Way back in 2016, IK Multimedia released the iLoud Micro Monitor, a tiny wee studio reference monitor that offered surprisingly excellent performance for its size.
They’ve just released an updated version; the iLoud Micro Monitor Pro. This new model has a new design and new features but retains the same focus on delivering an accurate frequency response in a small and portable package.
The iLoud Micro Monitor Pro’s boast custom speaker drivers, improved power efficiency and SPL. They also have improved onboard processing power and improved DSP over the previous version.
These new models also include ARC calibration functionality plus IK Multimedia’s X-MONITOR software is now integrated into the workflow.
What’s in the box?
Inside the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor Pro box you will find:
- The iLoud Micro Monitor Pro itself
- A USB-A to USB-C cable for attaching the Speaker to your Mac or PC
- A power cable
- An ARC MEMS microphone and a microphone clip to attach it to a stand.
- Registration documentation
The other box contains the same things, minus the ARC microphone.
On the front of the iLoud Micro Monitor Pro you’ll find:
- A 1” tweeter
- A 3” woofer
- A bass reflex port
The bottom of the monitors sport a tilt-able rubber stand, that you can actually reposition depending on what angle you’d like the speaker to sit at.
On the back of the iLoud Micro Monitor Pros are:
- 4 speaker control buttons that allow you to do things like filter out frequencies below a certain point, or add high or low pass shelves.
- A volume knob that’s actually notched at 0DB, which is really handy for keeping track of what volume the knob is set to without having to turn the whole speaker around.
- A balanced XLR input which allows you to connect to an audio interface or mixer. This is also where you connect the ARC microphone during calibration.
- A RCA input
- Power cable input
- A USB-C port here to connect the speaker to your Mac or PC
- The speaker’s power button.
What you won’t find on the back of the iLoud Micro Monitor Pro is a Bluetooth button. Bluetooth functionality has been removed from these new models in favour of more hard-wired connection options. A positive change in my book.
The build quality here fells really good. Despite their size, there is a good amount of heft to the Micro Monitor Pros. All the buttons and connections are very solid.
Calibration made easy
If you just want to pick up a pair of these, hook them up to your interface and get stuck in you absolutely can. They sound really good out of the box.
Installing IK Multimedia’s X-Monitor software on your Mac or PC and connecting the iLoud Micro Monitor Pros via their included USB cables gives you access to a lot of extra functionality however.
For example, at the click of a button you can emulates the frequency and phase response of a variety of other speaker systems. This lets you audition how well your mix translates on different systems.
The standout feature here involves the included ARC microphone.
The whole idea of calibrating your monitors may seem a little daunting at first. With the X-Monitor software, IK Multimedia have actually made the process really simple.
Make sure the iLoud Micro Monitor Pros are attached to your computer with the included USB cables. Then attach the ARC microphone to the first monitor you want to calibrate using an XLR cable to the input on the back.
Next, properly position the microphone’s height.
Then, position the microphone at each capture point as specified in the X-Monitor software, running the room analyzer each time until the calibration is complete.
Duplicate the process for the other iLoud Micro Monitor and you’ll be left with a custom EQ profile specific to your room.
How do they sound?
Mixing with the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor Pro is a good experience. The stereo seperation and clarity are superb. I found high and mid frequencies to be exceptional, particularly after running the ARC calibration.
You’re probably wondering what the bass is like. Does it match the bass response of other larger studio monitors?
Of course not, but it’s far from terrible.
For the vast majority of musical styles the Micro Monitor Pro’s frequency range of 50Hz to 20 kHz will be absolutely fine.
The range of responses in the voices menu are also really helpful for mixing, saving users the trouble of manually checking how mixes sound on things like TVs and consumer grade Hi-Fi speakers.
If you make your own music at home in a smaller, untreated room like a spare bedroom or (like me) a dusty old broom cupboard or if you’re on the road a lot and need sonically accurate speakers that are incredibly portable then you should absolutely consider a pair of these.
Not only do these monitors sound fantastic straight out of the box, the ability to accurately calibrate them to your room has the potential to actually make your music sound better.
Those working in larger rooms or more pro studios can still absolutely make use of these, but probably more as reference monitors as opposed to an all in one mixing solution.
Worth it?
With all that said, what IK Multimedia have managed to pull off here is really quite astonishing.
The iLoud Micro Monitor Pros sound better than any studio monitors of this size have any right to. Factor in their ultra portability and that built in ARC room calibration and you’re left what are probably the most versatile studio monitors available for home recording musicians.
Disclaimer- IK Multimedia provided me with a pair of iLoud Micro Monitor Pro’s for the purposes of this review, but this isn’t a sponsored post and IK Multimedia have had no input in the content of this article. They are seeing it for the first time at the same time you are.
