Monitor recommendations for around $1500?

[Dr_Jones]

Was wondering what monitors some of you guys would recommend in the price range of around $1500? I'm trying to find the most flat and \"true\" monitor I can get for that money (of course, aren't we all). Also, what are your thoughts on the Mackie HR 824s?

ps - I know that there is another monitor thread, but it is a different price range so I didn't want to hijack it.

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Are you looking for actives or passives? Here are some past threads that should be helpful:

http://www.chrismilne.com/uadforums/viewtopic.php?t=1158&highlight=hr824

http://www.chrismilne.com/uadforums/viewtopic.php?t=3108&highlight=hr824

 

[Dr_Jones]

Hi Eric, thanks for the quick response. I am open to either active or passive. At the moment I have an amp that powers my Yamaha ns10ms, but I don't use those monitors too much. The amp is a Hafler TA 1600. I don't know much about it so am not sure how clean or good an amp it is. Also, I currently have a pair of HR 824s, but they are just way too powerful for the size of room that I have. At the moment I have their power levels turned down to just a hair above no volume and I still can't turn my mixer master levels up to 0dB because it is too loud :x

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

ADAM S1's used together with your Hafler would be good. ADAM ANF10's (passive) & ARTist's (active) would also fit your budget. I honestly don't know how these three compare to one another but it seems like you'd get the best sound for your money with the S1's. Dynaudio BM6P's & BM6A's are accurate (I'd mention the BM15P's but their footprint is rather large).

I've personally been using PMC TB2S's lately. They're extremely flat but all that high-end kills me sometimes, so I switched back to Event PSP8's last night & immediately finished a mix that had been giving me trouble on the PMC's.

 

[Suntower]

I ended up getting Event ASP8s (active) on Eric's recommendation. (Sorry, Eric---I would've got 'em from -you- but I already had a credit with GC I'd been waiting months to use up.)

My review follows:

Just wanted to complete this by saying that I've spent the last few weeks auditioning

Event ASP8
ADAM P11
KRK V8-2
Dynaudio BM5?
Mackie 824

...none with subwoofer.


And the winner iiiiiiiiiiiiis....

Event ASP8

Why? I got 'em for $1000 flat out the door. And at that price they were by FAR the best bang for the buck.

Overall, the ADAMs sounded a -bit- better. (a bit nicer -punch-) but the ASP8s have a -great- low end. I can hear details and mud I never could before. They sound a =bit= 'lifeless' in the mids but that's OK. The detail is wonderful.

The Dynaudio's sounded good too but.... the low end just wasn't there.

The KRKs? Just about the best home stereo speakers I ever heard. Which is to say that they have this midrange that makes my stuff sound -way- prettier than it really is. And again, the low end just ain't there. That said, I'm sure they are FLYING off the shelves. Now I know what they mean by 'flattering' monitors.

The Mackie's were mainly for reference. They were never really in the running. Again, no low end.

<HTH> someone.

 

[Dr_Jones]

JC, can you tell me what you mean by no low end? do you mean that the monitors don't have any definition and that they are basically producing mud or do you mean that the monitors just don't have enough power at the lower frequencies? I noticed you said that you feel that the HR824s don't have any low end, but to me they almost sound like they are linked to a sub. As a matter of fact I am looking to move a a pair of monitors that are less powerful, but that still have a decent low end.

 

[Akis]

The 824 sound bass-heavy to me, too.

Doc, in your budget, I think I'd go for the Dynaudio BM6A. BM15's would be too big, like Eric said. To my ears, they're 'true' and 'flat' and let you 'see' deeper into the mix than Genelec, Mackie etc. Never tried any Adam's, though.

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

The ASP8's have low-end detail whereas it's mostly mud down there on 824's. That said, I've always quite liked the low-end of the V8's (even though I'm not a fan of them in other regards). I'll stick to my ADAM & Dynaudio recommendations because of your comment regarding the 824's being over the top.

 

[Suntower]

There is a difference between -real- low end and the -ooomph- one hears in some speakers---just listen to any boombox. The 824's to -me- have very poor low end because, with them, I can't hear the details between different instruments all sharing those frequencies (kick drum, bass, bass synth). Everything gets mushed together.

