After years of integrating the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM into my current setup, I’ve had ample time to test and push these monitors to their limits. Their compact design, advanced features, and impressive performance have made them a mainstay in my studio, and I feel it’s time to share my in-depth thoughts. Today, I’ll be diving into a detailed review of the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM, highlighting what makes these monitors a standout choice for both professional and home studios alike.

The IK Multimedia iLoud MTM is a compact, high-resolution studio monitor designed for professional recording, project studios, and broadcast applications. Sporting a sleek black finish, this monitor is packed with advanced technology aimed at delivering uncolored, accurate sound. One of its standout features is the Physical Response Linearization (PRL) system, which uses a combination of precise modelling and real-time electro-mechanical measurements to ensure a flat frequency response, accurate phase relationships, and impressive bass performance that rivals larger monitors.

Build and Design

The iLoud MTM is remarkably compact and lightweight at just 2.5 kg per monitor, making it suitable for both desktop and conventional nearfield placements. Its enclosure is crafted from rigid, non-resonant injection-molded plastic, finished in a dark grey textured paint. The monitor is equipped with a tilt mount that offers an adjustable angle from 0 to 20 degrees, helping to minimize reflections from desks or other surfaces. Additionally, horizontal support feet and a built-in thread for mic stands provide versatile placement options.

On the front, the iLoud MTM features a D’Appolito configuration with dual 3.5″ polypropylene woofers and a 1″ silk-dome tweeter with a back chamber, enhancing the tweeter’s performance by lowering its fundamental resonance. This setup, combined with waveguide-style profiling around the tweeter, ensures focused sound dispersion and excellent phase coherence, making it ideal for critical listening environments.

Performance and Sound Quality

Powering the iLoud MTM is a 100W Class-D bi-amplifier, with 70W dedicated to the woofers and 30W to the tweeter. The monitor offers a frequency response of 40 Hz to 24 kHz and can deliver a maximum SPL of 103 dB. This robust power and extended frequency range provide a detailed and balanced sound that remains coherent across different listening levels. The D’Appolito driver configuration narrows vertical dispersion, reducing unwanted reflections from ceilings, floors, and desktops, making it particularly well-suited for nearfield monitoring on a desk.

Customization and Calibration with ARC

The back panel of the iLoud MTM is equipped with a range of controls, including a variable gain knob, EQ switches for LF and HF adjustments, and a mini-jack input for the ARC calibration microphone. The monitor supports automatic room correction via the included ARC system (to not confuse with the ARC software, not included with the monitor purchase), which analyzes the listening environment and adjusts the built-in DSP to ensure a flat frequency response at the listening position. Setting up ARC is straightforward: connect the microphone, press the calibration button, and let the monitor take care of the rest. However, this simplified version of ARC only supports single-point correction, unlike the more advanced standalone ARC software, which offers multi-position measurements and additional EQ curve options (which takes these little monitors to a new level of sound).

Backplate and Options on the iLoud MTM

The iLoud MTM offers a few notable EQ options: LF extension with settings at 40, 50, and 60 Hz (-3dB), LF and HF shelves (+2dB, 0dB, -3dB), and a desk EQ profile that compensates for desk reflections. It’s important to note that when ARC is active, the desk EQ option is disabled, allowing ARC to handle room-related corrections while other EQ settings remain adjustable for personal taste.

Real-World Use and Impressions

In use, the iLoud MTM impresses with its clarity, phase coherence, and ability to deliver accurate sound in a compact form factor. The D’Appolito format’s vertical dispersion control is particularly beneficial in reducing desk surface reflections, which can muddy the sound in smaller or untreated rooms. The onboard ARC system provides a simple yet effective way to adapt the monitors to the acoustics of different environments, ensuring that the iLoud MTM maintains a consistent performance across various setups.

Despite its small size, the iLoud MTM holds its own against much larger monitors, particularly in terms of bass response and overall sound fidelity. The digital processing inside, running at 48 kHz and 32 bits, ensures precise crossover management and phase correction, though it does introduce a slight 3ms latency, which is generally imperceptible but worth noting for ultra-critical applications.

I’ve been mixing and producing a ton of music on these speakers, and I can confidently say that, with the ARC calibration and software, they translate really well to other systems. What impressed me most is their ability to reveal small details and deliver a ‘sound in your face’ experience—if something is off, especially in the mid-range, these monitors will let you know. I found them particularly helpful in giving a clear impression of how music would translate on smaller devices, such as iPads, laptops, smartphones, and Bluetooth speakers. My verdict is that if you’re on a tight budget, these are my favourite monitors, especially considering the advanced technology built in, which many competitors in this price range lack.

In terms of tweeter hiss while in standby, I didn’t encounter any issues; you can barely hear it even when you’re as close as 10 cm from the tweeter. Distortion is relatively low given the speaker’s size, especially if you trim the low end—either via ARC calibration or the onboard options. I’ve consistently set the low cut to 50 Hz, as this speaker isn’t ideal for making critical low-end judgments. I see it as the future NS10—ubiquitous in studios and likely to become a go-to reference for midrange checks in both home and professional studios. Unlike the Yamaha HS series, which falls short in DSP functionality, the iLoud MTM excels in this area. The stereo imaging, when properly set up, is solid, allowing me to accurately place instruments within the mix. Although, compared to my Adam A7V (review coming soon), the 3D imaging effect is more pronounced and detailed on the Adams, but that’s expected given they’re in a different price range.

Check this YouTube playlist by DSAUDIO.review that compares the iLoud MTM with other monitors in the same price and quality range.

Thank you for reading through to the end—I hope this review helps guide you in making the best decision for your studio needs. Whether you’re building your first setup or upgrading your current one, the iLoud MTM offers a great balance of innovation, performance, and value. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to reach out. Happy mixing!