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Alesis M1 Active 520 2-Way Near Field Monitor (75 Watts)

The Alesis M1 Active 520 is a newly designed, affordable, high-precision active reference monitor with Bass Density control and EQ. The M1 Active series offers incredible definition and flat frequency response from the high-precision drivers and a professionally crafted crossover. Learn More...

    • New $199.00
    • free ground shipping
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Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Sound:
I paid a little price for this and all i can say is WOW... Theres no other monitor in this price range that can beat the sound of my alesis m1a520.. I spend so much time hearing lots of monitors, behringer, samson, krk, yamaha, etc... until i found these, and i totally fell in love with their sound.

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Overall:
* * . . . . . . . . 2 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Quality:
* * . . . . . . . . 2 out of 10
Value:
* * . . . . . . . . 2 out of 10
I Want It:
* * . . . . . . . . 2 out of 10
Sound:
* * . . . . . . . . 2 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Feature:
Product was well made physically.

Quality:
I rated quality poorly because of the tone. The blue lights on the monitor blinks when music plays at half volume.

Value:
I don't think the value is good - cheap product - poor performance

Sound:
Good sound when something plays. Has a high pitched tone that is audible when nothing plays. This is so irritating that I switch the unit off when I am not playing music. Contacted tech support - they said it was normal!!

Ease of Use:
Easy to use

Support:
Support was quick to get back but overall I think they set their product expectations low...

Overall:
If it was stolen I would not get it again.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

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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Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
Straight and easy room adjustments, Few switches and simple to adjust.

Value:
I only paid 245 for a PAIR of these.... NICE

Desirability:
Two words: Blue Lights!!!

Sound:
Well balanced sound, Clear bass, nice mids, and natural highs. Easlier better than the KRK Rokit 5 monitors (Which my friend uses).

Ease of Use:
Plug and Play and Enjoy....

Support:
I say the best since I havent had a reason to call them..

Overall:
PLEASE BUY THIS MONITORS

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Quality:
very well and heavy built

Value:
much value for the price tag

Sound:
very direct and clear, in the beginning a little harsh it needs some break in time, not forgiving with bad recordings

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
The light on the top reminds me to turn it off when I turn off my computer. Since this is shielded, I keep it right next to my CRT monitor, and no noise or interference.

Quality:
Great for home speaker. This thing is quite heavy, nothing like M-Audio which are light and plasticy.

Value:
A++++

Desirability:
Cool looks with black and white design.

Sound:
It sounds really good.The bass is great since I can adjust to my room and it's right against the wall, it's more than I need. The high are great and so are the mids.

Ease of Use:
You have to turn on/off few switches to adjust to your room, which is great for people like me with no acoustic design in the room.

Support:
Have to wait for a year or two after it break down.

Overall:
I'll buy another one since it's the pefect I need and want.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
I wish it had a single volume control on the front. Other than that, they don't miss anything.

Value:
There are other similar alternatives on the same price range (M-Audio for example). But I liked these better that the BX5A. They sound way better.

Sound:
It sounds great, specially the medium and high frequencies. I now hear things I couldn't before. I bought them to listen to music, since I wanted small active speakers. And they are better that other fancy-brand speakers of the same price range.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
theres a good amount of them espacially for the price range. i really like the power buttons on top and the fact that the lights turn red when clipping

Sound:
very clear imaging, i added a krk rockit 10s and they sound great together. the highs are very clear and the bass hits very clean. natural sounding and the options on the back allow you to tailor them to your studio

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Sound:
Great over all sound with custom control switches on back to tailor to your studio.

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