iLoud Micro Monitor

Thank you for purchasing iLoud Micro Monitor.
Your package contains

• iLoud Micro Monitor speakers
• Power supply unit
• Speakers connection cable
• RCA cable
• Quick start guide
• Registration card
  

iLoud Micro Monitor is a full-featured ultra-compact stereo monitoring system.
It’s a pair of portable studio monitors with a professional-quality bi-amplified design that provides an honest and accurate sound with a true linear frequency response.

iLoud Micro Monitor is powered by four amps that deliver a combined 50 W RMS of power. Each offer extreme clarity and superior bass response via two 3/4” tweeters and two 3” woofers.
These features are augmented by an on-board 56-bit DSP processor. It gives you total control of the monitor’s performance, allowing for stunningly accurate and detailed sound that’s hardly believable considering the size and price.

It can be adjusted to suit different playback situations thanks to its speakers’ two positionable angles of inclination and three dedicated EQ switches: bass, treble and a “free field”/”desktop” compensation switch. These switches let you optimize its sound for your listening environment. It also comes with a full range of source options that includes Bluetooth streaming as well as RCA and 1/8” inputs.

iLoud Micro Monitor is perfect for mixing, mastering, composing, producing, critically listening and more in a wide variety of situations both while traveling and while at home or in the studio.

Register your iLoud Micro Monitor

By registering, you can access technical support, activate your warranty and receive free JamPoints™ which will be added to your account. JamPoints™ allow you to obtain discounts on future IK purchases! Registering also keeps you informed of all the latest software updates and IK products.

Register at: www.ikmultimedia.com/registration

iLoud Micro Monitor overview

Installation and setup

We recommend using high-quality audio cables to guarantee optimal performance. It is important to ensure the speakers stand firmly on a solid ground. Please note that the loudspeakers will need a few days to achieve optimum sonic performance.

1. Make sure that the volume control of iLoud Micro Monitor is set to minimum. Make sure that the ON/OFF switch on the rear panel is set to OFF.
   
2. Connect the speakers with the included connection cable.
   
3. Connect the included PSU to the DC socket on the left speaker.
   
4. Connect your sound source to the left speaker. You can use both the 1/8” jack input or the unbalanced RCA stereo inputs.
   
5. Switch ON the main ON/OFF switch on the rear panel of the left speaker.
   
6. It is also possible to stream audio wirelessly by pairing a Bluetooth® device with iLoud Micro Monitor.
   
7. Play audio from your audio source and slowly raise the volume of the iLoud Micro Monitor to a comfortable listening level.
   
8. If needed, adjust the speakers response with the dedicated controls on the rear panel of the left speaker.
9. If needed adjust the speakers inclination with the tilting pads.
   

Note: Before plugging in and turning on, remember the “last on, first off” rule of powered speakers. When powering up your system, be sure that all the wires are connected, turn your mixer/interface and any other outboard gear on, and then last turn on your iLoud Micro Monitor. When powering down, turn your iLoud Micro Monitor off first and then your mixer/interface and outboard gear.

Control panel

Audio inputs

RCA unbalanced line input
These RCA jacks allows for the connection of line sources (i.e., mixer/audio interface bal/unbal line out) both for the Left and Right channel.

1/8” AUX unbalanced input
This unbalanced line input allows for the connection of stereo unbalanced audio sources (i.e., computer stereo output, music player stereo output, smartphone/tablet stereo output).

Speaker’s connection ports

These ports (present on both speakers) allows you to connect the active speaker (Left port) with the passive speaker (Right one). These are 4 pins connectors: in this way is it possible to carry the powered signal both for the HF driver and the LF driver.