FWIW: From Mark Edmonds, I got the idea of listening to various pipe organ pieces with a lot of pedal work. Only really good speakers let you hear all the notes clearly. Lesser speakers just blur everything.

To -me- the Events are really good at this.

Now some speakers (the KRK's) have good separation BUT you're not -really- hearing the fundamental. I think you're more hearing the octave harmonic above it---like a boom box. They sound -very- pretty, but I found that deceptive. IOW: the KRK's made me feel the mix was 'good' before it really -was- good.

The Event's however make me feel like shit about my mixes until everything is absolutely perfect. IOW: If a mix sounds good with them, it sounds great everywhere I try it.

AFA -true- accuracy? I dunno. Who's to say -what- is 'accurate' at this price point and home studio acoustics. At the end of the day, you have to get transducers that help -you-. And for some reason, everyone seems to have different preferences yet somehow end up making good mixes. Maybe it's like buying running shoes.

---JC

JC, can you tell me what you mean by no low end? do you mean that the monitors don't have any definition and that they are basically producing mud or do you mean that the monitors just don't have enough power at the lower frequencies? I noticed you said that you feel that the HR824s don't have any low end, but to me they almost sound like they are linked to a sub. As a matter of fact I am looking to move a a pair of monitors that are less powerful, but that still have a decent low end.

 

[Manta]

I heard some self-made Scan-Speak Reference speakers few days ago.
There a little pricy (about 1000€ passive set) for a self-made speaker but well worth the money! They surly blow away my Genelec’s 1031 on detail and imaging.
But don’t get me wrong, I still love my Genelec’s for mixing, because they have always delivered a decent mix for me. (Probably because I got used to them :wink: )

http://www.audiocomponents.nl/speakers/scanspeak/reference/scanspeak-reference_eng.htm

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Now some speakers (the KRK's) have good separation BUT you're not -really- hearing the fundamental. I think you're more hearing the octave harmonic above it---like a boom box. They sound -very- pretty, but I found that deceptive. IOW: the KRK's made me feel the mix was 'good' before it really -was- good.---JC

Your cd was mastered on KRK E8T's so they can't all be bad. The old paper-cone V6's actually sounded very similar to the E8T's, just without the low-end extension. The other speakers they make, including the new V6's, all have the problems you're describing.

 

[Suntower]

And it's still my biggest seller, so THANKS for the zillionth time! (Although I think that may have to do with the fact that it's just about the -loudest- CD I've ever heard.) :mrgreen:

Still, I wonder if the 'E8T's are the same deal as what I auditioned ( V8/2, I think?).

I guess it's 'different strokes'. Also, it's likely that you have more self-discipline than I do. If I used KRK's every day, I'd stop -way- before a mix was really where it needed to be.

Best,

---JC

PS: To all. This may seem bush league, but one of the best things I ever did was to get my monitors off my desk top and onto properly de-coupled stands. Before buying new monitors, I'd suggest trying -that- first if not already done. Could make a WORLD of difference.

Now some speakers (the KRK's) have good separation BUT you're not -really- hearing the fundamental. I think you're more hearing the octave harmonic above it---like a boom box. They sound -very- pretty, but I found that deceptive. IOW: the KRK's made me feel the mix was 'good' before it really -was- good.---JC

Your cd was mastered on KRK E8T's so they can't all be bad. The old paper-cone V6's actually sounded very similar to the E8T's, just without the low-end extension. The other speakers they make, including the new V6's, all have the problems you're describing.

 

[Dr_Jones]

Hey Eric, JC, Akis, Manta - thanks for your input guys, I really appreciate it. Quick story - I just got laid off from my job of 12 years and decided \"what the hell\" - I'm going to pack my bags and move across country (us). Whatever I can fit into my car I am taking and whatever I can't I will sell. Given the power of the 824s and from what you guys wrote, I am going to sell off those monitors and pick up a better pair when I get to California. I'll report back on this once I pick up a new pair!

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Give us a call if you're coming to So. Cal.

 

[Dr_Jones]

I most certainly will - for this time I am going to build my studio the right way