you know that it’s an absolute necessity to spend in the best studio monitors possible. Suppose you’ve spent day and night producing an audio track. After diligently tweaking the mix, your ears finally feel satisfied listening to it. But then when you listen to it somewhere else- you feel disappointed to find out that it sounds nothing like it did at your studio.
To save you from such disappointment, Klasik has come up with the new kid in town- “The APS Klasik 2020.” These highly precise studio monitors provide impressive accuracy without harshness at an attractive price. With its exceptionally flat phase and amplitude response, the APS Klasik 2020 offers active studio monitoring that will satisfy you with the effects of your work.
Still not convinced? That’s no problem. Keep reading and we will unfold before you the many great attributes of these exceptional nearfield monitors and by the end of this article, we hope we can change your mind!
All About Klasik
This shouldn’t be the first time you’ve heard the name “Klasik” if you have experimented with audio systems. Klasik began its journey in the year 2015 under company APS, when it first released its active studio monitor called “Klasik.”
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Soon after it entered the market, these speakers found their way to the studios and homes of sound engineers and music enthusiasts all over the world. The success of these nearfield monitors was reflected in their ability to provide promising audio performance at such a reasonable price.
Because of its global acclaim, the Klasik decided to make its return into the market after five years- this time with features even better than before, now known as the Klasik 2020. Once again, it did not fail to impress us audiophiles with its technologically advanced details and unparalleled sound production.
Klasik 2020 specifications in a nutshell
Here’s an overview of the specifications of the Klasik 2020 before we discuss it in full detail.
- Monitor Field: Near
- Type: Active – two power amplifiers – A/B
- System: Two-Way
- Crossover Frequency: 3.2kHz
- Dimensions (with heatsink*): Height ́ Width ́ Depth 36 cm ́ 21 cm ́ 32 cm 14.2” ́ 8.3” ́ 12.6′
- Free Field Frequency Response: ± 2 dB: 39 Hz ̧ 25 kHz
- SPLmax in free field (@ 1m): RMS: 105dB (single) Peak: 113.5dB (pair)
- Weight (single): 12kg
- Bass/Mid-Range Loudspeaker or Bass Loudspeaker: 18cm (7″). Diaphragm: Cellulose. Surround Rubber.
- Tweeter Loudspeaker: 1.9cm (3/4″) double magnet. Aluminum dome, surround: soft.
- Bass/Mid-Range Power Amplifier or Bass Power Amplifier: 100 W RMS @ 8 Ohms
- Tweeter Power Amplifier: 100 W RMS @ 8 Ohms
- THD: 0.005 % @ 5 W, 1 kHz; 0.1 % max @ 0.1up to 50 W, 20 Hz up to 20 kHz
- Input Voltage Level: 0 dBu (i.e. 0.775 V) – calibrated regulatorsin 0dB positions – for 96 dB SPL in FreeField @ 1m
- Input Sensitivity Switch or Switches: -10.5dB, -9dB, -7.5dB, -6dB, -4.5dB, -3dB,-1.5dB, 0dB
- Tweeter Loudspeaker Level Switch or Phase Switch: -1.5dB, 0dB, 1.5dB
- Bass Controller Switch or Drivers Switch (Trinity) or Unfiltered Switch(Subs): Bass: Active – switch 1&3, Passive – switch2 – refer to USER’S MANUAL
- Ground-Lift Switch: Ground Lift: ON / OFF
- Input: XLR symmetrical (balanced), RCA asymmetrical (unbalanced). Input impedance 10 kOhms.
- Power Amplifiers Protections: Pop-free start & stop control, thermal, short circuit and overload protections
- Clipping: LED
- Prevention from Interferences and Hums: GROUND LIFT switch
- Power Switching on the signal: Lit up logo – Blue LED
- Bass/mid-woofer protection on: Lit up logo – Red LED
Now that you have got a general idea about the features that the Klasik 2020 has, let us dive deeper into a description of attributes.
