General
Sometimes, the hype should be believed, and in the case of the active Fluid Audio Image 2 studio monitor, one quick glance at the fierce spec-sheet is all it should take to become a believer. This is a three-way monitor that could even be described as a four-way monitor thanks to the two 8 inch woofers, the 5 inch mid-range driver and the ribbon tweeter it comes loaded out with. This setup brings a lot of advantages, the first of which is the load distribution where the overall performance is shared by the components, leaving the woofers free to specialise, resulting in hyper-accurate audio reproduction and tightened up transients.
The Fluid Audio Image 2
The construction also translates into an enormous frequency response and considerable volume as well as the stunning trebles and deep-diving basses demanded by big and ambitious orchestral or EDM projects. But, even the average engineer knows that the mix will need checking on a set of mid-range speakers before it can be given the all-clear. The most popular option is a set of Mixcubes so, to offer a kind of all-in-one solve, the Image 2 features a 5 inch mid-woofer - like the Mixcube - meaning that when you add a compatible footswitch (not included) the Image 2 can literally be transformed into a mid-range monitor that's already set up in the ideal position so there's no need to re-adjust your audio interface.
Extra Perks
Since most professional studios have modernised, leaving more traditional analogue connections far behind, this monitor supports AES/EBU and S/PDIF and as a further modern perk, Sonarworks calibration software comes built in and automatically tweaks the sound to match the acoustics of the space you're working in. This detail is important. You need to rely on your monitors for as neutral a performance as possible, which your studio space can hinder by adding colour. With calibration, you can compensate for this. In short, this monitor is packed with the kind of smart surprises that no studio can reasonably do without.
| Sustainable product |
not specified |
| Active or passive |
active |
| Tweeter diameter |
ribbon |
| Mid driver diameter |
5 inch |
| Woofer diameter |
2 x 8 inch |
| Coaxial |
no |
| Monitor set configuration |
single speaker |
| Maximum frequency |
20 - 20.9 kHz |
| Minimum frequency |
25 - 29 Hz |
| RMS power in watts |
500 - 749 W |
| Speaker connections |
6.3 mm TRS input, XLR input |
| Type of studio monitor |
3-way (tweeter + midrange + woofer) |
| Bass reflex system |
n/a |
| Internal calibration |
yes |
