Monitor Audio Launches 1980s-Inspired Studio 89 Speakers

Monitor Audio has announced the launch of the new Studio 89, a reimagined speaker that draws inspiration from the original Studio 15. Born in the 1980s, the legendary Studio series brought studio-quality sound to the home. The new Studio 89 is a speaker that draws inspiration from the culturally explosive decade of the 80s and the sense of excitement and creativity that decade represented, but in terms of technology, it is a very modern speaker.

Small, compact and visually unique, Studio 89 benefits from a host of cutting-edge Monitor Audio innovations, is resplendent in a unique finish and is born from the same transparent design philosophy as the Hyphn.

The Studio 89 is compact, but its topology ensures that even in large rooms, the soundstage, imaging and detail levels are completely enveloping and remain true to the ethos of bringing ‘studio monitoring quality’ to the home. This is largely due to the ‘point source’ MTM (Mid-Tweeter-Mid) Array driver unit configuration.

Each driver unit must work in harmony with the others, and the frequency transition between each must be seamless. Therefore, Monitor Audio states that the crossovers have undergone hours of listening and parts selection using only the finest custom polypropylene and polyester capacitors, air core and low-loss laminated steel core inductors to provide maximum signal transfer and reduced distortion for optimum sound reproduction.

The Studio 89 benefits from an extremely strong and rigid enclosure structure. Its compact proportions include an 18mm front baffle and rigid 15mm side walls. Precisely calculated and positioned internal walls provide additional strength and reinforcement, while their intelligent configuration allows airflow to flow from the top and bottom of the enclosure through the high-velocity HiVe II slotted ports, reducing potential turbulence and air noise.

True to the spirit of the 1980s, the Studio 89 is resplendent in a glossy black finish, paired with gold-finished metal cone drivers. The Studio 89 is the only Monitor Audio model available in this luxurious finish.

The two midrange-bass driver cones are constructed of three ultra-thin layers for rigidity and strength. A Nomex honeycomb core is sandwiched between an ultra-thin, ultra-rigid layer of C-CAM (ceramic-coated aluminum-magnesium) and a dual layer of unidirectional carbon fiber, which are layered and bonded at 90 degrees to each other for even greater strength. The Studio 89 speakers feature the lowest distortion of any speaker in Monitor Audio history.

The Studio 89 positions the latest MPD (Micro-Pleated Diaphragm) III high-frequency transducer between two 4 ¼” RDT III mid-bass drivers, while a highly optimized third-order crossover ensures perfect frequency response on each driver unit for total symmetry and controlled sound dispersion. The resulting high-fidelity sound is of a breadth and quality that betrays the Studio 89’s size.

To ensure optimum rigidity, custom metals were used for each section of the Studio 89 dedicated stand. The top plate is laser-cut steel, the post is extruded aluminium and the base is die-cast aluminium. The four adjustable feet come with chrome spikes for carpeted floors and domed rubber feet for hard floors, ensuring the stands are perfectly anchored in all situations.

Monitor Audio is distributed exclusively by Kevro International and the Studio 89 has an MSRP of $2,999/pr and $799/pr for stands.