I spent a couple of hours testing out some monitors, and it came down to the Dynaudio BM12A's and the Focal Solo 6. The JBL LSR4328P's were in the running too, but got beat out along the way.
I know it's kind of an unfair competition even though their prices are the same ($2k), one is an 8 incher, the other a 6 incher, but a budget is a budget, and that's what I got to work with.
The Dynaudio BM12A's not only continued where the BM5A's left off (amazing little monitors) by extending the frequency range, the soundstage is also more spacious as well. The highest highs and lowest lows are noticeably more extended than the Focals (BM12A's are rated at 38 Hz - 21 kHz, while the Focals rates at 40Hz-40kHz and only 6 inches instead of 8 ).
You're probably thinking, why not just take the BM12A's then? Well, it's not that simple. On some materials (specifically orchestral pieces and vocal pieces), the BM12A's tend to sound a bit clinical, while the Focal's sounded lusher (gives off the impression that the reverb is a bit wetter somehow). So it's one of those situations where my heart says Focal and my head says Dynaudio. I know the extended range of the BM12A's will be more useful in general, but I like the lusher sound of the Focals better, except I wish it was an 8 incher so I won't feel like I need a sub (no budget for a sub and don't feel like I really need one if I get a pair of 8 inchers).
I really wanted to demo a pair of Klein + Hummel O 110's (also $2K), but they only had the 300's hooked up (which sounded great--buttery smooth), and it's too rich for my blood ($4K a pair).
So what do you guys think?
Focal solo 6 vs. Dynaudio BM12A
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- KVRAF
- 1644 posts since 18 Mar, 2004 from Lincoln, CA
Last edited by Lunatique on Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRian
- 634 posts since 1 Jul, 2007 from over there
If I wanted some lush sounding speakers, I would buy some Hi-Fi speakers. If I want clinical/accurate, Dynaudio BM12A.
I was look for some pro-mastering for my cd a while back. Most of those guys use $2K-$4k Hi-fi or "audiophile" speakers for mastering.
I was look for some pro-mastering for my cd a while back. Most of those guys use $2K-$4k Hi-fi or "audiophile" speakers for mastering.
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- KVRist
- 35 posts since 30 Dec, 2004
Please do your self a favor and go listen to the PMC TB2 + monitors and you will find that they wipe the floor with DynaAudio when it comes to soundstage and clarity. I haven't heard the Focals but if there only a little better than those Dynos than the PMC's are at least 35% better. Those TB2's can be grabbed off of audiogohn.com for under $1400 and you will hear things in your mixes that you never new were there.
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- KVRist
- 181 posts since 25 Oct, 2003
yea, i too recommend you to listen the TB2+djverne wrote:Please do your self a favor and go listen to the PMC TB2 + monitors and you will find that they wipe the floor with DynaAudio when it comes to soundstage and clarity. I haven't heard the Focals but if there only a little better than those Dynos than the PMC's are at least 35% better. Those TB2's can be grabbed off of audiogohn.com for under $1400 and you will hear things in your mixes that you never new were there.
I have them and couldn't be happier. the go really low too
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1644 posts since 18 Mar, 2004 from Lincoln, CA
I haven't seen any place around the Bay Area that's got PMC's for demoing. But the new Digidesign/PMC collaboration RM series are now out--maybe I can check those out.
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- KVRAF
- 13140 posts since 7 May, 2006 from Southern California
Those speakers are really amazing. I got a demo of the RM2s and what blew me away was the clarity at low volume. We were in a completely isolated room and the imaging at conversation level was just as sharp as it was at louder volumes. Those are definitely the speakers I'm purchasing next, even after having heard the Dynaudios.Lunatique wrote:I haven't seen any place around the Bay Area that's got PMC's for demoing. But the new Digidesign/PMC collaboration RM series are now out--maybe I can check those out.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1644 posts since 18 Mar, 2004 from Lincoln, CA
I just got back from another listening session--this time the focus was on the new Digidesign RM2's, A/B'd against the JBL LSR4328P's (I know they're different price ranges, but you'd be surprised at the conclusion).
The impressive thing about the RM2's is the ATL technology from PMC, which allows full-frequency response even at low listening levels, and it was certainly very apparent. The bass remained full even at very low levels.
