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Top notch Monitors

I think I made a thread of this before, but I can't find it, anywho I'm looking for a good pair of studio reference monitors, preferrably not over five hundred, but if it's worth it, please write it. Anything will be appreciated cause trust me... It's better than what I've been reduced to (my last studio reference monitors got screwed because of a power outage. THey were a pair of Roland DS-90A... And I've been reduced to... DEFAULT SPEAKERS ) Youguys have any other good SR monitors? Thanks guys!

While you are not going to get anything "top notch" at that price, some of your options at $500 are:

• ADAM A5
  
• Mackie HR624
  
• Avantone Active MixCubes (heard good things about these)
  
• Genelec 8020A
  

for 500 USD you can get entry or middle level monitors, not top notch

Are you looking for something that is not more than $500 EACH or for the pair? For $250 each, I think M-Audio, Event, or Behringer are your best bets. Eric J gave a great summary of the best at the $500 each mark.

Well not totally TOP NOTCH, I mean that'll cost me way over 500, but the I mean the best I can get with .5k. Ofcourse I could push it if I convince the misses (500 each would be fine, I have a limit... Ofcourse I can always wait a month or two and triple my limit)

quote:

Originally posted by Xylence Well not totally TOP NOTCH, I mean that'll cost me way over 500, but the I mean the best I can get with .5k. Ofcourse I could push it if I convince the misses (500 each would be fine, I have a limit... Ofcourse I can always wait a month or two and triple my limit)

i would suggest to wait than

Definitely wait. Monitors are one of the most important pieces of your studio. Don't cheap out on them.

I'd say a pair of ADAMs or Focals are your best bet. Get the most expensive ones you can afford (even if you have to wait a few months to afford them).

http://www.mercenary.com/foccms50.html
http://www.mercenary.com/adama7.html
http://www.mercenary.com/adama5.html

Those are your three best options in my opinion. Your productions will thank you.

In that price range, you can't go wrong with Yamaha HS80M's.

Those Adam monitors look sick and the Yamaha too. I've also been thinking of updrading my sound card as well, you guys have any recommendations that would work well? I have an ASIO... I think. I guess I could wait a few monts for the monitors and get 'em for myself as a late christmas gift... Unless I work every possibly extra hour.

quote:

Originally posted by Xylence Those Adam monitors look sick and the Yamaha too. I've also been thinking of updrading my sound card as well, you guys have any recommendations that would work well? I have an ASIO... I think. I guess I could wait a few monts for the monitors and get 'em for myself as a late christmas gift... Unless I work every possibly extra hour.

If you are going with really good monitors you are going to want a good interface or you just wasted your money. You can do them one at a time but make sure you upgrade to at least something like a MOTU if not something higher end like RME/Apogee. But that depends how much you spend on monitors.

quote:

Originally posted by Xylence Those Adam monitors look sick and the Yamaha too. I've also been thinking of updrading my sound card as well, you guys have any recommendations that would work well? I have an ASIO... I think. I guess I could wait a few monts for the monitors and get 'em for myself as a late christmas gift... Unless I work every possibly extra hour.

You *think* you have ASIO? If that's a sign of your general music production knowledge and skill, I wouldn't waste your money on anything expensive. You're better off just getting a pair of headphones and using those to produce until you get better.

I recommend Sony MDR-7506s or AKG K 240s

Good advice on here but don't forget second hand options....good speakers are made to last and built well so it can be a viable option for less cash.

I know a lot of people on this thread have upgraded from them and there's nothing like an ex owner to point out faults of previous equipment, but the Mackie HR824 second hand @ $500 are excellent monitors and waaaay better than the HR624's listed (which amongst others things are basically 824's without the bass response).

Also, 824's are pretty tough - if you can tell they're not ancient (signs of wear, proof of purchase, faded case/decals etc.) then you'll get many years of great service from them. The price has seriously dropped on the mk1's second hand because of the newer mk2 release (and there's very little difference between them IMO). Good value for good monitors and they will blow anything that costs $500 new out of the water - no contest.

However, monitors, as everyone on here will attest, are probably in the top 3 of most important pieces of kit in your studio, so if you can spend $1000 or even $1500, then do it - it'll be worth it if you make the right purchase.

Having said that, other things need to be in order to get the most out of expensive monitors - using the inbuilt soundcard on your PC/mac isn't going to sound good or take advantage of your $1500 monitors at all.

If you don't have a good soundcard then spend some on monitors ($1000?) and the rest on a soundcard ($500?). Remember that when you're above these price brackets for these items, you get in to diminishing returns and can easily spend even more money for very little performance increase.

Hope this helps.....

Well the last time I checked it was ASIO and I had it connected to my Virus Lead TI I purchased a couple of months ago so yeah. I'm not hte only one that uses this system for production, and thus the other person who uses it could have changed it.

Yeah it's still the ASIO Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro Card, I checked.

Since you bought a virus I can assume you are fairly serious about production, so upgrade your soundcard!

Rann has a great idea. I am actually looking to pick up a used pair of Mackie 824s and a used MOTU ultralite or 828 soundcard for maybe around $800-1000. I would love Focals and an RME fireface, but I can't justify that expense right now.

I was able to pick up an Apogee Mini-DAC on eBay for a meager $414 (after $36 Live.com cashback). So definitely look into second-hand. A lot of the time, items are for sale because the owners hardly use them (bonus).

quote:

Originally posted by alanzo I was able to pick up an Apogee Mini-DAC on eBay for a meager $414 (after $36 Live.com cashback). So definitely look into second-hand. A lot of the time, they are for sale because the owners hardly use them (bonus).

Damn that is a good deal. I would have that on my shopping list, but my monitors suck and I need more inputs.

HO!! That's a good deal! I found a one for mac @ 2k. The Apogee Ensemble Multi Channel 24bit 192kHz Firewire Audio Interface... But I don't think in getting some thing SO hardcore just yet.

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