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Are active studio monitors shielded?

basscooker

basscooker

Inactive
Commercial User
Apr 11, 2010
5,727
10,063
Northern KY
Disclosures
Cab fan, hobbyist
#1
I've always been very good about not setting electronics on top of my speakers. I don't even know for sure that most of the stuff I keep away CAN be harmed. I have a pair of M-Audio studio monitors hooked up in the bedroom, as well as the "charging station" for my various devices; phone, laptop, kids' tablets and phones, wife's phone, and my MPBT-1.

Should I be concerned that someone else in the house might plug something in and set it on top of the speakers? I'm sure a bass or guitar cab is something to worry about, but wouldn't these monitors be expected to have EMF sensitive stuff nearby?

I found my daughter's phone charging, sitting on top of them about a week ago. No issues, and I took it off of there as soon as I saw it. What made me think to come and ask is that I've been suggesting monitors as an alternative to small combo amps for bedroom practice for years. I'd sure feel kinda bad if it turns out that somebody took my advice and wiped a device clean leaving it sitting on them.
 
#2
Wipe the device clean sitting on them? Are you talking about getting added noise or the magnets affecting other devices? I don't think either should be an issue. Mind you, the speaker wire might get noise if it isn't shielded or twisted, a la kimberkable.
 
#3
I mean magnetically. Should there be concern for the wellbeing of my devices? Is a cell phone or laptop going to catch any bad juju being so close to pretty strong magnets?
This could be past myth persistent in my memory. You could mess up tape sitting the reels on a bass cab, supposedly. I know a TV or two I got too close to with some satellites.
I just make sure to never set my laptop within a foot or so of the monitors, and never on top of a big cab. Am I wasting my mental energy, here? Are the devices I'm talking about a)shielded themselves b)not affected by magnets c)both d)neither...??
 
#4
Not to worry, it takes a very powerful magnet in very close proximity to have any effect. Most/all phones have a flash drive which is unaffected by magnetic fields and your monitors have very small and relatively weak magnets. Degaussing machines can have two very strong electrical magnets, have warning labels everywhere about exposure to devices and humans and even then it may take a couple of passes to erase anything.
With todays nanny-state, I would say unless there are specific warnings prominently posted you have nothing to worry about.
 

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