The Best Speakers for Mix Translation?: Amphion One15s
Mixing on high-quality studio monitors can profoundly shape your skills as a music producer. Over the past year, I’ve been working extensively with the PSI A23s, and it’s been a transformative experience for my ears. These speakers reveal intricate details you might never have thought existed—reverb tails, subtle saturation, gentle compression, and even hidden editing errors. Combine this with the depth and stereo imaging capabilities that only speakers of this calibre can provide, and you have an incredible mixing tool.
However, there’s a catch: the level of detail can become overwhelming. I found myself over-mixing, agonising over every element, and spending far too long on each project. It was the opposite problem I had with my old Neumann monitors, where second-guessing levels and struggling to hear compression or saturation (due to harmonic distortion above 5kHz) was the norm.
This got me thinking—why do some engineers swear by monitors like the Neumann KH120s, which, to me, sounded uninspiring? For example, renowned mix engineer Spike Stent relies heavily on the old analogue KH120s. Clearly, I was missing something.
The Theory Behind “Bland” Monitors
The idea is simple: if you can make a mix sound exciting on dull, flat-sounding monitors, it will translate well to any playback system. A mentor once pointed out that my mixes on the PSIs were too polished, effectively “mixing the energy out” of the music. Not ideal!
I’ve had the privilege of observing this mentor mix on both Neumann 420s and Amphion monitors over the past year. His mix translation is consistently phenomenal, no matter the playback device. That’s when I realised how beneficial a second set of speakers, like Amphions, could be for achieving balanced and reliable mix translation.
Enter the Amphion One15s
The Amphion One15
After some research, I came across a set of Amphion One15s paired with their 700 amplifier. Amphion, a Finnish company, designs passive, fully analogue, DSP-free speakers, and the One15s are a standout model.
These compact two-way monitors feature a passive radiator at the back to disperse low-end frequencies. With a 1″ titanium tweeter and a 5¼″ aluminium woofer, the crossover point is set at a lower-than-usual 1600 Hz. This configuration ensures a cohesive, honest sound.
Physically, the One15s are small and light—just 7 kilos—with dimensions of 316 x 160 x 265 mm. I’ve mounted mine on IsoAcoustic 155 frames, angled perfectly towards my listening position.
A Unique Sound Signature
Amphion describes their speakers as “beautifully honest,” and I couldn’t agree more. While the One15s extend to 20kHz, their high-end isn’t as expansive or detailed as the PSI A23s, which reach up to 23kHz. However, they strike an excellent balance in the mid-range, which is neutral and cohesive—less pronounced than ATC monitors but perfectly balanced for mix evaluation.
For me, the One15s excel at highlighting details that might not translate well in mixes, especially in vocals and snares. My Sennheiser HD490 headphones offer a similar focus, but the Amphions provide a fuller picture in a studio environment.
Mix Translation in Action
The One15s are rated down to 49Hz (-3dB), which might seem limited. Yet, they still deliver surprising low-end presence. This limitation can actually be a strength. For instance, while mixing a drill track with an 808 bassline hitting powerful 30Hz notes, the Amphions exposed an issue: the drivers strained at those frequencies, flagging a problem that would likely occur on other systems. A quick adjustment with a multiband compressor at 30Hz resolved the issue, but it was the Amphions that brought it to my attention.
The Ampion One15s Rear
Modern-Day NS10s?
The Amphion One15s remind me of the classic Yamaha NS10s, which began as home hi-fi speakers before becoming a studio staple. Engineers used them to check mix translation to consumer devices during the vinyl era, when low-end reproduction wasn’t as critical.
Today’s consumer devices, however, are a different story. They feature extended low-end and high-end capabilities, demanding mixes with energy and excitement across the spectrum. Amphion monitors cater to this need beautifully, offering a more modern alternative to the NS10s. Unlike Neumanns, Amphions avoid a muddy low-mid range while still delivering mixes that translate brilliantly.
Purchasing Links
BUY THE AMPHION ONE15s: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/JzE1ON
