KALI AUDIO SM-5-C Passive 3-Way Studio Monitor User Guide

: June 12, 2024
: KALI AUDIO

SM-5-C Passive 3-Way Studio Monitor

Project Santa Monica

SM-5-C

Passive 3-Way Studio Monitor
User’s Guide

Important Safety Information

Read these instructions.
Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.
Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.
Clean only with a dry cloth.
Do not block any ventilation openings.
Keep ventilation opening free of dust or other matter.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus
(including amplifiers) that produce heat.
No naked flame sources (such as lighted candles,) should be placed on the product.
Use only attachments and/or accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, plate, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer. When a
cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when:
A. The apparatus is damaged in any way
B. The power supply cord or plug is damaged
C. Liquid or other objects have fallen into the product
D. The product has been exposed to rain or moisture
E. The product does not operate normally
F. The product has been dropped
This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing.
No object filled with liquids, such as a vase or a glass, should be placed on the apparatus.
This apparatus is to be used in a moderate climate. Do not expose to extremely high or low temperatures.
High sound pressure in excess of 85 dB can cause hearing damage and/or loss. Do not expose
yourself to high sound pressure levels.

About Your Studio Monitors

Congratulations on your Kali Audio SM-Series Studio Monitors! These studio monitors are designed
for the most demanding, high-precision monitoring applications. We’re confident that these monitors
will allow you to perceive every detail of the material that you’re working on, and that the results will
translate faithfully across playback platforms.

Where does “SM” come from?
The official name of this product line is “Project Santa Monica.” Kali names all of our product lines
after towns in California. Santa Monica and nearby neighborhoods in West Los Angeles are home to
some of the world’s most storied recording studios. Project Santa Monica pays tribute to those studios
and the historic records that have come out of them.

Features

3-Way Coincident Architecture
The SM-5-C features a 5-Inch woofer, 4-Inch midrange, and 1-Inch metal dome tweeter. The midrange
and tweeter are coaxial, meaning that they share an acoustic center. In other words, the tweeter
sits within the midrange. They are also coincident, meaning that they are physically time-aligned.
This architecture, together with the physical placement and crossover of the woofer, makes the SM-
5-C an acoustic point source. This gives the loudspeaker an ideal directivity characteristic, resulting
in a lifelike stereo image where details are placed clearly and consistently. Off-axis lobing that is
unavoidable in 2-way systems is virtually eliminated in the SM-5-C.

Precision Drivers
The drivers in the SM-5-C are carefully engineered for high dynamic range, smooth response, and low
distortion.

The woofer design emphasizes high output and very low distortion. The woofer has been refined with
inductance linearization and flux stabilization features within the motor. These features reduce magnetic
flux modulation, reducing distortion dramatically. The

The midrange is not only optimized for its own frequency handling, but also for its role as the tweeter’s
waveguide. It controls the directivity of the tweeter so that off-axis reflections in all directions
are congruent with the direct sound of the loudspeaker, which is part of what gives the SM-5-C such
excellent imaging. Peak-to-peak excursion on the midrange does not exceed 1mm, eliminating intermodulation
distortion that is typical in coaxial designs.

The 1-inch metal alloy dome tweeter has been engineered to allow for high output and low distortion
to the limits of human hearing. The geometry of the tweeter reduces high-Q ultrasonic resonances,
resulting in smoother HF response in the audible frequency band. In other words, the harshness that
is problematic in some metal domes is eliminated on the SM-5-C.

About Your Speakers

Features

Low Noise Port Tube
Like all of Kali’s studio monitors, the SM-5-C features a front-firing port tube with a unique geometry
that eliminates chuffing and port compression.

Low Diffraction Baffle
The baffle around the midrange follows the shape of that driver, blending seamlessly from the edge of
the driver and into the rest of the speaker cabinet. This eliminates on-axis diffraction artifacts in the
frequency response, and helps reinforce the excellent imaging characteristics of the SM-5-C.

Optimized Crossover
Since the SM-5-C uses amplifier DSP tuning to manage frequency response optimization, the crossover
network can be purely optimized for its use in directivity transition. This level of optimization
allows for premium components to be used, including ultra-low dissipation polypropylene capacitors,
air-core inductors, and non-inductive resistors.
The crossover network is fully optimized for bi-amplification (LF+MF/HF) use, but care has also been
taken to allow for single-wire use.

Wall/Ceiling Mounting
The SM–5-C features mounting holes on both the top and bottom of the loudspeaker. Kali recommends
using the SM-KP1 U-bracket from Triad-Orbit®, but any speaker mount with a 4.25 x 2-Inch
bolt pattern that is capable of holding the SM-5-C’s 21lb weight will also work.

