Core 5

Sophisticated DSP that’s surprisingly easy to use

The AIR series was famous for its advanced DSP system. But our acoustic engineers don’t believe laurels are for resting on, so they’ve constantly been looking for better and more innovative ways of doing it.

That work has resulted in some great leaps in DSP sophistication – but also in the way it’s applied in everyday use. You, our users, wanted something easier to use, and that’s exactly what you get with Core – with even better performance.

Positioning is critical when installing a monitor system. That’s why each Core 59 has two DSP filter switches to address its position and boundary locations. For example, if you place the monitors on the meter bridge of a large-format mixing console, set them to ‘Desk’. This will help compensate for the first reflection created by the mixing surface. On the other hand, if you put the monitors into a purpose-built wall, setting the Position 1 filter to ‘Soffit’ will compensate for the increased bass response.

The tone that meets your tastes

Boundary effects created by placing a monitor close to walls or a ceiling can be compensated for by adjusting the Position 2 filter between ‘Wall’ or ‘Corner’. These filters help compensate for the reflections created by the boundary walls, especially in the lower frequencies.

There’s also a low-frequency 80Hz Linkwitz-Riley cutoff that can be engaged if you’re using Core 59 with a subwoofer to extend the low frequency response.

Users can also alter the overall presentation. Core 59 uses the same concept as the LYD series Sound Balance filter – a different design to typical shelving-EQ tweeter and woofer adjustments found on most active monitors.

Instead of simply fine-tuning the tweeter level up or down, which will affect phase response, Core 59 uses a full-spectrum band-pass filter that tilts depending on the desired tonal response. In the ‘Dark’ setting, the entire frequency response is tilted so that 20kHz is down -1.5dB, while 20Hz is up +1.5dB. In ‘Bright’, the tilt is reversed (+1.5dB at 20kHz and -1.5dB at 20Hz).

This gentle filter maintains the proper phase response between the drivers while providing the tone that meet your tastes. The changes are subtle, but often this little tweak is enough to make the sound balance just right.

Input sensitivity the way you want it

The noise-floor and signal resolution of any monitoring system is critical to its performance.

Whether you’re using the analogue or digital inputs, you need to be able to control the gain staging between the monitor controller and the speaker system. We’ve provided a range of 0dBu to +24dBu to match the analogue input sensitivity to the output level. Once optimised, Core 59 processes all analogue signals at a 192kHz sampling rate and 64-bit resolution in the DSP (from the 24-bit analogue-to-digital converter) for the greatest degree of mathematical precision.

There’s a switch to determine the maximum output SPL with the greatest bit-depth in the DSP. If you want the maximum level, set this to 112dB. If you work mostly at lower levels, choose a lower SPL setting to optimise the bit-depth of the DSP for both inputs.

When using the AES digital inputs, you must determine which channel (left or right) of the AES stream is used for that monitor. Core 59’s DSP operates at the incoming sample rate and either locks to the digital audio clock or word clock to maintain the most accurate signal possible.

The beating heart of your studio

We’ve designed Core 59 for you. We’ve designed it to be used however and wherever you need it – whether that’s for near-field, mid-field or main monitoring, or in soffit-mounted set-ups.

It’s made for music mastering, mixing, and recording; theatrical re-mixing; editorial and sound design for games or anywhere else you need an uncompromising critical monitoring system.

Core 59 is ready to be installed in high-SPL immersive audio and other multi-channel environments with both analogue and digital connectivity, DSP controlled acoustic response, and versatile positioning. That means complete tonal consistency whatever your monitoring needs.

It really does give you everything you need to hear.