Полочная акустика — Alcons Audio MR5

The MR5 is the smallest model of the M-series from Alcons Audio, the Dutch maker known for pro-ribbon drivers, and the company calls it a micro two-way 5-inch monitor for nearfield and surround duty. It was the first M-series model to reach the market, announced alongside the Director6 amplified controller, when the MR10 and MR12 were still in development. Alcons aims it at nearfield reference monitoring and multichannel surround work, and the series also targets broadcast facilities and mixing studios for film and music.

Key specs that matter

Alcons specifies a full-range two-way layout with passive filtering. A 5-inch AMB5NDAIC-4 neodymium woofer in a vented enclosure is paired with the RBN202rs pro-ribbon in a 2-inch format. Response spans 45 Hz to 20 kHz within 3 dB and reaches 38 Hz at the 10 dB limit. Sensitivity is 86 dB, taken over 200 Hz to 10 kHz, and impedance is 4 ohm. Peak level reaches 113 dB with a Director6 and 112 dB with a Sentinel3. Dispersion at 15 kHz is 120 x 40 degrees. The box measures 355 mm in height, 190 mm in width and 290 mm in depth and weighs 8.6 kg. Two Speakon NL4 sockets serve as input and link, and the warranty is 6 years limited.

Engineering and use context

The ribbon is a multiple-patented Alcons design that covers mid and high frequencies from 1 kHz upward, taking over a wider part of the midrange than is usual for a tweeter. Its compression-less principle and very low moving mass allow 500 W peak input for 200 ms, and Alcons quotes a 1 to 15 RMS-to-peak dynamic range. A HempHorn waveguide keeps horizontal directivity at 120 degrees across the whole frequency range. The woofer uses the ActiveCoil motor structure, and the port follows the ScoopVent loading design meant to improve transient response in the lowest octaves. The same mid and high transducers appear in every M-series model, which keeps voicing consistent when MR5 cabinets serve as surrounds next to larger ones.

Pairing

The MR5 is remotely powered and needs only one amplifier channel, with all processing done in an Alcons ALC controller, the Director6 being the minimum. ALC units add VHIR phase processing and 192 kHz AES3 digital inputs. The Director6 itself has eight class D channels at 750 W, bridgeable to four at 1500 W, analog and AES3 inputs, 8-band EQ and integration with the ALControl platform.

Alternatives

The Alcons Audio MR10 is the three-way step up in the M-series, adding a 10-inch woofer below the same 5-inch midrange and ribbon.