Alesis M1 Active 520 2-Way Near Field Monitor (75 Watts)
Get incredible definition and flat frequency response from the high-precision drivers of the M1 Active 520, a monitor from Alesis.
Overall User Ratings (based on 74 ratings)
Submitted February 10, 2008 by a customer from yahoo.com
"Alesis M1 520 Active's easily destroy all other in the price range!!!"
I will gladly use these 520's for as long as they will allow however, I can see within the next year or two looking for something a little bassier to go along with these for reference reasons only.
Sound
Overall, these speakers are great! A bit bright out of the box causing a little ear fatigue on highs but, just because they are still being broken in. They do a great job though and I have already found several bits in my recordings that I never heard before (good and bad!). I wouldn't recommend them for non studio use as they are pretty flat but again, that's their job right?!I love them and they are great for a small studio or editing bay. Much better than anything else I have heard under $700. (Quick note...M-audio's Bx5a have no low end & Yamaha 5" are way to bright so, these guys already had my vote before I checked out others which they stil crippled)
Features
High, Mid, & Bass boost adjustments on the back are a great option. The Gain dials would have been better served on the front rather than back for ease of use but, a little tweaking gets them properly aligned. Light on top looks cool but, is also a very useful reminder to shutdown plus turns red when you're overloading...nice.
Ease of Use
Easy to hook up, striaght forward design and very easy to figure out controls. Superb right out of the box. Plug-n-Play. Even come with power cords which M-Audio does not.
Quality
These little guys feel awesome. They are really heavy/solid for their size and buttons/dials all feel solid, not 'loose' like on other designs.
Value
You are getting a great product for a great value. I checked out KRK Rockit 5's & 8's(which come heavily recommended if you go to GC), M-Audio Bx5a & Bx8a, Mackie, Yamaha 5's & 8's, & Samson...These rocked them all! The M-Audio Bxa8 and the Rockit 8's had the best bass of the lot but, they are 8's and these Alesis are very close, making up for what they lack being smaller with great features and better overall sound. The Alesis killed Mackie, Samson, & even Yamaha (on the bass end, although Yams had better mids)The big thing is, overall these guys slaughtered overall the same size and larger of the competition! Plus, they are like $200. -300. bucks less!!!
Manufacturer Support
Not sure yet and hopefully I won't have to be right? I have read about the capacitors going on these so perhaps I have to deal with that down the road. Fingers are crossed for good luck.
The Wow Factor
Very pleasing on the eye! Sleak silver fronts spill over the hardened black casing highlited by the neon blue glow emitting from the crown.
Musical Background:
Hobbyist, remixing, producing for about 8 years now.
Musical Style:
Electronica, Ambient, Drum n Bass, Jungle
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Submitted August 7, 2006 by a customer from adinet.com.uy
Alesis M1 Active 520 Customer Review
Sound
It sounds great, specially the medium and high frequencies. I now hear things I couldn't before. I bought them to listen to music, since I wanted small active speakers. And they are better that other fancy-brand speakers of the same price range.
Features
I wish it had a single volume control on the front. Other than that, they don't miss anything.
Value
There are other similar alternatives on the same price range (M-Audio for example). But I liked these better that the BX5A. They sound way better.
Musical Background:
Live sound engineer, electronics engeneering student
Musical Style:
jazz, rock, alternative
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Submitted October 4, 2007 by a customer from yahoo.com
"DAMN"
PLEASE BUY THIS MONITORS
Sound
Well balanced sound, Clear bass, nice mids, and natural highs. Easlier better than the KRK Rokit 5 monitors (Which my friend uses).
Features
Straight and easy room adjustments, Few switches and simple to adjust.
Ease of Use
Plug and Play and Enjoy....
Value
I only paid 245 for a PAIR of these.... NICE
Manufacturer Support
I say the best since I havent had a reason to call them..
The Wow Factor
Two words: Blue Lights!!!
Musical Background:
Aspiring Enginer
Musical Style:
Hip Hop, RnB, Drum and Bass, and Techno
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Submitted March 6, 2012 by John B in Malibu, CA
"Excellent "
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I am extremely happy with these monitors. I can finally get an accurate idea of what my DAW projects sound like! Headphones (no matter how expensive) and computer speakers just don't cut it when one is trying to evaluate eq,, compression, mix balance and placement.
I didn't have much money to spend, and I was apprehensive about having to make yet another "budget" purchase, but I have to say these Alesis M1 520 monitors have exceeded my hopes.
The spectrum adjustments on the back give a lot of control for getting the speakers properly balanced for their environment. Knobs instead of switches would have been nice, but the switches are sufficient.
