Monitors: What to buy?

[nIGhT-SoN]

Not yet. I've sent them an email asking if they could show me some pictures and to tell me what was wrong with them. I'm waiting for a reply. For me it's a lot of money, it's something like 2-3 months of work and I can't risk getting them without seeing at least some photos.

LE: I've seen now that the stock is depleted for DSM1.

[tomtoo]

Not yet. I've sent them an email asking if they could show me some pictures and to tell me what was wrong with them. I'm waiting for a reply. For me it's a lot of money, it's something like 2-3 months of work and I can't risk getting them without seeing at least some photos.

LE: I've seen now that the stock is depleted for DSM1.

I dont get you !? You CANT by speakers and dont listen to them before. Who cares about a photo ?
Its like buying a Piano and dont played and listen to it before.

From my experience, i like to tell you, dont buy big speakers.
Many like Mackies or the adams or some like small jbl's or tannoys.
The have all one in commen they are from a hifi point of view mid orientatet.

Learn with one of them, than listen to different speakers cheap,expensive,large,small,car,huge(PA).

There is not THAT monitor. Look at the NS-10 story. Try to understand the characteristics of different speakers.

Edit: Speaker cables are overrated (some hifi freaks think you have to soak them for 14 days in cowpiss that they realy sound good) .

[nIGhT-SoN]

Man, you didn't read the previous posts. Those M-Audio were B-Stock meaning they were used. I wanted to see in photos how much. As I mentioned in my previous post that kind of money I don't get it fast, in 2-3 months of work and I can't risk buying second hand stuff without seeing it.

[tomtoo]

Man, you didn't read the previous posts. Those M-Audio were B-Stock meaning they were used. I wanted to see in photos how much. As I mentioned in my previous post that kind of money I don't get it fast, in 2-3 months of work and I can't risk buying second hand stuff without seeing it.

Seeing it ? What do you mean ? If there is a problem with the finish ? Ok iam sry. Usualy studio monitors get not handelt to hard. Dont get me wrong but from my point of view all your posts looked like you like to buy a pair of speakers from the pics and some technical manuals.
Did you listen to mackies,tannoys,adams,m-audios or name them like you want?
Asking "whats a good speaker?", is like asking "whats a good car?".

All the brands in here are imho ok.

But you like to buy nearfields. Dont look how loud they can play or how deep the bass goes.

Listen to them and imagine what else you listend too. Dont listen for overheamling thinks, just listen if they can tell you a little of the truth.

My 5 cents.

[mkdr]

I've got passive Samson Resolv 65's(used) with a puny little 10W class-d amp for them. Total budget: 60 euros. Not a bad combo considering i can hear the difference between Wav and 320kbps(ms) mp3 files.. and can drop stuff of the shelves with the volume.

And to balance on the 10W for the highs(50hz-22khz), for lows(20-50hz) i have a 15" 800W active PA subwoofer Yep not very accurate perhaps, but it does go very very low and very loud.



I also recommend getting a 2.1 system. This way you get accurate monitoring that doesn't disturb the neighbors too much and a sub you can turn on when you need to check the final oomphf. I personally don't mix all the time with a sub. It makes it more difficult to notice things in the mix.

I'd also highly recommend getting good pair of headphones. AKG is my favourite brand. Natural clear sound and affordable. I've got the K240 and K270 headphones.

[nIGhT-SoN]

Man, you didn't read the previous posts. Those M-Audio were B-Stock meaning they were used. I wanted to see in photos how much. As I mentioned in my previous post that kind of money I don't get it fast, in 2-3 months of work and I can't risk buying second hand stuff without seeing it.

Seeing it ? What do you mean ? If there is a problem with the finish ? Ok iam sry. Usualy studio monitors get not handelt to hard. Dont get me wrong but from my point of view all your posts looked like you like to buy a pair of speakers from the pics and some technical manuals.
Did you listen to mackies,tannoys,adams,m-audios or name them like you want?
Asking "whats a good speaker?", is like asking "whats a good car?".

All the brands in here are imho ok.

But you like to buy nearfields. Dont look how loud they can play or how deep the bass goes.

Listen to them and imagine what else you listend too. Dont listen for overheamling thinks, just listen if they can tell you a little of the truth.

My 5 cents.

If I would be able to listen to them I wouldn't be here listening to you trying to teach me things. Just read the whole thread if you want to help, if not don't start in the middle and act smart.

I am not here to start a fight so if you have anymore ideas like this, keep them to yourself. I'm here asking people for their own experience with this monitors, that doesn't mean I will 100% go as they say. Since I started this thread I've learned a lot about choosing the right ones for my environment and I think this was the point of it.

I am thankfull for your time spent here, but you are not helping.

[schnapsglas]

Hi, I've come back.