Instructions for mounting the SM-5-C with the Triad-Orbit® bracket can be found on page 17.

Full Specifications

Self-Powered:

|

No

---|---

Amplification Options:

|

Single wire

Bi-amped (Woofer, Midrange+Tweeter)

MR+HF Power Handling:

|

20VRMS into 3 Ohm (100W at 4 Ohm)

LF Power Handling:

|

20VRMS into 3 Ohm (100W at 4 Ohm)

Single Wire Power Handling:

|

20VRMS into 3 Ohm (100W at 4 Ohm)

HF Driver:

|

1-Inch Metal Alloy Dome Tweeter

Midrange Driver:

|

4-Inch Optimized Profile Paper Cone

LF Driver:

|

5-Inch Optimized Profile Paper Woofer

LF-to-Midrange Crossover:

|

280 Hz

Midrange-to-HF Crossover:

|

2800 Hz

Frequency Response: (-10dB)

|

39 Hz- 25 kHz

Frequency Range: (+/-3dB)

|

47 Hz – 21 kHz

Recommended Listening Distance:

|

Up to 4 Meters

Max SPL with peak limiter engaged:

|

117 dB @ 1m

Loudspeaker THD, Single Wire: (85dB SPL at 1M)

|

<1% from 100-700 Hz, <0.5% above 700 Hz

Loudspeaker THD, Bi-Ampled: (85dB SPL at 1M)

|

<0.75 % from 100-450 Hz, <0.5% above 450 Hz

Inputs:

|

2-Pin, 5.08mm pitch Euroblock Connector 6-pin, 5.08mm pitch Euroblock Connector

Sensitivity

|

87 dB SPL for 2.83V @ 1m

Enclosure:

|

Front Ported

Height

|

15.6 Inches (39.6 cm)

Width:

|

7.9 Inches (20 cm)

Depth:

|

9.8 Inches (24.8 cm)

Weight:

|

21 lbs (9.5 kg)

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 6

Amplification and Signal Chain

For full output with minimum distortion, Kali recommends bi-amplifying the speakers using an LEA® amplifier with at least 100W per channel. Therefore the minimum choice for a pair of SM-5-Cs would be an LEA® Connect 164.

Nearly full output and acceptable distortion may also be attained using the single wire tuning and one of LEA®’s 80W amplifiers. This means that it is possible to amplify up to four speakers using an LEA® Connect 84 or up to 8 using an LEA® Connect 88. Max SPL will be 1 dB lower and distortion will be slightly higher at full output.

Single Wire vs. Bi-Amped

While Kali recommends bi-amplifying the speakers, single wire use is more convenient and economi cal. Single wire mode adds a small amount of distortion from the lower frequency cutoff of the system through 700 Hz vs. bi-amped at comparable playback levels. The single wire tuning also introduces a frequency response anomaly at the high end of the loudspeaker’s response, although this may be corrected with full-range room calibration.

Using an LEA® amplifier

Configuration files for LEA® amplifiers can be found by clicking this link. Refer to pages 12-14 for instructions to program these files into your LEA® amplifier.

3rd-Party Amplifier Minimum Requirements

If you’d like to use a different amplifier, you’ll need to make sure that it can deliver 20VRMS into a 3 Ohm load. Most amplifiers rated for 100W at 4 Ohm should be sufficient, but you’ll need to verify that the amplifier you select is capable of handling a 3 Ohm load. Use of an amplifier with <100W per channel power delivery other than the LEA® Connect 84 and Connect 88 amplifiers is not supported.

The amplifier, or some other component after the amplifier in your signal chain, will need to include a peak limiter. Using the SM-5-Cs without a peak limiter will void your warranty. Kali Audio is not responsible for damage incurred to the speakers if a peak limiter is not used. Peak limiter specifica tions can be found on pages 9-11. It is also recommended to use an RMS limiter.

Loudspeaker Tuning and Room Tuning

The SM-5-Cs must be used with a signal processor that can provide at least 8 bands of EQ per speak er. The recommended LEA® amplifiers have this built in. If you’re using a 3rd party amplifier, you should search for one that also has this feature. Otherwise, you can use a processor like Avid®’s MTRX Studio to apply loudspeaker tunings.

It is recommended to tune the loudspeakers for the room that they’re being used in as well. This tuning may processed by a dedicated signal processor like the Avid® MTRX studio, or via a software solution like Sonarwork®s SoundID. If you’re using one processor for both loudspeaker and room tuning, program in the loudspeaker tuning parameters found on pages 9-11, and then add additional channels of EQ for room tuning.

