Crisp, clean, clear, loud, flat and accurate.

There are huge advantages in choosing active studio monitors for the studio. There is a substantial cost saving in buying a system where a high quality power amplifier is incorporated into the loudspeaker monitor. The physical advantages of having the power amplifier and the loudspeaker cabinet in one unit seem obvious especially when your recording system of choice might be one of the ‘all in one’ digital recording stations currently available. What might seem less obvious are the technical advantages of Active monitor systems. High quality recording systems and computer-based direct-to-drive recording systems make great demands on your studio monitors, sharp attack transients, wide dynamic range and wider frequency responses can be punishing to a monitor system not up to the task. Since the power amplifier section is physically attached to the loudspeaker, it is designed as a complete closed system. In an active ‘system’ the power amplifier limiting can be tweaked to know the exact physical limitations of the speaker components. EQ and filtering can be designed into the circuitry to take maximum advantage of the tonal characteristics of the loudspeaker box. If the monitor is bi-amplified, the electronic crossover and separate power modules mean far superior performance that you will hear in the engineer’s chair. Bi-amplification means high frequency horn and bass speakers are driven independently, more efficiently and with greater definition and clarity.

Yorkville Sound’s is a prime example of the ideal active studio monitor solution. The YSM1p uses the same cabinet as and similar components to the popular passive version, the YSM1i, including a rugged 6.5-inch shielded 100-Watt woofer and shielded 1-inch silk dome tweeter. A precisely tuned 2-inch cylindrical port directly below the woofer increases bass response and allows cabinet size to be kept compact. The YSM1p incorporates a bi-amped power module that delivers 115 watts (85 watts of power to the woofer, 30 watts to the tweeter) and features +9/-6dB input trim, defeatable limiter and specialized tweeter overpower limiting and woofer over-excursion limiting. Unique to active near-field monitors in this price range, the YSM1p features user selectable filtering. A series of dipswitches on the back of the monitor allows the engineer to select overall tone shaping for the cabinet. This allows the end user to tune the monitor for location, (i.e., full space for use centered in the room (+2dB boost @ 20Hz to 80Hz) 1/2 space for use against a flat wall (0dB boost or cut), or 1/4 space for use in corners (-2dB @ 20Hz to 80Hz). This ensures more flat frequency response, regardless of location in home studio, writing room or professional studio. An additional user selectable high frequency filter (+2dB boost @ 10kHz to 20kHz) has been added to allow further tweaking of the monitor to individual tastes. Inputs are XLR and 1/4-inch TRS balanced. The YSM1p features a blue power LED and a red input clip LED on the front of the monitor for quick and easy status checking from the engineer’s chair.

The YSM2P powered speaker enclosure system is an advanced studio monitor. It is equally at home in a professional recording studio, project studio, or even a living room. Development of the renowned YSM1P has helped us provide the YSM2P with functionality and user-friendliness at a truly reasonable cost. Components include a 1-inch domed tweeter and a 5 1/4-inch woofer. The woofer is a low-resonance 4-ohm driver fabricated with a woven laminate cone (which helps promote use of the full 32 watts of power from the YSM2P’s internal LF amplifier). The HF side of amplifier is capable of delivering up to 14 watts to the 1-inch, high-performance tweeter. Optimal performance is also achieved by use of an active crossover specifically developed for the YSM2P. The YSM2P also features an input trim control for precision tweaking according to room acoustics. A smooth frequency response gives the YSM2P ample source representation without equalization. A precisely tuned active crossover enables each driver to take advantage of the bi-amplification. ¼-inch or XLR input jacks allow for maximum versatility. The input, located at the rear of the enclosure, accepts line-level signal only (not speaker level). It is ideal to use balanced, shielded cables with a ¼-inch (TRS) or XLR connector however unbalanced 1/4-inch jacks can also be used. Each YSM2P should be connected to a single line-level source (e.g., the Right or Left line output from a mixer or preamp). If you want to use multiple YSM2Ps, they can be interconnected using "Y" adaptors. The Input Trim control allows you to adjust the volume of each monitor until the desired sound level and Left/Right (or Front/Rear) balance is achieved. If clipping distortion becomes audible, reduce the Input Trim level. If more signal reduction is needed, lower your line level from the source with the mixer’s master level controls. Shielded drivers ensure the YSM2P’s can be located close to computer and video monitors or hard drive recording systems.

Demand for additional bottom end support in the studio has led to the introduction of active subwoofers specifically designed for the studio. Today’s music demands more bass, especially when synth bass and samples are the norm. The Yorkville YSS1 Active Studio Subwoofer answers the call. Features like a 150-watt integrated power amplifier in a high quality MDF cabinet, loaded with a single 12-inch high performance speaker make the YSS1 is ideal for any professional studio, project studio, or 5.1-surround mix station.

What a great concept – The Footswitchable Subwoofer Bypass.

One ingenious feature of the YSS1 Studio Subwoofer is a bypass footswitch function on the rear panel. This bypass function allows the engineer to remotely take the subwoofer out of the signal path and pass the full range mix through to the near-field monitors using the optional Yorkville AFS-1 footswitch. During the recording process this allows you to quickly slip between a quiet near-field mix for tracking, and a full-on subwoofer reinforced high volume playback to get a feel for the track in the final mix. This will give anyone in a home or project studio without the space or the budget for separate near-field and fullfield monitor systems the ability to toggle back and forth between a ‘quiet mix’ and a ‘loud mix’ easily and conveniently. This is essential for making music that sound as good in a club or concert hall as it does in your control room. A frequency response of 35 to 150Hz means the Yorkville YSS1 is capable of reinforcing the bottom end in virtually any mix situation. The power module controls include a variable frequency selectable crossover, tunable from 60 to 150 Hz, a volume control and phase reverse switch to ensure it’s working with whatever monitors you choose for the top end of your mix.