Article: Avantone MixCubes Mini Reference Monitors Review
By Jeffrey P. Fisher
The real-world audio reference to trust
For critical video work, you depend on a calibrated video monitor. For
critical audio work, you rely on a high-quality speaker system and a carefully
controlled acoustic space. If your work looks and sounds good, you are
reasonably confident that it will translate effectively for your audience. But
can you really be sure?
We all know that most consumers lack decent audio systems. Despite a
surge in home theaters, the majority of our carefully-crafted soundtracks still
emanate from crummy little speakers. Your primary, high-quality system may not
provide the real-world feedback you need to subjectively evaluate your mix. For
example, how will the mix sound on a clock radio, mono TV set, MP3 player
docking station, or typical computer speakers? Don't guess. Be sure and check
your work on suitable speakers.
Avant Electronics (www.avantelectronics.com) has the solution with the
introduction of their MixCubes Mini Reference Monitors. If you've been in the
audio industry for a few years, these cubes look vaguely familiar. Avant
engineers set out to update and replace the ubiquitous Auratone 5c, and they've
done a terrific job. For many years, the original 5c, affectionately nicknamed
"Horror-Tones," were the go-to, worst-case reference monitor for audio
engineers. If you wanted to know how your mix would sound like on nasty, cheap
consumer gear, you listened through them. If your mix worked on a 5c, you knew
you were on the right track.
Avantone MixCubes Mini Reference Monitors
Unfortunately, "Horror-Tones" have been unavailable for several years,
so Avant's MixCubes are a welcome replacement. MixCubes use a single,
full-range, 5 1/4" driver housed in a glossy, butter-cream 6 1/2" cube. They
are shielded for use next to TVs and computer screens. Each speaker has a
standard recessed microphone thread for mounting on a mic stand or the base is
non-slip, acoustic-isolating neoprene for placing on a surface. Binding posts
for amplification connection accept bare wire or banana plugs. Avant recommends
powering MixCubes with a good-quality amp rated between 50-200 watts using
high-quality 12-16-gauge wire.
How do they sound?
When you first pump your soundtrack through these puppies, you will be
immediately disappointed. There will be no deep bass or clear highs, just the
midrange. So what's the point, you may ask? These monitors are not meant to
sound good. They are meant to reflect the real-world of less than stellar audio
components, an important consideration when making critical soundtrack adjustments. Despite being both bass and high
frequency limited, the MixCubes have a smooth, linear frequency response with
no bumps in the critical ranges.
I've been listening to a variety of projects on my MixCubes over the
past few months. It took me some time to overcome their shortcomings, as I'm
rather accustomed to my regular monitors. Once I realized how much information
they revealed, I grew to respect and trust their playback. It's like having a
second opinion in the control room when mixing. I'm constantly asking myself:
"Sure, it sounds good on the BIG monitors, but what do the MixCubes think?"
Running the MixCubes at low volume also often exposes problems that need
addressing. Low volume and limited frequency response means you must work extra
hard to get important information, such as voice, to cut through. And since
most all mixes are built around the voice, testing in this way on these little
cubes is invaluable.
I also performed some mixes using only the MixCubes and then listened to
how well they translated to my main monitors and was pleasantly surprised. The
tweaks employed to make the mix work on the MixCubes made the full-blown
experience even better.
The MixCubes were also helpful for checking mono mixes, such as those
destined for TV. Cheap TV speakers are notoriously lo-fi, loaded with muddy
mid-range. It's ideal to test how your mix works in that scenario with the
MixCubes. I also used them to check whether a voice-over would cut through a
radio spot's busy music mix. Having just posted an indie feature, I found these
speakers invaluable at every turn including the final mix. And they were
beneficial for ensuring some music mixes would hold up, too. If your audio work
requires really good speakers to sound good, then you are fooling yourself. Use
the MixCubes for the confidence that everybody will hear what's important.
And the verdict is?
Again, keep in mind that MixCubes don't sound good; their purpose is to
provide a worst-case reference to make sure your soundtracks will work in every
situation. They won't be your only or main monitor; they are an alternative
presentation. Just because they don't sound stellar doesn't mean they aren't
accurate, though. Avant has obviously worked hard to make these speakers sound
smooth and accurate for the purposes for which they were designed.
If I have one complaint, it's the color. While I applaud Avant for the
glossy butter-cream finish, in my studio they kind of stick out (which from a
marketing standpoint can't be all bad for Avant). Perhaps a few alternative
colors might be on the horizon. Still it's the sound that matters, not the
decor!
When you need to test your mixes so you know how they'll sound on less
than stellar gear, you can't go wrong with the low-price and smooth sound of
MixCubes. Check them out.
Avant Electronics Avantone MixCubes Mini Reference Monitors, $169
| 