Bluetooth pairing

The iLoud Micro Monitor uses Bluetooth® to stream high quality audio from your Bluetooth® enabled device without the need to connect any audio cable. In order for your device to work with the iLoud Micro Monitor it must first be paired. To pairing your device:

• Turn the back panel volume control counter-clockwise to the -INF position.
• With the iLoud Micro Monitor and your Bluetooth® device powered on: press the PAIRING button on the rear panel of the Left speaker to make the speaker discoverable. The front panel indicator will slowly flash blue.
• In the settings of your Bluetooth® device, set it to “discover” available devices.
• From the Bluetooth® device list, select the “iLoud Micro Monitor” device.
• iLoud Micro Monitor indicates that pairing is complete when the indicator returns steady white. You can now stream audio from your device to the iLoud Micro Monitor: only when there’s an audio streaming the LED turns steady blue.
• With the volume control on your Bluetooth® device turned up, play some music and slowly raise the iLoud Micro Monitor volume control until you have reached the desired level.

Volume

This potentiometer allows you to adjust the input level of the audio source.

Power switch and DC input

Power switch: this rocker-style switch allows to power on and off iLoud Micro Monitor. DC IN: connect the (included) PSU to this DC socket.
IMPORTANT: before to connect/disconnect the DC input, make sure that the power switch is set to Off.

Acoustic setup

These three switches on the back panel will help you to fit perfectly iLoud Micro Monitor in every acoustic environment.

Desktop filter

This switch sets a notch filter to compensate the typical acoustic effect of a console or a desktop. Such placement usually results in a peak in the lower midrange. The Desktop switch activates a bell shaped notch filter, with a +3.5dB between 1kHz and 10kHz and -1dB below 400Hz.

High frequency filter

This switch controls the high frequency level using a shelf-type EQ. The level can be set to 0dB or +2dB (above 4kHz).

Low frequency filter

This switch controls the low frequency level using a shelf-type EQ. The level can be set to 0dB or -3dB (below 250Hz).
This filter is used to adjust the proximity effect of side walls and ceiling. Use this filter whenever the acoustics of your room cause problems in the low frequency range.

LED

The frontal LED on the Left speaker will show important information about iLoud Micro Monitor’s status:
Steady white: iLoud Micro Monitor is ON.
Steady red: clipping.
Flashing blue: iLoud Micro Monitor is pairing with your Bluetooth device.
Steady blue: the Bluetooth connected device is streaming audio to the speakers.

Drivers

Woofer
The woofer unit is a custom 3” paper cone capable to delivers balanced mid- and low-frequency response.
Tweeter
By employing a specially developed 3/4” silk cone with neodymium magnet, the tweeter can deliver an extremely natural response on the top-end.

Bass port
The hole in the front panel is a bass reflex port. It is designed to discharge the low frequency signals and enhance the overall bass response.

Speakers placement
Please make sure that no obstacles are presents in the way from the monitors to your ears. You should be able to see the speakers completely. iLoud Micro Monitor has been designed for a vertical set up. The speakers must be positioned on a firm ground or a stand. Please note that vibrating parts of nearby objects can mask the sound.

Desktop positioning
The point between the woofer and the tweeter should be positioned approximately at the height of your ears. In case you need to position the speakers in a significant lower or higher position, the monitors should be angled
accordingly. If the speakers are placed lower than the ear line, you can tilt them with the integrated rubber pads that, also, improves the acoustic decoupling of the speakers from the surface.

Listening position
When you use iLoud Micro Monitor for stereo applications, the optimum listening position should be located in the middle of an imaginary triangle. This means that your listening point (sweet point) will be located at the top of an equilateral triangle and the two loudspeakers should be placed at the other two points of this triangle. Furthermore, a symmetrical positioning is also important: this applies to the distance between speakers as well as to the walls, ceiling and floor. In order to have a symmetrical stereo image it is also important to have symmetrical reflections: we recommend to keep a distance of at least 20 cm (8 inches) from the walls, in order to avoid low frequency boosting.

Room acoustics
The room acoustics plays a key role in the performance of your monitoring system. It is always advisable to make, at least, a minimum of acoustic treatment of your environment. This, along with the correct monitor’s positioning, will improve the linearity and the precision of the listening.

