The cabinet is a front-ported bass-reflex design with a stunning appearence, also available with a black, white, yellow or purple front baffle. Two audio input connectors have been provided catering for balanced and unbalanced connections, with the balanced input presented on a ¼" jack socket and the unbalanced input presented on a phono socket. Mains power is supplied via an encapsulated power cable with associated rocker switch, and a continuously variable level control has been added to match the input signal to the integral amplifiers.
Can be wall or ceiling mounted with a suitable speaker bracket.
The Manufacturer
The Fostex Company was founded in July 1973 by the Foster Electric Company Limited (founded 1949) and is one of the world's largest developers of OEM speaker and transducer products, employing over twenty thousand people in nine countries. Fostex has invested millions in the development of audio multitrack technology and continues to enjoy a large market share in this area. They also manufacture a complimentary range of pro audio products which sit across a broad spectrum of industry disciplines.
General
- frequency response 60Hz - 30kHz
- signal to noise ratio >75dB
- THD <0.1% @ 12W, 4O 20Hz - 20kHz
- input connector unbalanced phono
- input connector balanced 3 pole ¼" jack
- output power 18W RMS LF and 18W RMS HF
- power requirements 40W
- colour red
- dimensions 144mm W x 180mm D x 220mm H
- weight 3.75kg
Product review#1
Full-range monitors and large rooms aren't an option for everyone, and some of us even have to make do with no more than a computer desk for a studio. The new Fostex PM0.4ns aim to deliver better performance than a typical desktop monitor, and are available with various high-gloss baffle colours (red, yellow, violet, black or white). The rounded baffle edges reduce diffraction, and the low weight and compact size mean that wall-mounting is practical.
Fostex PM0.4nConceptually, the PM0.4n is a conventional front-ported, two-way bass-reflex system, with a four-inch bass/mid driver (using an aromatic polyamide cone) augmented by a 5/8-inch soft-dome, urethane-film-laminated cloth tweeter. As you'd expect, there's limited low-frequency response: the published spec gives the -10dB points as 60Hz and 22kHz. A pair of 18W power amps drive the woofer and tweeter via an electronic crossover, and the distortion figure is quoted as less than 0.1 percent THD with the speaker running at 12W. The amp signal-to-noise ratio is specified as better than 75dB, 20Hz to 30kHz (unweighted) — so although you can hear a tiny amount of hiss and hum if putting your ear to the speaker, it's nothing to worry about. The inputs are via balanced quarter-inch jacks and unbalanced phonos, and there's an input gain trim on the rear.
As you'd expect from such a small speaker, you don't get any really deep bass, but the low end still comes over as plausibly solid, albeit with a hint of a boxy bloom to it. The bass actually sounds tighter when the speakers are pushed a little harder, and although you can't get very high SPLs out of them, they're more than loud enough for desktop use, assuming they'll be within 60cm or so of your listening position.
The mids and highs sound well-balanced and smooth, turning aggressive when you present them with a mix that has too much top end. In other words, they 'tell it like it is'. Although lacking the clarity of focus of a really good monitor, they have the makings of good home-studio speakers, because if a mix sounds good on these it seems to travel pretty well. You have to resist the temptation to EQ anything below 90Hz, as it's not really possible to hear what's going on in the depths, but in other respects they represent a pragmatic balance between what we'd like and what's practical in a given space at this kind of price. Paul White
Reviews by Paul White, Sound On Sound Feb 2011
Product review#2
Fostex PM0.4n
The new babies of Fostex's studio monitor range
Review by Jono Buchanan (Future Music)July 23, 2010
The PM range of monitors was released to the world in 2005 and while Fostex's name might not be the most immediate to spring to mind if you were listing companies building studio speakers their popularity has proved sufficient for Fostex to tweak and reissue the whole of the PM range.
The smallest of the monitors, the PM0.4n, is the subject of this review. These are available in a range of five flashy colours with red, yellow, white and purple options for those who prefer something striking, alongside black for studio traditionalists.
So, can the visual vibrancy be matched with sonic fidelity?
Looking around
The PM0.4n's are active monitors, that stand only 22cm tall but which feature a 4" cone for their low frequency driver and a ¾" soft dome tweeter for the top end. 18W of power are available to both drivers and frequency response is offered between 60Hz and 30kHz.
Input is provided at the rear via RCA or ¼" jack, alongside a continuously adjustable gain control, while the power button lies below a prominent heatsink, with a bright blue LED on the monitor's front to indicate that it's ready to do your bidding.
One construction point of note - the PM0.4n's are not magnetically shielded speakers, so may be prone to greater levels of interference than any of the other models.
Sound and size
Monitors of this size usually suffer most at the bottom end and with the frequency range stated above, it's fair to say that the PM0.4n's shouldn't be exclusively trusted to balance super-low bass content, though the prominent roll-off of the original PM0.4n design is much less apparent this time around.
However, they manage to avoid the more obvious low-mid pitfalls that can beset monitors of this size by providing a pleasingly rich level of detail in this area, while there's also plenty of snap in the upper mids, without too much obvious colouration
The tweeter is nicely fizzy without being over-bright and with the dance music we fed their way, in particular, the PM0.4n's are punchy little beasts, responding well even at louder listening levels.
More layered and textured material stands up fairly well too, though there's a slight prominence around the 'vocal sweet spot', which you'll need to handle with care if you're intending to use these speakers to mix pop records.
Rich, more-orchestrated music is also impressive, with a good density of field and pleasing stereo image.
Foxtex focus
As is clear from Fostex's website, these monitors have been designed to serve a multitude of purposes, including installation in clubs and bars for 'recreational' listening and this is perhaps supported by the range of colours in which the monitor is available.
This doesn't rule them out for those looking for a studio monitoring solution towards the budget end of the market but any mix can only be as good as the monitors on which it is put together and accordingly, this is one area where anyone who can stretch their budget, should.
However, the PM0.4n's impressed us with the level of detail they do manage to convey and they're certainly capable of doing a good job, so if you're shopping with one nervous eye on the debt crisis, you should certainly add these to your listening list.
MusicRadar Rating: 3.5 / 5 stars
Pros
Good sound quality. Surprising depth of detail for a monitor this size. Available in a range of colours.
Cons
Shouldn't be trusted for monitoring super-low bass frequencies. Prominence around the 'vocal sweet spot'.
Verdict
Packing more sonic weight than their size would suggest - good for those on a budget.
Where to buy:
Fostex PM0.4n Black
Fostex PM0.4NB 18 Watt Active Studio Monitors, Black
Fostex Professional Studio Monitor 10cm 2way White Pm0.4n (W)
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