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IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors - A good buy?

Tips and advice on building your home studio, buying equipment and how to use it to best effect.

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Saul Ukraine
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IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors - A good buy?

Unread post by Saul »

iLoud Micro Monitor.png

Some of you may be aware that I had recently been looking to replace my Behringer USB 50 monitors with something smaller but offering better-quality sound. The IK Multimedia iLoud Micro monitors have been receiving positive reviews for quite some time, so I finally decided on a pair of those.

If you’re looking for something space-saving but don’t want to fork out for Genelecs, these could be for you. They are incredibly small! I can fit them on either side of my screen with room to spare.

The build quality is excellent. The housings are all plastic, but they feel very solid. Each speaker has a built-in flip-out stand on the front bottom edge, allowing them to sit at an angle on the desk. Additionally, there’s a mounting point for speaker/mic stands, which is quite handy.

Connections are where I would mark them down. I know space constraints are a factor here, but there are just left/right RCA inputs and a 3.5mm input. Not ideal. However, they also include Bluetooth, which I assume was considered sufficient. In my case, it wasn’t. I’m using a Mac Mini M4, which only has USB-C ports and a headphone output. Unfortunately, the headphone output doesn’t work with the iLoud. I had to purchase a USB-C to 3.5mm lead with a built-in DAC. That works fine.

I could have used Bluetooth as it connects to the Mac flawlessly and works for most tasks, except when playing software instruments via a controller keyboard. There is noticeable latency, which is why I needed a wired connection.

There are some EQ controls on the rear of one speaker: Flat/Desk, Flat/HF+2dB, and Flat/LF-3dB. There’s also a volume control centered at 0dB, with a range from -∞ to +6dB.

The right-hand speaker connects to the left via a long, chunky cable. There’s more than enough length to stretch across my desk.

So, how do they sound? Surprisingly, there’s a good amount of low end—far more than I thought would be possible from such small speakers. This is with the Flat/Desk setting on Desk. If set to Flat, it rolls off quite a bit and is, I suppose, more natural, but not as pleasing to my ears.

The mids are “okay,” although I feel they get a little lost at times. The highs can occasionally be a bit harsh.

It really depends on the source material. Jazz and classical music tend to sound great, with a lot of detail I hadn’t noticed before. However, when playing more modern music, things can get a little out of control, especially when the mix is busy. I wouldn’t say it’s unpleasant, but it’s not as good as I expected based on all the reviews I’ve seen. Then I remember—many of those reviews are from people with a vested interest, as they were given the speakers for free!

Are they a good buy? If you can get them in a Black Friday sale, I’d say they’re decent. Certainly better than what I had before, and overall, I’m quite pleased with them… but I’m now eyeing the Adam D3V. They’re a bit more expensive, but I think they might be a better deal.
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Re: IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors - A good buy?

Unread post by sonic2000gr »

Saul wrote: Wed Nov 27, 2024 11:21 pm I’m using a Mac Mini M4, which only has USB-C ports and a headphone output. Unfortunately, the headphone output doesn’t work with the iLoud.
That's very weird though, what could go wrong in such a simple connection?
Do you get any sound at all or is there some other problem?
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Re: IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors - A good buy?

Unread post by Saul »

It is odd. There is no sound at all. But I think this is an issue with the iLoud monitors rather than the Mac. My headphones work fine plugged into that front port on the Mac Mini.

Full spec for the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro
  • Type: 2-way active, bi-amped studio monitor
  • Frequency response (-10dB): 45Hz - 22kHz
  • Crossover frequency: 3kHz
  • Tweeter: 3/4" silk dome, neodymium magnet
  • Woofer: 3" high-rigidity custom composite material
  • Maximum SPL @ 50cm (with two speakers playing, averaged sinewave from 100 Hz to 10 kHz): 107dB
  • Number of amplifiers: 4
  • Amplifiers type: High Efficiency Class-D
  • Total output power (both speakers): 70W (peak) - 50W RMS
  • Low frequency output power (single speaker): 18W RMS
  • High frequency output power (single speaker): 7W RMS
  • Acoustic settings: high shelf (0dB or +2dB from 4kHz up); low shelf (0dB or -3dB from 250Hz down); desktop (+3.5dB between 1kHz and 10kHz and -1dB below 400Hz)
  • System total latency (analog input): 1.02 ms
  • System total latency (Bluetooth input): 155 ms (depends on host implementation, tested on iPhone 6S / iOS 10.0.1)
  • High performance Bass-Reflex port
  • Totally DSP controlled
  • Connectors: 2 x RCA input (cable included); TRS 1/8" stereo input; 4-pin speaker connector (cable included)
  • Bluetooth® compatible with A2DP protocol
  • Size: 180mm/7.09" x 135mm/5.31" x 90mm/3.54"
  • Weight: 920g/32.45oz (left speaker), 800g/28.22oz (right speaker), 1,720g/60.67oz (left + right speaker)
As you can see, there is no real detail given about that 1/8" stereo input (3.5mm). It seems to be quite a normal connection.

You can also see why the Bluetooth is not suitable for use with a controller keyboard and software. 155 ms is way too high, even by today's Bluetooth standards. I would have expected 40ms or lower. The fact that is was tested on an iPhone 6s speaks volumes 😂
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Re: IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors - A good buy?

Unread post by BogdanH »

Thank you for your report, Saul.
It's very hard to find a compromise between the size and the sound quality. When we buy small speakers, we are aware the they cannot sound like big ones and we are ready to accept that. But when we hear the result, we can many times still be disappointed.. because we expected a little bit better :)

And then there are those deceiving specifications... at quick sight on them, one would think that iLoud Micro sounds better that Yamaha HS7 -which is impossible, of course.

Adam D3V looks promising, though -we just shouldn't expect too much :)

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Re: IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors - A good buy?

Unread post by Saul »

Yes it is definitely about expectations vs reality. The truth is, as you say, small speakers are not going to sound like large speakers. They simply cannot move enough air. Much can be compensated by processing but the compromises are always going to be there.

The problem for most of us is that we do not have a large range of speakers to compare side by side. And if we did, that can be an expensive exercise! My pockets are not deep enough for that 😂

I am definitely interested in the Adam D3V although certainly there will be compromises there too. They do have better connectivity though. No Bluetooth but that is not important to me. There is however a USB-C input along with two standard quater inch TRS inputs. There are also the dual passive radiators.

I would though, like to get the Adam D3V whilst I still have the iLoud Micro Monitors for comparison.
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Re: IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors - A good buy?

Unread post by sonic2000gr »

Saul wrote: Thu Nov 28, 2024 9:12 am Connectors: 2 x RCA input (cable included); TRS 1/8" stereo input; 4-pin speaker connector (cable included)
I would definitely try using a jack to two RCA cable and feed it to the main input.
Also have you tried connecting something else to the jack? Like a mobile phone.
Not sure if Mac Mini uses some kind of jack sensing and maybe fails to detect it's connected somewhere.
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Re: IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors - A good buy?

Unread post by Saul »

Can't use the RCA connections. The speakers come with a 3.5mm to two RCA. The Mac Mini does have an auto-sensing headphone/aux port but for some reason it is not sensing that the speakers are connected. Hence why I have gone down the road of USB-C to 3.5mm. This cable works fine.
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Re: IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors - A good buy?

Unread post by sonic2000gr »

Interesting. I have a Mac Mini M2, but never really connected speakers to it.
The Montage is working as the sound card with it. I will try the audio out tomorrow.
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Re: IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors - A good buy?

Unread post by pjd »

Thanks for the review, Saul! -- pj
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