Microphone stand mounting

Thanks to the thread adapter on the bottom of the speakers, iLoud Micro Monitor can be mounted on any standard 3/8” microphone stand. This allows you to place the speakers at the perfect height and, most important, helps to reduce the typical reflections of the desktop (or shell) and, consequently, improves the frequency response/linearity of the speaker.

Block diagram

Troubleshooting

• Type: 2-way active, bi-amped, studio monitor
• Frequency response (-3dB): 55Hz – 20kHz
• Frequency response (-10dB): 45 Hz – 22 kHz
• Crossover Frequency: 3kHz
• Tweeter: 3/4” silk dome and neodymium magnet
• Woofer: 3” paper cone
• Maximum SPL @ 50cm (with two speakers playing, averaged sinewave from 100 Hz to 10 kHz): 107dB
• Number of amplifiers: 4
• Amplifiers type: Class-D
• Total output power (both speakers): 70W (peak) – 50W RMS
• Woofer output power (single speaker): 18W RMS
• Tweeter output power (single speaker): 7W RMS
•  Acoustic settings: high shelf (0dB or +2dB from 4kHz up); low shelf (0dB or -3dB from 250Hz down); desktop (+3.5dB between 1kHz and 10kHz and -1dB below 400Hz)
• High performance Bass-Reflex port
• Bluetooth® compatible with A2DP protocol
• 56-bit DSP internal resolution
• System total latency (analog input): 1.02 ms
• System total latency (Bluetooth input): 155 ms (depends on host implementation, tested on iPhone 6S / iOS 10.0.1)
• Connectors: 2x RCA unbalanced input; 1/8” AUX stereo input (unbalanced); 4-pin speakers connector
• Dimensions (inches): 180mm x 135mm x 90mm (7” x 5.31” x 3.54”)
• Weight (oz): 920g (32.45oz) left speaker – 800g (28.22oz) right speaker

Graphics

ILOUD MICRO MONITOR FREQUENCY RESPONSE
(normalized at 0dB)

Measured at 1 meter distance, in anechoic chamber, on tweeter axis. All calibration switches set to “FLAT”.

ILOUD MICRO MONITOR MAXIMUM SPL

Measured at 50 cm distance, with two speakers playing, for 10% THD.

Warranty

Please visit:
www.ikmultimedia.com/warranty
for the complete warranty policy.

Support and more info
www.ikmultimedia.com/support
www.iloudmm.com

Your instrument’s golden channel
USER MANUAL

Z-TONE DI

Thank you for purchasing Z-TONE DI.
Your package contains:

Z-TONE DI is an ultra-low noise, high bandwidth, and ultra-low distortion direct box, preamp and buffer, with variable gain and input impedance.
It provides transformer-based galvanically isolated balanced output and electronically buffered low impedance unbalanced output, as well as PURE and JFET input stages for total transparency or added harmonics.
In addition to being powered by a 9V battery, the Z-TONE DI can also run on phantom power provided by your mixing console.

Register your Z-TONE DI

By registering, you can access technical support, activate your warranty and receive free JamPoints™ which will be added to your account. JamPoints™ allows you to obtain discounts on future IK purchases! Registering also keeps you informed of all the latest software updates and IK products.
Register at: www.ikmultimedia.com/registration

Front panel

1.  Instrument input – 1/4” (6.35mm) jack type – Connect your instrument here (e.g., guitar).
2. LINK output – LINK connector is wired in parallel with the INPUT: the LINK connector can be used both as a direct unbalanced output of the INPUT signal. You can, for example, connect LINK with the input of an amplifier. Z-TONE input impedance control also affects LINK output.
3. ON LED – this LED indicates that the unit is turned on. It will turn on when the input jack is inserted and the unit is powered either from a battery or 48V.
4. GAIN control – adjusts the input gain: center for unity gain; -8dB when fully counterclockwise, +8dB when fully clockwise.
5. PASSIVE/ACTIVE – Pick-Up selector – this selector allows you to match the type of pick-up installed on the connected instrument.
6. Z-TONE™ – Variable impedance control – the front control named Z-TONE™ allows you to change the input impedance on the instrument input allowing for a unique possibility for tone shaping on your instruments.
7. JFET/PURE – Preamp topology selector – this selector allows you to select two different preamp topologies for your connected instrument: JFET preamp type and Pure preamp type.

