Buyer's Guide: Kali Audio Studio Monitors

A pair of Kali Audio studio monitors sitting on Neve 88R console.

Kali Audio makes professional loudspeakers and accessories that offer class-leading sound at affordable prices. Founded in 2018, the brand quickly made a name for themselves with their popular LP Series speakers, and have since released a number of innovative products that fit into any budget.

In this Buyer’s Guide, we’ll be breaking down the differences between Kali Audio's different monitor series and explaining the technology used. Continue on to learn more about the LP Series, Independence Series, and Santa Monica Series studio monitors, as well as the brand's line of subwoofers and the MV-BT Bluetooth monitor controller.

Kali Audio Studio Monitors

Kali Audio Lone Pine Series Studio Monitors

The Lone Pine series of loudspeakers deliver transparent, accurate sound at a price that won’t break the bank. Thanks to the neutral sound of the LP Series, you can rest assured that your mix will translate to any system.

Don’t let their size fool you — even though LP Series loudspeakers are compact, they provide impressive power output. LP Series loudspeakers utilize large-diameter dual-later voice coils to deliver deep, rich, powerful bass with minimal distortion and high dynamic range.

Groundbreaking 3-D imaging waveguide technology ensures smooth sound from any listening position, enabling you to hear every detail of your mix and making it easier to make critical mix decisions. LP Series speakers also feature a front-side low-noise port tube. Unlike traditional front-facing ports, which can distract from the accuracy of the speaker, this innovative design helps eliminate “chuffing” for a clean, tight bass response.

Best of all, LP Series loudspeakers are easy to set up in any space. Dedicated boundary EQ controls make it easy to dial in the right sound in small spaces. With dedicated boundary compensation EQ settings, you can easily shape the sound of your speakers to accommodate reflections caused by hard surfaces like walls, desktops, and recording consoles. Plus, LP Series loudspeakers feature XLR, TRS, and RCA input jacks for connecting all of your favorite devices.

Kali Audio LP-8 V2 Studio Monitors

Kali Audio's LP-8 V2 studio monitors feature an 8-inch woofer, a 4-inch woven midrange driver, and a 1-inch soft dome tweeter. The woofer is powered by a 60 W Class-D amp, while the midrange driver and tweeter are powered by separate 40 W amps, for a total of 140 W of power.

Also available in a bundle including the LP-8 V2 studio monitor pair and the WS-6.2 subwoofer.

Kali Audio LP-6 V2 Studio Monitors

The smaller LP-6 V2 studio monitors feature a 6.5-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter powered by individual 40 W Class-D amplifiers. The new V2 models offer lower self-noise, higher max SPL, smoother high-frequency response, and more.

Kali Audio LP-UNF Ultra Nearfield Monitor System

Ideal for small spaces and home studios, the LP-UNF ultra-nearfield desktop monitoring system offers full-range sound with surprising headroom. Featuring much of the same technology as Kali’s best-selling LP-6 and LP-8 V2 speakers, the LP-UNF system delivers Kali's signature sound in a compact package.

Kali Audio Independence Series Studio Monitors

Kali Audio's revolutionary Independence Series studio monitors combine the same woofer and tweeter used in the beloved LP Series with an innovative coaxial midrange driver, delivering more transparency, lower distortion, and an impressive soundstage.

This three-way design utilizes a new midrange driver that surrounds the tweeter, acting as a waveguide to prevent distortion and improve clarity. This groundbreaking design makes the Independence Series studio monitor an acoustic point source, effectively eliminating problems when listening off-axis for a hyper-realistic sound stage anywhere in the room.

This advanced three-way design delivers crystal-clear sound with minimal distortion. By adding a third midrange driver, the woofer is able to focus on frequencies below 330 Hz, while the tweeter focuses on frequencies above 3 kHz, producing an even, balanced soundstage across the entire spectrum.

Independence Series studio monitors also feature the same versatile EQ controls as the LP Series, enabling you to shape the sound of your speakers to suit any environment — even in small spaces where the monitors are up against a wall. Plus, the XLR, TRS, and RCA connections make it easy to quickly connect to any analog device.

Kali Audio IN-8 V2 Studio Monitors

The Kali Audio IN-8 V2 features an 8-inch woofer, a 4-inch midrange driver, and a 1-inch tweeter. The woofer is powered by a 60 W Class-D amp, while the midrange driver and tweeter are powered by separate 40 W amps, for a total of 140 W of power. The new V2 models offer lower self-noise, improved cabinet construction, and more.

