In what could possibly be one of the more exciting announcements to hit the pro audio industry in years, Avantone has released information on their upcoming CLA10 studio monitors. This collaboration between Avantone and legendary mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge sees the pair teaming up to recreate the Yamaha NS10M, one of the classic studio monitors of the last 30 years. The famed "white cone in the black box" monitor is a standard in nearly every studio in the world. Trusted by mix masters like Chris Lord-Alge and Bob Clearmountain, the NS10M has been used on countless classic records including Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A., David Bowie's Let's Dance and Roxy Music's Avalon. The only problem? Production of the last NS10 model was stopped in 2001. For their replica of the famed monitor, Avantone and Chris Lord-Alge wanted to ensure a performance that matched the original, so they built a cabinet from MDF that features real wood veneer on the outside. The number of changes overall are extremely limited. The rear terminal plate and crossover network capacitors both feature better grade materials than the original. With that being said, the CLA10 uses the same value capacitor and matches the dc resistance, winding dimensions and value of the original NS10M. The tweeter built specifically for the CLA10 has been dubbed the AV10-MHF and features custom tooled parts to match the original monitor. Working hand-in-hand with a supplier from the NS10M's classic run, Avantone worked hard to match the exact specs of the original product. Instead of a lapped cone, they opted for a pressed cone which would allow for tighter control over the cone's weight and stiffness. Many may ask, "Why buy CLA10s when there are still original NS10Ms floating around?" In addition to getting a quality pair of monitors, you are avoiding the hassle of buying blown out NS10Ms from an untrustworthy source and enduring the costs and time of repair. The CLA10s offer up the experience of a studio-standard monitor that mix engineers of the world have come to depend on. If you're interested in pre-ordering the Avantone CLA10s, please visit our product page or consult with a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 888.653.1184.