But tomtoo speaks the truth: there are very few of us who had the privilege of being able to know a speaker before buying them. Take his advice, in the end you will have to compensate your ears for the speakers. At this price range that doesn't change.

Write down your final candidates, and if you wish, we will pick one for you.

Specs do not tell anything especially at this price range. Focal 40s go down to 60hz, but that's better than a boomy woofer that goes down to 40hz. Be wary of frequency range cited without the decibel tolerance, i.e. 40hz ~ 20khz +/- 3db. At your price range, probably none of them will do this.

But you've seen how many people recommend going 2.1. I absolutely believe there is no other way at that budget to actually listen the whole spectrum (albeit irregular) without using headphones.

[nIGhT-SoN]

I know what he's saying it's the right thing to do, that's why I appreciate the essence of his advice, but he's not very, let's say diplomatic on how does he say it.

As for 2.1 system, it's a little to much for me, music is more like a hobby. I don't earn money from music, but I intend to start working in music. I know this won't be my last pair of monitors, but I need something okeysh to start with.

[V0RT3X]

I absolutely believe there is no other way at that budget to actually listen the whole spectrum (albeit irregular) without using headphones.

+1 to that!

Mixing on monitors is good as they will provide proper stereo imaging and allow you to see how well your music will translate into real world speakers. However you should really use headphones to make fine adjustments to your mix, specifically to compensate for the sounds you wont be able to reproduce with smaller monitors.

[nIGhT-SoN]

Now I'm using some headphones with my desktop speakers to make music.
Some of my music: https://soundcloud.com/iulian-ionescu

I know I won't stop using headphones but I want not to use them so much, they are dangerous for ears and also I want to be able to listen to fine detailes in the mix that now I can't.

[schnapsglas]

Now it will seem like a self-contradiction, but I sometimes do the opposite: frankly, I trust my headphones more. Because if treatment is not perfect and you use your headphones to listen to other things, you can compensate. But bass is the problem here; it will never have same impact on headphones because no matter what kind of HRTF you conjure up, you cannot feel it. So I try my best to guess bass from the monitor and looking at the spectrum very very hard.

If you want to listen to fine details, get something like Yamaha HS50m, very middy. In fact, I don't even use monitors that often unless it's absolutely necessary. But it's a good option to have.

If you are making music as a hobby, I would like to recommend speakers as small and midrangy as possible. They pick things out. But again, if it is a hobby, getting RP6 and stuffing the ports from time to time wouldn't do any harm.

So Lulian? I can't really recommend specific models. I can tell you which would work better, but not more. But you may find this helpful: http://www.soundonsound.com/smartguides ... s/mhpp.php

I did mix two albums on a pair of earbuds once. It turned out ok. It's really how well you know music is supposed to sound on them. No monitor will fix that.

[nIGhT-SoN]

It's actually Iulian as an i. I am greatfull for all your advices and you proved to be very helpfull, you and others here. I've learned my desktop speakers and I know how music should sound on them, but they trick me so hard on reverb, stereo image and things like that, also on bass since they are small and can't reproduce it. I tend to mix very loud so I can hear more of the bass and details which hurts my hearing. They are too small and low quality to have the same freq respons at all levels. Also, as you said, in headphones you can't feel the bass and sometimes tends to result in a muddy bottom after mixing with headphones. Some monitors that could go at least 65Hz I think would help me a lot in hearing more clear the bass. Not to say about reverb and stereo image.

[schnapsglas]

Ok, so Iulian, let's get you start making music on monitors. [warning: from here on in, muddy personal opinion formed from others' opinion!] From your last three options, if they are equal price, go for Tannoy. Really, it's tried and true. If Tannoy is more expensive (it should be) Then RP6. You will have some fun. I don't like Rokits because they cater too much to dance music (which you will find actually harmful) but you will do alright if you know the option that you can actually stuff the ports. Eris -- it's not been out for too long, so I would say do not go for it. People had some great success using Behringer B1030A against a wall, so I would not rule that out and it's a great price.

[nIGhT-SoN]

Actually I was thinking on Tannoy. They look to be what I need and I've listen to some mixes made on an old pair of Tannoy and it sounded very good. Also I've seen some youtube videos with some reviews about them and didn't see any complains. And not to forget I get almost 30euro discount for a pair which is the price of delivery.

[schnapsglas]

Actually I was thinking on Tannoy. They look to be what I need and I've listen to some mixes made on an old pair of Tannoy and it sounded very good. Also I've seen some youtube videos with some reviews about them and didn't see any complains. And not to forget I get almost 30euro discount for a pair which is the price of delivery.

Then go for it! From your current setup, you will feel the difference right away. In the end, any of them will have to be compensated. Get a pair and have some fun.

Because once you get them, you will start worrying more about acoustic treatment.