Fostex RM-3 1U Rackmount Active Stereo Reference Monitor 20W

Fostex RM-3: A Complete Stereo Reference in One Rack Space

The Fostex RM-3 is a 1U rackmount active stereo reference monitor that puts confidence monitoring into a single rack space. Two 110 by 40 mm elongated cone units, each driven by its own 10-watt Class-D amplifier, sit behind the front panel so a machine room, edit bay, or broadcast rack gains stereo monitoring without a separate speaker and amp. It is built for the engineer who needs to hear program audio reliably rather than fill a room. In a crowded rack, it earns its space by doing a job nothing else there can.

Fostex RM-3 Inputs and Metering

Source flexibility is central to the design: balanced XLR and 1/4-inch TS analog inputs cover console and interface feeds, while an AES/EBU digital input accepts a digital source directly. Independent 26-dot LED meters for the left and right channels give an immediate visual read of level, which matters when the rack is out of easy earshot. A mute switch can be programmed either for a full mute or for a 20 dB dim, depending on how the operator prefers to work. Those choices make the RM-3 adapt to the room rather than the other way around.

Fostex RM-3 Amplification and Power

Each channel runs from its own Class-D amplifier for 10 watts per side, which is ample for near-field confidence monitoring in a rack. A worldwide power supply lets the unit travel between regions without concern, drawing roughly 10 watts in use and 0.5 watts or less in standby. That efficiency suits gear that stays powered for long broadcast or post shifts. The whole unit is engineered to be left on and depended upon.

Fostex RM-3 Where It Fits

Broadcast facilities, OB trucks, edit suites, and machine rooms are the RM-3's natural home, anywhere a reliable stereo check is needed but floor space for monitors is not. Because it accepts both analog and AES/EBU digital sources, it drops into legacy and digital signal paths alike. For operators who need Dante networked audio instead, the RM-3DT offers the same chassis with a Dante input. As a self-contained, rack-mounted reference, the RM-3 remains a broadcast staple.