• Great sound, particularly across the mids
• Superb build and quality control
• Multiple filters for frequency response customisation
• No auto standby circuitry
• No subwoofer output
$1,450
Unlike most monitor loudspeakers, which are designed by engineers who make their living designing loudspeakers for home hi-fi use, the Airpulse SM200 active monitor system was designed and built by a man who started out as a musician, transitioned to being a recording engineer with his own studio, switched to designing loudspeakers for professional and domestic applications, and is now a freelance ‘for hire’ loudspeaker designer, as well as the owner of Phil Jones Bass, a company that builds combo amps, amp heads and speaker cabinets for bass guitars along with other guitar-related products. And just for the record, Phil Jones (because he named the company after himself) is also still an active professional musician — yes, you guessed it, he plays bass guitar. You could, then, say that Mr Jones has a lot of irons in the fire!
THE EQUIPMENT
One thing I need to make very clear at the outset is that you should not confuse the Airpulse SM200 active monitors reviewed here with the completely different — but uncannily similarly named — Airpulse A200 active speakers. The Airpulse SM200 were designed for professional use in recording studios, whereas the A200 was designed for home use. But the SM200 monitors are, of course, equally well-suited for home use in a hi-fi system or as a desktop computer speaker system, which is precisely why they are being reviewed here in Australian Hi-Fi magazine.
Although the two different designs appear similar from the front, you need only look at the rear to immediately see the many obvious differences. However, the major difference that is not at all obvious is that the Airpulse A200 is a Bluetooth-equipped two-speaker system where only the two speakers is active, the other being passive, In the Airpulse SM200’s design, on the other hand, each speaker is completely self-contained, with an amplifier built into each cabinet. There is no Bluetooth connectivity here, either, I think that Edifier, which owns the Chinese company that manufactures Airpulse speakers, should
