6. MODES OF OPERATION
The MPS1620P has variable set-up modes for Bass response, when either working as a stand-alone monitor
offering extended Bass from the back-firing port as a reflex system, or as a sealed system in combination
with M&K Sound subwoofers.
A removeable port plug is found on the back of the speaker to be used for changing Bass response modes.
Simply remove the port plug when the monitor shall be used as stand-alone monitor for Full Range
system response, or leave in the port plug to operate the monitor as sealed enclosure system with
subwoofers.
Using the removeable port plug in combination with “Bass Response switch” and the “80Hz High Pass
Filter switch” found on the back-panel, provide the 1620P with great flexibility for operational setup
USAGE MODE
WITHOUT SUBWOOFER
PORT
PLUG
BASS
RESPONSE
SWITCH
80Hz
HIGH PASS
FILTER SWITCH
Full Range Ported - Bass Response
(45Hz - 22kHz)
OUT NORMAL OUT
Full Range Ported - Bass Response Extended
(35Hz - 22kHz)
OUT FULL
RANGE
OUT
Full Range Ported - Bass Response Extended
(60Hz - 22kHz)
IN FULL
RANGE
OUT
USAGE MODE
WITH SUBWOOFER
Sealed enclosure without external bass
management controller
IN NORMAL IN
Sealed enclosure with external bass
management controller
IN NORMAL OUT
The multiple operation modes for MPS1620P to become either a “full range ported system” or a “sealed
enclosure system, provides the recording engineer with great options in choosing the most suitable setup
in the studio for either near field or mid-field monitoring applications.
In small control rooms for typical near field monitoring with speakers placed less than 1 meter / 3 feet
from listening position, the “full range sealed” configuration will provide controlled Bass response down
to 60 Hz.
For slightly larger rooms allowing for more bass, but still with speakers placed closed to the listening
position, the “ported normal” configuration will provide controlled Bass response down to 45Hz.
For rooms of larger size allowing for deeper bass and where the distance to listening position becomes
more like mid-field position (1,5mtr / 5 feet), the MPS1620P can be used in the “ported full range”
configuration to bring along extended Bass response down to 35Hz.
In setups with subwoofers, - Bass Management Control is needed to handle performance of the monitor
and subwoofer when working together.
In a stereo mix environment, it is crucial that the left and right monitor speakers when in their selected
studio location, have near identical bass response at the mixing engineers prime listening position.
No less is true for multichannel mixing, where low frequency equalization and mixing decisions are even
more difficult, unless all channels have the same bass frequency response at the mixers listening position.
The best way to operate MPS1620P with subwoofers is to use the M&K Sound BMC-1 Bass Management
controller, which are designed especially for summing up a total of 5 input channels into 1 or 2 “common”
sub outputs.
Using the BMC-1 Bass management controller for any 2 channel or multi-channel mix setup, will provide
the most correct set up conditions for MPS1620P and subwoofer(s), as the BMC-1 internal high pass
and low pass filtering are routed out for direct connection of the MPS1620P monitor and M&K Sound
subwoofers, offering perfect processed outputs and level calibration for the units.
When using MPS1620P together with other types of “studio monitor controllers” or HiFi preamps having
dedicated subwoofer output connections, then make sure to firmly check how these operates for sub bass
content.
Some units just have their left and right channels summed into a common “sub out” channel, while the
main channels at the same time provide full frequency bandwidth response to their respective left and
right channel outputs. In such setups the MPS1620P is recommended to operate as sealed enclosure
“without External Bass Management” to make sure the Bass response of the MPS1620P will be properly
filtered.
If the studio monitor controller or HiFi preamp itself offers both high pass and low pass filtering, the
MPS1620P shall be set to operate as sealed enclosure “With Bass Management”, as then the monitor
controller or HiFi preamp will handle the crossover filtering between the subwoofer and MPS1620P
monitor.
Using the MPS1620P with modern surround sound amplifiers or processors, the Bass management control
will be present by the surround sound “equipment”, and the MPS1620P shall also in such setups be set to
operate as sealed enclosure “With Bass Management”.
Modern surround amplifiers, processors and monitor controllers are according to their build in decoding
processors for various surround sound formats and crossover filter options, not always made with same
designs and some products may offer more features than others.
Normally the basic features for proper Bass management control will be present in such dedicated
equipment, but always check the actual unit for their technical specifications, to make sure proper Bass
management control is possible to make when used in setups with the MPS1620P monitor and M&K
subwoofers.
