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M-Audio BX5A Active Monitor

The BX5a refines M-Audio's highly acclaimed BX5 near-field reference monitors, renowned for packing a lot of punch for their size. The new 5 in. low-frequency driver cones are crafted from Kevlar, an extremely resilient material typically found in much more expensive monitors. Curved cone design coupled with high-temperature voice coils and damped rubber surrounds deliver incredible fidelity and durability. The 1 in. high-frequency drivers' magnetically shielded natural silk domes produce crisp top end while still being gentle on the ears. Learn More...

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Overall User Ratings

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

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 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

Feature:
Everything that you really need. XLR, 1/4 " inputs, and voltage switch, volume knob. Again, for the vast majority of people out there, these monitors have more than you really need.

Quality:
Very well built. Solid, heavy, and made with quality materials. If you take care of them, they're built better than you need. I do agree with some other reviewers though...could use some grills over the tweeter and woofer. I'm a lilttle hesitant to move them. But it would not deter me from buying these (obviously).

Value:
I got these for $250. At that price, they're a steal. At $299 they're a great deal. For what you get and the sound quality...buy them.

Desirability:
Very sexy. Come on, kevlar woofers? Silk tweeters? They look great!

Sound:
I'm sure that professionals will not buy these monitors for their studios for various reasons, but for the rest of us (especially beginners), the sound quality on these is top notch. Not obtrusive in any way. Very flat and pleasant.

Ease of Use:
Plug them in, turn them on, turn up the volume. Does it get easier?

Overall:
I am satisfied. Granted, I am a novice and only record vocals and podcasts...but music and other recordings come through with detail that I have missed for all these years.

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

Feature:
yeah

Quality:
Both of mine are broken after a not uncommon Little "turbulence in my car trunk. The problem is a frail sheet of aluminum(?) to which the super heavy magnet is attached (by 4 tiny screws) behind the coil. What a piece of junk that sounded ephemerally great!

Value:
no

Desirability:
sexy

Sound:
great!

Ease of Use:
no hassle

Support:
no

Overall:
?

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

Feature:
Again, good for the price, but don't expect too much.

Quality:
Works fine, and haven't had a single prob. with them since I first bought them 2 years ago.

Value:
It's good for the price...and a great set of monitors for a beginner, but you'll find yourself needing to upgrade about 6 months into it. I know I did.

Desirability:
They're good monitors for starters. Again, you get what you pay for.

Sound:
Good for the price, but the low end lacks without the use of a sub.

Ease of Use:
Very easy to use.

Support:
I never had to use the support, so i'll just assume they're good.

Overall:
Low end lacks. Great great great set for beginners, and hi's are pretty crisp. After a while, my ears got tired of the sound coming out as they just weren't providing enough detail to my mixes, so I upgraded to Mackie's .... but these will definately get the job done, if you have a high budget however, don't waste your time with these.

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

Feature:
the ability to tune them to your listening environment is really the only feature other than good drivers that you can ask for. ohh, the little blue light is a nice touch too.

Quality:
mine have ripples in the vinyl that covers the box at the corners--not enough to cry about unless you are truely a perfectionist. also, one arrived with a tweeter dome collapsed--i used some scotch tape to pop it back out and it's been fine ever since. also, mine have been on since i bought them except for when i'm on vacation and no problems yet.

Value:
the pair are a pretty good value--add the sub-woofer and you've got a great monitoring system for $500.

Desirability:
at the time i bought these there weren't many choices in this price range. i'm happy with them but i don't lust after them.

Sound:
exceptional sound for the money--especially when you take the time to set the different adjustments to suite your room. i have had my bx5's for awhile and was pretty happy with them. today i just recieved the SBX8 sub-woofer and together the system pretty well blows me away. i have e-drums, bass (including 5-string), guitars--all running through POD XTLive, synthesizer so i've just been playing around with everything and it's like they are brand new instruments to me because the Sub allows these speakers to do what they were really built for. i used to have to turn the level down when playing bass because you could really rattle the speakers but with the SBX taking all of the abuse these things really shine. with sub-woofer i would rate the sound as an 8.5

Ease of Use:
plug them in, turn them on. of course to get the most out of them you should spend some time optimizing the eq functions on the back.

Support:
i've dealt with M-audio support for other products and would say that they are pretty average.

Overall:
i don't think i'll upgrade these until they break. if that happens i would consider M-Audio again--probably the 8".

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Overall:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Sound:
Ive been shopping for monitors for a while and had a chance to listen to these tonight. I write experimental electronic music so Im looking for something with decent bass presence and a nice high end. What I found was almost no bass to speak of and a very mushy midrange. When compared to the KRK's I listened to later (in the same price range) there was a world of difference. I suppose it depends on what kind of music you are making and what kind of sound you are looking for, but for me M-audio just couldnt cut it.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Feature:
No features. Power cord and no slip stick on surface for bottom of speakers included. Back inputs are 1/4 or XLR, neither of which are included. Wouldn't expect that, but would be nice. Agree with the other reviewer here, the tweeter needs a grill or protection. The 'woofer' is kevlar and very sturdy, but the silk dome tweeter looks like it could very easily get destroyed.

Quality:
Nice weight, volume knob and on/off switch are very solid. Slick black surface and kevlar woofer look nice, and the connections are all very solid. It definitely feels high quality and durable.

Value:
Compared to other monitors in it's price range, there is no doubt that the BX5 is the bang for the buck.

Desirability:
Basing speaker purchase on aesthetics is idiotic.

Sound:
The sound is very detailed, and crisp. There are no muddy spots, and everything comes through very loud and solid. The highs sound great, and bass is not lacking. The 5 inch low end speakers will put out enough bass to shake my desk and rattle loose objects. I only have lower end monitors to compare with, but I have heard many different speakers, and these are most definitely clear and excellent sounding.

Support:
Haven't dealt with them.

Overall:
I'm sure I will own these with a possible sub upgrade, but they have plenty of bass for everything. When I do upgrade it will be because I can afford much much more, not because they lack anything.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
I do not understand why these monitors or any of these high end monitors for that fact do not have some type of grill or protective bracket for the tweeter and speaker. Why would you leave such a delicate material such as "silk" exposed like that. I'm affraid to move or handle these monitors for this reason.

Quality:
This thing needs a protective grill or bracket for the tweeter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Other than that the overall construction is good and durable.

Value:
Great quality for the price!

Desirability:
The BX5's look better than these in my opinion

Sound:
Very impressive power for a pair at this price. The Bass is much more powerful than the previous version BX5's. The tweeters have a silk covering and the speaker is made from Teflon.

Overall:
I plan to keep this for many years

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