looking for, or listen to them both.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

8:30 the devil is in the details, so that checks out. Thanks for this video, i was waffling about what to get, and i think i’m going to go with this one for my project studio. Subbed.

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

I'll keep them in mind!

[@hienvu1714]

I know Kali wants to stick with the "best bang for the buck" concept that's worked well for them but I'd love to see them come out with a series above the IN V2. Maybe a little more "premium" built, better cabinets & amps...

[@Phil_529]

Project Santa Monica coming soon. They are passive speakers, $1,000 each.

[@adrianbarac3063]

Have the 2021-model IN-8's, and they are absolutely S-U-P-E-R-B.

[@daveleach2236]

Erin, thanks for the review I also watched your review on the JBL 708p, you seemed impressed with those as well. On a personal level how did these compare with the 708p, I know they are much more expensive but I was wondering how you would compare the performance differences after hearing both.

[@daftcombo4402]

Great review, thanks Erin!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Glad you liked it.

[@daftcombo4402]

Could you develop the link between the 160Hz resonance and the boundary setting, please?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Not sure what you mean?

[@daftcombo4402]

Well, you talk about a resonance at 160Hz at 16min30. Then about the boundary settings a few seconds later. It might just be a cut and no relation.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

@@daftcombo4402 no relation between those two.

[@arncht6507]

Thx, excellent review.

[@rockyboy976]

Fantastic video mate. How do I calibrate it to the room? Is that any such feature? Isnt this is very important? I dont believe the tuning feature give the same results as calibrate a speaker for a room?

[@wilcandou]

Great review. :)

[@larryjeffryes6168]

I feel the imaging, detail and feild width are pretty well known from gen 1. So the supposed noise issue and the frequecny response should provide whats needed for the review. So thanks.

[@anttiniku5223]

Thanks for a great review again and certainly interesting speaker! Could you elaborate why you would not use this as a home theater speaker? Seems like a solid all rounder.

[@dan_hitchman007]

The performance profile indicates they are designed as near-field monitors where you would listen to them at a closer range at a lower overall volume in a small mixing studio room than you typically would for home music or home theater use.

[@byvatavu4409]

If you had to choose between IN-5 vs IN-8 . What would you choose?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I really like both. The IN-5 is smaller and makes it more practical for a desk but the IN-8 has deeper bass.

[@guitaregeek8794]

@@ErinsAudioCorner Thanks Erin, on purchase next month, if I'm happy with them I will remember to give you a "Paypal beer". 😎

[@MrCitizenKaned]

Would you say that these could compete with my current Adam A7x?? was considering the Kali In 8 v1 but the store had none in stock so went with the Adams. Love your work by the way, both meticulous and objective.

[@diggilydog]

So for home theater, can these be used?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

That depends on how close you are. I'd say if you're within about 2-3 meters of the speakers then they would probably be fine. But further away, and that's gonna be a "no".

[@watsonstudios]

Great videos! I'm trying to decide between the IN-5's and the IN-8's. I'm using them for monitors for mixing and listening to them at just under 3 meters. I don't usually listen very loud when mixing. Are the IN-8's too big to listen to at that distance? Or does it matter? I'd like to get the IN8's since they're only 100 more the the 5's but if it's going to be an issue listening to the 8's at that distance, then I would opt for the 5's. What's your thought on that?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

The only downside to the IN-8 v2 is just they are rather large. But if you have the space, I’d get those. The extra bass extension is worth it.

[@Gamez4eveR]

There's no such thing as too large unless you literally are close enough for the drivers not to sum correctly. At 3 metres even 150+kg main monitors should be fine

[@pinusmasterful]

I ordered these for my PC system and was a bit shocked about the size of these. Compared them to my even bigger Lintons in the living room then, and they are truly great. I actually cant decide if I keep the Lintons or not now, considering price and size. The Lintons are more pretty tho.

[@makolly7770]

Thank you só much for your feedback. Do you have a affiliate link for thomman or bax music ? I want to buy new speakers and would love to use your affiliate link

[@Eric_the_Hiking]

"Timbre may also be correctly pronounced just like timber as \TIM-ber\." It's a French word and as a francophone that's what I'm going with.

