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Monitor Speakers. Which Are Good Ones?

Ok, Im currently in the works of looking for monitor speakers to purchase. Not looking for anything major for outdoor and ect, just looking for speakers with great sound and something that will be worthwhile and not super duper expensive. Size, size is something that I want also. Perferably small, something I might be able to mount, put on stands, and ect. Something like this below would be great (speakers that is, from armins studio).



What monitor speakers are good for the money are most widely used for home monotoring? Any help would be great. Thanks

JaY

WOW nice setup!
and nice Pioneer CDJ 1000s there!


I suggest either going for normal monitors : yamaha mx1 or something like that ( I forgot the exact reference )
tannoy reveals ( pricey )
krk ( great bass )
hafler has some nice cheap packages at musiciansfriend.com

and genelec, champs of the world, but pricey also.

basically before going any further; what's your budget, and what kind of sound are you searching for?

and why do you want to replace your current monitors? ( what are they btw )

and do you count on adding a sub? ( which I do and don't recommend ... )

Hey, currently I dont have monitor speakers. I am using little computer speakers for monotoring at the moment. I do have two 12 inch Advents but they are about 10 years old and the conings gone on them so they sound blown and cannot be used loud. Price range, I am looking to spend no more than 300, if I have to spend more I would probably go to $400. About using a sub, I would rather not. Hearing the bass and treble from top I prefer more than having the bass (subwoofer) below. Although, if there is something that you would recomend and you think would be great, I wouldnt mind hearing about it also. Thanks

JaY

Isn't that pic taken from Armin's studio?

About your question, Genelec and Mackie (their HR824 and 624 are really good but pricey) are probably the most used nowadays. Dynaudio BM6a are also very very good, but I think all those stated here are out of your price class.

Personally I don't really like Tannoy reveals. They sound a little bit muddy, but this is my personal opinion.

Depending on the money you really wanna spend I'd say the best you may get are Event 20/20bas (biamped). I think you can find them for about 700$ if you look very good.

The question is how will you use the monitors? Is it for monitoring while mixing only, or will you use them to produce also?
If it's mixing only, Behringer Truths are a good bet. They are pretty cheap (<500 for a pair), and of course they can't compare to Genelecs or Mackies. Many people (including me) prefer the Events when using them for producing, because they are more linear, and accurate. But Behringers are a emphasing the punch of tunes a tad, which makes them good for the music we spin.

The best thing you can do is go to your local store (of course you have to have a local store ) and take some cd's with you you are very familiar with. Ask the guys in the store if you can compare monitors with your cd(s). That way you'll be able to choose those that you like most (everyone has a different hearing, some people even hate Genelecs or Mackies, so...).

But for price and decent quality, I'd suggest you look at Event 20/20bas or Behringer Truth.

in my opinion don't waste your money on real monitors. they do have good sound quality, but depending what you run them through, they will sound just as good as any other speaker. for example, if you run your sound through your pc, and you have an average sound card running at 44.16, with regualar 1/4" or rca wires, you're not gonna get spectcular sound out of $500 monitors.. and it depends on the quality of your needles, mixer, amp etc..

so what I'm saying is that real monitor speakers are meant usually for production setups where hi-end gear is used, to keep an extreemly clean and precise signal the whole time..

for average people who want a pair of speakers, I recommend you get cheaper "regular" speakers. If you want them small bookshelf size speakers, you are gonna sacrifice bass no matter what, if you dont use a sub. but since you don't want a sub, you are probably going to need a good pair of floor standing speakers.

Now, brand names are expensive too. You can get a nice pair of cerwin vega 10's for about $600 CND, or you could get a pretty close less known brand (like merak, my personal choice) for $250 CND.

it's your choice really, but what I recommend is you go to a local store that sells speakers, bring in a CD of trance or whatever type of music, and TEST THEM OUTTTT.. and just pick the one's that you think are the best.

the speakers mentioned in dj thy's post are great monitors, especially the Dynaudio BM6A and Genelec 1031A, but of course these are Extreemly high end, and are out of your price range.

If eventually want a crazy pair of monitors, have a good system to run them through, and have the money, then i would recommend these.

if you're just into it for speakers get some acoustic research
big bass and great sound and cheap!

and yes I know they are not monitors

now these are what I call monitors.




dynaudio air 15's.

but at $3620.00 USD, they're alittle pricey.