Rear panel

1.  9V battery compartment. If the battery is installed and P48 phantom power is provided on the balanced out, the +48V will have priority over the battery.
2. Unbalanced output – Electronically buffered, grounded unbalanced output.
3. Balanced output – High-performance transformer-coupled balanced output with a ground lift option.
4. GND LIFT – when the GND LIFT switch is depressed, the ground connection is interrupted.
5. PAD -20dB – The attenuation button increases the operating range of the Z-TONE DI. By activating the PAD, the Z-TONE™ control will be bypassed.

Power up the Z-TONE DI

Z-TONE DI runs off a 9V battery for easy portability, but can also be powered by +48v phantom power from your mixer or interface to run longer sessions without worries. If the battery is installed and P48 phantom power is provided on the balanced out, the +48V will have priority over the battery.
The front ON LED will turn on when the input jack is inserted and the unit is powered either from battery or 48V.

Dedicated guitar features

JFET / PURE input

Thanks to the front panel selector it is possible to select two different preamp topologies for your connected instrument: JFET preamp type and Pure preamp type.
The discrete JFET (field-effect transistor) circuitry adds a tiny bit of color and harmonics to the signal, giving your instruments a bit of added warmth.
Pure circuitry results in a more linear response featuring the absolutely cleaner signal path possible, for best transparency and clarity.
Each amplifier topology offers complimentary sonic performance to the other, and both are widely used in professional recording and stage work. Note: this control only works when the Pickup selector is on the Passiveposition.

Pick-Up selector

Z-TONE DI works perfectly with both Passive and Active guitar or bass pickups, having independent circuitry that suits perfectly both topologies. Passive electric guitar pickups exhibit significantly higher output impedance than the active counterpart, among other significant tone differences, but neither of the two is “better” or “worse” than the other: indeed they have different behaviors. To properly couple this diversity of guitar pickups in the most musically pleasing manner, Z-TONE DI offers a pickup selector that allows the artist to select between Active (when using an active pickup) and Passive (when using a passive pickup).

Variable impedance (Z-TONE™) control

All passive pickups (being them single-coil, humbucker, split, etc..) have a certain sound character that is also determined by the loading impedance. The Z-TONE™ front control allows you to change the input impedance on the instrument input, therefore, allowing for a very creative way of shaping the tone of your instruments.
The beauty of this system is that it allows you to discover tonal shades from your instruments that you never heard before, by shaping the tone right at the source, within the pickups, instead of what is normally done with post-processing tools of any kind.
Feel free to experiment without rules with this knob! You will find your tone becomes generally more thick and bold by reducing the impedance (control is moved clockwise) and, on the other hand, more crisp and sharp when rotated counter-clockwise.
For example, if you find your high gain tones to be too harsh, try setting this control at mid position, and you’ll experience what the Z-TONE can magically do.
If you’re recording a bass (with passive pickups) and find it sounds a bit thin, try the same. The sound will immediately feel more bold, solid, and bigger.
The key here is experimentation! Feel free to check it out on your instruments, on various configurations, the possibilities are really endless.
Settings start from the highest impedance value (named “Sharp”) to the lowest impedance value (named “Bold”) The Z-TONE circuit only works with passive pickups of any kind.
Using it on active pickups will not provide any significant useful change to the sonics of the instrument.

Typical applications

Learn how to get your best guitar and bass tone using Z-TONE DI performing live on stage or recording in a pro recording studio or your home studio.

Home studio

High-end guitar/bass direct recording in a home studio

This setup allows you to record a DI guitar track at the highest possible quality into your DAW for further plug-in processing. With the addition of Z-TONE control, any audio interface can become the best audio interface for guitar and bass.
High-end guitar/bass amp+DI recording in a home studio

This setup allows for simultaneous recording of a DI guitar track and miked amp—at the highest possible quality—into your DAW for further plug-in processing. With the addition of Z-TONE control, your audio interface with 2 microphone inputs can become the best guitar and bass interface.