Just note that these required a bit of a break-in period before they really started sounding sweet...
Musical Background:
Playing guitar for 30 years. DAW work for 5 years.
Musical Style:
Blues, jazz, improv classical
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Submitted February 23, 2012 by John B in Valencia, CA
"I'm Happy!"
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zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I am extremely happy with my new Alesis 520 M1's. Since I live primarily on a small, fixed income, I have had to make some unfortunate compromises in outfitting my home studio, but the good news is that for once I don't feel as though I compromised on anything by purchasing the Alesis M1 520 monitors. They deliver great, accurate sound, which is what I have been desperate for. My previous "monitor speakers" went swiftly into the trash.
Sound
The sound is fantastic.. full, balanced and loaded with detail. I can now tell what works and doesn't work in a mix. What a concept!
Like many, I was thinking a small woofer = small bass (or hideous bass compensation), but these things can shake the room if you want them to. And it isn't just mud - It is bass with detail.
I didn't think anything in the sub-$200 (a pair!) price range could produce decent accurate sound, but these little gems have surprised me.
Features
The cool, blue-lit power buttons on top of each speaker are a great touch. All the adjustments on the back are nice (and necessary), but I will always wonder why pro-audio companies don't put them on the front so you can listen as you tweak...
Ease of Use
I had to spend some time tweaking the high, mid and low settings to get these guys dialed in to where I wanted them, but that was to be expected since every room is going to have different acoustics.
Quality
The speakers seem very well made and solid. Heavy! The small setting switches on the back don't seem too durable, but they shouldn't be getting much of a workout.
Value
In this price range, I think these have to be as good as it gets...
Manufacturer Support
I haven't had to deal with customer support, which is an additional plus for these speakers.
The Wow Factor
Sound-wise these have a huge wow factor for me. Visually... aside from the cool blue power buttons, not much wow. Black and gray don't float my boat.
Musical Background:
Home enthusiast with professional audio experience. Guitarist for 30 years.
Musical Style:
Blues, rock, cinematic.
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Submitted April 1, 2008 by a customer from yahoo.com
"Not satisfied with product performance"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
If it was stolen I would not get it again.
Sound
Good sound when something plays. Has a high pitched tone that is audible when nothing plays. This is so irritating that I switch the unit off when I am not playing music. Contacted tech support - they said it was normal!!
Features
Product was well made physically.
Ease of Use
Easy to use
Quality
I rated quality poorly because of the tone. The blue lights on the monitor blinks when music plays at half volume.
Value
I don't think the value is good - cheap product - poor performance
Manufacturer Support
Support was quick to get back but overall I think they set their product expectations low...
Musical Background:
Hobbyist
Musical Style:
Everything
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Submitted April 6, 2008
Alesis M1 Active 520 Customer Review
Sound
I paid a little price for this and all i can say is WOW...
Theres no other monitor in this price range that can beat the sound of my alesis m1a520..
I spend so much time hearing lots of monitors, behringer, samson, krk, yamaha, etc... until i found these, and i totally fell in love with their sound.
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Submitted July 16, 2007 by a customer from tiscali.it
"incredible offer for the price"
Sound
very direct and clear, in the beginning a little harsh it needs some break in time, not forgiving with bad recordings
Quality
very well and heavy built
Value
much value for the price tag
Musical Background:
active musician
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Submitted February 24, 2007
"Buy it."
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zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I'll buy another one since it's the pefect I need and want.
Sound
It sounds really good.The bass is great since I can adjust to my room and it's right against the wall, it's more than I need. The high are great and so are the mids.
Features
The light on the top reminds me to turn it off when I turn off my computer. Since this is shielded, I keep it right next to my CRT monitor, and no noise or interference.
Ease of Use
You have to turn on/off few switches to adjust to your room, which is great for people like me with no acoustic design in the room.
Quality
Great for home speaker. This thing is quite heavy, nothing like M-Audio which are light and plasticy.
Value
A++++
Manufacturer Support
Have to wait for a year or two after it break down.
The Wow Factor
Cool looks with black and white design.
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Submitted June 8, 2006
Alesis M1 Active 520 Customer Review
Sound
very clear imaging, i added a krk rockit 10s and they sound great together. the highs are very clear and the bass hits very clean. natural sounding and the options on the back allow you to tailor them to your studio
Features
theres a good amount of them espacially for the price range. i really like the power buttons on top and the fact that the lights turn red when clipping
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Submitted November 20, 2005
"best monitors"
Sound
Great over all sound with custom control switches on back to tailor to your studio.
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