The Lowdown
The KRK V Series 4 is a range of two-way active studio monitors featuring an 8”, 6″ or 4” Kevlar woofer and a 1″ tweeter. The V series has been engineered to provide consistent response across all the range. The V8 S4 is the largest in the range, pumping out the most low end and also costing the most at just under US$800. Not as compact as the V4 or V6, but still a good option for home DJ/producer set-ups.
First Impressions / Setting up
The KRK V8 S4 is the biggest model in the V4 line with an 8” woofer and a total of 230W of power behind it. It has a wider frequency response compared to the V4 and V6 which means you hear more of the low end that’s so crucial in dance music.
Several EQ options help compensate for any room acoustic deficiencies. The front-ported design is convenient as always as the bass build-up in corners becomes less of a concern.
You can connect to the V8 by a balanced XLR or unbalanced 1/4” connector. The build an attractive aluminium brushed enclosure with some sharp corners that are topped off by KRK’s signature yellow speaker cones. The speaker cones are made of kevlar for durability.
In Use
With the added frequency range, the V8 is a serious piece of gear for home studio monitoring. With enough power and size to drive a good amount of lows, monitoring becomes less of a guessing game and more just being familiar with the speakers. Bass heads who want to “feel” sub bass frequencies may still want to add in a subwoofer though.
Continuing the tradition of KRKs, the V8 has a very sweet sound signature that is less fatiguing than more revealing sets of monitors. The bottom is round and the top end is less shrill.
A Sweetwater reviewer says that the V8s are a satisfying upgrade from the VXT line from KRK.
With a large jump in price from the 6” version, it would be wise to check out other monitors in the same price range as the V8 is not exactly a budget option by any means.
Conclusion
It may not meet the demands of more demanding users especially in reproducing sub frequencies, the KRK V4 S4 is still a good choice if you want to upgrade from a budget pair of monitor speakers.