[@sleepylightheaded]

Tambgh

[@vintageflanker7096]

Why not pronounce it as it really is in French, then? TainbRe, certain not "T-I-M", nor "-ber".

[@BojanBojovic]

I already have their 6.2 sub, what would be better, In8V2 or In5?

[@MuzdokOfficial]

does the in series have better dampening inside then the lp series?

[@mndlessdrwer]

You'll probably have to get in touch with a shop that got a demo set, but it would be awesome to see you review the new KEF LS60 Wireless towers. They're honestly really interesting in how their side-firing speakers and the inherently wide dispersion of a shallow-cone 4" Uni-Q driver just creates a wash of sound within a space. They're not the most accurate, but if you like the rebound from the room to create a wider apparent sound stage, then they're really quite awesome. Given their price tag, though, I wouldn't recommend actually buying a set for review unless you really love how they sound. They look great and sound good to my ears, but they're around $7k, which is quite steep a purchase price unless you actually intend to run them as a primary set of speakers. If you couldn't tell, though, I am a massive fan of concentric or coincidental drivers, so your coverage of several brand's products that feature these drivers is right up my alley. I love how coherent the easier to localize frequencies are and the wave guide function of the driver is also a boon to dispersion, as long as they are in a 3+ way configuration so the midrange cone doesn't need to actually use much excursion to reach the desired SPL. If you ever decide to do any coverage of secondary market speakers, I'd be interested in your opinion of the KEF iQ90, as those are the speakers I currently use. I am a huge fan of them, but I don't have the means to do proper measurements for them. Luckily, though, if you don't feel like keeping them, they don't seem to stay on the market for very long, so you shouldn't have too much difficulty selling them on again. If you wanted to be even more extra, their Reference 205/2 is the next upgrade from the iQ90 and give you the option to tri-amp them. They're very cool towers and I wish I had the funds at the time I got mine to afford to buy those instead, but a lack of availability and their consistently high price made that unattainable for me. Having heard the iQ90 and their Q750 and even the R3, I can tell that KEF's house tuning has drifted a bit over the years to more treble gain compared to their older stuff. The R3, in particular, have more of this, while the Q750 are more V-shaped. The LS60 are a lot closer in tuning to the iQ90 than the rest of their current lineup that I've had the luxury of hearing. Transparent treble and upper mids with more substantive lower mids and a generous amount of midbass and bass. Because they're only towers, they do trail off as you start getting into the sub-bass range, but they still play competently enough down to 40Hz. The LS60 can play lower due to their abundance of woofers, but I'm still quite content with my current towers. If I were going to upgrade, I'd still probably try to find a pair of Reference 205/2, for aesthetics. I love the design of them.

[@dragonstone6594]

Can you review the Tannoy Gold 8?

[@GreMaLiNFiLMz]

What does listening “OFF AXIS” mean !? I’ve been doing some reading but I cannot understand how you would position the monitors “OFF AXIS” does it mean facing the speakers at a larger angle ? Where the listening triangle passes behind your head and speakers are facing the wall at a flatter angle ? What does an Off Axis listening position look like ?

[@megalodon1726]

Off axis is when the speakers are NOT pointed directly at the listening position (or microphone, if taking measurements). They're pointed at a point substantially in front of you or behind you.

[@leepritchard]

Great review. What did you think of the first generation in8s? I can't find your review. They are rather less to buy now that the second generation is out, but are they still worthwhile?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I don't think I reviewed those.

[@leepritchard]

@@ErinsAudioCorner no worries, thought you mentioned it in this video. Must have misheard. Cheers 👍

[@bokramubokramu8834]

What DAC did you use for the test?

[@yeahright3733]

Thanks Erin, this is my next speaker choice for sure.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Glad to help.

[@stevenswall]

Just say it: The best price to performance speaker that currently exists for almost every use case.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

You can say that. 👍

[@slofty]

I'll say the sky is blue.

