We tested the KRK Rokit V8 S4 active studio monitor!

We tested the KRK Rokit V8 S4 active studio monitor!

We went to Fót in Pest County two weeks ago, where we tested the active speakers of the KRK Rokit V8 S4 in the studio of a family house. István, our client, has been playing music, bass guitar for many years, and they perform regularly with his band. A sound recording and mixing studio was set up in one of the rooms in the house, measuring approximately 4 × 6 meters. With the importance of acoustics in mind, the amateur musician also covered the walls and ceiling with acoustic panels, creating an ideal sound in the studio. Acoustic measurements were performed, and in accordance with the results, we proposed the installation of sound-absorbing curtains, which provide a solution to eliminate interference along the window surfaces, and which further improve the acoustics of the room.

KRK Rokit “V” series

The “V” series of the American manufacturer consists of studio monitors specifically designed for professional purposes. These speakers were developed primarily for sound recording and sound mixing. The V8 S4 is the largest piece in the series, weighing 14.4 kg. The design of the monitor does not come as much as a surprise compared to its predecessors. The black, plastic-covered housing is made of MDF boards, which guarantees a significant attenuation of resonances. The EVA anti-slip pad also serves to minimise resonance. The bright yellow colour characteristic of the brand did not change with this model either. There are no control buttons on the front panel, only the illuminated KRK logo, which is also a performance indicator. On the back there is an on / off button, the input socket (Neutrik combined TRS / XLR connector), the input sensitivity control, the illuminated logo / power indicator on the front can also be adjusted with a switch, which is also located on the back, as well as the USB port and Also 2 EQ controllers.

The two-way studio speaker has a silk, Kevlar composite tweeter of 30 watts, and the Woven Kevlar-composite cast aluminium framed subwoofer has a power of 200 watts. The amplifier is class “D”, which means a very good efficiency, capable of serious performance without requiring too much cooling. The speaker frequency transmission is 29-24000 Hz (+/- 3 Db), the sound pressure is 118 dB.

Equaliser room correction

The KRK Rokit V8 S4 studio monitor, like most speakers, is equipped with an EQ function. With the help of the Equaliser room acoustic optimisation, we can improve the unfavourable acoustic conditions of the given room. During the design of the KRK V8, engineers tested several 100 acoustic settings. The V8 offers a total of 49 different EQ sound modes, which is truly exceptional. Nevertheless, we have to say that the EQ function is not omnipotent. It is not able to solve all the acoustic issues that are resulting from the specifics of a given room! We emphasise that the acoustics of the rooms must be treated with sound-absorbing and diffusor panels, because EQ correction alone does not remedy the problems caused by severe surround sound! However, as a supplement, room acoustic optimisation systems can be really helpful.

Sound test

We listened to the soundtrack of Star Wars, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic. The V8 produced a clear, even sound, the bass sounded intense, the mid-range was subtly present, just as it should be. The trebles were also appropriate. The different instruments were clearly well distinguished, recognisable. The EQ correction was easy to set, we enjoyed playing with it. We listened to David Guetta’s hit Let It Be Me after that. The performance of the speakers was okay with this song as well. We could hear a detailed sound, but for the sophisticated hearing of an audio expert the power of the bass tones may sometimes proved to be a little weak. Fans of large and powerful deep tones are advised to purchase a separate subwoofer.

The listening test went on with a legendary musician. The rhythms of Mike Oldfield’s Shadow on the Wall sounded smooth, harmonious, well balanced. We also tested how the sound of V8 speakers changes when placed at different distances. As a near-field speaker, the sounds seemed a bit intrusive, so it’s better to place them in the mid range (compared to the listening position, of course). We then screened the action movie Jason Bourne from 2016, starring Matt Damon. The excitement of the scenes was heightened by the excellent sound. We experienced powerful deeps, clear dialogues and spaciousness.

Conclusion – what score for the Rokit V8?

The KRK Rokit V8 S4 active studio monitor is available at an affordable price. All frequency ranges sound nice, clear, and the EQ has plenty of adjustment options to fine tune it. There was no sign of ear fatigue either. Disadvantages are that we find the 14.4 kg weight a bit heavy, the screws and switches are of poor quality, and when used as a near-speaker, we felt overly “pushy”. The bass sounds sounded definite, but at times perhaps a little weak. Anyway, we were happy with the speakers, we also recommend them for studios or home theatres. A score of 4 out of 5 points are awarded to Rokit V8.

G.H.