The Ex Machina Arcturus is a flagship active three-way main studio monitor designed primarily for soffit-installed monitoring systems. Combining dual SEAS Extreme Series low-frequency drivers, a custom coaxial midrange and tweeter, and a separate amplifier/DSP pack, it provides a full-range reference for demanding control rooms, mixing facilities and mastering environments. This listing is for one loudspeaker system; two units are required for stereo monitoring.
Arcturus extends Ex Machina’s coaxial and axisymmetric design approach into a main-monitor platform with increased low-frequency capability and headroom. Its custom mid/high-frequency assembly combines a 7-inch midrange with a concentric 1-inch tweeter, placing both drivers on a shared acoustic axis. This arrangement supports consistent imaging and coordinated dispersion, helping engineers assess vocal placement, instrument separation, depth and spatial processing.
The coaxial assembly uses Composite Sound Metamodal TX diaphragms based on TeXtreme carbon-fibre technology. Their material structure and geometry are developed to control diaphragm resonance while maintaining low mass and high stiffness. Together with Ex Machina’s digital calibration, this supports detailed reproduction of the midrange and high frequencies without relying on an artificially emphasised presentation.
Two SEAS Extreme Series bass drivers provide the low-frequency foundation. Their split-gap twin-ring radial neodymium motor architecture is designed to maintain symmetrical behaviour and strong motor control over substantial excursion. This makes Arcturus particularly relevant for engineers evaluating deep bass, kick-drum dynamics, low-frequency compression and the relationship between bass weight and mix clarity.
The sealed Valchromat enclosure combines dense, well-damped construction with an ultra-rigid 38 mm laminated front baffle. Its sealed design avoids bass-reflex port noise, while radiused driver insets help minimise obstruction around the high-excursion woofer surrounds. The cabinet is designed to support the substantial output of the dual bass drivers within a purpose-built main-monitor installation.
Amplification and processing are housed in a separate 2RU rackmount pack. Hypex NCAS500MP amplification supplies 800 W RMS to the low-frequency section, 100 W RMS to the midrange and 100 W RMS to the tweeter. This remote-active architecture keeps the electronics accessible outside the loudspeaker enclosure, an important consideration for soffit installations and servicing. The amplifier pack requires one rack unit of ventilation space above and below it.
A fifth-generation SHARC+ AD21565 processor handles Ex Machina’s proprietary correction of magnitude and phase response, supported by AKM AK5572EN analogue-to-digital and AK4493EQ digital-to-analogue converters. Digital fourth-order crossovers operate at 200 Hz and 2 kHz, with phase correction intended to coordinate the three frequency sections as one coherent monitoring system.
The manufacturer specifies a frequency response within ±1 dB from 28 Hz to 30 kHz at the 50 cm calibration position, with a −6 dB low-frequency cutoff at 18 Hz. Phase response is specified within ±15° from 20 Hz to 30 kHz. Maximum continuous output is rated at 117 dB SPL at one metre, including 112 dB at 50 Hz. These capabilities make Arcturus a substantial full-range reference for critical production work involving demanding low-frequency content and wide dynamic range.
Arcturus is primarily a professional main-monitor solution, but its calibrated response, coaxial imaging and extended bass capability also make it relevant to purpose-designed audiophile listening rooms. Its size, remote electronics and installation requirements favour carefully planned systems rather than casual placement. Room acoustics, mounting design and system integration should be considered together to realise its performance.
Ex Machina Soundworks designs, builds and calibrates its monitors in Brooklyn, New York. Arcturus brings that integrated approach to flagship monitoring: dedicated drivers, sealed cabinet construction, matched amplification and digital correction developed as a complete loudspeaker system.