ESI uniK 08+ Biamp 2-way Professional Active Reference 8″ Studio Monitors (Pair)

The ESI uniK 08+ pair gives you two 8-inch bi-amped active studio monitors in one order, ready to set up as a left and right stereo mix position. It suits producers, mix engineers and home studio owners who want full-range monitoring with deep, controlled bass and detailed highs without adding a subwoofer.

Why Buy the uniK 08+ as a Pair?

Stereo imaging, panning decisions and phase problems can only be judged on two identical speakers. Buying the pair means both monitors are the same model with the same drivers, amplification and controls, so the left and right sides respond the same way once you set the rear controls identically. It also saves ordering two single units separately.

What Each Monitor Delivers

Each uniK 08+ pairs an 8″ Kevlar curved-cone woofer with a 49 x 26mm magnetostatic tweeter. The tweeter’s very low moving mass gives fast transients and extended highs, while the stiff Kevlar cone keeps bass tight and defined. Two internal amplifiers per monitor deliver 70W to the tweeter and 70W to the woofer, and a 3.2kHz crossover with power limiting protects both drivers. Frequency response runs from 37Hz to 25kHz, and each monitor reaches 105dB SPL.

The woofers are magnetically shielded, so the pair can sit either side of a computer screen on a desk.

Setting Up Your Stereo Pair

• Form a triangle. Place the two monitors and your listening position at the points of an equal-sided triangle, with both monitors angled towards your head.
• Tweeters at ear height. Use stands or the adjustable rubber feet to bring the tweeters level with your ears when seated.
• Keep it symmetrical. Set both monitors the same distance from side walls and the back wall so the stereo image stays centred.
• Match the controls. Set gain, character, low and high to the same positions on both monitors before you fine-tune.
• Use the bass port plugs together. If the monitors must sit close to a wall or in corners, fit the plug to both so the low end stays balanced.

Room Controls on Both Monitors

Each monitor has a rear room adjustment section: character (-6 to +6) to tilt the tone from smooth to bright, a high shelf at 10kHz (-5 to +5dB), a low shelf at 100Hz (-5 to +5dB) and gain from -14 to +14dB. Each also has a ground lift switch to fight hum, a standby function you can disable, and a front LED that shows orange when on and red in standby.

Connecting the Pair

Each monitor has one XLR/TRS combo input that accepts balanced or unbalanced signals. Run the left and right outputs of your audio interface to the two monitors with balanced XLR or TRS cables for the lowest noise. Audio cables are not listed as included, so order them separately. If you want a single volume knob for both monitors, add one of our monitor controllers.

Who Is the uniK 08+ Pair For?

• Producers setting up a first serious stereo mix position
• Electronic, hip hop and film composers who need to hear low bass without a subwoofer
• Engineers upgrading from 5-inch monitors in a medium-sized room

It is less suited to very small rooms or shallow desks. Each monitor measures 252 x 352 x 319mm and weighs 8.1kg, so plan for sturdy stands or a deep desk.

uniK 08+ Pair vs uniK 05+ Pair

The uniK 05+ shares the same Kevlar and magnetostatic design and room controls in a smaller cabinet. Each 05+ has a 5″ woofer, 80W of power and response down to 49Hz with 101dB SPL. The 08+ reaches 12Hz lower, has 140W per monitor and plays to 105dB SPL. Choose the 05+ pair for compact rooms and the 08+ pair when bass accuracy and headroom matter more. Compare more options in our active studio monitors range.

Key Features

• Two ESI uniK 08+ bi-amp 2-way active monitors
• 8″ Kevlar curved-cone woofer, magnetically shielded
• Low-mass magnetostatic tweeter, 49 x 26mm
• 140W per monitor (HF 70W, LF 70W)
• 37Hz to 25kHz frequency response, 3.2kHz crossover
• Character, high and low room controls on each monitor
• XLR/TRS combo input, ground lift and switchable standby
• Bass port plug included with each monitor

FAQ

Does this listing include two monitors?

Yes. The pair includes two complete uniK 08+ monitors, each with its own bass port plug, power cord and user manual.

Are audio cables included?

No audio cables are listed in the box. You need two cables, XLR or TRS, to connect your interface to the monitors.

Do I need a subwoofer with the uniK 08+ pair?

For most mixing, no, because response reaches 37Hz. If you work on film or club music and need to check the lowest octave, you can add a subwoofer such as the ESI aktiv 10s.

How far apart should the monitors be?

Start with the two monitors and your head forming an equal-sided triangle. Adjust from there until the centre image sounds solid and focused.

Can I connect the pair to consumer gear with RCA outputs?

There are no RCA inputs. The combo inputs accept unbalanced jack signals, so you can use RCA to 1/4″ jack cables, but balanced connections from an interface give the lowest noise.

Why does one monitor sound louder than the other?

Check that the gain controls on both monitors are in the same position, that both are the same distance from you, and that the interface outputs are not panned or set to different levels.