ESI uniK 05 User Manual

Professional Active Reference

5" and 8" Studio Monitor

User’s Guide

ESI - Copyright © 2014

Revision 1, September 2014

www.esi-audio.com

ESI uniK plus

INDEX

1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 4

1.1 What makes uniK plus unique?............................................................................................................................ 4

2. Basics & Installation .................................................................................................................... 4

2.1 Unpacking / Handling .......................................................................................................................................... 5

2.2 Connection ........................................................................................................................................................... 5

3. Placement / Positioning / Setup ................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Stereo / 2.0 Positioning ........................................................................................................................................ 6

3.2 Stereo with Subwoofer / 2.1 Positioning .............................................................................................................. 6

3.3 Surround 5.1 Positioning ...................................................................................................................................... 7

3.4 Surround 7.1 Positioning ...................................................................................................................................... 7

3.5 Orientation ........................................................................................................................................................... 8

3.6 Additional Comments .......................................................................................................................................... 8

3.7 ESI Bass Port PlugTM for vent port ...................................................................................................................... 8

3.8 Rubber Feet .......................................................................................................................................................... 9

4. Technical Data ............................................................................................................................ 10

4.1 Specifications of uniK 05+ ................................................................................................................................ 10

4.2 Specifications of uniK 08+ ................................................................................................................................ 10

4.3 Rear Panel .......................................................................................................................................................... 11

5. General Information .................................................................................................................. 14

5.1 Safety Information ............................................................................................................................................. 14

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ESI uniK plus

1. Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the ESI uniK plus.

Our uniK plus studio monitor is available as a 5" and an 8" version, the uniK 05+ and uniK 08+.

This manual describes both models as they have similar functions and features.

The uniK plus studio monitors are the result of extensive development work performed in Germany,
to provide a professional active reference monitor that defines a higher level of quality in its class.
With its 5" or 8" kevlar low frequency driver and a custom engineered and powerful high frequency
magnetostatic tweeter, the uniK plus offers many improvements over our previous successful uniK
series of studio monitors and provides unique sound characteristics that allow this monitor to satisfy
the highest demands in a professional studio environment.

1.1 What makes uniK plus unique?

The uniK plus studio monitor offers true full range quality with extended low end in a small case
and an entirely new signal processing and amplifier unit with a perfect order low-z and low noise
design. Mos-Fet Bi-amplification ensures a high slew-rate and fast setting, featuring true analog
vintage sound processing with LC-like gyrator technology for a stressless and silky sound.

A completely new feature is the unique one knob sound character adjustment from smooth to bright,
allowing you to change parameters for every room and preference. The additional high resolution
high and low switches add additional control and of course there is the option to utilize our ESI
Bass Port PlugTM for further room adjustment, i.e. to control the low frequencies in small rooms or
when the speaker is placed in a corner by running uniK plus either as a closed or a bass reflex
speaker system.

The uniK plus studio monitor features a real precision gain attenuator, instead of a simple volume
control and the new design of the crossover ensures an excellent phase response and safe power
limitation, to drive the woofer and tweeter efficiently. The tweeter features a newly upgraded
magnetostatic design with extremely low moving mass for extended frequency and fast transient
response and high sound resolution. The matching woofer consists of a kevlar composite cone with
high stiffness ensuring better piston motion and excellent low-end sound reproduction.

Another special feature is the flexible rubber feet with discrete height adjustment. They are not only
helpful to reduce unwanted vibrations, but also allow you to tilt the speaker towards the precise
listening point - a great feature for typical near field applications. Other features include standby to
save power consumption (can be disabled), an integrated over-load indicator on the power LED that
flashes red and a ground lift switch.

2. Basics & Installation

For optimal performance of your uniK plus studio monitor, read the instructions in this manual
thoroughly and carefully before you are using the speaker. We tried to keep this manual short so
that you are not loosing much time to read through it completely.

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ESI uniK plus

2.1 Unpacking / Handling

To remove the monitor from the carton its best to turn the package carefully upside down on the
floor or on a table and then lift the carton vertically up slowly to leave the monitor resting in the
packaging foam. Make sure that you don’t grab the speaker driver units on the front to avoid
damage. Now check the monitor for signs of damage that might have occurred in shipping. In the
unlikely event of this, please contact the reseller of the product immediately. Be careful when you
remove the packaging foam. Please keep all packing materials.

You will when unpacking that the uniK plus is shipped with a power cable, the ESI Bass Port
PlugTM made from a special acoustic material and with 4 rubber feet that can be installed and
removed when required (more on that below in section 3.7 and 3.8).

2.2 Connection

High quality XLR balanced, TRS balanced or TS unbalanced audio cables are recommended for
input connection. The monitor typically connects to the line level output of a mixing console or to a
computer audio card. Make sure the power of the monitor is switched off before you connect any
audio cables.

XLR balanced connection

Connect male side of XLR balanced cable to the balanced XLR input of uniK plus. Make sure the
power cable is connected as well. Setup all speakers (i.e. left / right channels) with the same type of
cable.

TRS balanced or TS unbalanced connection

Connect male side of TRS balanced or TS unbalanced cable to the input jack of uniK plus. Make
sure the power cable is connected as well. Setup all speakers (i.e. left / right channels) with the
same type of cable.

3. Placement / Positioning / Setup

The placement of monitoring speakers is very critical and can compromise their performance. This
is a general rule for every loudspeaker. To monitor with uniK plus utilizing their maximum
capabilities, an appropriate listening environment and a correct placement are important.

Typically you would be using 2 units of uniK plus as one stereo pair – or more in surround setups
(i.e. in a 5.1 setup you would use 5 units of uniK plus together with a subwoofer).

uniK plus can also be tilted up and down using rubber feet (3.8) and depending on the room
environment you have the option to use them as a closed speaker system or open with bass reflex
port utilizing our ESI Bass Port PlugTM (3.7).

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