KRK Systems RP8 ROKIT G4 8″ 2-Way Powered Near-Field
Studio Monitoring Speakers Review
Name: KRK Systems RP8 ROKIT G4 8″ 2-Way Powered Near-Field Studio Monitoring Speakers
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Website: https://amzn.to/32N55WT
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Personal Rank: 94 out of 100
KRK Systems RP8 ROKIT G4 8″ 2-Way Powered Near-Field Studio Monitoring Speakers Pro and Cons
Although there are many higher-priced monitors on the market, you’ll find that these are more than adequate for any home producer. If you’re serious about your musical output, that’s all the more reason to upgrade to a pair of 8″ studio monitors.
Smaller monitors don’t cut the mustard. I went from 1.75″ champagne speakers up to a 5″ M-Audio pair and it just isn’t enough to mix and master on. I had to use expensive headphones only and hope for the best. In that situation, I used to have to mix it, guess on the master, bounce it, check it out on my home theater surround and in the car just to see if it’s even close.
If it wasn’t quite there I’d have to start over with the mix and remember how I mastered it and completely re-do it remembering everything I did last time and adjusting for what I remember hearing earlier. That’s totally inefficient, right?
Larger ones are sometimes too much for the space you have or for a newer producer to understand the nuances in the sound they are putting out. Don’t get me wrong it is best to test your final mix and masters on several larger and smaller speakers as I was saying earlier. However, If you are in a tiny bedroom or a utility room like I used to have, you’ll see how the bass will drown out the mids and that makes it tough to mix.
The Good:
- The first great thing about these beasts is their amazing balanced sound quality because of all the features engineered right into them. Including multiple ways to connect them with a Balanced TRS/XLR Combo Jack. Able to output a truly flat signal with the default settings. It has an outstanding sound stage thanks to the DSP and incredible visual EQ.
- They have an exceptional build quality. KRK Systems is already known for its products’ high-level construction and industry-leading audio output. You’re not just going to knock these off your desk because they weigh in at 22.6 lb / 10.25 kg.
- I suggest mounting them on high-quality speaker stands to avoid desk rumble. I don’t have room for those. So, I got a bundle with isolation pads which help out considerably. At 203 Watts, with matching Kevlar Drivers, a Built-in Digital Sound Processor, and a Frequency Response of 36Hz – 40KHz, these things knock when you need them to.
- I’m ecstatic about how easy it is to set the EQ. Not that it really needs it right out of the box, but if you have small or wide-open space you can find the setting that fits the room best with reasonable ease. That’s in large part due to the DSP-powered digital EQ with 25 settings and an illuminated LCD screen. Its push-button knob control is intuitive and its user-friendly design is superb. It also looks cool. Too bad it’s on the back. I leave mine set flat at 0dB which is recommended for production.
- They are extremely easy to set up. Obviously, they aren’t as plug-and-play as a set of PC speakers, but these are not PC speakers. Anyway, it’s this easy, plug in the male XLR into the back of the monitor and the other into other corresponding input on your I/O device. I use a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface. That’s it. Left in left, Right in right. No-fuss, no-muss.
- It has dimmable illuminated logos that show you whether they are powered up or not. If you don’t push any signal over -50dB for a half hour they go into “Sleep” mode. To bring them out of sleep mode simply play something through them. Why is this such a great feature? Well, when you do decide to wake them they have a delay that eases them up to the level they were at. So, if you walk away and come back later you aren’t going to blow them, or your ears out.
The Bad:
- They are bulky and have a large footprint that is 10.47″ / 266mm wide by 12.17″ / 309mm deep and they are definitely not space-saving at all. However, if you want big sound for a great price, you can’t beat them.
- They can get hot after a few hours at high volume. After extended periods of listening at high volumes, you may notice they get a little quieter, and you may notice how warm they are on the back.
- They aren’t always available because they are so popular. It’s heartbreaking when you find that perfect product and then you go to buy it only to find it’s sold out. I imagine these take a while to construct, so production may be slower than some generic speakers manufactured by machinery.
Who are ROKIT RP8 G4 8″ Studio Monitors For?
These are expertly engineered for home studio producers on a budget. Don’t let that discourage you because even though they aren’t the best available, they do however supply the most bang for your buck. I’d recommend them over more expensive ones if you don’t already have a studio and even then you’d probably need something a little higher grade.
Since mine are hooked up to my computer already and I can stream movies they make excellent R/L channel speakers. For most TV, movies, and music I’d almost rather hear through them these than my 7.1 surround system Obviously, huge epics with 7.1 Dolby are meant for that, but anything that is broadcast in stereo alone is perfect for these.
So, if you aren’t just watching internet videos or listening to amateur podcasts these are a great option. These are also a great choice for connecting to a keyboard. A keyboard with monitors and a sustain pedal like the M-Audio SP-2 Universal Sustain Pedal is perfect for any pianist who wants to be able to perform in intimate venues.
ROKIT RP8 G4 8″ Studio Monitor Accessories
- There are a few items available to make your user experience more enjoyable. The ROKIT G4 Studio Monitor Grille Covers look sleek and they mute the bright yellow, in case it clashes with your setup.
- Speaking of, there is a white version called “White Noise” which are beautiful to look at on top of their already awesome sound. I would go with these if you’re going to be using them in a bright setting or room painted bright white, or if my video monitor like an LG and/or some MIDI accessories were white too.
- The Isolation Pads are a significant help too. They work great if you don’t have room for speaker stands. I even use the spacer as a pad to put my 5″ monitors on top. So, they don’t get scratched up.
- Sturdy high-end speaker stands are a must as long as you have room for them. They normally cost at least $150 but sometimes you can find them in a bundle for slightly less.
ROKIT RP8 G4 8″ Studio Monitors Modes of Use
This lets you set them up either vertically or horizontally depending on which is best for your setup and the acoustics of your surroundings. There’s already a piece of EVA foam on the bottom that helps protect it from slippage and vibration. Depending on your room’s acoustics, you can use them with the woofers on either side. You should try it each way, then choose whatever is best.
(Pictured here, the KRK 10-3 G4 10 inch 3-Way Studio monitors. First in Vertical, then in Horizontal mode.)
ROKIT RP8 G4 8″ Studio Monitors
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My Final Opinion of ROKIT RP8 G4 8″ Studio Monitors
I would definitely recommend these to any home producer, especially up and comers on a budget. There are a few different bundles available. Some with stands and grilles. Others just have the required cables included.
With right out-of-the-box usability they aren’t too complicated to hook up to whichever interface you happen to be using. It only took me 10 minutes to set them up and test them out and most of that was opening the boxes and packaging, and carrying them to their spot on my desk.
ROKIT RP8 G4 8″ Studio Monitors at a Glance…
Honestly, if you don’t have a soundproof quarter-million-dollar studio, these are all you’ll need when you are just producing, mixing, and mastering.
I’m a basement producer and these made a huge difference in my ability o crank out tracks that are perceived as loud, dynamic, and full. Before that, I had dull, soft, un-energetic mixes because I didn’t have a way to hear the mix correctly before I started to master it.
If this review was helpful and you’d like to leave a comment or you have a question or noticed an error that needs to be fixed, feel free to leave it below and I’ll get back to you as promptly as I am able to.