EVENT OPAL review

[BradLyons]

Well, I had a chance to evaluate and play with the final shipping version of the new OPAL from Event Electronics. Going back to the days of the 2020bas, Event really has been a leader in affordable studio monitors that were of good quality. They really jumped forward with their ASP8's in both quality, accuracy, and again a decently affordable price. Well with these new OPAL's, all bets are off. Guys, these monitors are good---VERY VERY GOOD!! They aren't cheap at $3k for a pair, but they really are competing in that higher-level of active monitors.

One thing that I noticed immediately that was a big improvement over the ASP8's was the airflow in the ports. If you were really pushing the monitors in the low frequency, the ASP8's had a tendency to "throw air" at you. While this may not have been a big deal in terms of hitting your face, that does affect phase and ratio of air moving across the frequency spectrum entirely. The dual-sided ports on the OPAL's help to route that air flow around the speaker and at a much wider pattern that this doesn't become an issue. In other words, no phase. In fact there is ZERO phase between the tweeter and the woofer whether the monitors are vertical or horizontal. This is not done in DSP, but rather in the analog componentry and speaker cabinet design itself.

Like the ASP8's, the bass is very good. But the difference in the Opal's is that the bass is actually warm and punchy, much like what you'd expect in speakers of this price range and higher. Of course being in a good room helps, but a good room also shows off the flaws of bad monitors and these monitors---they aren't bad at all! You certainly don't need a sub with these, unless the acoustics of your room call for it or you just want an even bigger bottom-end in the mix for playback. The highs are VERY SMOOTH, something I liked in the ASP8's---but these are certainly more rounded. And the stereo imaging, excellent!!

[monkey man]

Thank you for the heads-up, Brad.

The inevitable question: How do these babies stack up next to our trusty ol' benchmark, the Adam A7s? Tricky to compare at least in the bass department, I suspect; the differing responses and driver sizes will have to be taken into account. Then there're the completely-differing tweeter designs...

Still, I'd like to hear your impressions, and I suspect a few others would too.

[BradLyons]

The A7's are nice, but a more fair comparison really would be in the S2A range. I'll respond to that sometime over the weekend after I get some sleep

[monkey man]

Of course. Good call, Brad. Rest up well mate.

Thank you.

[BradLyons]

The ADAM's, in general, are a unique speaker design and offer unparalleled accuracy and detail when it's critical and crucial. The A7's bring the ADAM quality down to a more affordable price point. Obviously, the A7's are at a lower price so there are some pretty distinct differences between the A7's and P-series, let alone the A-series. ADAM's are about total accuracy and detail, those here that own/owned them know this first-hand---myself included. The OPAL's remind me of a cross between a DynAudio BM15 on the top and a Genelec 1031 on the bottom-end. It doesn't sound flat per say, but doesn't sound exaggerated either. In other words, it's a comfortable speaker to mix on but also quite accurate. This is what I love about my JBL LSR6328 monitors in that they give me a great mix but also very pleasant to mix on. In other words, they are flattering without being flattering---know what I mean?

[monkey man]

So... the highs have an American sweetness about them and the lows aren't at all tubby, eh?