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Opinions on near field monitors

I'm looking in to buying a pair of near field monitors for production on my computer. I was looking at some speakers at my local store and am now attempting to decide between the M-audio BX8s and the KRK V8s. I'd prefer the V8s but the $600 price difference (for the pair) is quite a bit of money. I can get the BX8s for $400 for the pair, or the V8s for $1000. Are there any others I should check out? Does anyone use either of these?

Re: Opinions on near field monitors

quote:

Originally posted by DJ1MK I'm looking in to buying a pair of near field monitors for production on my computer. I was looking at some speakers at my local store and am now attempting to decide between the M-audio BX8s and the KRK V8s. I'd prefer the V8s but the $600 price difference (for the pair) is quite a bit of money. I can get the BX8s for $400 for the pair, or the V8s for $1000. Are there any others I should check out? Does anyone use either of these?

If you are looking for something that you can use for production with your computer, take a look at these as well:

Alesis ProActive 5.1 System

THX� approved
450 watts RMS
Digital and analog I/O
Wireless Remote Control

Pls don't confuse these with LogiTech 5.1, they may look the same but they certainly no where near the performance of the real deal the Alesis ProActive 5.1.
cost: USD $399.95

also these:
Tannoy Reveal Active Studio Monitors - Pair

One of the most popular monitors from Tannoy's line is the Reveal Active. It incorporates some rather neat features that can often be overlooked when confronted with the usual "monitor wall." Its two high quality drive units are mounted in a 1 1/2" thick (!) MDF baffle, which has its edges shaped to reduce diffraction, an effect that causes poor imaging in monitors with conventional square-edged baffles. The system uses a 1" shielded soft dome tweeter and 6 �" shielded long-throw woofer. An interesting feature (and rather rare nowadays) is that the drive units are actually made in-house by Tannoy. This ensures a quality and consistency that cannot be guaranteed by OEM drive units made offshore - a cost saving tactic used by many other manufacturers. Sonic excellence at an affordable price is the hallmark of the Reveal Active.

PERFORMANCE
Inputs 32 k ohm balanced on combined XLR/jack
Input Sensitivity 0.775 V rms (0 dBu)
Frequency Response +/- 3 dB 62 Hz - 20 kHz
Peak SPL (pair @ 1m) 114 dB
Bulit In Amplifier (Power RMS) LF channel (4 ohm load) 50 W rms
HF channel (4 ohm load) 50 W rms
DRIVE UNITS
High Frequency 1" soft dome tweeter, shielded
Low Frequency 6.5" bass driver, shielded
Dispersion 120 degrees
CROSSOVER
Frequency 3 kHz
CONSTRUCTION
Enclosure Type Optimized bass-reflex loaded
Volume 12 Litres
Dimensions 13.38" x 8.27" x 10.24"
Weight 18.7 lbs
Finish Azure blue satin baffle
Grey suedette vinyl sides and back
Front Baffle Panel 1 1/4" MDF
Magnetically Shielded Included
cost: USD $898.95

or these:
Alesis ProLinear 720DSP � Professional Studio Reference Monitor with DSP Control

Bi-amplified studio reference monitor
Built-in digital crossover and 4-band parametric EQ with 8 pre-sets and 8 user defined settings
24-bit/48kHz processing
Serial interface allows PC control of up to 16 speakers
80 watts (LF) / 40 watts (HF)
7� woven Kevlar woofer
1� silk dome tweeter
cost: USD $329.00 each

pm me if you have more questions or for special fellow TA pricing.

Cheers...

I would STRONGLY SUGGEST AGAINST getting a 5.1 system... just get some good, professional, 2.0 active studio monitors... they'll do fine..


Hmm.. are you sure those aren't just a rebranding of the Z-680's? I think that something is strange here... what did they do, rework the crossover and rebrand the system from another company? Pfah. They dont even have tweeters...

I'm definately not going with a 5.1 system. I'm just looking at two speaker setup. Especially when I can get the BX8s for the same price as the 5.1 system. I was told I should get speakers with an 8-inch LF driver for drum n bass which is what I intend to produce. Do you know where I may be able to hear those tannoy monitors? I'd like to compare the sound to the V8s and BX8s.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ1MK I'm definately not going with a 5.1 system. I'm just looking at two speaker setup. Especially when I can get the BX8s for the same price as the 5.1 system. I was told I should get speakers with 8-inch woofer for drum n bass which is what I intend to produce. Do you know where I may be able to hear those tannoy monitors? I'd like to compare the sound to the V8s and BX8s.

