KRK Rokit 7 G4 Review – Excellent Revamp Of A Classic Monitor

If you have spent any time looking at studio monitors you’ll likely have come across KRK. They have a long history in the business and an even more stellar reputation. A firm favorite among professionals but also an excellent choice for home studios. The G4 series steps it up a notch with an impressive range of new features and upgrades.

The Rokit 7 G4 sits comfortably in the new G4 range of monitors. I’ve already had a chance to review the Rokit 5 and Rokit 8. Both of which impressed me. So I was eager to see how the Rokit 7 sat within the lineup. Let’s get the quick and pros out of the way before diving into the details.

Features

I’m going to cut right to the chase and let you know that the new G4 series from KRK is fantastic. Improvements across the board from the previous generation. All while maintaining an approachable price point for budget-savvy buyers making these great 7 Inch studio monitors. Let’s take a closer look.

Sound Quality

Sound quality can be very subjective and often impacted by a variety of factors. But you would be hard-pressed to find anyone that isn’t impressed with how good the Rokit 7 G4 sounds.

The previous generation was a firm favorite of many producers so any tweak to a winning formula needs to be direct and thoughtful. And that is exactly what KRK has done. There is a distinct improvement over the previous model. Most notably is the warmth, balance, and clarity.

The iconic yellow woofers instantly demand respect.

I’ve always liked the depth that the Rokit series provides in the low-end. It’s meaty without straying into muddy territory. While I found the Rokit 5 a little lacking the Rokit 7 finds the sweet spot straight out of the box.

Plenty of punch, plenty of warmth, and high definition. You can certainly use these without a subwoofer. But it is hard to resist that extra sub-bass depth that one provides.

The highs are equally impressive. The new Kevlar tweeter along with the waveguide does a superb job of focusing and directing high frequencies. Highs are clear, well-defined, and offer plenty of sparkle. I don’t like overly bright monitors and luckily these suit my preferences to a tee.

Perhaps the weakest component would be the mids. Don’t get me wrong they sound great but certainly not as stellar as the lows and highs. There is still plenty of accuracy and tonality present. But for my ears, they did need the slightest of tweaking to get the balance I was seeking. But a lot of this can come down to personal preference and your individual studio space.

Much like the rest of the G4 series the Rokit 7 is an impressive studio monitor with excellent sound. 

Build Quality

This is another area where KRK gets right. Often monitors in this price bracket can suffer from below-average build quality. That is not the case with the Rokit 7. It offers a high level of construction quality with durable components throughout.

The newly designed front bass port keeps everything sounding tight.

The move to Kevlar woofer and tweeter is a great choice. It not only highlights KRK’s attention to detail but its desire to produce the best possible product without compromises. The cabinet design is also robust and durable. The LCD screen on the back is also well integrated. It’s bright, clear, and nestled perfectly into the cabinet.

If you want a reliable and durable studio monitor the KRK Rokit 7 G4 is among the best available.

Specifications

The KRK Rokit 7 G4 features a 7-inch (6.5 depending on how you measure it) Kevlar woofer. To complement this you’ll find a 1-inch Kevlar woofer. A change from the soft dome tweeter from yesteryear.

The KRK Rokit 7 G4 is a powerful and loud studio monitor.

The Class D Amp offers up 145 Watts of power which is a substantial increase over the Rokit 5 G4. It’s an efficient and powerful amp that can generate enough power to reach 110dB Max SPL. For the majority of studios, this will be ample volume. Lots of headroom and also great for when you have a desire to crank it up for a bit for fun. The frequency response of 42Hz – 40KHz is nearly identical to the Rokit 5 G4.

Tuning Options

By far the most impressive feature of the new G4 series from KRK is the tuning flexibility. Gone are the days of a selection of switches and knobs. Instead, we jump forward to an onboard DSP with an LCD screen. This is a massive improvement and a fantastic feature at this price point.

You’ll have access to a staggering amount of functionality. The menu system is easy to navigate and you can dial in your settings to a granular level like never before. Sick of having to choose between a couple of options? KRK has you covered with 25 possible combinations. I love the simplicity of the screen. But I also appreciate the depth of choice available.

The LCD screen is easy to navigate and filled with options.

Every studio space is different. Once you factor in placement, room treatment, and layout it can be difficult to get the most out of your monitors. 

To make things easier the KRK Audio Tools app is also available. This will analyze the output and provide suggestions for which setting will be suitable for your space. It’s effective and easy to use and a great feature for beginners. But it would have been great if it communicated with the monitor directly. The ability to adjust settings without manually making changes on the monitor would have taken it to the next level.

If you want absolute control over your monitor’s output the KRK Rokit 7 G4 is an excellent choice.

Design

The iconic KRK yellow and black combination is instantly recognizable. In a sea of bland all-black monitors, I’ve always appreciated the extra flair that KRK injects into their monitors. But everyone is different so you may prefer monitors that aren’t as loud when it comes to appearance.

