Alesis Monitor One MK2 Studio Monitors

6.5 in. low frequency drivers. 1 in. silk-dome tweeter. Handles 120 watts program, 200 watts peak. Magnetically shielded.

Overall User Ratings

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

back to product page
Write a Review:
 

"Get reliable mixing results - go for Alesis!"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
It doesn't have any special features - a simple pair of speakers capable of producing very good results.

Quality:
They are very strongly and precisely built. The downside of their massive construction comes out when you have to carry them yourself - I thought I would never get home... :-)

Value:
They not only worth the money but also contradicts the generally accepted viewpoint that concerning monitors you get what you pay for. Compared to some E-MU or Dynaudio speakers they perform surprisingly well; I must say even better.

Desirability:
It was mainly an addition to my existing studio setup. Of course I wanted them, though.

Sound:
They have very detailed sound, you can really "listen into" mixes and find out most problems. The stereo imaging of these speakers is awesome; you can easily find the place of each and every instrument within a track with a huge sense of space. Frequency response is also fine - flat and reliable with a resonable low end, detailed mids, and a soft, authentic high end.

Ease of Use:
They come with a printed manual which explains how to position and install the speakers. Quite straightforward, so if you're new to sound engineering it will give you a good starting point. For professionals it may also give some specific tips about using this particular set of speakers.

Support:
I asked for some detailed information about the product before I bought it and Alesis answered within 24 hours. They seem to have a quite nice customer support.

Overall:
I think I couldn't have chosen a better pair of monitors not only for this amount but in the same technical category. If you want a highly reliable studio monitor for your project studio or a "B setup" for your existing control room I truly recommend you to go for these.

13 of 13 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
 
 
 
 
 

"Awesome."

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
I like how the text on the front wraps around slightly so you can turn them on their side and they still look right. The connections on the back are angled a little out to make it a bit easier to connect.

Quality:
I've had mine for two years. No problems.

Value:
The shining part of this speaker is value. Yeah it has it's shortcomings but for $200 it's unbelievable.

Sound:
Natural sounding highs to lows. A little underemphasized low end. A tad muddy mid bass when there's a lot. A bit of distortion at high mid to high listening levels. I compared this unpowered monitor ($199) with a Alesis RA150 amp ($199) next to a Alesis M1Active 620 monitor ($399). The monitor one MKIIs won. - The M1Actives has better reign over bass frequencies but was too boomy and despite the controls on the back, I couldn't make the boominess acceptable. The monitor ones don't have a lot of bass at all but aren't boomy. - The M1Actives have tinnier high frequencies. Vocals sounded hollow through them. The monitor ones do a very good job with vocals, very natural. I play a piano synth through both and noticed the same. - The M1Actives have low level hiss without any input and no gain. Unacceptable to me. The RA150 amp has very very little hiss in comparison. I'm a little bewildered at Alesis. If you have Alesis Monitor Ones ($199) + Alesis RA150 amp($199), shouldn't that be comparable in every way to Alesis M1Active 620s ($399)? Why do I find the unpowered monitor + amp setup better?

Ease of Use:
It's a speaker

Overall:
It doesn't change my life but subjectively I love them. I could get more expensive speakers if I wanted but I'd have to spend a LOT more before I thought I had a significant upgrade.

8 of 8 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
 
 
 
 
 

"With a subwoofer, these are just the ticket. Without a subwoofer -- use a little EQ and these speakers will knock your socks of"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 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:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
Pretty basic, just connect your speaker wires to the back.

Quality:
They're very simple, passive speakers so no frills, just sound.

Value:
This is where they win hands down. Excellent, excellent value.

Desirability:
They look really nice. It's fun to watch the cone. The words around the cone look classy.

Sound:
The sound of these monitors will blow you away for the price. With my experience with them so far I can see only one thing that someone might complain about: With out a subwoofer to go along with them, you won't have enough bass unless you EQ these speakers. With a subwoofer, these speakers are just the ticket, as they let the sub do the work for the low frequencies, while cutting through nicely with their mid and high range. If you don't have a subwoofer, you can EQ these and get still get a very excellent bass response out of them. That's what I've been doing and I'm really really pleased with them. I tested them accross a bunch of different songs while playing with the EQ and I found a sweet spot that seems to do justice to all of the songs I tried and then some. I leave the mid to high frequencies where they are (flat) and EQ to the low end. Driven this way they respond excellent and very truthfully. And they have that wow factor when you do this. People will be impressed with how much bass you can actually get out of them.

