The Lowdown
Reloop has got some really nice products in its range of late, and this is another one. The Wave 8s are competitively pitched, and for what you pay, they sound excellent. Not only that, they’re well built and should last you a long time. They have one input less than the Pioneer model, and maybe aren’t quite as good looking – but they’ll only cost you around two-thirds of the price.
Video Review
First Impressions / Setting up
So as they’re active monitors, you need to get an audio signal into each of them. That means a mono cable running from the left output of your DJ controller to the left speaker, and a similar mono cable running from the right output to the right speaker. You do the same with anything else you may want to use them with. There’s a choice around the back of XLR, TRS (both balanced) and RCA (unbalanced) inputs, so you may need to get some adaptor leads to get everything plugged in correctly, depending on your gear.
With your gear plugged in (and the mains electricity connected – again, one power lead per speaker), next job is to use a special link cable to connect the speakers together. Finally, you plug the wired remote control into either of the speakers. Set the volume controls on the back of the speakers to the same on each, and you’re ready to go.
In Use
Using the remote control
The remote control is quite heavy, in silver-painted metal on the top and in rubber underneath. It sits nicely on your console desk or surface. It has a big volume knob, and two small buttons at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock for functions. There is a small blue LED to indicate that the unit has power.
Obviously the big volume knob adjusts the volume. The mute/standby button at 9 o’clock mutes the music when you press it momentarily, unmuting it when you do the same again. Press and hold it, however, and the speakers enter standby mode, and close down. To turn them on again, you press and hold it again.
Meanwhile, the “input” button cycles between the three available inputs – RCA, TRS and XLR.
Between these controls, you have a decent level of control over the functions of two speakers in parallel. The only things not controlled are the little buttons on the back of the speakers for HF trim, LF trim and acoustic space – settings that you basically “set and forget” anyway.
Conclusion
I’m a fan of this concept, borrowed as it is shamelessly from Pioneer. “Serious” active monitors are a good way to ensure better sound quality, but in multi-use rooms they have always been a bit impractical.
Adding in a desktop remote control in this way gives the home user some of the conveniences of a hi-fi unit, meaning that such speakers can play more nicely with other kit too. After all, you may watch movies in your bedroom too, or listen to your iPod and play Xbox in your living room – both situations where having extra audio inputs that you can easily switch to is a bonus.
Reloop has got some really nice products in its range of late, and this is another one. The Wave 8s are competitively pitched, and for what you pay, they sound excellent. Not only that, they’re well built and should last you a long time. They have one input less than the Pioneer model, and maybe aren’t quite as good looking – but they’ll only cost you around two-thirds of the price.
• A Wave 5 model is also available, the difference being that while these have 8″ woofers, the Wave 5s have 5″ woofers.