Professional studio

High-end guitar/bass direct recording in a pro studio

The setup below allows you to record a DI guitar track at the highest possible quality in your DAW for further plug-in processing. With the addition of Z-TONE control, you can still plug into your existing high-end modern or vintage mic preamps and capture amazing guitar or bass tone.
High-end guitar/bass amp+DI recording in a pro studio

The following setup allows for simultaneous recording of a DI guitar track and miked amp—at the highest possible quality—into your DAW for further plug-in processing. With the addition of Z-TONE control, you can still plug into your existing modern or vintage mic preamps and capture amazing guitar or bass tone.

Live

Live electric bass rig

This setup is ideal for a live high-quality electric bass rig. The Z-TONE control will affect both the tone of the signal to the FOH (front of house) and the signal sent to your on-stage amplifier.
Live electric bass rig with pedalboard

Z-TONE Buffer Boost is the ideal first pedal on your pedalboard. It buffers your guitar signal to drive pedals and amps with the best integrity and purity of tone. Z-TONE control will open a new palette of tones from your guitar or bass and the boost switch will add that edge for solos–with maximum level and minimum possible noise.
Here, Z-TONE DI is used to split the signal between FOH direct and to your amp.

Ground-loops elimination

Elimination of ground-loops with USB instruments

Connecting USB instruments to a computer and then to an audio interface at the same time can often cause a noisy ground loop. The galvanically insulated Z-TONE DI balanced output completely eliminates ground loop noise.
Elimination of ground loop noise using laptops or tablets onstage

When connecting grounded computers or audio interfaces to a stage box or on-stage mixer, a noisy ground loop is likely. The galvanically insulated Z-TONE DI balanced output completely eliminates ground loop noise.

Specifications

Audio specs
I/O Gain: Unitary, from 1/4” input JACK to both 1/4” and XLR outputs when GAIN is at 0dB and Z-TONE at the SHARP position.
Gain Range: From -8dB to +8dB
Input impedance – Z-TONE set on PASSIVE mode: Variable from 1MΩ down to 2.2kΩ
Input impedance – Z-TONE set on ACTIVE mode: Approx 20kΩ
Output impedance, unbalanced out: 56Ω
Output impedance, balanced out: 600Ω
Max input level before clipping: +13dBm when powered by 48V phantom,+9dBm when powered by 9V battery
PAD: -20dB
Dynamic Range: better than 114dB(A) for both outputs, input gain at 0dB
Total Harmonic Distortion, balanced output, 1kHz, +4dBm input: 0.0033% (PURE), 0.2% (JFET)
Total Harmonic Distortion, unbalanced output, 1kHz, +4dBm input: 0.00055% (PURE), 0.2% (JFET)
Frequency response: from 5Hz to 30kHz -1dB
Phase deviation: 0° +/-10° from 20Hz to 20kHz

Power
Phantom power: +48V phantom on Balanced output. +48V phantom has priority over the installed battery.
Battery power: 9V
Current consumption from P48 phantom power source: 6.5mA

Warranty
For detail on your product’s warranty, please visit:
www.ikmultimedia.com/warranty
for the complete warranty policy.
Support and more info
www.ikmultimedia.com/support
www.ikmultimedia.com/products/ztonedi

Regulatory

FCC statement
This device complies with Part 15.107 and 15.109 Class B of the FCC Rules CFR47:
October 2010.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1.  This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
   Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

USER’S MANUAL REVISION NOTE:
v1.0 (2020/02/19): Initial Release

Z-TONE DI, AmpliTube, and SampleTank® are trademarks property of IK Multimedia Production Srl. All other product names and images, trademarks and artists’ names are the property of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with IK Multimedia. iPad, iPhone, iPod touch Mac and Mac logo are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other
countries. Lightning is a trademark of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.