Behind the scenes
The new Klasik 2020 offers greater signal precision and dynamics in the low and mid-range, thanks to its new design of the equalizer filters. Compared to the previous model, it has 30 percent more powerful amplifiers. These AB class amplifiers provide a power of 2 x 100 W, taking the mixes and the music you listen to on a whole different level of detail.
The electronics offered by the Klasik 2020 active studio monitors are completely new. It is designed in such a way that the analog crossover does not affect the phase of the signal. The phase response is practically linear and within a few degrees. When measured, its full-band phase is within a deviation of +/-20.
The bandwidth split between the woofer and the tweeter is fixed at 3.2 kHz. The number of correction filters has increased to 8, each with 5 settings. This gives almost 400000 setting options in total, allowing you to efficiently optimize the frequency response of each monitor. The frequency response is in the range of +/-2 dB, from 37 Hz to 25 kHz.
Design and Material
The Klasik 2020 is literally classic in terms of appearance, in my opinion. Simple and sophisticated, this studio monitor is available only in one color, the classic black in a natural, smooth wooden finish.
In terms of size, the new Klasik is bigger and better. Standing taller than the old Klasik, it has a height of 14.2 inches, a width of 8.3 inches, and a depth of 12.6 inches. Although it may seem less efficient for a speaker to be heavier, the intention of increasing size was to introduce a larger volume and reduce internal housing resonances and reflections resulting from wave deflection.
The equipment has an 18 cm woofer including a dome with a measurement of 19 mm membrane diameter. This dimension has the advantage of finer sound and better resolution.
The 1.9 cm double magnet tweeter is equipped with an aluminum membrane and soft surround. The upside about the aluminum dome is that it has a very weak resonance which is outside the audible range.
At the back of the monitor, there are switches for the tweeter level and bass, as well as adjustments for the volume and inputs.
The model, on feedback from the customers, was redesigned to include two double vertical ports that handle the resonance and the low-frequency behavior of the woofer much better than the previous model. This offers you a much clearer bass, so you can push the levels harder without worrying. By forcing a smoother air-flow to the bass reflex ports, the sound in the lower band gains more dynamics and point precision in contrast to the previous model.
Set up and Controls
The tweeter loudspeaker level switch can be adjusted to -1.5 dB, 0 dB, and 1.5 dB. If you’re working at a studio that has thick walls, you can push the tweeter level up to compensate for the loss of high frequency.
If you look at the bass switch you will notice it has the numbers 1,2,3 and 1,3,2 on it. Although the topology of the bass level seems a little cryptic at first, they were numbered that way for simplicity and ease of use:
- The passive mode is activated when you flick the switch to the number 2. This mode only uses the woofer and the ports to create bass.
- The active mode is activated when the switch is adjusted to the numbers 1 and 3. By pushing the switch to number 3, you allow in more extension. The number 1 sets the monitor to the lowest extension, which is 39 Hz.
The volume switch is self- explanatory. You have a range of 0 to -10.5 and you can adjust it according to your liking.
Next up, we have the inputs. There are two options for the inputs: the RCA and the XLR. The RCA connection is unbalanced, whilst the XLR connection is balanced. The ground lift switch can be used in the prevention of interferences and hums.
Audio performance
On first hearing, the Klasik 2020 feels tonally neutral. The active studio monitor sounds very natural and appealing and it can perform well beyond the usual level. The Klasiks characteristic of incredibly precise mapping of individual sources is what sets it apart from other average monitors.
There is no sonic coloring from these speakers- if you produce something well recorded and mixed, they sound amazing; if not, the flaws are exposed immediately.
The bass can go as low as you want it, adding spectacular depth to the sound at full extension.
The detailed 3D soundstage offers remarkable clarity. If you’re listening to music for a while, you almost forget that the speakers are there; it feels as if the sound if floating in the air.
It’s safe to say that the APS Klasik 2020 is one of the best speakers in terms of audio performance in the market.
Why you should get the Klasik 2020
Natural sound
The monitor has optimized mid-bass speaker operation in a larger enclosure volume which allows the speaker to produce a natural sound.