[@editorjuno]

@@ErinsAudioCorner -- Definitely. I think the last non-floorstanding speaker about which you raved so hard was the $3k/pair (plus a decent amp) Selah Audio Purezza with the high-tech Purifi mid-woofer. I was actually saving up for a pair of those, but after seeing the reviews the IN-5 was getting I jumped on the 2nd Wave IN-8s like a duck on a June bug as soon they became available. My only issue with them is that I can't low-pass my sub quite far down enough, so as soon as Kali offers a sub that's a bit smaller than the (12" 1kw!) monster that's the only one they currently make, I'll be ready to whip out the plastic again.

[@hienvu1714]

​@@editorjunowhat have you decided about the sub? The crossover point doesn't need to be at the speakers' lowest audible frequency. Try aroynd 50-60Hz.

[@maidpretty]

Thank you, great job, as ever! I got a pair of In-5s for a month now and I like them. I noticed the treble curve somehow looks different on In-8v2 and In-5 despite them (probably) using the same MF/HF coincidental drive unit, also though I don't have a CSD of In-5, I can't hear resonances in low end like there is here around 160Hz. Can you say that In-8v2 and In-5 have very similar sound signature or Kali tuned In-8v2 somewhat different?

[@theodoroschronis2966]

Hello and congratulations for your excellent speakers’ analysis! I would like your opinion on something that is probleming me and I believe that you are the best to help me! I am thinking of buying either the Kali Audio in-8 2nd wave (760 € pair) or the Arendal 1961 bookselves (849 € pair) What is your opinion? which of the two affected you most subjectively? (soundwise only?). Not considering the addition of an amplifier for the Arendals. Thank you in advance.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Hmmm. The Kali has lower frequency extension so for the reason I am tempted to say get that. The Arendal would need to be used with a subwoofer to get even midbass out of it if memory serves me correctly.

[@theodoroschronis2966]

@@ErinsAudioCorner So, I' ll go for the Kali without the need for adding a subwoofer and an amp! Thank you very much!

[@markd4292]

Interesting. I was considering these, but not sure for a far distance listening in a two channel system maybe with a sub.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

If you’re within about 12 feet or so then you’re most likely ok. But they still need a sub to cover the low frequencies.

[@noelleon6218]

You said this isn't great for home cinema so which speaker that you can mount on the wall is the best speaker. Sorry I know its probably to big of a question, like the meaning of life. Lol

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I just meant in terms of high output from a far distance. If you are within a few meters it shouldn't be a problem, especially when you use a subwoofer. But they aren't going to provide tons of output volume if you are sitting pretty far away and also want to have them play relatively low.

[@_Trakman]

@@ErinsAudioCornerwhat would you recommend for that

[@FEDUP-xx]

Checked Kali and Adam Kali has 1 year warranty and Adam says 5 year with registration

[@benguela999]

Thank's for the review. I'm looking for active speakers for HiFi near-field listening. Between this Kali IN-8 v2 and Genelec 8030C, without price consideration, what should be the best choice?

[@bmill7353]

I hope you're well Erin. How do these Kali's compare to the JBL 708P and JBL 308P? The Kali guys told me they're very close (at least) to the 708P. I value your opinions and objectivity so would greatly appreciate your opinion!

[@nostalgiaregret]

Erin does it have that sibilance dip the in5 has?

[@TylerMarletteNY]

does this speaker compare at all to the genelec’s?

[@Psyphonyx_Life]

Nice review.. I liked what I heard and saw. I am still considering an all active system. ..Be nice if I could get a bundle discount for these. 🙏🙏

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

That would be cool for sure. Killer speakers. Definitely worth a try.

[@treycolston7339]

Thank you for your review Erin. I have been looking for a pair of three way speakers because everytime I hear a pair. I can instantly tell there is a difference in sound quality. I heard you say you've also listened to these in your living room for regular listening. My question is can they be used to connect to a TV if you just want to watch Netflix. And also can I add a sub to them as well.

[@hienvu1714]

Yes and yes.