Whoever told you that you need to get speakers with an 8-inch woofer for STUDIO MONITORING (ie, for YOU ALONE to hear...) is an idiot... Check out systems by Mackie, M-Audio, and other respected companies for studio monitors...

He didn't tell me I needed them but that he recommended them for drum n bass.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ1MK He didn't tell me I needed them but that he recommended them for drum n bass.

You wouldn't *want* them for monitors. You would want something ACCURATE so you know what you are putting in your mixes... the nearfield monitors are a TOOL, and they arent meant to thump -- they are meant to be accurate so you can do your job.

quote:

Originally posted by Gluegun You wouldn't *want* them for monitors. You would want something ACCURATE so you know what you are putting in your mixes... the nearfield monitors are a TOOL, and they arent meant to thump -- they are meant to be accurate so you can do your job.

agreed...HOWEVER, near-field monitors rarely go under 50 Hz...and they start rolling off before that. most monitors aren't made for ppl who listen to such low-freq based music. that's where a subwoofer comes in, but that's a whole 'nother thing.

monitors: tannoy reveals are good, the krk v8s are pretty good but a lil' pricey for their quality. mackie 824s are a standard in a lot of studios so they're pricey as well. Event tr8s are a lil' lower priced then the aforementioned. both the 824 and tr8 have 8in. woofers.

again, ideal situation would be to get 6in studio monitors and a matched sub. but that will easily put u over a grand or more.

*edit: w/o proper speakers that produce bass, it is damn hard to mix your bass tracks. you end up overcompensating half the time.

I felt that the 824s were overdoing the bass. The BX8s do too which is why I'd prefer the V8s, but I don't know if I can afford those.

What I meant was a 8 inch LF driver not an 8-inch woofer. Sorry for my misuse of words.

Bass frequency in E.D.M. or most music for that matter rarely go below 50hz and stay in the range of 80-120hz. As long as you have a monitor that have woofers that can extend and reproduce bass in the 60-80hz area fairly efficiently (long but tight extensions), you'll be more than fine. The only reason you would need a sub would be to ellaborate the bass frequencies in an otherwise inefficient sound stage. Subwoofers are mainly used for Home Theater applications to reproduce low frequencies in movie sound effects such as explosions more than music applications. Look at any real audiophile's set up.... you'll rarely see subwoofers.

Look for quality components in the speaker: butyl or composite rubber surrounds on the woofers, rigid composite woofers, rigid MDF construction, the way bass ports are designed - if any, the way the baffle sets over the drivers, etc.

Pay attention to:
SPL / Sensitivity (tells you how efficient these speakers are).
Frequency response (although many mfr's exaggerate this).
RMS power handling

If it's powered monitors, pay attention to the internal amp's THD, RMS power, efficiency, etc..

and MOST importantly: Audition them! Listen to them and see how they sound to you.

quote:

Originally posted by TwiloNYC Bass frequency in E.D.M. or most music for that matter rarely go below 50hz and stay in the range of 80-120hz. As long as you have a monitor that have woofers that can extend and reproduce bass in the 60-80hz area fairly efficiently (long but tight extensions), you'll be more than fine.

true, but for drum and bass, there can be a lot of very low frequency sounds below 50hz that a monitor with only a 6inch LF driver can not reproduce accurately. granted, some can, but it's a better bet that a 8" LF driver would do a better job, simply due to it's larger size.

quote:

Originally posted by TwiloNYC The only reason you would need a sub would be to ellaborate the bass frequencies in an otherwise inefficient sound stage. Subwoofers are mainly used for Home Theater applications to reproduce low frequencies in movie sound effects such as explosions more than music applications. Look at any real audiophile's set up.... you'll rarely see subwoofers.

well, a lot of audiophile setups DO have subs actually, as they are very useful for accentuating that low end rumble, but i wouldn't reccomend them for producing music. Since music is recorded in stereo (assuming you aren't making movie soundtracks, or DVD-As or something like that), ideally, you'd have all the sound right in your face, not the bass coming from another location as this will distort the true picture of what you are producing.

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