Thanks guys, definitly some great posts here. What are your ups and downs on having a subwoofer with the equipment? Would you suggest it or not? Also, $500 doesnt sound bad, it wouldnt be a problem to get really, but its just that, if I am going to spend about $500 on speakers I rather say buy a cdj or another technics first heh. But if the speakers like you say are that good that are in that price range I'll have to consider it.

I rather have something like the picture in my first post which are above and ear level, that would be perfect. Yet again, if it wont be a good investment I would like to know that also. I've been told that small speakers may even have better sound than bigger ones.

To Dj Thy, for right now mixing would be where I would be using these for but later on maybe both.

Thanks, I'm going to check out all of your speakers suggestions. Any more suggestions are welcome.

P.S. - Anyone know what speakers those are in the picture in my first post? Armin doesnt list it on his site.

JaY

subwoofer = more bass
but having the bass and treble separated ( not completely cause you still have bass in mons ) makes the sound less pure and precise

+ the bass might cover up to much , no matter how well you try to adjust the volume level on the sub.

I suggest going for Krk if you want serious bass in your mons

which krk do u suggest?

small bookshelve speakers do have really good sound, esecially when elevated, but like I said before they generally lack enough bass. thats why I recommend using a sub.

I use an 8" subwoofer with two bookshelves, and the bass is really good. not overpowering, and still clear and accurate.

Even with large speakers I prefer the sound of a sub to accompany them.

Yeah, I agree with the cheap solution. Buy a pair of bookshelf or other speakers (i say bookshelf because they are generally cheaper) and grab a subwoofer. That way you get a really really good range and enough bass.

bookshelf type speakers are most of the time not powerful enough, so if you add a subwoofer it would really suck... i know what i'm talking about, mines are cheap ones and i have a 200W 12" sub, the bass is really lagging, +too loud for the speakers... it sounds like the speakers are in another room or something. it really really sucks for beatmatching...

i'm not saying there is a better choice, but you should know that if you go the sub way you'll be really pissed from the bass lag.

it's up to you to decide if you want that extra bass or if you want to have a descnt sound for beatmatching...

quote:

Originally posted by Sinonick it's up to you to decide if you want that extra bass or if you want to have a descnt sound for beatmatching...

this could just be your setup, because I can pump my bookshelves up loud, and it sounds fine. And my bass always seems right, never lagging. it could be your amp or somehting that creates this lag. but like I said, go to an audio store and test different setups. You can get them to hookup two bookshelves and an sub, and then compare it to floor standing ones, and you can determine which is better.

You have an amazing set up. did u do that ur self or did u get some1 in to get it done?

As I said already, that pic is from Armin Van Buuren's studio

I use 15" PA speakers right now for practice in my bedroom, but as I am tired of replacing my windows every two weeks, I'm getting studio monitors (trying my luck... erm skillz on producing soon, so could get handier).

id have to go ahead and say that the behringer truth monitors are your best bet...for the price (($400 usd/pair)), they are unbeatable!! whatever you are going to use them for, they can handle without adding anything thats not really there...the bad thing about using regular speakers ((**directed @ chrono)) is that they have a slight, yet ugly tendency to add color and cut or add frequencies to sounds that aren't really there... when you are producing, that becomes critical in determining your final mix. another plus about the truth's is that they are powered, so you dont have to go and buy an amp for them...plus they are magnetically shielded so you can squat them next to your computer monitor, or any other electronic gadget

quote:

Originally posted by lexiconavenue the bad thing about using regular speakers ((**directed @ chrono)) is that they have a slight, yet ugly tendency to add color and cut or add frequencies to sounds that aren't really there... when you are producing, that becomes critical in determining your final mix.

true, but is it really that important? for example, who's gonna be able to hear those frequencies and imperfections unless they are listen to your mix on professional monitors? the general public is not. the only problem i could see, is those imperfections would be amplified on club systems, or other really loud sources.

if you are mainly gonna use them for DJing, then you wouldnt even need studio monitors.. but you did say you want to get into producing.

I feel that right now I'd go with cheapers, and if you seriously get into producing, with songs being release etc, go for real monitors.