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 7

Example Signal Chains

1. Source - > Signal processing -> Conversion -> Amplifier -> Loudspeakers. (Recommended.)

The computer outputs to an Avid® MTRX Studio, which handles room calibration. The MTRX studio outputs balanaced audio to the LEA® amplfier. The LEA® amplifier processes speaker tuning and outputs to the speakers.

2. Source + signal processing in computer - > Dante® -> Amplifier -> Loudspeakers.

The computer handles room calibration in software with a program like Sonarworks® SoundID. The computer uses Dante Virtual Soundcard® as the output to a Dante®-capable LEA® amplifier. The LEA® amplifier processes speaker tuning and outputs to the speakers.

3. Source + signal processing + loudspeaker processing in computer - > Conversion -> Amplifier -> Loudspeakers.

The computer handles room calibration in software with a program like Sonarworks® SoundID. The computer also handles loudspeaker tuning with a separate EQ processing program. The computer outputs to an I/O device like an Apogee® Symphony I/O. The amplifier only processes voltage limiting functions and outputs to the speakers.

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 8

Loudspeaker Tuning and Limiter Parameters

Bi-amped 48k Processing

LF Channel:

LF Rolloff:

|

Butterworth 12dB/Oct High Pass, 47.4 Hz

Band 1:

|

56.78 Hz, Q: 1, Gain: +4.5 dB

Band 2:

|

154 Hz, Q: 2, Gain: +1.3 dB

Band 3:

|

260 Hz, Q: 1.41, Gain: +2.4 dB

Band 4:

|

297 Hz, Q: 1.42, Gain +2.1 dB

LF-to-MR Crossover:

|

Linkwitz-Riley 24dB/Oct Low Pass, 259 Hz

Peak Limiter:

|

Threshold: 28V, Attack Time: 4ms, Release: 40ms

HF Channel:

MR-to-LF Crossover:

|

Butterworth 6dB/Oct High Pass, 1430 Hz

Band 1:

|

297 Hz, Q: 1.42, +2.1 dB

Band 1:

|

565 Hz, Q: 4.67, Gain: +1.2 dB

Band 2:

|

1520 Hz, Q: 5.44, Gain: +1.7 dB

Band 3:

|

3300 Hz, Q: 0.82, Gain: +3.4 dB

Band 4:

|

9100 Hz, Q: 1.1, Gain: -8 dB

Band 5:

|

9700 Hz, Q: 3.2, Gain: +0.7 dB

Band 7:

|

12300 Hz, Q: 4.5, Gain: -2.6 dB

Band 8:

|

17000 Hz, Q: 2.2, Gain: 6.5

RMS Limiter:

|

Threshold: 10VRMS, Attack: 20ms,

Release: 20,000ms

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 9

Loudspeaker Tuning and Limiter Parameters

Bi-amped 96k Processing

LF Channel:

LF Rolloff:

|

Butterworth 12dB/Oct High Pass, 47.4 Hz

Band 1:

|

56.78 Hz, Q: 1, Gain: +4.5 dB

Band 2:

|

154 Hz, Q: 2, Gain: +1.3 dB

Band 3:

|

260 Hz, Q: 1.41, Gain: +2.4 dB

Band 4:

|

297 Hz, Q: 1.42, Gain +2.1 dB

LF-to-MR Crossover:

|

Linkwitz-Riley 24dB/Oct Low Pass, 259 Hz

Peak Limiter:

|

Threshold: 28V, Attack Time: 4ms, Release: 40ms

HF Channel:

MR-to-LF Crossover:

|

Butterworth 6dB/Oct High Pass, 1430 Hz

Band 1:

|

297 Hz, Q: 1.42, +2.1 dB

Band 1:

|

565 Hz, Q: 4.67, Gain: +1.2 dB

Band 2:

|

1520 Hz, Q: 5.44, Gain: +1.7 dB

Band 3:

|

3300 Hz, Q: 0.82, Gain: +3.4 dB

Band 4:

|

9100 Hz, Q: 1.1, Gain: -8 dB

Band 5:

|

9700 Hz, Q: 3.84, Gain: +0.7 dB

Band 7:

|

12300 Hz, Q: 5.17, Gain: -2.6 dB

Band 8:

|

17000 Hz, Q: 2.75, Gain: 6.5

RMS Limiter:

|

Threshold: 10VRMS, Attack: 20ms,

Release: 20,000ms

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 10

Loudspeaker Tuning and Limiter Parameters

Single Wire 48k Processing

LF Rolloff:

|

Butterworth 12dB/Oct High Pass, 47.4 Hz

---|---

Band 1:

|

47 Hz, Q: 1.4, Gain: +2.8 dB

Band 2:

|

121.5 Hz, Q: 2.05, Gain: -3.6 dB

Band 3:

|

330 Hz, Q: 2.1, Gain: -4 dB

Band 4:

|

994 Hz, Q: 1, Gain: -7.9 dB

Band 5:

|

3567 Hz, Q: 2.3, Gain: +2.2 dB

Band 6:

|

9572 Hz, Q: 0.9, Gain: -3.2 dB

Band 7:

|

10700 Hz, Q: 7, Gain: +1.1 dB

Band 8:

|

16660 Hz, Q: 1.2, Gain: +6.6 dB

Peak Limiter:

|

Threshold: 28V, Attack Time: 4ms, Release: 40ms

Single Wire 96k Processing

LF Rolloff:

|

Butterworth 12dB/Oct High Pass, 47.4 Hz

---|---

Band 1:

|

47 Hz, Q: 1.4, Gain: +2.8 dB

Band 2:

|

121.5 Hz, Q: 2.05, Gain: -3.6 dB

Band 3:

|

330 Hz, Q: 2.1, Gain: -4 dB

Band 4:

|

994 Hz, Q: 1, Gain: -7.9 dB

Band 5:

|

3567 Hz, Q: 2.3, Gain: +2.2 dB

Band 6:

|

9572 Hz, Q: 1, Gain: -3.2 dB

Band 7:

|

10700 Hz, Q: 10, Gain: +1.1 dB

Band 8:

|

16660 Hz, Q: 2, Gain: +6.6 dB

Peak Limiter:

|

Threshold: 28V, Attack Time: 4ms, Release: 40ms

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 11

Connecting an Amplifier

The SM-5-C uses Euroblock (sometimes referred to by the brand name “Phoenix®”) connectors for quick connection and disconnection of speaker wire. The recommended LEA® amplifiers and many other professional amplifiers also use Euroblock connectors.

You should purchase and size speaker wire for an appropriate distance between the speakers and the amplifier. Follow the instructions below to wire the Euroblock terminals and connect to an amp.

Single Wire

Use the 2-pin Euroblock connector, which is on the left hand side of the back of the speaker. Remove the connector from the back of the speaker.

Unscrew the two flathead screws on the top of the connector. This will lift the terminal clamps, allowing the wire to be insterted.

Screws

Terminals

Fig. 1: The 2-pin Euroblock Connector

Fig. 2: Exposed ends of the speaker wire. L: Crimped, R: Uncrimped.

Trim the end of your speaker wire so that ~1/4-inch (6mm) of wire is exposed. Neatly twist this wire so that there are no loose strands.

Alternatviely, use a wire crimper to add a ferrule to to the exposed end of the wire. This will keep the wire from fraying and make connections easier and longer lasting.

Insert the ends of the wire into the terminals of the Euroblock connector. On the SM-5-C, the right terminal is positive, and the left terminal is negative.

Screw the terminal clamps down so that the wires are tightly se cured. Gently push the entire Euroblock plug into the back of the speaker. For single wire use, make sure that the shorted Bi-Amp Euroblock connector is insterted in the Bi-Amp section as shown in Figure 3.

Bi-amped

Fig. 3: Final assembly using Single Wire.

Use the 6-pin Euroblock connector, which is on the right hand side of the back of the speaker. Re move the connector from the back of the speaker.

Unscrew all 6 flathead screws on the top of the connector. This will lift the terminal clamps, allowing the wire to be insterted. If applicable, remove the shorting bridges from the plug. The shorting bridg es are shown in Figure 3.

Trim the end of your speaker wire so that ~1/4-inch (6mm) of wire is exposed. Neatly twist this wire so that there are no loose strands.

Alternatviely, use a wire crimper to add a ferrule to to the exposed end of the wire. This will keep the wire from fraying and make connections easier and longer lasting.

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 12

Fig. 4: The terminals of the 6-pin connector.

Connecting an Amplifier

Insert the ends of the wire into the terminals of the Euroblock connector. As noted on the back of the speaker, the terminals are, from left to right:

HF positive terminal
Not used
HF negative terminal
LF negative terminal
Not used
LF positive terminal.

Screw the terminal clamps down so that the wires are tightly secured. Gently push the entire Eu roblock plug into the back of the speaker. There is no need to short the single wire connector. Your speaker is ready for use!