[@georgepnf8596]

Hi Erin, happy new year and great video man!! I'm between the IN-5's and the IN-8. Which do you think is the the best?? Thank you

[@hienvu1714]

"The best" will depend on your room, your listening distance, your availability space...

[@FOH3663]

This segment; active, powered midfield monitors, are value/performance kings. I've been touting this segment for years, incredible what one gets for the money, and this example is no exception. It used to be Mackie, with their 8" two way, Behringer with their Genelec knock offs, etc. Now, this segment is full of quality offerings, some outstanding. I picked up a set of JBL-308Ps without an application for them, just to test, play with. Impressive, and for the money just amazing ... All this experimenting A/B-ing them up against many of my speakers, all the way to my monster 2kw triamped actives. 10-15yrs ago, Ethan Winer convinced me that these powered two-ways, supplemented via a well executed sub system, is a simple, effective, high performance, high value approach. Simply add diy MBMs and Subs to taste...;)

[@editorjuno]

Ethan was right -- "10-15yrs ago." Nowadays, it seems Kali has changed the game by offering suitably inexpensive three-ways.

[@LaidbackSounds]

@@editorjuno the red district of Amsterdam did it way before Kali though haha

[@editorjuno]

@@LaidbackSounds -- :-)

[@OHMAudioChannel]

Interesting it has the same rising response above 15k as the Lone Pine series, not that us old timers can hear that anyways.

[@Desanusor]

Hey Erin, do you think the gap between in5 and in8 is huge ?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I don’t think it’s huge. I’d have to go back and look at the data, but if memory serves, I think I remember being surprised it wasn’t a bigger difference. I imagine the limiter is a little bit less aggressive on the larger one.

[@Desanusor]

@@ErinsAudioCorneryep just rechecked both your videos and they seem alike... disturbing... with a sub in a small medium room I guess im better of with the 5s, also ampwise the 5s are more powerful (8 inch is probably more efficient). Also money is not so much a concern so if you have the time to tell me which one is the best it would be nice ! Thanks for the fast response !

[@editorjuno]

@@Desanusor -- I own both: IN-8s for L+R, IN-5 for the center channel. The IN-8 is superior in SPL before limiting as Erin suspected, and to my ear sounds smoother way down low. I was able low-pass my sub at about 60-65Hz and got an excellent sub to/from IN-8 transition that way, but with the IN-5 the more usual 80Hz worked better in that regard. It takes a lot of EQ -- and thus amp power -- to make the IN-5's little woofer get as close to the IN-8's low end as it does, hence the apparently more aggressive limiter. It should be noted that Oscar at Kali recommends 80Hz as the sub low-pass frequency for both models, with a a corresponding 80Hz high-pass on the input of the Kali if available -- quite a few subs, including my SVS and Kali's own, having that 80Hz high-pass feature built in. I might even try it some day! 😎

[@Desanusor]

@@editorjunoits for a desk setup in my case thats why I still consider the 5s but yeah sub integration is allways better imo the less it has to do... anyway thanks for your input I may buy both and send back the ones I like the less !

[@p808phenyo8]

​@@editorjunobeen looking hi and low for devices and ways to have an external crossover for the sub and monitor set. What device do you use for this as I'd like to get a pair of IN-8 V2 but do not see the point in a crossover as high as 80HZ please help

[@hbrookes]

Hello, And thanks for the video. Question..You show the colors and what the dip switches affect but which switch does what?

[@hienvu1714]

That info is on the back of each speaker.

[@freddiegoalfonsi7471]

What do you think if I place this kali in a home theatre at 4 m listening with a 3m35 screen ?

[@juistb2]

Incredible review! I must have watched your reviews on Kali's speakers a dozen times each. Question for you: I'm trying to decide on a set of Kali's for my computer desk. The speakers would be about 90cm apart and my listening position would be about 50ish cm. Do you think the IN-8 v2 would work well in that space or should I size down to the IN-5? I have no plans to add a subwoofer.

[@hienvu1714]

Which monitors did you end up getting? I almost always recommend "go big" but in your case - on a computer desk - the IN5 V2 might be a better choice. The IN8 v2's are quite large. I would strongly recommend using isolation pads/feet under either model.

