Up next we have the M-Audio BX6 Carbon, the middle model of M-Audio’s new studio monitor speakers. We saw the powerful tech and features in our review of the BX8 Carbon monitor, but if you’re looking for a step down to save a few bucks, the BX6 can be nearly as powerful for your home or professional studio. With a very accurate flat frequency response and decent sized woofer and tweeter, the overall build and quality of this studio monitor is definitely worth buying. Let’s check out the main specs and what we think of it all.
Main features of the BX6 Carbon
- Retail price: $199.99 (sold as separate speakers, not pairs)
- Weight: 16 lbs (each)
- Dimensions: 12.5”x 8.4” x 9.8” (H x W x D)
- Frequency response: 45Hz – 22kHz
- 6″ low-frequency driver (woven Kevlar make)
- 130-Watt Class A/B bi-amp
- ‘Acousic Space Control’
- Waveguide with LED cues
- 1.25″ tweeters (natural silk dome)
- Low-frequency amp: 70-Watts
- High-frequency amp: 60-Watts
- Impedance: 20 KO (balanced) / 10 KO (unbalanced)
- Cabinet: Vinyl-laminated high-acoustic-efficiency
- Inputs: one XLR and one TRS (standard)
Overall build of the monitor
M-Audio has never let us down when it comes to the build of their products, and these BX6 Carbon monitors are tanks. At 16 lbs each, they’re made of really great material (you guessed it, carbon!). I wouldn’t necessarily recommend traveling with these a lot due to their price and overall value, but if you must they aren’t fragile or anything. The woven Kevlar woofers are premium in terms of make, these aren’t some cheap knockoffs as opposed to other monitors around the market. The tweeters are also feasible as their size of 1.25″ is standard with a sleek silk make.
In terms of heat you need to be a bit careful. There hasn’t been any signs of overheating but you’ll want them to be in a regular room-temperature environment (as recommended with all instruments and gear), so please be careful with that. Always turn them off when you aren’t using them. No signs of RFI interference either as they have some protection against that.
Sound quality of the speaker
The BX6 Carbon is the successor of M-Audio’s critically acclaimed BX5 D2 5″ Active 2-Way Studio Monitor Speakers and they haven’t changed too much in order to fix what isn’t broken. Although they don’t touch upon it too much, the ‘Acoustic Space Control’ included in the monitor basically helps the accuracy of sound further and scale of readings. The sound has been found to be very accurate. Love the crystal clear highs and the lows go down to 45Hz, plenty for mixes)
The frequency response is very flat here, some of the most accurate we’ve heard. As music continues to improve and tech advance, these are up to speed with frequency responses to modern mixes. I wouldn’t worry about accuracy here, you’ll be fine for quite a few years — a good investment. There is no bass bloat or high exaggerations like some after-market products. If you’re looking for some bass emphasis I’d go looking somewhere else, although with merely any studio monitor speaker the accuracy and absence of frequency amplification (either low or high) isn’t what is wanted.
Verdict of the BX6 Carbon monitor
If you’re looking for some serious studio monitor speakers, the M-Audio BX6 Carbon are definitely recommended. Coming in at around $200 each (or $400 for a pair), you’ll be spending a decent amount of money on them but trust me, these are the speakers to get if you’re serious about your mixing, production, or even music listening as a whole. You can shop around for something a bit cheaper if you want to save some money. We recommend looking at the popular Studiophile AV 40 monitors (around $120 for a pair), but if you spend the extra money on the BX6 Carbons you’re only getting more powerful tech and features. Take a look at the higher model as well, the BX8 Carbon studio monitor.
You can also check out our best studio monitor article that’s very popular with gear heads. We offer some more choices if you’re looking to compare and contrast.
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