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-- Yet Another Studio Monitor Thread. Thoughts, Please.
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Yet Another Studio Monitor Thread. Thoughts, Please.

I'm looking for some comments on the below monitoring bundles. The new HS-80Ms with the matched sub are an intising offer at only $1,100... but I'd like to know if anyone has personal experience with comparing any of the below models.

Two points: Yes, I plan to optimize the acoustics in my studio because the room is just as important as the speakers in them. And unfortunately, I can't listen to them myself as it would require a four hour drive to the nearest decent music supply store (and they probably won't even have all four models on display).

$1,100 -- Yamaha HS-80Ms with HS-10W sub
http://www.jrrshop.com/yamaha-hs80m...dle-p-6347.html

Other (more expensive) bundles I'm considering:

$2,500 -- Mackie HR824mk2s with HRS120 sub
http://www.jrrshop.com/mackie-hr824...air-p-6768.html
http://www.jrrshop.com/mackie-hrs120-p-919.html

$2,300 -- Dynaudio BM5As with BM10S sub
http://www.jrrshop.com/dynaudio-bm1...fer-p-5931.html
http://www.jrrshop.com/dynaudio-bm5a-pair-p-4777.html

$2,550 -- Dynaudio BM15As with no sub
http://www.jrrshop.com/dynaudio-bm1...spair-p-56.html


Thoughts?

i wouldn't be able to offer advice on subs since I don't have one but as far as monitors go - i've listened extensively to the Machkie HR824's and the dynaudio bm5a's at the local guitar center, along with a few other models by other manufacturers. I ended up going with the dynaudio's and am very happy with them.

As far as the sub goes, I say save your money. Subs are more essential for hip hop and real deep bass productions, most of the bass you hear in trance is audible on most monitors without any sub. Plus they're very tricky to set up and rely much more on room acoustics than nearfield monitors, since they can be placed pretty much in any sort of room as long as they're close to your ears.

quote:

Originally posted by StanVoid As far as the sub goes, I say save your money. Subs are more essential for hip hop and real deep bass productions, most of the bass you hear in trance is audible on most monitors without any sub. Plus they're very tricky to set up and rely much more on room acoustics than nearfield monitors, since they can be placed pretty much in any sort of room as long as they're close to your ears.

A good suggestion. Perhaps I should invest the money required for a sub into a better pair of monitors. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

However, one thing I'm trying to do with this purchase is recreate a 'club' atmosphere as that is ultimately the place I hope my tracks wind up.

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo A good suggestion. Perhaps I should invest the money required for a sub into a better pair of monitors. Anyone else have thoughts on this? However, one thing I'm trying to do with this purchase is recreate a 'club' atmosphere as that is ultimately the place I hope my tracks wind up.

i hope you don't have neighbors!

quote:

Originally posted by StanVoid i hope you don't have neighbors!

Something else I've been thinking about. I'll probably still use headphones most of the time because of this. Unless I find a way to not anger people with loud, repetitive music.

Dynaudio's 5a's with sub. Why? I think they are best speakers in the list, and guessing you have a home studio it would be a smooth setup with optimal sweet spot distance for such conditions . The 15a's would be a bit too much probably.

getting a sub in a room that hasn't been treated is pure retardation, especially with speakers that are already bigger than 6". the only set of speakers there that you would use a sub with is the bm5as. otherwise i would look into bm6as maybe. note: bm5as and bm6as both have a 7" woofer, but i think the 6as are a bit higher quality.

i'm not a fan at all of these 8" woofers in a 2 way monitor. unless they're really good quality (dynaudio, genelec, etc.), you always get a terrible dip in the mids. 6-7" max in a two way. if you must, add a sub, but i don't think you need it for most purposes.

quote:

Originally posted by Storyteller The 15a's would be a bit too much probably.

10" driver in a 2-way design man

more like ALOT too much haha.

Why would you need a sub with the BM5a's? I've never needed a sub for mine as they are more than good enough for the low end. You can always get a good pair of headphones with a bit better bass to A/B which is where my AKG K240S come in.

If you really need a bit more bass then you can always get the BM6a MK2 as they go down to 40Hz, compared to 50Hz on the 5's.

