NAMM 2020 — Ex Machina Soundworks Pulsar & Quasar | SM Mastering

At SM Mastering, we are constantly tracking advancements in acoustic engineering to ensure our mastering chain remains world-class. One of the most significant milestones in recent monitoring history was the groundbreaking showcase at namm 2020 — ex machina soundworks pulsar & quasar. This event marked the official debut of a Brooklyn-based manufacturer that dared to redefine the limits of coaxial driver design, phase linearity, and DSP integration in professional reference monitors.

The Technological Breakthrough of namm 2020 — ex machina soundworks pulsar & quasar

The core philosophy behind the namm 2020 — ex machina soundworks pulsar & quasar launch was to eliminate the crossover anomalies and off-axis coloration that plague traditional multi-way monitors. Ex Machina Soundworks achieved this by utilizing state-of-the-art materials like Graphene-infused diaphragms and proprietary coaxial mid-tweeter designs. When we look at professional standards set by legendary manufacturers like Neumann, Ex Machina’s entry injected an incredibly aggressive dose of innovation into the high-end monitoring market, offering an astonishingly wide sweet spot and an incredibly tight transient response.

Technical Specifications Comparison

To better understand how these two monitors fit into a professional workflow, let us examine their primary specifications:

Under the hood of both models lies a powerful SHARC DSP engine. During the initial demonstration at namm 2020 — ex machina soundworks pulsar & quasar, engineers were stunned by the near-perfect phase response, which remains within +/- 15 degrees from 30Hz up to 30kHz. This extreme level of precision ensures that transient details—such as the snap of a snare or the tail of a high-end mastering limiter—are rendered with absolute spatial accuracy in three-dimensional space.

Integrating High-End Coaxial Monitors Into Your Studio

Implementing these monitors into a high-end mastering setup requires an understanding of how linear-phase DSP systems interact with your room. For more technical deep-dives on optimizing your room acoustics, check out our comprehensive guides at the SM Mastering Audio Articles hub. When configuring the monitors introduced at namm 2020 — ex machina soundworks pulsar & quasar, the onboard DSP handles the heavy lifting of time-alignment and driver-correction, allowing engineers to focus purely on acoustic treatment rather than fighting hardware crossover phase issues.

Practical Studio Workflow Tips

• Optimal Placement: Position the Pulsar monitors in an equilateral triangle, exactly at ear level to take full advantage of the coaxial driver’s wide sweet spot and eliminate early desk reflections.
• Warm-Up Time: Allow the built-in custom class-D amplifiers to warm up for 15-20 minutes before performing critical mastering adjustments or finalizing EQ curves.
• Digital Path Optimization: Whenever possible, feed the monitors via digital inputs to bypass unnecessary digital-to-analog conversion stages, keeping the signal path as pristine as possible.

Conclusion

The introduction of these monitors at namm 2020 — ex machina soundworks pulsar & quasar was not just another product launch; it was a watershed moment for modern recording and mastering environments. Ex Machina Soundworks has successfully bridged the gap between pure analog acoustic excellence and cutting-edge digital processing, setting a new benchmark for critical listening environments worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Ex Machina Pulsar and Quasar different from traditional 3-way monitors?

Unlike traditional 3-way monitors where drivers are physically separated, the Pulsar and Quasar utilize a coaxial midrange and tweeter design. This allows all frequencies from the mid-range upward to emanate from a single point source, eliminating phase cancellation issues and providing a incredibly cohesive soundstage.

How does the DSP correction affect the overall latency in a studio environment?

While the advanced DSP correction adds a negligible amount of latency (typically around 3-4 milliseconds), it is practically imperceptible during mixing and mastering workflows. For tracking live instruments, most engineers find the latency to be well within acceptable limits.

Are these monitors suitable for small, untreated rooms?

While the onboard DSP correction does help correct minor anomalies, these are extremely high-fidelity, high-output monitors. To fully realize the investment of the Pulsar or Quasar, they should be placed in a professionally treated acoustic environment where their flat frequency response and extreme transient detail can be accurately monitored.

Written by SM Mastering

Official content on sound engineering, mixing, mastering, and advanced electronic production by SM Mastering.