Clear and transparent midrange
This is achieved with the technology of controlled acoustic loss.
More controlled and precise bass frequencies
The new model includes a redesign of the bass port which we have mentioned earlier in this review.
Practical bass depth controls
New bass equalization solutions have been introduced into the audio system.
Non-linear distortion
This is achieved by the stiff design of the speaker enclosure and the mechanical construction of the electronics
High SPL levels
An increase in the power or mid-bass circuit amplifiers and tweeter allows the monitors to reach high SPL levels.
Optical LED clip indicator
The optical LED clip indicator is placed on the front under the logo graphics
More dynamics across the whole acoustic range
This is achieved through a number of electrical, mechanical, and acoustic improvements made in the design of the monitors.
Lackings
Their plain appearance can lead you to ignore them.
Frequently asked questions
People Frequently ask on audio forum about APS KLASIK 2020.
Compared to the original Klasik monitors, what benefits does the new model provide?
The low mids and the low end.
The Klasik 2020 is definitely easier to work with compared to the older version of these monitors. The power delivery is smoother and there is more headroom. Equipped with excellent basebands, these speakers have less compression effect and can be pushed to their limits.
What is the optimal distance for these monitors to work best?
This mostly depends on the size and arrangement of your room, and your seating position.
If you’re in a spacious room, an approximate value for the optimal distance from the monitors would be around 20 meters. If that distance does not work for you, you can always move around the studio to find the sweet spot.
Why have Class AB amplifiers been used instead of Class D amplifiers?
The monitors just sound better with Class AB amplifiers than do with Class D amplifiers!
What room size is suitable for the APS Klasik 2020 monitors?
The Klasik 2020 obviously works better in smaller rooms but it can also work pretty great in a larger space.
Is it worth it to upgrade from Klasik to Klasik 2020?
This is perhaps the most frequently asked of all questions. You might be asking yourself if the difference between the speakers really create a change in your listening experience.
When put side by side, the new model does not look that different from the old one. Perhaps the most obvious difference lies in the size- the Klasik 2020 is a bit bigger than the old Klasik monitor. The bass port is improved and there is even an LED logo that indicates different modes! Although these changes seem subtle, they improve the audio performance quite substantially.
If you can sell the older Klasik, you can get the new one at the same price. Which in my opinion, is a pretty great deal!
Product Differentiators
First look at these speakers, and I can certainly say that I was in love. The wooden finishing looks extremely sophisticated- and it’s not like any other speaker I’ve seen before. The black color is the visual representation of its name- indeed it looks absolutely classic.
It’s newly introduced technology and additional features have improved the overall performance and ease of use of these phenomenal active studio monitors quite significantly.
It is very natural sounding, transparent, and well balanced. These speakers offer beautiful frequency reproduction even in the lowest parts. Furthermore, the astonishing separation, breathiness, and space on the soundstage will catch you by surprise. It presently has few competitors as a low-cost nearfield mix tool.
Alternative Options
Adam A7x
Pros:
- Wide frequency response range.
- Cabinet structure is optimized
- Control panel and heat sink at the front of the speakers
- Doesn’t cause fatigue in case of prolonged usage
- Perfect for small rooms
Cons:
- Powering the speakers themselves is a kind of hefty job to do. Sometimes the cables might get loosened.
- Bit costly
Focal Shape 65
Pros
- Makes mix decisions easier and better.
- Super-accurate transient details
- Easy-to-tweak EQ.
- Passive radiators offer flexibility
- Great for analysis
- Top stereo imaging
Cons
- Mediocore Sub bass response
- Annoying automatic bypass.
Concluding remarks: APS KLASIK 2020
According to APS, the Klasik 2020 active studio monitor “makes it much easier and faster to work on sound material and makes it much more enjoyable.”
The validity of this statement is quite evident in the performance of these excellent nearfield monitors itself. This active studio monitors receive a positive review from my end. It’s a great deal at such a reasonable price. Now tell me, wouldn’t you absolutely love to own a pair of these magical speakers?
Freelance tech journalist & author soundboxlab.com Read More