Feature:
High, Mid, & Bass boost adjustments on the back are a great option. The Gain dials would have been better served on the front rather than back for ease of use but, a little tweaking gets them properly aligned. Light on top looks cool but, is also a very useful reminder to shutdown plus turns red when you're overloading...nice.
Quality:
These little guys feel awesome. They are really heavy/solid for their size and buttons/dials all feel solid, not 'loose' like on other designs.
Value:
You are getting a great product for a great value. I checked out KRK Rockit 5's & 8's(which come heavily recommended if you go to GC), M-Audio Bx5a & Bx8a, Mackie, Yamaha 5's & 8's, & Samson...These rocked them all! The M-Audio Bxa8 and the Rockit 8's had the best bass of the lot but, they are 8's and these Alesis are very close, making up for what they lack being smaller with great features and better overall sound. The Alesis killed Mackie, Samson, & even Yamaha (on the bass end, although Yams had better mids)The big thing is, overall these guys slaughtered overall the same size and larger of the competition! Plus, they are like $200. -300. bucks less!!!
Desirability:
Very pleasing on the eye! Sleak silver fronts spill over the hardened black casing highlited by the neon blue glow emitting from the crown.
Sound:
Overall, these speakers are great! A bit bright out of the box causing a little ear fatigue on highs but, just because they are still being broken in. They do a great job though and I have already found several bits in my recordings that I never heard before (good and bad!). I wouldn't recommend them for non studio use as they are pretty flat but again, that's their job right?!I love them and they are great for a small studio or editing bay. Much better than anything else I have heard under $700. (Quick note...M-audio's Bx5a have no low end & Yamaha 5" are way to bright so, these guys already had my vote before I checked out others which they stil crippled)
Ease of Use:
Easy to hook up, striaght forward design and very easy to figure out controls. Superb right out of the box. Plug-n-Play. Even come with power cords which M-Audio does not.
Support:
Not sure yet and hopefully I won't have to be right? I have read about the capacitors going on these so perhaps I have to deal with that down the road. Fingers are crossed for good luck.
Overall:
I will gladly use these 520's for as long as they will allow however, I can see within the next year or two looking for something a little bassier to go along with these for reference reasons only.
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