I'm waiting until I get signed to buy a pair of prof. studio monitors.

scenario::

you are hired to make a remix of a popular dance tune. you own a pair of sony bookshelf speakers rated @ 100 Hz-18,000 Hz, used as your reference monitors. you pick out a nice sub bass sound that compliments the original bassline of the track. but what you do not realize is that there is an extra, low sound below the frequency which your speakers are not capable of putting out, hidden in the selected patch. this causes an ugly, low muddy sound from the bass being improperly eq'd. plus, the right speaker is out of phase with the left, causing faulty sound source positioning of the original bassline **which in turn places the original bassline too far in front of the mix. you also decide to sample the original kick drum and high hat pattern. but it just doesn't sound quite right when played through the sony's. so you decide to boost the low and high frequency. ((always cut frequencies::never boost unless u absolutely must!!)) they sound good on the sony's, but when played back on any other speaker, the hi hats come out frilly and overdriven, the bass kick is a tad distorted, resulting in a crisp clicking sound.
not good.

of course that might not ever happen, but buying a pair of budget studio monitors now, that are in phase with each other, and have a flat frequency response of between 20-20000Hz will save you alot of trouble (and money) down the road.

brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Lexicon

quote:

Originally posted by lexiconavenue of course that might not ever happen, but buying a pair of budget studio monitors now, that are in phase with each other, and have a flat frequency response of between 20-20000Hz will save you alot of trouble (and money) down the road. brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Lexicon

not only that but using stage speakers for producing or home suck will bring one big problem ,they "only" sound good when they are pushed; generally speaking.

that means if you run the speakers at low volume well they don't perform that great, when you're running at low volume, a lot of hiss can get in there.

HOLY SHIT!!



I think that the speakers that Armin uses (in his studio pix up above) are the...........

Yamaha MSP5 Bi-Amplified Monitor Speakers


here is a review

http://www.zzounds.com/love.music?p=p.YAMMSP5&f=2045

quote:

Description Back in the day, everybody wanted huge speaker arrays with gonzo power amps for eardrum-zapping playback levels in their studios. In these modern times, we've learned that a smaller, self-powered set of near-field monitors is a much better reference for our control rooms. These systems have usually commanded withering prices, but Yamaha breaks through that barrier with the MSP5s. Yamaha has been there from the start as a manufacturer of small speakers with hi-fi specs, and that experience bears fruit in this fine system. The cabinets are ultra-compact, with a small face-print which makes them accurate for "point-source" listening. Your choice of XLR or 1/4 in. jacks makes the hookup a breeze. And you can place these speakers anywhere you please, thanks to complete magnetic shielding. Inside each cabinet are 2 separate amplifiers for true biamplification. 40 watts goes to the 5 in. custom woofer, and 27 watts to the 1 in, titanium dome tweeter. This tweeter is surrounded by a waveguide horn which delivers uniform dispersion without distortion or coloration. The cabinet is also a bass reflex design. Also included is a 4-position EQ switch for the low frequencies, and a 3-position switch for the highs which allow you to tailor the system's response to the acoustic environment. Specifications General Type: Biamp. 2-way, bass-reflex powered speaker General Crossover Frequency: 2.5 kHz General Overall Frequency Response: 50 Hz ~ 40 kHz Dimensions ( W x H x D): 169 x 279 x 222mm (6-5/8 x 11 x 8-3/4 in.) Weight: 7.5 kg (16.5 lbs.) Speaker Components: LF: 12 cm (4-2/7 in.) cone (4 ohms); HF: 2.5 cm (1 in.) titanium dome (6 ohms) Speaker Enclosure: Bass reflex type, magnetic shielding construction Amplifier Output Power: LF: 40W at 400Hz, THD=0.02%, RL=4 ohms; HF: 27W at 10kHz, THD=0.02%, RL= 6 ohms Amplifier Input Sensitivity/Impedance: Line 1: +4dB/10k ohm/XLR; Line: 2 -10dB/10k ohm/Phone Jack Amplifier S/N: Greater than or equal to 100dB (A weighted) Amplifier Controls TRIM switches: LOW: 4 position (+1.5dB, 0dB, -1.5dB, -3.0dB at 60Hz); HIGH: 3 position (+1.5dB, 0dB, -1.5dB, at 15kHz); Power switch: On/Off; Level Control Amplifier Power Indicator: Green LED Amplifier Power Requirement: US and Canadian Models: 120v 60Hz General Models: 230v 50Hz Amplifier Power Consumption: US and Canadian Models: 60W General Models: 60W

yeap, they sure are the same speakers...
pretty cool ones... how much $$$ ???

the list price is 319 PER SPEAKER

man that's a lot

ATTN JAYD.....

those speakers that armin uses run for 320 bucks for a single unit. I know a guy who is selling the pair for 400. Send me a private message if you are interested.

I am 100% sure that they are the same speakers.

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