Kali Audio IN-5 Studio Monitors

The Kali Audio IN-5 is the second release in the IN series of monitors, allowing engineers to take advantage of the many perks of the monitors at a smaller size. Just like the renowned IN-8, the new IN-5 uses an active three-way design with a coaxial midrange driver and tweeter for hyper-realistic imaging. And with a powerful five-inch woofer, the IN-5 delivers clean, punchy bass that doesn’t disrupt the mids and highs. As part of Kali's second generation of loudspeaker products, IN-5 studio monitors utilize a new amplifier platform to minimize self-noise.

Kali Audio IN-UNF Studio Monitors

Specifically made for desktops, Kali's IN-UNF ultra-nearfield studio monitor system provides the same full-range, low-distortion sound as the brand's popular Independent Series studio monitors. Flexible setup options make it easy to adapt the system to any setting. For instance, the bass unit can be tucked vertically behind a laptop or computer monitor, or laid down horizontally and used as a riser.

Speaking of bass, the IN-UNF system is also available in a bundle along with Kali's WS-6.2 subwoofer (more on that later).

Kali Audio Santa Monica Series Studio Monitors

Kali Audio SM-5-C Studio Monitors

Tailor-made for immersive mixing setups, Kali's SM-5-C studio monitors feature mounting points on the top and bottom, making them easy to mount in a variety of installation configurations. Perfect for large multichannel systems, the SM-5-C works seamlessly with other studio monitors to deliver unparalleled imaging, accuracy, and detail. Equipped with a 5-inch woofer, 4-inch midrange, and 1-inch metal dome tweeter, the Kali SM-5-C delivers detailed, balanced sound from 39 Hz - 28 kHz.

Kali Audio Subwoofers

Kali Audio WS-12 Subwoofer

While the LP Series and IN-8 loudspeakers deliver plenty of bass on their own, sometimes you just need a little extra oomph. The WS-12 is a 1000W powered subwoofer for the studio or the stage. Featuring a powerful 12-inch high-excursion driver, the WS-12 is capable of delivering thundering low-end all the way down to 23 Hz.

With a maximum output of 123 dB SPL, the WS-12 is one of the most powerful subwoofers available under $1000. While the WS-12 is designed to complement any set of studio monitors, it’s optimized to work best with the LP-6, LP-8, and IN-8 monitors. You can even use the WS-12 for bass management in a 5.1 system where all of the full-range speakers are Kali IN-8s.

The WS-12 includes a number of versatile DSP controls for shaping your sound. Selectable crossovers at 20, 40, and 140 Hz make it easy to dial in the perfect amount of low-end support. Dedicated output gain controls enable easy adjustment when the WS-12 is in the open, against a wall, or in a corner. You can even quickly toggle the WS-12 on and off using an optional footswitch controller. Best of all, the WS-12 is compact enough to fit in most small passenger cars, making it easy to take on any gig!

Kali's new WS-12 V2 subwoofer features several improvements over the original, including improved signal-to-noise, and an M10 pole cup, allowing users to attach a pole for mounting full-range PA speakers.

Kali Audio WS-6.2 Subwoofer

Designed for smaller studios, the WS-6.2 is a powered subwoofer with dual 6.5" LF drivers. Capable of delivering thunderous bass frequencies down to 27 Hz, the WS-6.2 delivers impressive low-end for its size. Powered by a 1000-watt amplifier, the WS-6.2 can produce max SPLs of up to 120 dB.

Kali Audio Accessories

Kali Audio MV-BT Monitor Controller

Of course, no studio monitoring system is complete without a monitor controller. The Kali Audio MV-BT controller lets you use your Bluetooth devices with professional speakers, mixers, controllers, and interfaces. This super-simple device combines easy-to-use controls with high-quality connectors and high-res codecs for precise control over your sound.

Instantly pair your favorite Bluetooth devices by pressing the Kali logo on the front, or connect your analog studio monitors using the rear XLR and TRS balanced outputs. The MV-BT even features a dedicated 3.5mm aux input jack so you can quickly connect your smartphone, laptop, or mobile device. A sturdy, weighted knob provides precise control over output volume, while a sleek LED light indicates volume levels.

Interested in adding Kali Audio studio monitors to your set-up? We can help! Please contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.