2-way active monitor (pair)

The stylish F4W from Fluid Audio is the ideal entry-level speaker for small monitoring environments – perfect for video editing suites, too – not least thanks to the Aux In and headphone sockets on the front. But it is also ideal as an alternative monitor. Due to its size, you can’t expect miracles in terms of low bass, but the careful tuning of the F4W allows you to judge mixes and recordings with confidence, which saves you from disappointing performances on other systems.

There are plenty of compact monitors out there, but the F4W doesn’t just sound “sort of”, it surprises with its honest, high-resolution and phase-true stereo sound. The bass reflex port is on the back, which is why the F4W should always be placed at a certain distance from the wall.

Fluid Audio was founded by Kevin Zuccaro, an American loudspeaker expert who began his career at JBL in 1990 and eventually came to M-Audio via Cerwin Vega, where he was instrumental in the development of studio monitors until 2011. Kevin knows exactly what it’s all about and where you can cut corners in the entry-level range – and where not. 

For example, the woofers are made of high-density paper, a traditional and cost-effective material that offers invaluable advantages: The cellulose cone is stiff enough to deliver crisp bass, yet light enough to transmit impulses in a truly contemporary manner.

On the other hand, the F4W is the only speaker in its price range with an external heat sink on the back; active monitors can get really hot in continuous use and under load, which is not without problems. The F4W, on the other hand, develops only moderate temperatures inside the cabinet, which is why the power amplifier does not suffer from thermal problems even during loud listening and can work in a relaxed manner.

The perfectly tuned crossover, the precisely determined position of the silk tweeter, which is slightly offset to the rear, and the computer-calculated sound guide element ensure phase-faithful and coherent stereo reproduction over the full frequency range.

The low-noise Class AB power amplifier in the left speaker provides both drivers with the necessary power to really turn up the volume when in doubt. In addition, it automatically switches to standby to save energy if there is no signal for more than 10 minutes – exactly in accordance with EU Directive 2005/32/EC, which has been in force since January 2013.

Thanks to the two mini-jack sockets on the front, you can easily connect headphones and a media player, the latter being ideal for spontaneous listening to tracks for comparison purposes, for example.

Features

• Enclosure vinyl-coated MDF

• 4″ woofer with high density paper cone

• 1″ tweeter with silk cone

• Class AB power amplifier (30 W) in the left speaker 

• rear bass reflex port

• front volume control

• front aux input (3.5 mm stereo jack)

• Front headphone output (3.5 mm stereo jack)

• Shielded against HF interference

• Output current limiter

• Overheating, transient and subsonic protection circuitry
• Auto-standby function according to EU Directive 2005/32/EC

Technical specifications

• Crossover frequency 2.5 kHz
• Frequency response 69 Hz – 22 kHz
• Maximum sound pressure level 97 dB SPL
• Signal-to-noise ratio >90 dB (A-weighted)
• Inputs jack (balanced), cinch (unbalanced)
• Input impedance jack 20 kOhm
• Input impedance RCA 10 kOhm
• Power supply Internal power supply unit, 220 V
• Power indicator LED (red= active, blue= standby)
• Dimensions 22.2 x 15.0 x 17.2 cm
• Weight 6.5 kg (pair)

Supplied with UK mains adapter for connection to the German power grid