[@juistb2]

@@hienvu1714 I tried the LP6V2 and the IN5 and stuck with the IN5. Had no desire to go bigger. I couldn't be happier. I made custom isolation stands for them to get them at the perfect height.

[@hienvu1714]

I've been going back and forth between the Adam Audio A8H, A77H, A7V and Kali Audio IN8 v2 & IN5 v2 with a 8" or 10" sub 50% for my digital piano/microphone and 50% for music listening. The Kali INs don't look nearly as nice as the Adam As but it's tough to beat the Kali!

[@hienvu1714]

​@vor946Of course 8" will give you fuller sound if you have the space. For music listening, I'd use the 8" plus a sub :)

[@gabsauvage]

Would you recommend them over the Neumann KH120 ? I can get them at the same price

[@josuastangl7140]

This is what I'm interested in. What did you go with?

[@viperracing2889]

Will you be reviewing the LP-8 Second Wave? Will you test the short-term peak SPL capability with a more realistic type of signal (actual peaks in movie/music material) instead of continuous pink noise?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I might in the future. I didn't test short-term peak with continuous peak noise. For more info, read the review on my site on how and why the tests are conducted the way they are.

[@viperracing2889]

@@ErinsAudioCornerNot sure what I was thinking when I wrote that. 102dB continuous pink noise would of course have destroyed many of the speakers you've tested.

[@Gamez4eveR]

Hi Erin! I love your videos, they're both informative and interesting! I would like to ask you: currently I'm running a setup consisting of a pair of Yamaha HS7s with a Mono 12 THX (I absolutely love it!!!), and was wondering, I have a nearfield setup, but I love sometimes blasting music at nigh unreasonable levels, should I get the IN-8 over the IN-5 in spite of me having a pretty well integrated sub? the prices are 640 vs 790 eur/pair for me. It's only 150 eur more update: I got these! Excellent things!

[@DinkyBoo]

How do these compare to the Yamaha's?

[@Gamez4eveR]

@@DinkyBoo these have some on axis brightness inherent to all coaxials (that can be easily addressed with EQ), but nothing in comparison to the harshness in treble from the directivity error around XO point in the Yamahas. These are two whole classes above the Yamahas. A much more fair comparison would be the LP6 v2, which I'd pick over the HS.

[@ShamuXEagleDriver]

Erin, thanks for another solid review. Is there a way to tell a V1 from a V2; either a mark, serial number minimum, etc? Some on Ama selling for $349, but do not say if V1 or V2 ( suspect former). Thanks.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Good question. Because someone sent me a v1 when they thought it was a v2. But yep, the back is clearly labeled “Second Wave”. The cones are also more paper-grained and a bit lighter in color IIRC.

[@TexasCorgiGun]

Erin, thank you for your hard work, LS 50 Meta ?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I kind of doubt it, to be honest.

[@TexasCorgiGun]

@@ErinsAudioCorner How come? Not worth it ?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

@@TexasCorgiGun honestly, not a lot of personal interest because I reviewed the LS50 Wireless II (which I love) and there are other things I am more interested in spending time on.

[@TexasCorgiGun]

@@ErinsAudioCorner Thanks man btw, happy holidays !!!

[@Chopkata]

Hi, I am planning to use the IN-8s and IN-5 speakers for my home cinema. My listening position is at about 3.4 meters. Are the IN-8s for L+R and IN-5 for center good enough forthis distancec?

[@wes7489]

Hi, I would like to buy me a pair of studio speakers mainly for (nearfield) mixing/DJing (mostly Techno, Minimal, Tech-House music and I'm not sure if I should go for the Kali IN-8 Second Wave or the Focal Alpha 65 EVO. Any advice/suggestions please? Thanx..

[@persistentconsistency]

Having a tough time deciding between these two as well, in addition to the KH 120 (would later add a sub). Tough decisions without all in your space, right? What did you decide?

