The Kali Audio SM-8 8" 3-way active studio monitor combines cutting-edge design with precision engineering to deliver professional-grade sound for critical mixing applications. As part of Kali's flagship Santa Monica series, this monitor features an 8-inch woofer, 4-inch coincident midrange, and a 1-inch metal dome tweeter, creating an acoustic point source that ensures lifelike imaging and exceptional detail. Designed for studio professionals and audiophiles, the SM-8 supports both stereo and multichannel workflows like Dolby Atmos, making it ideal for diverse setups. With onboard DSP offering room calibration, parametric EQs, and delay adjustments, this monitor provides the tools needed for an accurate listening environment. Its robust Class D amplifier delivers 300W of power with a maximum SPL of 119 dB, ensuring dynamic sound reproduction across its wide frequency range of 37 Hz to 35 kHz.
Coincident 3-Way Architecture for Precise Imaging
The standout feature of the SM-8 is its coincident 3-way design, which positions the midrange driver and tweeter at the same acoustic center. This eliminates phase issues and directivity problems common in non-coaxial designs, creating a seamless stereo image where every detail is lifelike and consistent. The dedicated midrange driver unburdens the woofer, reducing distortion and ensuring clarity across the frequency spectrum. This architecture combines the spatial resolution benefits of coaxial designs with the frequency response advantages of a 3-way system, delivering a natural and musical sound that reveals every nuance in your mix.
Onboard DSP for Tailored Room Calibration
The SM-8 features onboard DSP that enables per-speaker room calibration, allowing users to optimize their setup for any acoustic environment. With 8 parametric EQs, adjustable delay, and trim controls, users can precisely tune the speaker to compensate for room anomalies and ensure accurate sound reproduction. The DSP settings can be accessed via Ethernet or updated via USB, offering real-time adjustments and convenient profile management. With DSP latency under 3ms, this monitor provides seamless calibration without compromising the signal chain, ensuring pristine audio quality for tracking and mixing.
Refined Transducers for Low Distortion and High Dynamics
The SM-8's transducers are engineered to deliver exceptional performance, starting with the 8-inch woofer featuring flux-stabilization technology that reduces distortion by maintaining a clean magnetic field. The midrange driver is precision-tuned for both its own frequency band and its role as the tweeter's waveguide, ensuring smooth directivity and eliminating intermodulation distortion. The 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter incorporates unique geometry to reduce ultrasonic resonances, producing a responsive and clear high end without the harshness often associated with metal designs. These innovations ensure detailed and distortion-free sound across the monitor's full dynamic range.
Durable Enclosure With Mounting Options for Versatile Placement
The SM-8 is housed in a front-ported enclosure designed for durability and acoustic performance. Featuring mounting holes compatible with Triad Orbit hardware or other brackets supporting its 31 lb weight, this monitor can be easily installed in stereo, surround, or Atmos configurations. The low-diffraction baffle blends seamlessly with the midrange driver to eliminate response anomalies, reinforcing its precise imaging capabilities. Built for professional use, the SM-8's robust design ensures consistent performance whether in a treated studio or an acoustically challenging space.
Professional Sound for Studio Engineers and Audiophiles
The Kali Audio SM-8 8" 3-way active studio monitor is designed for those who demand the highest level of accuracy in their audio work. With onboard DSP calibration, precision engineering, and mounting flexibility, this monitor is perfect for professional engineers working in stereo or multichannel formats, as well as audiophiles seeking unparalleled sound quality. Experience lifelike imaging and detailed sound reproduction with the SM-8—the ultimate tool for critical listening environments.