These self powered Micro Monitors from Aries may only be rated at ten watts but they still pack a punch.

As you are probably aware, it's common practice in most studios to have at least two sets of monitors: one full range pair and a smaller pair of desk top monitors with a limited frequency response to help evaluate how a piece of music will sound on the average radio, TV or ghetto blaster. The Aries Micro Monitors fall into the latter category, but they're more than simple speakers in boxes as they contain their own solid state power amplifiers as well. If you already have a power amp to drive your main monitors, this may seem rather superfluous but in this case it is important for two reasons. Firstly, the amplifier's frequency response is tailored to compensate for the restrictions imposed by the small cabinet and speaker, and in this way the frequency response is kept reasonably flat over quite a wide range, though it does take a plunge below 100Hz. Secondly, it enables the monitoring levels to be preset so that when you switch over to your near field monitors, you don't blow the cones out by applying too much power.

Construction

No details on the cabinet construction were supplied, but I suspect that they are a wood based material such as particle board finished in textured black paint. Measuring only 140mm x 130mm x 190mm, the cabinets house a single 100mm drive unit featuring a compliant surround and a metalised plastic centre dome. This is protected by a light metal mesh grille mounted in a plastic facia but this is rather easy to dent, so be warned.

Below the speaker is the grey control panel which houses the mains indicator LED, the phono input socket and the Level control. There is no mains power switch so the unit is powered up as soon as a live IEC lead is plugged into the rear panel socket. The whole enclosure appears to be airtight and the general appearance is both workmanlike and attractive.

Performance

Considering their modest 10W rating, these monitors can sound very loud indeed when they are perched on the desk just two or three feet away from your ears. The fact that they have single drive units makes them excellent for judging stereo imaging and the overall sound is not hard (as you might expect from the small speaker) but more like a Tannoy without any bottom end.

Certainly the lack of bass does not detract from the usefulness of these speakers for imaging and it is actually an advantage if you bear in mind what you are using them for. Small radio sets, TVs and portable stereos have little real bass so if your music is going to sound good on such equipment, you will need to mix it so that it sounds well balanced on your full range monitors and on your near field monitors, a feat that usually involves some degree of compromise.

"Like the consumer devices it is supposed to emulate, the frequency response falls off at the low end and at the very high end."

These monitors are sensitive enough to develop their full rated output when driven from a desk with -10dBm output levels so if your desk conforms to the +4dBm standard, you will need to keep the volume controls on the monitors down below the half way mark if you are to avoid overdriving them and causing distortion.

Conclusions

These are very easy speakers to work with as they don't have that brittle fatiguing quality possessed by some small monitors and so long periods of use should cause no discomfort. Imaging is good due to the fact that each monitor is in effect a point source of sound and mid range detail shows up well. Like the consumer devices it is supposed to emulate, the frequency response falls off at the low end and at the very high end so this really must be considered as a secondary monitoring system, but if you're just starting out and have to work in a broom cupboard, you could buy a pair of these first and then get a full range main monitoring system when you start to expand.

If I have any criticisms it is that 10W may not offer quite enough headroom if you get carried away with the levels — perhaps 20W would have been more appropriate.

All in all though a good little pair of near field monitors, and when you consider that they are self powered, they are sensibly priced too.

The Aries Micro Monitors cost £127 per pair inclusive of VAT.

Further details are available from MTR, (Contact Details)