[@LessTalkMoreDelicious]

Are these better than the Yamaha HS8? If, Yes, how much better and the whys? Also, which has a wider horizontal dispersion? (I prefer wider, to fill a music-listening-room)

[@kscott360]

Please explain what you meant when you said , “ I would own these monitors if I had the right type of room”? Why is the right and wrong type of room for these monitors measurement wise? Thank you for your time.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

If I had enough space in my office. They are rather large and I don’t have the desk space.

[@anthonysanchez7379]

Can you do a comparison with the Yamaha HS8 ?

[@maciejmironowicz2501]

yeah it would be great

[@refactoring]

This or Linton 85? [for home listening]

[@iCupboard]

A small question. I am looking for far-field (my listening distance is 3m) budget active speakers. I am thinking about the IN-8. Would you suggest this as well for 800 dollar and under? Or would you suggest a different speaker? Or maybe even the LP-6 or LP-8 Kali? Thanks!

[@officialdropnation]

❤️‍🔥

[@slideographer]

Hi! Does Kali Audio IN8V2 has faster bass and more details on high frequencies than LP6V2?

[@gfbgamerpt171]

Do you know how these compare against the hs8? Im guessing they´re better, but im not sure if its worth the extra 300 bucks for the pair... thx :D

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

No idea.

[@thehottestbeatz]

Buying these for sure, hope I can get away without using a sub. I would consider paring them with the kali sub but I don’t know if they need to have a second wave for the subs as well. Excited to set these up in my studio 🔊🔊

[@editorjuno]

The Kali folks are still talking up their only existing sub, so I think it's a pretty safe bet that its IN-8 low-pass setting will work fine with the 2nd Wave IN-8s.

[@hienvu1714]

Did you end up buying the IN8 V2 and if so, did you end up getting a sub? I was going to order a pair of IN7 V2 after Christmas but they were out of stock so i bought a pair of used Adam Audio A8H instead but those came damaged so I'm back to the Kali. I may pair them with the Adam SUB10 (mostly for listening to pre-recorded music in my living room.

[@atwntennisclub]

I'm torn between the in5v2 and in8v2 for general music listening at home in a small lounge. Any thoughts/help?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

If you can fit the IN-8v2 I'd go that route simply because it goes a little bit lower but with less compression on the low end.

[@roymindmybusiness6908]

Hiss is supposed to be bad still ?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

No issues that I noticed.

[@nine27]

they lowered the noise levels by -12db so that’s supposed to be resolved.

[@roymindmybusiness6908]

@@nine27 I heard the first version and it was terrible way too much hiss /noise so I am not sure I would purchase site unseen

[@nine27]

@@roymindmybusiness6908 I hear ya. but everyone including them has said it’s resolved

[@rickhuff9030]

I just got the IN-5 and the hiss is greater than I expected. I also noticed a slight dullness in the higher frequency range compared to my other monitors, and when I tried to correct by boosting +2db with the dip switch it matched my other monitors, but substantially increased hiss, which I was hoping would not happen. I listen to them at 3 to 4 feet. On the fence regarding sending them back.

[@UrbanExplorer614]

Would the LP-6v2 or IN-8 Second Wave suit their WS-6.2 subwoofer better?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Either would work but I'd get the IN-8 v2.

[@UrbanExplorer614]

@@ErinsAudioCorner ​ Thanks for that. I did always plan for the IN-8s, but the Spinorama data swayed more towards the LP6s.

[@tvolkman88]

Erin please help! For home theater $1k budget for surrounds... 2x Kali IN-8v2 in 5 channel system *or* 4x Kali LP-6v2 or Adam T5V in 7 channel system 3 meters distance

[@Edward135i]

In the words of Kesha "it's going down i'm yelling timber"

[@khg7339]

Hi Erin, thanks for yet another exemplary review! Would you say these would be necessary in a 6 meter wide living room with a 2.2 meter listening position vs kali in-5s? I never listen at high db since I live in a very old flat were at certain volumes the whole building starts to act as a huge speaker itself haha. I’m worried about dispersion, reflections imaging etc. more than volume. I’m currently running 4” q acoustics with an old yamaha hs80m as a “sub”, all processed through the a/v, so anything would be an improvement, I guess. Excuse my English, and thanks again for this gem o a channel!

