Best small stage monitor: The IMG Stageline Flat-M200

Are you a musician who gigs frequently and wants your monitor to be heard clearly on stage? Would you rather have a small floor monitor that sounds better and louder than your heavy 12-inch monster? Music gear that has the right balance between sound quality, power, and portability is hard to find. The IMG Stageline Flat-M200 might be the solution for those seeking for the best small stage monitor that is as small as it gets but with professional sound.

Key Takeaways:

• The IMG Stageline Flat-M200 is a very compact 300W full-range system active monitor that can be used for much larger gigs than you think is possible
• Sound and built quality are outstanding, making this monitor perfect for everyday use
• Made for musicians who want the best from a small stage monitor: Power, clarity, sleek design, road-worthiness, and portability
• Packed with 4 x 4-inch FaitalPRO specially designed speakers
• Slightly larger than a piece of paper
• Perfect for musicians who play smaller gigs, or with back problems

Who is IMG Stageline?

IMG Stageline is a brand of Monacor International which is a reputable company for its high-quality PA products in the field of installation. IMG Stageline was born as a brand focusing on products for the stage as its name suggests. Its headquarters is located in Bremen, Germany. Their monitors are considered one of the best stage monitors for smaller gigs.

Who is this stage monitor for?

Any musician that plays small gigs

When you play small gigs with a band that isn’t too loud you don’t need a large and loud monitor in front of you. Furthermore, your band won’t need more than one or two monitors.

Vocalists for all stage sizes

The best stage monitors for vocals are the ones with smaller speakers. Speakers larger than 10 inches are not needed for vocals in most scenarios. The Flat-M200 fitted with 4 x 4-inch speakers is capable of producing a loud enough sound when not producing very low frequencies. For vocals and some guitars, it can be used on outdoor stages with very satisfying results. It can take a lot before feedback. I regularly use it on outdoor gigs on larger stages for my main vocal, guitar, and backing vocals with great results.

Musicians with back problems who can’t carry too much weight

This is an important issue for many people and musicians are not excluded. A severe back problem can slow you down or even make you skip gigs if not taken seriously. The winning formula is not healing but preventing. The IMG Stageline Flat active monitor series is a game-changer for musicians who can’t carry heavy gear.

Musicians who commute to gigs by public transport and carry their gear

When traveling to gigs in larger cities where the traffic is heavy and parking is a huge problem, public transportation is a must. The Flat is so small and lightweight it can easily fit in a backpack.

Anyone trying to reduce their gear’s size

If you are transporting your gear by car it can be difficult to fit classic-sized gear. Downsizing amps, monitors, and PA speakers is a logical goal if minimal band gear is important to you.

Acoustic solo artists

Solo gigging is not easy. You’re on your own. You play the guitar or keyboard, sing, and do all the carrying and setup all by yourself. If you don’t have a column PA that can be used as a monitor you will need one. Small monitors are great for your voice and guitar. You absolutely don’t need anything bigger than a Flat series monitor.

Pros

Portability

Factors that contribute to the portability of a product are:

• Size
• Weight
• Compact shape

In our case, we have 320 x 150 x 250 mm,  4.11 kg, and a cool flat design. All this makes the Flat-M200 a breeze to transport, carry, and setup on stage. The handle is a nice touch, with its ergonomic shape and size. These tiny floor monitors have such a small footprint that you can easily fit two of them in a case or bag instead of one classic monitor. This is a modular feature that allows you to disperse your monitors evenly on stage. Smaller and lighter gear equals faster setup and teardown. The Flat-M200 has a flat slim design that makes it barely noticeable to the audience.

Construction & design

The speaker cabinet has a sleek flat design and a sturdy, rugged, road-worthy surface against scratches. It has 2 x 10mm (3/8 inch) threads for mounting on a mic stand. They are located on one long and one short side so the monitor can be mounted horizontally or vertically. Two more 6mm threads are located on the back longer side for adding the clamp that is included for mounting on microphone stands.

The controls that are located on the right side are on a recessed panel which protects them from damage. The upper surface has a metal protective grille so the speakers are protected from accidental stepping which is possible because of the very flat design which is lower at the front side. The rubber feet are good quality and have a nice flat design.

Sound quality

Compared to many other small active monitors I’ve tried, the Flat M200 is on the warmer side of the frequency spectrum. Vocals truly shine through this compact stage monitor. All the right middle frequencies are loud and clear. There is no bad presence that usually leads to occasional feedback. The dispersion of sound is much better than I expected so all band members can hear my voice. My band when playing small gigs with no bass amp sends the bass signal into the monitor and it doesn’t have any problem with reproducing low end. 

Versatility

Besides being a stage monitor it can also be used as a small PA or for all types of stage fillings. The manufacturer had that in mind when adding the threads for mic stand mounting.

Cons

XLR input is not line-level

The Input is a combo of a line-level jack and an XLR mic-level high-gain input so be careful with gain. It is designed to use the jack input for aux from the mixer and the XLR input for directly plugging a microphone in for i.e. rehearsals. I didn’t know this at the start so I just plugged my mixer’s line-level aux into the XLR input. The signal is hot but manageable so I just leave my level on about 25-30 percent and it works fine.

The XLR input has some slack when used which is a little bit odd, but doesn’t bother me too much, though it would be nice if they had a safety lock in it.

Original bag does not fit?

