Tantrum Audio Angry Box Review
The Tantrum Audio Angry Box is an intriguing addition to the world of studio monitors. With its compact design, single 4.5-inch driver, and sealed enclosure, it raises an obvious question: why would anyone choose a single-driver speaker? To answer that, let’s explore what sets this speaker apart and how it fits into the world of mixing and mastering.
Tantrum Audio Angry Box in red.
What Is the Angry Box?
The Angry Box is designed to serve as a high-quality mid-band reference speaker, catering to audio professionals who need to mix for consumer devices. These devices often lack consistent frequency responses and rarely extend below 100Hz. Popular devices like laptops, mobile phones, and Bluetooth speakers all vary wildly in their audio delivery, creating a challenge for audio engineers striving for accurate mixes.
To tackle this, Tantrum Audio has built a speaker that replicates the mid-range characteristics of these consumer devices while maintaining professional-grade audio quality. Its 65W Class-D amplifier and a carefully designed frequency response make it a powerful tool for ensuring mixes translate well across a range of listening environments.
Key Features and Modes
The Angry Box offers two operating modes:
Full Range Mode: With a bandwidth of 90Hz to 12kHz (±3dB), this mode provides a balanced frequency response ideal for general referencing.
Mid-Focused Mode: As the name suggests, this mode emphasises the mid-range, particularly the vocal frequencies, helping engineers refine mixes for better clarity and balance on consumer devices.
These modes are essential for highlighting areas in a mix that may rely too heavily on low or high frequencies—elements often inaudible on smaller speakers. For example, a kick drum’s thump at 50Hz or the sparkle of percussion above 12kHz might shine in a studio environment but disappear on earbuds or laptops. The Angry Box ensures these elements translate effectively by encouraging more mid-range presence.
Technical Highlights
Despite its compact dimensions of 14cm³ and weight of just 2.5kg, the Angry Box delivers impressive performance:
Frequency Response: -10dB from 60Hz to 20kHz; ±1dB/±15° from 300Hz to 12kHz
Max SPL: 102dB peak
Transducers: 4.5-inch LF/HF driver
Directivity: Conical, 110° below 4kHz
Power Consumption: Just 0.5W in standby mode
Its sealed enclosure ensures tight, accurate sound reproduction, making it an ideal choice for referencing mixes without the phase issues commonly found in multi-driver setups.
Why Consider a Single-Driver Speaker?
One of the Angry Box’s standout features is its single-driver design, which eliminates phase discrepancies both within the speaker itself and when used as a stereo pair. Phase issues in multi-driver systems can lead to murky, undefined audio, making accurate mixing difficult. The Angry Box avoids this entirely, offering clean, focused sound with exceptional stereo imaging and a striking phantom centre.
This simplicity extends to setup as well. Unlike multi-driver monitors, which often require meticulous calibration for optimal performance, the Angry Box delivers remarkable results even with a more casual placement.
Who Is It For?
The Angry Box is not necessarily a replacement for primary studio monitors but rather a valuable addition to an engineer’s toolkit. It’s ideal for:
Headphone Mixers: Those who predominantly mix on headphones and need a compact, reliable speaker for referencing.
Small Studios: Engineers working in spaces where noise is a concern or larger monitors are impractical.
Translation Tools: Professionals with existing high-quality monitors who need a realistic representation of consumer listening environments.
At £629, it’s an investment, but for the right user, it’s a powerful way to ensure mixes translate effectively.
Verdict
The Tantrum Audio Angry Box is a compact yet powerful reference speaker that bridges the gap between professional audio quality and consumer device realism. With its versatile modes, impeccable phase accuracy, and ability to highlight critical mid-range details, it’s an invaluable tool for mixing and mastering engineers looking to refine their work for everyday listeners.
For those interested, the Angry Box is available from Make Noise Pro Audio, a trusted reseller of professional audio gear. Whether you’re building a home studio or looking to upgrade your setup, their range of equipment is worth exploring.
PURCHASING LINKS
BUY THE TANTRUM AUDIO ANGRY BOX: https://shorturl.at/vYOIw