[@hienvu1714]

What did you end up getting and how do you like it?

[@cshades8026]

I can’t seem to get a good sound out of these at all. I’m not sure what else I can do to change that. I’ve adjusted the settings on the back accordingly. Extremely disappointed. I used them on my Quad Cortex. Im going to give them more time but the hiss is very annoying. It comes on sometimes and other times it is very quiet. Just a very lifeless sound.

[@nigel7880]

Superbestaudiofriends does the science and can tell you why an NS-10 performs better than a Focal Alpha, for example. Seems one of the hidden metrics is delay, especially in the low range (hence ported vs sealed arguments). Thanks again for your contributions and penetrating intellect.

[@frosty6845]

Superbestaudiofriends is an antiscience forum full of shills

[@nigel7880]

@@frosty6845 Is that so. Would you mind providing a few examples for the community?

[@IrenESorius]

+⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! Cheers Erin,, 🍻😎👍‍‍.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

👍

[@x-techgaming]

Jamming out in mono? :) These are only $399 on Amazon in 2024!!! INSANE. I honestly can't find a competitor to these at $500, for an alternative sound flavor.

[@MrMoviePhoneEx]

I don't really get the hiss argument, but I appreciate that they fixed it for the v2. I have a set of v1's in my office for score/mixing and the hiss never bothers me considering the ambiece in my space is already not ideal. Then I spent some time in a studio and the covo came up there as well, the engineer looked at me and said pretty plainly that it doesn't fuckn' matter, if people are so dialed into the your space that they're distracted by some minor hiss from your speakers, you're not doing your job. Also worth noting that with the v1's, once you're listening at standard mix levels the hiss isn't noticable to my ears, it's only there when listening really low or in-between things when nothing is playing. Anyway, I'd take the inlines over most compromably speakers under 1k any day, very versitle, great sound.

[@Emmanuel-gl1de]

Anyone has recommendation for a sub to pair with it ?

[@DinkyBoo]

Kali makes one. Not sure how good it is

[@henriksrensen3220]

I will never buy active speakers. But I must admit that these speakers sound very good 👍

[@Gamez4eveR]

Why the aversion to active? It skips a lot of the bullshit

[@hienvu1714]

I used to say exact the same thing... 10 years ago. It all depends on what you're using them for!

[@jmizzbeatsj-jigga7888]

How the translation to other systems after you mix

[@LongshanMusic]

Yep; that;s how you pronounce 'timbre.' 👍

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I know... and I still don't like it! LOL

[@davidh9659]

Argh, right when I saw a pair of UBR62s for 600 bucks... what am i to do lol

[@aleXtreme_]

I'm thinking of buying x11 of these for home theater use, listening range about 2.6-2.8. What do you think? I have 4 subs flat out from 15 to 120 HZ if that helps! Thank you!

[@abdo-dr1tu]

btw this speaker has something that i particularly dislike about 'Studio monitors' and that's the flat in-room response between 2KHz and 10KHz. Nothing to do about it really, it can be actually the reason behind the 'shrills' you mentioned instead of that tiny peak at 4KHz

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

The 4kHz was the issue I noticed. EQ’ing it with a standard graphic EQ resolved the issue. Otherwise a shelf filter would have been needed. 👍

[@Gamez4eveR]

What a ridiculous take. A flat response would not cause the shrills Erin described, the measured peak at around 4kHz, however, does

[@hienvu1714]

Do you have any idea what you're talking about?

[@effebidi9677]

I love this review the in8_V2 as the one of Kali Audio in5 but I am desturbed by the fact there is no a critical and objective opinion of which one of the two sounds better. I know there is not a real truth with such of subtail aspects but wait. Even the same reviews about all Kalis are objective when they say : 'Kali Audio sounds just overall good'. Ok! Said so, why there is no an objective and definitive impression of kali audio's lineup? Look , I would looove those 2 hz less and intriged buy the general power of the in8 but why I'm getting by comparing all reviews that the in-5 sounds just more tight and better balanced overall? Regards Fabu