KRK RP8G3-NA Review – Third Generation Of Massive Sound

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KRK's Rokit monitors have been the staple of affordable studio design for a long time now. The model we are looking at today, the KRK Rokit 8 Gen 3, is the second largest member of the family, but also one of the best monitors you can pick up under $500.

Design

When it comes to design, KRK improved the cabinet compared to the previous two generations of this lineup. We have beveled edges on the front panel, as well as improved baffle design. Front firing slotted ports are still there, although they have been redesigned as well. Overall, it is fair to say that KRK Rokit's 3rd generation is a bit more aggressive out of the box.

From a purely aesthetic point of view, KRK has stuck with the black theme that is only broken by their yellow LF driver cone. This has been a signature detail of sorts for Rokit series for a long time, so it wasn't really a surprise to see it on the third generation of the series. With that said, build quality is pretty good, especially considering the somewhat unusual baffle design. KRK Rokit 8 Gen 3 will fit most interior designs with ease.

Features

What makes KRK's Rokit 8 Gen 3 really great is its simplicity. We have the 1″ soft dome tweeter that is capable of reaching some 35kHz with ease, and a massive 8″ Aramid glass composite cone below it. These are powered by a Class A-B amplifier that packs some 100 Watts of power, resulting in 109 dB of max peak SPL at 1 meter. The rear panel of the speaker reveals the standard room acoustic controls with HF and LF trim switches.

In terms of I/O options, you get the usual. By that, we mean an unbalanced RCA port as well as the balanced 1/4″ TRS and XLR ports. The general consensus is that KRK went with a light weight set of features compared to other brands in this segment. However, that choice didn't really result in any negative impacts on the performance of Rokit 8 speakers.

Performance

Once you plug in everything, position the speakers and flip that power switch, you might be surprised with what you get. The response is balanced, linear but comes with a lot of bite to it. The low end is massive yet tight, allowing you to experience bass in a safe way, without having to worry about it sounding muddy. Mids are broad, clean and well defined while trebles are sharp. KRK Rokit 8 Gen 3 definitely packs enough power
for near field use, leaving more than plenty of headroom should you need it.

Positioning the speakers to cater your room is fairly easy. They are massive but using the available trim options, you should find a profile that works for your specific needs. Compared to other models in this segment, KRK RP8G3-NA might not be as feature packed, but they definitely bring that raw performance to the table.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, KRK's Rokit 8 Gen 3 has perfectly filled the shoes left by its predecessors. It is one of the best options for those who need reliable performance with a lot of low-end potential. That is about all we have expected it to be.

For more info about the KRK RP8G3-NA, click here.
For more studio monitor under $500 you might like, click here.