The ‘White Noise’ version may suit your studio space better.

What I really like is how KRK has refined the look. The bright yellow from previous generations makes way to a more subdued shade. Still catches the eye but not as in your face as before. Plus if you don’t like black cabinets you can opt for the White Noise version.

Beyond appearance, there are other design elements at play here. The new bass port now engulfs the entire bottom portion. The angled edge ensures air doesn’t interfere with output. 

Dimensions

Once you start moving into larger monitors space can become an issue. The Rokit 7 G4 is a large monitor. But it isn’t as bulky as other 7-inch monitors I’ve come across. Efficient use of space to help you squeeze these bad boys into your studio space.

The KRK Rokit 7 G4 is a large studio monitor.

If you do have a small studio you may find these a little bit overbearing. Especially when you factor in overall room dynamics. At 16.76 lbs. (7.6kg) these are also reasonably hefty. They will sit securely. Plus the added EVA foam cushion on the base of the monitor helps reduce movement and improves sound output. 

Inputs

As with the rest of the KRK G4 series the connection options are simple. You’ll have access to a solitary XLR/TRS combo jack. To be honest, for most situations this is all you’ll require.

The Rokit 7 G4 doesn’t feature a lot of connection options.

Beyond this basic connection, there are no further bells and whistles. No Bluetooth, no AUX, and no headphone jack. Depending on how you intend to use your monitors this may be an issue.

The lack of an RCA connection point may also be a problem if you are using certain gear. Of course, you can always look at conversion cables if needed.

Value

From a pure value for money perspective, the KRK Rokit 7 G4 is a fantastic deal. Excellent build quality, impressive sound, and advanced tuning features. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a monitor at this price point that offers this much.

It is a tradition KRK has maintained throughout the entire lifespan of the Rokit series. Affordable and highly capable gear. It is exactly the reason why this series is often recommended to both beginners and professionals.

There are cheaper monitors out there. If you need to stretch your budget you can get decent performance from cheaper monitors. But on a pure dollar to quality ratio, KRK has nailed it.

Customer Reviews

The latest Rokit series from KRK has proven to be an instant success. Plenty of 5-star reviews detail the incredible sound, easy-to-use tuning options, and smart appearance.

The Power Of Kevlar Speakers

When you think of Kevlar you’ll likely have bulletproof vests in mind. So to see it used as a speaker material may come across as a little odd. But there are a lot of benefits to this material. As a result, it has become a very popular alternative to paper cones. Below are the top two reasons why Kevlar is a great choice for speaker cones.

Kevlar is a great material for speaker cones.

Tensile Strength – Kevlar woofers offer a high level of tensile strength. This makes it an excellent choice for speakers due to how quickly it can come to a complete stop. This allows the movement of air to be precisely controlled resulting in a cleaner and tighter response.

Durability – Kevlar is also highly durable. Kevlar doesn’t conduct heat very well and is non-absorbent. This means it won’t fall prey to changes in temperature or environmental conditions. This results in a speaker cone that will last the distance.

There are finer points to different speaker cone materials. But Kevlar has rapidly become one of the most popular choices out there.

Other Options

While the KRK Rokit G4 series is an impressive range of monitors there are plenty of other options available. Here is a shortlist of 3 alternatives worth considering.

PreSonus R65 V2 Review

The R65 V2 from PreSonus is a viable alternative if you prefer having a broader sweet spot. This second-generation monitor also offers a lot of improvements from the previous model.

• Impressive sonic performance with meaty lows, rich mids, and detailed highs.
• The AMT tweeter helps deliver a generous sweet spot.
• Doesn’t feature as many detailed tuning options as the Rokit 7 G4.

Pioneer DM-50D Review

If you would prefer to spend less the Pioneer DM-50D is a good alternative. It comes as a pair of speakers at an aggressive price point.

• Features a DJ or Production mode switch for simple switching between styles.
• Attractive monitors that are also loud and clear.
• Not as much depth and precision as the Rokit 7 G4.

Kali Audio LP-6 V2 Review

Kali Audio has rapidly established a reputation for producing quality studio monitors. Founded by a team of industry professionals their LP range is at a similar price point to the Rokit series.

• High level of clarity and ultra-accurate. Good for studio work.
• Large spacious sweet spot and excellent imaging.
• The dip switches for tuning can be a little fiddly.

Should You Buy?

The KRK Rokit 7 G4 is an excellent reinvention of a classic. The upgraded materials and attention to detail are high. The improvement in sound quality is also a step above the previous generation. Exactly what you want to see from a company in the studio space. But by far the biggest upgrade is the fantastic tuning capabilities. When you also factor in the price there is no doubt that the KRK Rokit 7 G4 is among the best studio monitors available today.