Also, aren't Mackie's meant to be too bass heavy anyway?

quote:

Originally posted by Fledz You can always get a good pair of headphones with a bit better bass to A/B which is where my AKG K240S come in.

I was always under the impression that headphones are terrible for bass.

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo I was always under the impression that headphones are terrible for bass.

Not terrible, but they don't give you a true representation.

The HR824's are truly great monitors, but you will have to learn how they sound (as with all) and are comparitively more bass heavy than some of the other monitor speakers listed. Having said that, it is really not be too hard to adjust the 824's (with the switches on the rear) and your mixes to compensate for this. A real bonus of them is that they don't have a really narrow sweet spot, which can be a lifesaver if your room or listening position is not perfect.

I know they are great monitors, the dynaudios have never floated my boat. I my previous job I've demo'd them at least a couple of hundred times for customers (and even though some of them fell in love) they never sounded as good other monitors.

Forget subs. Period. I don't know why they keep coming up on monitor threads. They are a total nightmare because of the amount of set up needed to get it right and as ES said, without a properly designed treated room they are a waste of time, and even then I still don't see the point.

Edit: one other thing I've noticed is that shops (like guitar centre) really push the dynaudio's at you. Why?......in my experience, the sales margin was better them.

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo I was always under the impression that headphones are terrible for bass.

nope! a good set of headphones will often give you a clearer sound, but stereo is screwed and the frequency response isn't as flat as monitors.

The BM 6A mkIIs seem great. They go down to 40hz.

quote:

Originally posted by echosystm nope! a good set of headphones will often give you a clearer sound, but stereo is screwed and the frequency response isn't as flat as monitors.

Clearer sound? yes. True representation of frequencies/levels? No.

AT this point, it seems like it's between the Mackie HR824 mk2s and the Dynaudio BM 6A mk2s. Any thoughts on comparing the two?

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN Clearer sound? yes. True representation of frequencies/levels? No.

quote:

Originally posted by echosystm the frequency response isn't as flat as monitors.

flatness, transient response, etc. all go in the same bag.

Aren't the HR824s like 10 years old and not really that industry standard anymore, and the BM6A MKIIs are like what, a whole 5 months old and being raved about by tonnes of people?

Both great monitors but I think the new Dyns have the edge, especially in the mids and highs.

quote:

Originally posted by Fledz Aren't the HR824s like 10 years old and not really that industry standard anymore, and the BM6A MKIIs are like what, a whole 5 months old and being raved about by tonnes of people?

I think BM6As are older than the new HR824s. Either way, they're both pretty new!

The MkI's are, the MkIIs are from this year.

quote:

Originally posted by Fledz Why would you need a sub with the BM5a's? I've never needed a sub for mine as they are more than good enough for the low end. [...] If you really need a bit more bass then you can always get the BM6a MK2 as they go down to 40Hz, compared to 50Hz on the 5's.

True, bm5a's are somewhere near 50Hz, which should be enough as well. A Lot of speakers go upwards from 50Hz. It really depends on the fact if someone is willing to `overlook` the last 20-30Hz's below . Most of the time it isn't really a problem. But it the end it could just make the difference you where looking for .

I know I'm going for the Dynaudio Air6's (and probably with sub) in 2008

quote:

Originally posted by Fledz The MkI's are, the MkIIs are from this year.

he was talking about mk2s

I meant the Dyns

When did the Mackie Mk2s get released? I think they are getting on a bit too, or am I wrong?

quote:

Originally posted by Fledz I meant the Dyns

*brain asplodes*

quote:

Originally posted by Fledz When did the Mackie Mk2s get released? I think they are getting on a bit too, or am I wrong?

I think early this year, like june-ish.

Really? Oh shit, I thought they were a bit older.

Ok well then it seems like they are both rather new then

I also just noticed the word "new" when you were talking about the Mackies. Haha, I'm all over the shop today.

I'm thinking the following would be a great setup:

Dynaudio BM6AmkIIs (primary monitors)
Mackie HR824mkIIs (secondary monitors)

And headphones for close/quiet mixing
Sony MDR-7506 Headphones (currently have and been using for 3 years)
AKG headphones (240s or 601s)
Sennheaiser 595s

And all this can be yours for only $3,000 USD.

Anymore thoughts on the sub vs no sub debate?

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