Ease of Use:
You need a little bit of EQ in most situations to get great sound. Unless you have a sub woofer of coarse. In that case, you should be totally fine without any EQ.

Support:
So far so good, no problems yet.

1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
 
 
 
 
 

"Great home or studio moniters"

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
 
 
 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
These speakers are incredible. They reprouduce sound like no others. You hear it all just like it was beside you. Got a nice pair of computer speakers with a built in amp? Just replace the speakers with Moniter 1's and look out. Top quality sound for 200 bucks!!!! Have a much better bass response than other speakers in this price range. I have recorded for 30 years and heard them all. Nothing beats these speakers for price and preformance.
1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
 
 
 
 
 

"Alesis - On Stage in my Studio."

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
 
 
 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
Hmm.. well they include a cabinet and drivers, so I assume the cabinet finish may be a "feature". Semi-gloss and magnetically shielded.

Quality:
These babies could sell each, for what they are as a pair. I wouldn't have a problem with that.

Value:
See "Quality". (No sense repeatin' myself.)

Desirability:
Will make a great addition to my already - equipment laden - mixing setup. Own a set of Alesis Point Seven's, and they have been great, but need more precision in audio than the old .7's can deliver.

Sound:
Very sweet high end and the bass end is present, but not overpowering.

Overall:
These will keep me entertained for a long time. In complement to my Alesis .7's, I should be able to duplicate the entire human hearing range with sonic clarity. I've been very loyal to Alesis, and they've been good to me in return. I thought twice about buying a comparably priced set of M-Audio, Event, or JBL's. This purchase is a no-brainer.

1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
 
 
 
 
 

"You looking for inexpensive and good?"

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
 
 
 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
Solid, basic. Wish the things had grills, but that's just a vestigial need left over from days when I still lived in the swamp. I'll live without grills....

Quality:
Product is very well made. Snobs tend to rate these lower end Alesis (and Alesis in general) low. Oh well, you got a lotta bucks? Then what are you looking here for?

Value:
Very good value.

Desirability:
Sure I want 'em. I bought 'em, didn't I?

Sound:
Admittedly my first experience with near fields and I know there are more expensive kinds, but for my home studio, which is small they work very well. I've mixed two cds worth of original tunes on them now and translation factor (how the final product sounds on other players, home stereo units, boomboxes, etc..) is very good. I mix down on these, I'm reasonably assured the mix will travel.

Support:
This rating is what I hope if I ever need service. Been using these for about eight months now. No problems. Knock on wood.

Overall:
I like these because they're a) inexpensive b) good. You looking for inexpensive and good? Buy these.

6 of 7 people (85.71%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
 
 
 
 
 

"good job"

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
 
 
 
Good monitors, for an even better price.
they are smallsized and big sounding.
Great job Alesis!!!


Did you find this review helpful?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
 
 
 
 
 

"Great home (apartement) theater speakers"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
I moved a extra pair of these off my mixing console to my home-theater setup (in my apartement). It's a pretty small living room and with a little EQ they sound incredible.
Did you find this review helpful?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
 
 
 
 
 

"Good for a reference monitor only!"

Overall:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
Sound:
These monitors sound good for the price but are not 100% accurate for mixing! Sure... your recordings will sound great in the studio but the real test lies in how good the mix sounds when played on other systems outside the studio! Good mids and nice high end but the lower frequencies are not at all accurate. What you end up with is a great sounding cd on the system it was recorded on but real BOOMY mixes elsewhere! These monitors are excellent when used as a reference but spend the extra money and get a pair of REAL STUDIO MONITORS if you want truly accurate mixes!!

2 of 3 people (66.67%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
 
 
 
 
 

Alesis Monitor One MK2 Customer Review

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
These are work well stand alone, but if you are doing more styles like hiphop, etc. You may want to consider getting a separate subwoofer.

Sound:
These being my first set of real monitors, cant really compare to other brands, but they are a big step up from home stereo speakers. Nice and accurate, I've remixed a lot due to the flows home speakers dont point out.

Did you find this review helpful?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?