Here, with the KRK Rokit 7 G4 near-field studio monitor, we can see that it has been asked to square itself to the rest of its family and determine how well it can be compared.
In this review, we’ll see if it can maintain the KRK legacy as a quality brand speaker, or if it acts as an inkblot on an otherwise spotless KRK track record.
While some speaker brands are known for sounding amazing and other speaker brands are known for giving you something for next to nothing, there are also certain speaker brands that people recognize due to their impressive high quality at an affordable rate.
KRK is one of those brands, and they’ve been guilty of the charges for a pretty long time.
KRK is a USA brand that has a longstanding history and tradition of making professional-grade speakers at a reasonable rate and is a favorite among beginning and professional music lovers.
Is the KRK Rokit 7 G4 Series any Good?
These self-powered nearfield speakers are very good at delivering great balanced sound and work well in the studio environment. They come with a DSP-driven Graphic EQ featuring 25 settings and matching Kevlar drivers. The KRK Rokit 7 G4 is a top-class Near-Field Studio Monitor and is available for a reasonable price.
KRK Rokit 7 G4: First Impressions
Build &Durability
The KRK has always made a point of creating quality speakers with the highest-grade build while at an affordable, reasonable price bracket.
As I opened up the Rokit 7 KRK Rokit RP7 generation to see what it had going on, I can tell you that I wasn’t disappointed. Whereas most other monitors at these price points would simply opt for the build quality to shrink, KRK has yet again done the exact opposite.
The new Rokit fourth generation is certainly built with the same level of Rokit science!Â
First things first, the speakers have taken KRK’s signature black and yellow color scheme and tweaked it just enough to make it stand out even more.
This, ironically enough, was done only by them toning the colors down! I’m a design guy, so I always love paying attention to a set of speakers and how they look just as much as how they sound. I’ll get back to the design in a bit, but, right out of the gate, the speakers’ looks alone make it a tough act to beat.
Stepping away from the visuals for a moment, this new KRK Rokit G4 series’ entire system and physical body are pretty durable. I wouldn’t say I took a bat to the cabinet, but I would say I did accidentally kick it on its side (I don’t recommend it) while reviewing the speakers only for them to work without a scratch.
I’m not a small guy and I was very afraid I had completely ruined them before even getting a chance to test them out. Amazingly, not only were they not internally damaged, there wasn’t much more than a slight chip on the side.
That’s durability.
The new Rokit G4 series also has an LCD screen that is extremely well-integrated along its back. The screen is super bright and clear while making searching things pretty simple.
The Specs
The KRK Rokit 7 G4 has a 7-inch Kevlar woofer that is used alongside its 1-inch Kevlar tweeter, a pretty big step up from the soft-dome tweeter from the previous generations.
The speaker uses an efficient Class D power Amp while producing up to around 145 Watts of power.
This is a pretty serious increase from the Rokit 5 of yesteryear.
In terms of sound, the Rokit 7 G4 can hit 110dB Max SPL. For most studios, this is more than enough sound and volume while also offering just enough headroom for when you want to push the sound out just a bit further for fun.
The frequency response range falls squarely within the low 40s at 42Hz and reaches up to 40KHz. This is pretty much identical to the last generation’s frequency response, one of the things many people greatly enjoyed.
The Design
From a design standpoint, the KRK does a lot that I like. It holds to the iconic KRK yellow/black color design.
This automatically makes the front-firing port speakers stand out as unique and cool. Whereas even the higher quality and more expensive speakers may still come across as bland monitor systems, the Rokit 7 G4 offers that extra bit of flair and intrigue that makes it instantly recognizable in a crowd.
This is made even more impressive when you compare it to the previous generation’s design. While it holds to the yellow/black color scheme, it does so in a much more reserved and subdued manner. One of the big issues before was that the speakers were needlessly “loud”. Here, the Rokit 7 G4 lets you know it’s special without needing to scream it in your face.
I like that. I like that a lot.
Taking A Deeper Look – Features & Sound Quality
So we’ve had a chance to check out the Rokit 7 G4’s build and design, with both being much more impressive than one would expect given their price.
However, that’s just the physical exterior. We’re now going to take a deeper and more thorough look at what the Rokit 7 G4 has going for it in terms of sound quality as well as its various other features.
Sound Quality
In terms of the KRK Rokit 7 G4’s sound quality, there isn’t anything else to say other than “impressive.”
Seriously, while sound can, at times, be considered somewhat subjective, there aren’t a lot of people that can honestly hear what the Rokit 7 G4 has going for it and think anything other than it being truly amazing.
What It Gets Right
For one, if you are a fan of strong subwoofer levels and meaty low-end frequencies, this is the speaker set for you. I was impressed at how well the woofer did while never taking that extra step into the muddy-colored territory.
