“The LP-6 is a super monitor that’s impressively quiet, accurate and characterless”: Kali Audio LP-6 2nd Wave review

Kali Audio LP-6 2nd Wave: What is it?

The first-generation LP-6 was easy on the ears yet light on the pocket, making it hard to imagine how Kali’s engineers could improve on it without a substantial uplift in price. Well, they did it, the LP-6 2nd Wave boasts some notable upgrades, for below $199/£199 per unit.

For those not familiar with the original, the LP-6 is a powered, nearfield monitor that’s just as at home in a bedroom studio as it is in a multi-channel, immersive setup. It delivers 80W total power via a class D amp, a 1” tweeter and a 6.5” driver. Notable improvements this time around include a 12dB reduction in self-noise, a thinner paper woofer for faster transient response, and a redesigned amp that Kali says enables more robust DSP for smoother, more accurate high-frequency tuning.

Kali Audio LP-6 2nd Wave: Performance and verdict

The development team chose not to mess with the existing 1-inch tweeter, nor the high output, low distortion, dual-layer voice coil. The front port, shaped like a grin, is still there too, smiling generously. Overall, with this iteration, Kali has kept the good stuff intact, while upgrading choice components to increase accuracy and lower noise. 

The test unit we have been sent is finished in bright white with a black woofer cone. A more traditional black-on-black finish is also available, which is probably the better choice if you’re going to pair them with Kali’s ‘any colour you like provided it’s black’ WS-6.2 Sub. 

The bulk of the enclosure is made from medium-density fibreboard (MDF), wrapped neatly in subtly textured vinyl. The front, save the drivers, is a big slab of plastic and there’s a metal backplate securely screwed to the rear. The LP-6 looks tidy, well-made and attractive but judged on appearance alone it’s no premium monitor – let’s just say the product design team at Focal are unlikely to be choking on their croissants anytime soon. This is fine, because the LP-6 is unashamedly a budget monitor that ships with an affordable price tag.

Setup, however, is a first-rate experience. First, the LP-6 features a variety of inputs – TRS, XLR and RCA – which is an absolute godsend if, like us, you own a drawer full of cables, but never the right one. Second, and more important, that front port enables close placement to a back wall, a common scenario in most small studios. 

Kali has programmed the LP-6 with eight boundary EQ options, enabling you to compensate for installation on a desk with stands, tight against a back wall, 20”/50cm from a back wall and so on. These EQ settings, together with those for high and low-frequency trim, can easily be selected by setting an external array of dip switches.

Our test pair were remarkably low on self-noise – you really can work up close to these monitors. Similarly, forward-facing ports often get a bad rap for introducing air turbulence noise but we didn’t experience this or marked bass compression. The LP-6’s response curve is pretty flat, with a slight dip at 700-900Hz, which is why we heard little character, just an accurate, transparent tone. Exactly what we look for in mixing. 

MusicRadar verdict: A great choice for mixing on a budget, the LP-6 is a super monitor that’s impressively quiet, accurate and characterless.

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Kali Audio LP-6 2nd Wave: Specifications

• KEY FEATURES: Amp class: D HF Power: 40W LF Power: 40W Total Power: 80W HF Driver: 1” Textile Dome LF Driver: 6.5” Optimized Paper Frequency Response (-10 dB): 39Hz - 25kHz Frequency Range (±3 dB): 47Hz - 21kHz Max SPL: 115dB Enclosure: Front Ported LF Height: 14.125” (35.9cm) Width: 8.75” (22.2cm) Depth: 10.25” (26cm) Weight: 16lbs (7kg).
• CONTACT: Kali Audio