I also purchased the original IMG Stageline Flat-M200 Bag but was disappointed to find out it’s too small to use on an everyday basis. Don’t get me wrong, the speaker can be placed inside, it’s just such a fuss and you need someone to help you. While closing the lid with the zipper it feels like it’s going to break.

Price tag

The price for this monitor is somewhere in the upper-middle range, so if you are a beginner on a tight budget maybe you should try something cheaper.

Not suitable for monitoring loud low frequencies

For monitoring a bass guitar (more as information rather than a groove) at low volumes the monitor can produce a decent sound. If you are looking for a monitor that can deliver all the nuances of a bass guitar you should look for something else or consider the IMG Stageline Flat-M8 which has an eight-inch speaker that is more suitable for low frequencies.

Specifications and features

IMG Stageline has designed the Flat-M200 with the needs of professional musicians in mind. The size, weight, flat design, sound quality, and versatility are all that a modern musician needs from a monitor for easy gigging. Whether it’s placed right in front of you, as a sidefill, or as a small PA it punches a sound pressure of 122 dB (nominal power) of clear and warm sound. 

The Controls are very easy to use. It also includes a link output for connecting additional monitors. A durable wooden construction and metal protective frame ensure that the monitor is protected from accidental bumps or scratches from everyday use and transport.

Main Specifications:

• Flat and very compact full range system
• Fitted with 4 x 10 cm (FaitalPRO, 4 x 4″) full range speaker with neodymium magnets
• Class D amplifier system
• Max. rated SPL: 122 dB
• Sensitivity: 98 dB/W/m
• Indication of signal and limiter
• Volume control and tone control
• Inputs: 1 x combination XLR/6.3 mm (line/mic) balanced
• Outputs: 1 x XLR link out
• Input signal: 25 mV/28 kΩ (line, balanced), 6 mV/20 kΩ (mic, balanced)
• High-quality multiplex wooden cabinet with protective metal grille
• 2 x M10 and 2 x M6 threaded inserts for stand adapter or mounting device
• Supplied with clamp for mounting, e.g. onto a microphone stand
• Total output power: 300 W
• Power rating (RMS): 200 W
• Frequency range: 70-20,000 Hz
• Power supply: ˜ 230 V/50 Hz/356 VA
• Dimensions: 320 x 150 x 250 mm
• Weight: 4.11 kg

Where to buy?

The best option is Thomann which has a worldwide distribution. There are some other retailers, mostly located in Europe, but with higher prices.

My story

I have played around 100 gigs per year for the last 10 years. Necessity has made me think a lot about how to make my gigs easier. I have been downsizing and simplifying my band’s musical gear ever since. Actually, I’m always in the minimalistic mode when it comes to most things I do, but the music business I’m in has always been a top priority for me.

I’m not young anymore, and I have been periodically suffering from back problems in my lower spine for the last fifteen years. This condition has forced me to do a lot of thinking about the gear my band uses. One of my latest purchases has been the IMG Stageline Flat-M200.

I have tried gigging with several small stage monitor speakers over the years. The stage monitors I used last were a pair of dB Technologies K300 that served me very well. One of them died and I went for the Flat-M200 that I have been interested in for a couple of the last years. The dBs are great but they are not designed to be used as floor monitors, and their plastic enclosure isn’t that resistant to surface scratches.

Through the years I have also tried various monitors like the Beringer Eurolive E12 (passive stage monitor), Proel Flash 8A, FBT J8A, and some more that I can’t remember at the moment. The FBT sounded fine but was much larger. The Behringer needed an external amp, and the Proel wasn’t loud enough. Bottom line: The IMG Stageline Flat-M200 fits all my needs.

From personal monitor to band monitor

As I started using the IMG Stageline Flat M200 through the summer, my bandmates would say how clear and loud enough its sound was. Ultimately, instead of two monitors, we only used one intended to be my personal monitor speaker: the Flat M200. 

Imaginary interview with me during the Summer of 2019:

Reporter: Hello, please tell us what kind of gigs you play mostly.

Me: Let me see Dude. Hmm…a bunch of hotels, camping sites, beach bars, small pubs, and hotels.

Reporter: Sir, you mentioned hotels twice?

Me: Yeah, we play lots of hotels, yup!

Reporter: If someone told you they could manufacture a stage monitor exactly the way you want it to be, what would it look like?

Me: It would have at least 200w, 116dB, an awesome warm sound, a slightly rugged anti-scratch surface, and a really flat wedged design. Also, it should be extremely lightweight and not much bigger than a piece of paper…a handle wouldn’t be bad I guess.

The rest of the interview is so boring so we’ll skip it.

Conclusion

The imaginary interview could easily serve as a conclusion but let’s stay on the professional side.

The IMG Stageline Flat-M200 is a best-buy winner in the upper-middle price range. In this review, you can see that It has all the features a small active stage monitor should have: compact size, lightweight, great sound, wedged design, versatility, and built like a tank with an anti-scratch surface.

If you are serious about your gigging career and play lots of smaller to medium-sized gigs you won’t be disappointed with this floor monitor. It will fit on the smallest stage and still give you amazing power.

I will probably order the IMG Stageline Flat-M100 to try out how it will work for me. After using the Flat-M200 I wouldn’t be surprised if the even smaller Flat would be enough for most small gigs. Who knows, maybe I’ll get two, just to show off.