Harbinger Pro Audio has introduced the Vari Studio 500 Series of close-field monitors – the Vari Studio SM505 (5-inch woofer) and Vari Studio SM508 (8-inch woofer).
The loudspeaker enclosures have front bass port to extend their low frequency performance, Harbinger’s Perfect Mix DSP offers three loudspeaker voicings. Normal offers a ‘classic studio monitor sound’ and is aloes suited to entertainment listening; Ref reckons to be extremely accurate and uncoloured; while Small is a simulation of small loudspeakers to help ensure a mix will translate to smaller systems, including phones, tablets, laptops, and small Bluetooth speakers. By switching modes, creators can check for compatibility with every size of system with a single pair of monitors.
Bluetooth audio support lets end-users stream audio for reference during a mix or sound design session, as well streaming from a phone, tablet or computer for entertainment listening without having to route audio through a music production mixer or audio interface. The Bluetooth input is available simultaneously with the analogue inputs (balanced XLR/TRS on a combination jack at +4dB and unbalanced -10dBv inputs on quarter-inch jack and RCA/phono inputs) making it easy to switch between a mix and an external streaming source.
All the controls needed most – DSP mode switching, Bluetooth enable and a stepped volume knob – are presented on the front panel of the monitor, keeping the I/O connections and controls like onboard high- and low-frequency shelving EQs, on the rear panel.
The SM505 has a rated frequency response of 47Hz to 20kHz, with class-D amplifiers providing 60W RMS (20W for the tweeter and 40W for the woofer), yielding 102dB max SPL. The SM508 has a rated frequency response of 36Hz to 20kHz, with class-D amplifiers providing 100W RMS (3W for the tweeter and 70W for the woofer), which delivers 110dB max SPL.