This is a pretty clear step up from the previous generation’s Rokit 5, which was certainly lacking in this refinement. As it stands, the Rokit 7 comes with plenty of definition, plenty of strength, and plenty of warmth, all at the same time.
And, while you can certainly make things even better with a pair of subs, you don’t need to.
Meanwhile, the highs are just as amazing.
Thanks to the new Kevlar tweeter (as well as the waveguide), the Rokit 7’s high-frequencies are incredibly focused and clear. Just as the lows are super meaty with some serious punch, the highs are well-defined while generating plenty of clarity and sparkle.
What It Doesn’t
Technically speaking, while the mids are on this side of the list, that’s only because they aren’t as impressive as the lows and highs. You’re still going to get some stellar quality, however, it isn’t going to be on the level as the other two areas.
This ultimately means, depending on your ears, there may be a slight need for tweaking the sound creativity to get it perfect.
Still, the fact that this is the only thing that these KRK Rokit G4s “don’t” get right tells you just how amazing and truly impressive these speakers are.
Features Offered
Connection Options
Like the other members of the KRK G4 family, the Rokit 7 G4 comes with several different yet simple connection options to play with and choose from. It has a solitary XLR and TRS combo jack that will be good for pretty much 95% of the musical situations you’re dealing with.
Outside of this, however, you start to see the apparent sparsity in the connections department. It doesn’t come with any other cables, ports, or jacks to connect to.
It also doesn’t have a Bluetooth connection or a headphone or AUX jack. Simply put, in terms of connections, the speakers come with one connection port and one port only.
Tuning Options
I’d argue that, for as great as the design and sound are here, the top-prized feature goes to the various turning features added into speakers, bringing forth a whole new dimension of sound adjustments and flexibility.
The first thing you’ll notice is the onboard DSP with an LCD screen face. Gone are the ye old olden days where tuning is done by twisting some knobs and flipping some switches.
The Rokit 7 G4 brings tuning to the 21st century… and that’s just the interface.
DSP-driven room tunes with 25 visual Graphic EQ settings. This help minimizes and correct problems in your acoustic environment.
The user can visualize the EQ settings with an LCD Graph while getting real-time helpful spectral analysis from the included KRK APP. Yes, it has an APP!
The App is compatible with Android and iPhone, the KRK App aids with the subwoofer level, monitor placement, level matching, crossover setting assistance, EQ, polarity, and even has a Signal Generator.Â
In terms of what’s offered, the Rokit 7 G4 comes packed with a ton of different functions and features. It has an easy-to-navigate menu system screen while also allowing you to dial your settings to as precise a level as possible. It also comes with 25 EQ sound combinations to play with.
This is something that even the premier speaker setups don’t have, and it’s given away at literally a steal!
This incredible variety of options isn’t just for show either. As every studio space is different, finding the optimal sound setup can be difficult. By offering this many options, both in terms of presets as well as precise tweaking adjustments, you can more effectively find a sound setup for your studio monitors that allows you to get the most out of them in terms of auditory prowess and quality.
Final Thoughts – Is it Worth Your Time?
The KRK Rokit 7 G4 takes many of the things that were loved in the previous generation and amplifies them while upgrading and fixing a lot of the things that weren’t so great as well.
As a result, the Rokit 7 G4 has come out intending to show the world it can handle just about anything that’s thrown against it.
In terms of build, sound, design, and features, the Rokit 7 G4 makes itself known as a force to be reckoned with.
What’s more, it does all of this at an insanely competitive price tag.
So, to answer the question, “Is the KRK Rokit 7 G4 worth your time?” I’d have to give it a resounding “yes!” While the KRK speakers have always been good, it’s obvious that the Rokit 7 G4 had something to prove this time around and it did it.
Whether you’re looking for a great entry-level set of speakers or something that can act as a quality backup pair while performing, there’s a lot of value in what the Rokit 7 G4 has going for it.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Solid Build Quality
- Has Impressive Number Of Tuning Capabilities
- Great Sound Quality
- DSP-driven Onboard EQ with Visual LCD
Cons
- Does Not Have An RCA Connection
KRK Rokit 7 G4: The Verdict
The KRK Rokit 7 G4, purely from a value-for-money perspective, is a tremendous deal. From its build quality to its unique design to impressive sound and even the surprisingly advanced tuning options available, there is a lot to love with this speaker setup.
If I’m being completely honest, there aren’t a ton of other speakers on the market that are at this price while offering as much as this does.
As mentioned before, KRK has a long-standing tradition of producing quality speakers at an affordable price point.
Here, we’ve seen that the Rokit 7 G4 holds to this tradition and then some, making it a great starting speaker set for beginners and a stellar backup set for experienced professionals.
While there are certainly some options out there that are cheaper and there are other options out there that offer more, the Rokit 7 G4 kind of stands in a small, niche circle that can offer what it offers at the price that it’s at.
Whether you’re starting or have been in the music field for a while, this set is something you should really, really consider getting.