Here comes the part that might have a few people raise their eyebrows. The JBL's and the RM2's absolutely did not sound like they belong in different market segments. At nearly $2K more, the RM2's certainly don't sound $2K better. In fact, during some tracks, the JBL's actually had a more spacious soundstage, and the seperation of instrument had more clarity. But in the RM2's defense, the place I went to have not given it the proper 14 hour burn-in time, so I'm sure the RM2's would sound better once it's been properly broken in.
Anyway, based on this test, the JBL's are back on my candidates list. At only $1,450 or so, they hold up very well against more expensive monitors. The one instance where it didn't hold up was when it was A/B's against the Dynaudio BM12A's, and this was on Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings (the JBL's sounded like there was a high-cut filter on the strings, and the difference was dramatic), but I now suspect it might have been the way the JBL's were tweaked on that day, as I did not hear the same kind of difference when A/B'd against the RM2's.
Man, this is agonizing--trying to make a decision, when especially you can't get all the candidates into one room for a proper showdown.
ATM I'm leaning towards two setups--very different in price:
1) Focal Solo 6 with the sub 6, total at $3,500.
2) JBL LSR4328P's at $1,450.
With the Focals, I'd be spending a lot more, but it'll be a setup where I feel like I made no compromise (relatively speaking, for a bedroom studio guy). I'd get the lush sound I like, and I'd get the extended bass as well with the sub. Only downside is the cost. I mean, I'd like to have some money left for acoustic treatment too.
With the JBL's, I feel like they are amazing bang for the buck (especially with the onboard DSP room calibration), sounding just about as good as more expensive monitors. The only downside is that like so many other monitors I've heard with similar characteristics (Dynaudio BM series, Digidesign RM2's), the sound while has clarity, is by comparison clinical compared to the Focal's. Not that it's a bad thing, as some people prefer a more analytical sound, but my heart tells me I'd be doing a lot of leisure listening as well, so I have to get a pair I can really love, as opposed to being just useful. Good thing with the JBL's is that I still have money left for acoustic treatment!
The impressive thing about the RM2's is the ATL technology from PMC, which allows full-frequency response even at low listening levels, and it was certainly very apparent. The bass remained full even at very low levels.
Here comes the part that might have a few people raise their eyebrows. The JBL's and the RM2's absolutely did not sound like they belong in different market segments. At nearly $2K more, the RM2's certainly don't sound $2K better. In fact, during some tracks, the JBL's actually had a more spacious soundstage, and the seperation of instrument had more clarity. But in the RM2's defense, the place I went to have not given it the proper 14 hour burn-in time, so I'm sure the RM2's would sound better once it's been properly broken in.
Anyway, based on this test, the JBL's are back on my candidates list. At only $1,450 or so, they hold up very well against more expensive monitors. The one instance where it didn't hold up was when it was A/B's against the Dynaudio BM12A's, and this was on Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings (the JBL's sounded like there was a high-cut filter on the strings, and the difference was dramatic), but I now suspect it might have been the way the JBL's were tweaked on that day, as I did not hear the same kind of difference when A/B'd against the RM2's.
Man, this is agonizing--trying to make a decision, when especially you can't get all the candidates into one room for a proper showdown.
ATM I'm leaning towards two setups--very different in price:
1) Focal Solo 6 with the sub 6, total at $3,500.
2) JBL LSR4328P's at $1,450.
With the Focals, I'd be spending a lot more, but it'll be a setup where I feel like I made no compromise (relatively speaking, for a bedroom studio guy). I'd get the lush sound I like, and I'd get the extended bass as well with the sub. Only downside is the cost. I mean, I'd like to have some money left for acoustic treatment too.
With the JBL's, I feel like they are amazing bang for the buck (especially with the onboard DSP room calibration), sounding just about as good as more expensive monitors. The only downside is that like so many other monitors I've heard with similar characteristics (Dynaudio BM series, Digidesign RM2's), the sound while has clarity, is by comparison clinical compared to the Focal's. Not that it's a bad thing, as some people prefer a more analytical sound, but my heart tells me I'd be doing a lot of leisure listening as well, so I have to get a pair I can really love, as opposed to being just useful. Good thing with the JBL's is that I still have money left for acoustic treatment!