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 13

Loading Tunings into an LEA® Amplifier

To load tunings into an LEA® amplifier, first download the tuning files, available at this link, from the Kali website. Note that single wire has its own tuning, and that bi-amped use requires tunings for both the LF channel and the MF+HF channel.

Once those tunings are downloaded, connect to your LEA® amp.

Select the crossover tab at the top of the LEA® con trol screen.

In one of the channels, scroll down to the bottom of the menu options, and click “Import.”

For single wire use, just go one at a time.

For bi-amped use, it’s arbitrary which channel is LF and which is MF+HF, but do make sure to keep them as pairs. The screenshots here use the first channel for MF+HF, and the second channel for LF.

In the import pop-up that appears, make sure to

de-select “Inputs.” Leaving “Inputs” selected will

route the same input to each of your outputs, which

you’ll need to remedy later.

Click “Choose File.”

Select the appropriate .json file, and click “Upload.”

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 14

Loading Tunings into an LEA® Amplifier After selecting the file, hit “Import” on the pop-up.

The pop-up should show a message that says “Import

Succeeded.”

Click “OK.”

The settings for this channel are now loaded.

Click into the Settings tab at the top of the window.

From here, you can rename the channel. It may be useful to name the channel to correspond to the speaker it is outputting to.

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 15

Loading Tunings into an LEA® Amplifier

Select the Input tab at the top of the LEA® control screen.

Select the appropriate input channel that will be used for this speaker. For bi-amped use, the same input channel should be selected for both the MF+HF channel and the LF channel, as shown here.

For single wire use, each channel should be assigned its own input channel.

For bi-amped use, repeat these steps for the other channel going to the loudspeaker, then start again for each other loudspeaker.

For single wire use, repeat these steps for each loudpseaker.

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 16

Mounting

Kali Audio recommends using Triad-Orbit®’s SM-KP1 to mount the SM-5-C. This mount is sold most places where SM-5-Cs are available. The SM-5-C includes 8 x M6 25mm panhead hex screws and 8 x rubber washers to be used with the SM- KP1. To install the SM-KP1:

Remove the 4 screws that come installed in the top and the bottom of the SM-5-C. Discard these or save them in case you want to take the SM-KP1 off at some other time.
Slide the SM-KP1 over the speaker. On the top and bottom, you should be able to see through the holes on the SM-KP1 to the holes on the SM-5.
Install the rubber washers on the M6 x 25mm screws. Put the washer as close to the screw head as possible.
Use the screws to secure the SM-KP1 to the SM-5-C. Hand tighten them so that the rubber washer is fully engaged.

If you’d like to use a different mount, you will need a mount with a 4.25-inch (108mm) x 2-inch (50.8mm) hole pattern. The mount must also be able to hold the SM-5-C’s 21-lb weight.

Whichever mount you choose, follow the instructions provided by the mount’s manufacturer. Kali Audio is not responsible for damage or injury resulting from failing to follow the instructions included with the speaker mount.

Fig. 1: Top of the SM-5-C showing mounting hole position and spacing.

Fig. 2: Bottom of the SM-5-C showing mounting hole position and spacing.

Fig. 3: SM-5-C with KP-1 mount and SW-1 swivel accessory mounted.

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 17

Warranty

What does this warranty cover?

This warranty covers defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year (365 days) after the purchase date of the product. If you have just received your speaker, and it is obviously damaged, contact your dealer IMMEDIATELY to initiate a warranty claim.

What will Kali do?

If your product is defective (materials or workmanship,) Kali will replace or repair the product at our discretion – free of charge.

How do you initiate a warranty claim?

Contact the retailer from whom you bought the product to initiate a warranty process. You will need the original receipt showing the date of purchase. The retailer may ask you to provide specific details about the nature of the defect.

What is not covered?

The following cases are NOT covered by this warranty:

• Damage from failing to use a peak limiter.

• Damage from shipping

• Damage from dropping or otherwise mishandling the speakers

• Damage resulting from failure to heed any of the warnings outlined on pages 3 and 4 of the user’s manual, including:

1. Water damage.

2. Damage from foreign substances/objects or substances entering the port tube.

3. Damage resulting from an unauthorized person servicing the product. 4. Damage resulting from the product being left plugged in during an electrical storm.

The warranty applies only in the United States. International Customers should contact their deal er about their warranty policy.

AVID®, TRIAD-ORBIT®, LEA®, SONARWORKS®, DANTE®, APOGEE® trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Kali Audio SM-5-C Users’ Guide 18