KVR Audio

JerGoertz · Post by **JerGoertz** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:44 pm

I think I'm going to splurge (well, "splurge" in a somewhat miserly way) on a set of near- or mid-field studio monitors, as mixing with headphones just isn't cutting it for me.

Can anyone recommend me some near- or mid-fields in the < $1000 range? I'd be setting them on the top rack of my computer desk where I sit, so I think they'd probably actually need to be near-fields, but if you know of some just killer mid's, let me know.

Also, as I understand it, active monitors are preferred to passives due to the actives being self-powered and therefore removing the necessity to use a separate amplifier. Is this correct? If it's a bone of contention and will start a flamewar, forget I asked.

One more thing: I'll be hooking the monitors to the output of my Echo Indigo IO lappy soundcard (picture below):

What kind of connector is this, and is it common for monitors to take it as an input, or will I probably need an adapter?

Thanks to all you provide insight and assistance here,
Jer

JerGoertz · Post by **JerGoertz** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:53 am

*bump*

igotnolegs · Post by **igotnolegs** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:10 am

I looked up some more info on the Echo Indigo, and found that there is apparently no breakout box and that's the output right there. It looks like you will have to have a stereo-phono->whatever your monitors support. (most active monitors either have one or a combination of 1/4", XLR, or RCA jacks)

As far as advice on monitors, I would say that you go to the nearest Guitar Center or equivalent with a CD of music you know really well and listen to all of them in your desired price range. Just get the ones you like the best, because you will get used to it's sonic range after some time and understand how to mix with them as you use them and listen to your mixes on other systems.

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:30 am

JerGoertz wrote: Can anyone recommend me some near- or mid-fields in the < $1000 range?

I don't know that much about monitors, but...

I love my Event PS20-20's. I consider them "part of the instrument" for my piano, but I also use them for everything else of course. I don't know if they are great monitors, but they are better than my room, and my ear doesn't appreciate much beyond these anyway. And they make a hell of a good stereo just for general listening.

I don't know what Event makes now, but I'm sure they've got something comparable in an 8".

There are some nice JBL monitors in your price range. Maybe consider used Genelecs; you might be able to make your money go much further.

Also, as I understand it, active monitors are preferred to passives due to the actives being self-powered and therefore removing the necessity to use a separate amplifier.

Arguments for passives: Your amplifier is a whole lot better than what's built into the actives. The channels on your amp are matched more closely than the actives will be. Passives are simpler, far less electronics to fail or degrade.

Chances are at this stage, you don't have some ridiculously expensive Class-A monitor amp in your control room...

Here's a problem with choosing monitors; your room contributes as much as the speaker cabinet does, even with nearfields. A cheap monitor probably sounds pretty good in a well-treated room. I used to love listening to the car speakers that we had in the radio station studio. That same setup would sound like crap in a room with bad reflections, but it was sweet in that dry environment.

Midinovela · Post by **Midinovela** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:35 am

You have a miniplug stereo out, most amplified monitors will have either RCA ins or a screw/clip for the signal. Mini plug to RCA cables are easy to get. If you have screws or clips just cut off the isolation at the monitor side.

Ah... and dont buy thin cables...

How much you have to spend for the monitors?

JerGoertz · Post by **JerGoertz** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:27 am

Thanks for the replies, all!

@Midinovela: I want to try to keep the price under $1000.

Midinovela · Post by **Midinovela** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:37 am

I'd recomend Alesis Monitors, I have the Monitor One MKII passive and I regret the that I didn't bought the active ones... but check out KRK's also. Take a CD you know in depht to your local seller with listening room and compare. Alesis are clasified as semi profesional, but I'm happy with it's sound... You'll get a lot of different opinions, If you're a newbie maybe you could spend some money and buy some Samson Resolve 65a, good enough for the money... It all depends on what you are doin (music for fun, mastering, postproduction, special fx, DVD mixing...)

Quiggers · Post by **Quiggers** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:39 pm

personally i love the sound of tannoy's monitors, but you should try as many different brands before you buy, they all have a very different sound, also it'd be worth spending a little on acoustic foam to soak up early reflections so that you hear your monitors not your room.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:18 pm

What is the size of your room? What kind of music are you doing? What sorts of characteristics are you most interested in, i.e. do you want monitors that are pleasant to work on, ones that are extremely detailed & precise, or ones that will translate to the widest range of systems (there is no one monitor that fits all these requirements, that's why so many people use multiple monitors)? We can tell you many great things about lots of monitors in your price range but won't be able to tell which ones are actually right for you without knowing more information.

Tomoroh Hidari · Post by **Tomoroh Hidari** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:35 pm

personally i just love dynaudio monitors... i found them to have the best precision/good sound ratio of all i tested. (and basically, precisionwise i think they absolutely compete with genelecs. but at a much nicer sound you can work with for hours...
but even the small bm5a aren't cheap, so unless you also fall in love with the dynaudio sound they may not be the standard recommendation...

if you're lucky and know someone at a store who let's you try out a pair at your workplace, that would be the best solution, as not only the monitors, but also their environment is important...

my usual "second choice" recommendations are: KRKs or Blue System...

and yes. Eric (above) has some very good points to consider...
hope this helps a bit in your decision,
ö.

MelodyMan · Post by **MelodyMan** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:13 am

Also consider the Esi nEAR05 Experience monitors. Very cheap, very good review in SOS and i use them myself, they are very good. Great stereo-imaging.

JerGoertz · Post by **JerGoertz** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:24 pm

Uncle E wrote:What is the size of your room? What kind of music are you doing? What sorts of characteristics are you most interested in, i.e. do you want monitors that are pleasant to work on, ones that are extremely detailed & precise, or ones that will translate to the widest range of systems (there is no one monitor that fits all these requirements, that's why so many people use multiple monitors)? We can tell you many great things about lots of monitors in your price range but won't be able to tell which ones are actually right for you without knowing more information.

My room is about... 20ft x 20ft, maybe? It's my bedroom, and I probably won't be acoustically treating it.

I'm looking into monitors with the intent of possibly doing music professionally, and these would be my "starter monitors". I.e., I'd like good-quality monitors, but not beyond my budget ($1000).

Most important features for me are: 1) Translates to the widest range of systems 2) Pleasant to work on (low fatigue-inducing)

in that order.

-Jer

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:27 am

That's a good sized room (though problematic if it really is a perfect square) so it could handle monitors with good low-end. KRK VXT 6's & Dynaudio BM5A's (in that order) should be really nice in there, striking a good balance between low-end extension & high transportability.

igotnolegs · Post by **igotnolegs** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:41 am

MelodyMan wrote:Also consider the Esi nEAR05 Experience monitors. Very cheap, very good review in SOS and i use them myself, they are very good. Great stereo-imaging.

I never heard of these monitors before, so I decided to look them up. Seems hard to find a retailer, and it appears that ESI accused M-Audio of stealing their design:

http://esi-pro.com/nek/PressRelease111005.pdf

Very interesting.

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 2:31 am

JerGoertz wrote:
My room is about... 20ft x 20ft, maybe? It's my bedroom, and I probably won't be acoustically treating it.

When you make a loud, sharp shout in a high voice, do you hear a short ringing echo?

When you play whatever stereo or computer speakers you have now, something with a lot of bass, do you think your bass should be thicker?

Newbie to Studio-quality monitors, please help me