However because this is a stereo pair and not a 2.1, the EXR's can't be pushed to the same decibel level as say the Pro Desk just for the simple reason that they can't move the same amount of air as a subwoofer can, so you have to be cautious with tracks that have lots of LFE or heavy bass mixes such as heavy-metal rock or even some soundtracks such as "Transformers" which carry tons of lower-than 60hz info in the mix, as you can easily introduce distortion with too much "bass".īut one of the amazing things about the EXR's isn't just their physical output, it's that they are TUNABLE. And the lows were full-bodied, punchy and carried LFE moments easily without distortion.
Imaging was also noticeably open and organic, something that was punctuated by the active and tuned porting in the cabinets. First off, the highs are typical Blue Sky fare: Crisp & accurate without being harsh or abusive to the ear. The EXR's really came to life in a significant way. Once I did that and started playing my standard audio test files (a varied selection of music tracks, foley and vocal tracks) then I was really in for a treat.
With the sub removed from the equation I had to not only reposition the monitors to accommodate the lack of a sub but I also had to use pink and white-noise generators along with scopes to make sure I had put them into their proper position. In fact, I did have to re-train my ears a bit to fully test the EXR's because for years I've been using the Blue Sky Pro Desk 2.1 system as my primary monitoring solution, so my ears have definitely become accustomed to the balanced sonic footprint of having a floor sub-woofer. So in point of fact I was already biased *against* the EXR's for producing any sonic experience that would impress me. However despite the glowing reviews I've given Blue Sky's offerings previously I was a bit timid about reviewing a traditional stereo pair, in fact I was almost prepared to be under-whelmed if anything. The need to be completely un-biased was even more important with this review because every other Blue Sky unit I've tested has always come out on top, so I had to be sure that I wasn't mentally preparing myself for another 5-Star review. filter is on high alert for anything that turns out to be over-hyped manufacturer claims rather than real-world performance results. As with anything I test and review I always start off with a completely non-biased and open mind and my B.S. Well guess what, those knowledgable guys at Blue Sky understand all that and have given the market what it's been asking for: An uber-high quality, sonically accurate stereo monitor, with some previously unheard-of features in a desktop near-field.Įnter the Blue Sky EXR 6.5 2-way near-field monitor. And, the some of the best 2.1 systems also command a higher price-point than the traditional 2-unit stereo pairs. End of story.īut here's the caveat with that standard: Not everyone has the physical space to allow for a 2.1 system (which requires a correctly placed and sized subwoofer) and/or, has the technical expertise to set it up properly. One major reason - if not the *only* reason - is because you simply cannot get a truly accurate sonic representation of your audio from a typical stereo setup, period. If you've been reading my pro-audio studio monitor reviews you'll note that I'm a big fan and proponent for the 2.1 monitoring setup.