KRK Systems GoAux 4 Portable Monitors Review

Probably one of the most on-the-nose items we’ve covered, the KRK GoAux4 Portable Monitor speakers make it clear that they’re something you can take with you just about anywhere. KRK GoAux4 makes a point of being something of a departure from KRK’s more established near-field speaker DJ gear setup.

Instead, they’ve gone for very small portable monitors that even include a carrying bag. The KRK GoAux4 comes with both a primary as well as a secondary speaker design as well as a variety of USB and AUX ports.

It’s very clear that, while these things probably won’t be filling out a concert anytime soon, they’ve got you covered in terms of having everything you need entirely when and where you need it, all without being crazy bulky or difficult to move around with. Oh, and I did I meant they sound pretty darn good.

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First Impressions

One of the first things you’re going to notice about the KRK GoAux4, pretty much immediately, is its super small and super portable size. These things, while certainly not “tiny” are meant for portability more than anything else.

Yeah, they’ve got somebody to them (we’ll touch on it in a bit) but it’s obvious that the bigger focus here is their desktop and “go anywhere” aspects.

If I were to compare them to another set of studio monitors, it’d be the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors. Both are super portable desktop monitors with an adjustable stand as well as the aforementioned primary and secondary speaker setup.

Not only that, but they also share the fact that they’re both outfitted with numerous input options, including wireless Bluetooth.

Design

In terms of design, the KRK Goaux fits right at home with the rest of the KRK collection. It has the telltale yellow aesthetic that you know and love. There are also the added adjustable stands I talked about, each coming with a couple of screws that you can connect to the speaker even without any extra tools.

They can also be folded up and taken apart really easily, letting you pretty much set up and take down in only a minute or two.

The speakers come with a black padded case which includes a hand strap and a shoulder strap. The case and its straps are all comfortable enough and even join in with the yellow design for the interior.

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Build

Jumping into the speakers’ build, the KRK GoAux 4 series is physically quite impressive. They come with a pair of black metal grilles along with a 4″ woofer and 1″ fabric dome tweeter. They’re rear-ported, with the left speaker having an on and off button at its front.

This button also conveniently operates as a volume knob, though that’s parred for the course for smaller speakers like this. It’s also got a mic and headphone socket that you can connect with.

The left-hand speaker is the lead speaker, with the right-hand speaker being entirely passive and just focused on playing the music.

The left-hand speaker includes the input connectivity, power, settings, amplifier, volume control, and DJ headphone output, and the other speaker is a remote unit linked via a lead.

The two speakers are connected by a 4.5 m cable, while there are around five different input options available: Bluetooth, RCA, TRS, 1/8″ minijack (aux in), and USB type-B audio.

This means you’ve got a ton of setup options to play with instead of the sole RCA and “maybe” 1/8″ aux-in that most similarly priced and sized speakers tend to leave you with.

At the speakers’ back, they (the left-hand speaker) come with some impressive high and low-frequency buttons. There’s a +2dB, a flat, and a -3dB frequency boost & cut set along with accompanying indicator LED lights.

Lastly, one of the bigger selling points is the fact that the speakers come with a transformer included in their overall build. While this does add to that earlier mentioned heft, that’s nothing compared to the fact that you’re not being super encumbered with a power brick to keep them running.

While it’s not insane, it’s certainly appreciated by a guy like me who doesn’t like carrying more than necessary.

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A Deeper Look

Bluetooth

Briefly touching on it, it’s very true that the KRK G0Aux4 comes with Bluetooth capability. While it’s not necessarily ground-breaking on its own, I have to give them props for even offering it on something this small.

Not only that, but the pairing process is pretty smooth and they can connect to your devices without too much hassle. The pairing button is held up around the back of the primary (left-hand) speaker along with the rest of the different port options.

Sound Quality

In addition to the general design and build of the KRK Goaux 4, the thing you’re probably the most interested in is the speakers’ sound quality. I will say that they make a point of earning every single cent of their modest price tag, and I mean that in the very best way possible.

While they’re not on the same selling point as bigger, louder, or more crisp DJ speaker systems, the GoAux4 does everything with what it has, giving you a compelling sound quality for its Class-D specs.

That said, you have to keep in mind that these are not big speakers, in any capacity. This means that bass is just not a thing here.

They can be tuned well enough to your space so the acoustics are reasonable, but if you’re truly expecting something that’ll have you rattling because of the intense base or volume levels, this isn’t going to be it.

The sound is quite detailed with some impressive distortion-free clarity, excellent source separation, and stereo imaging, whilst still being loud enough for practicing your music without worrying about a ton of background hums or hisses; a staple for many speakers similarly priced.

Room Correction

With the included measurement microphone, the built-in Auto ARC automatic room correction function can automatically optimize the response of the speakers to your environment. This will allow you
allows you to tailor the speakers for wherever you use them.

Overall Performance

What We Like:

• Very Affordably Priced
• Sound Quality Is Good & (Largely) Distortion-Free
• Very Good Build
• Adjustable Stand

What We Do Not Like:

• Bass Isn’t Punchy Or Excessively Loud
• The size May Be A Bit Too Small For Some

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KRK GoAux4: The Verdict

Ultimately, while there are certainly some speakers that are of the same quality but at a cheaper price point, I think that what KRK has done here with their GoAux4 is worth acknowledging. If you’ve got absolute money, then there are some cheaper options, certainly.

However, that’s only part of the story. For literally only a bit extra, the KRK GoAux4 makes a point of being much more convenient, durable, and portable compared to similarly-priced options available.

As a DJ, I make a point of focusing most of the products here on their perspective, since they’re the most apt to run with these things.

I will say that not only will the GoAux4 work great with starting DJs that want to try some things out for themselves, but it’s just a great portable option for anyone in general that wants to play their music easily and conveniently.