Best 5 inch monitors in 2021
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VELLTONE MUSIC VELLTONE MUSIC https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=404834
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2046 posts since 19 Sep, 2017 from The Future
I am in search of 'best' affordable (100-150 euro range ) 5 inch monitor for extensive listening in a living room,basic criteria is to be as neutral 'flat' as possible,pleasant for everyday listening and accurate when mixing.
My old audiophile system was receiver with passive 2 and 3 way speakers, but was retired recently and need to buy small monitors for living room 3x3 meters with furniture.
I consider as better option everything with crossover around 3 khz,cause it has more mid range of woofer,at least that's my understanding.
For now i have list and subjective order,but will be grateful if somebody share his own experience with these or other monitors:
1.Tannoy Reveal 502 - cheap but nice,very pleasant and clean sound
https://www.thomann.de/gr/tannoy_reveal ... #bewertung
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80wUtTcphS4
2.Fluid Audio FX50 - nice coaxial,probably better as mixing monitor compared to 2 way design.
https://www.thomann.de/gr/fluid_audio_fx50.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcsXHz88r0w
3.Adam T5v - super clean sound
https://www.thomann.de/gr/adam_t5v.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E31EQd_EJKc
4.Presonus Eris E5 XT - overall nice
https://www.thomann.de/gr/presonus_eris_e5_xt.htm
My old audiophile system was receiver with passive 2 and 3 way speakers, but was retired recently and need to buy small monitors for living room 3x3 meters with furniture.
I consider as better option everything with crossover around 3 khz,cause it has more mid range of woofer,at least that's my understanding.
For now i have list and subjective order,but will be grateful if somebody share his own experience with these or other monitors:
1.Tannoy Reveal 502 - cheap but nice,very pleasant and clean sound
https://www.thomann.de/gr/tannoy_reveal ... #bewertung
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80wUtTcphS4
2.Fluid Audio FX50 - nice coaxial,probably better as mixing monitor compared to 2 way design.
https://www.thomann.de/gr/fluid_audio_fx50.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcsXHz88r0w
3.Adam T5v - super clean sound
https://www.thomann.de/gr/adam_t5v.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E31EQd_EJKc
4.Presonus Eris E5 XT - overall nice
https://www.thomann.de/gr/presonus_eris_e5_xt.htm
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- KVRAF
- 35262 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
I did the mistake to order the 2 pair of speakers I had so far from the internet, without demoing them in a store or something. I can only recommend to listen to them in a store, if you can. Neither of the speakers I had so far really "wow'd" me. I think that's as subjective as it can be. So, better make sure that you get a proper presentation before you buy. You're probably disappointed otherwise. Especially as "flat" can be super boring, and not pleasant to listen to daily at all. At least according to my experience. I surely will try to listen to the next speakers I buy, before I buy them.
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VELLTONE MUSIC VELLTONE MUSIC https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=404834
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2046 posts since 19 Sep, 2017 from The Future
If i have something like Music Store Köln around will be nice,but don't have so internet is best option.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16G5iSCooiI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WvSjXlrQ9s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16G5iSCooiI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WvSjXlrQ9s
- KVRAF
- 5718 posts since 29 Sep, 2010 from Maui
IMO the main reason to listen to them in person is to be certain you have a well matched pair.
I have some Eris 5's for instance that I can barely manage to match with the provided controls
as 1 is significantly louder than the other. Sound-wise they are fine, but the volume difference
sucks, I keep waiting for them to die so I can justify some new and better monitors, they refuse.
I have some Eris 5's for instance that I can barely manage to match with the provided controls
as 1 is significantly louder than the other. Sound-wise they are fine, but the volume difference
sucks, I keep waiting for them to die so I can justify some new and better monitors, they refuse.
- KVRAF
- 10187 posts since 7 Sep, 2006 from Roseville, CA
I’ve only ever owned two pairs of 5-inch monitors, my current Genelecs and the JBL 305s discussed above. I bought the JBLs years ago as a secondary reference to my old Yamaha HS80Ms and they were absolutely fantastic, especially for the price. I’d highly recommend them, particularly for a smaller space (e.g., bedroom or home office/studio). From what I recall, they were pretty flat and had good detail, but obviously lacking in the lows (that’s what the sub is for, right?). I’ve also heard good things about the Presonus monitors, but have never owned a pair.
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- KVRAF
- 35262 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
@cryophonic: Do you still have the JBL's? What's quite annoying for me with them is a very prominent peak at about 60 Hz. I don't know if that's down to my room's acoustic, or if they have a massive peak there by design. I tried to change a bit in the room, made a bit of space on one side of the speakers, also played with speaker placement a bit, tried to put some pillows/cushions behind the speakers etc. Nothing. Can't really move them somewhere else, so, I'm at a bit of a loss here.
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VELLTONE MUSIC VELLTONE MUSIC https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=404834
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2046 posts since 19 Sep, 2017 from The Future
I had two small portable JBL speakers and stereo imaging is unbelievable,but that's what push me away from them as brand,somewhere read that some engeneers leave JBL and start new company,not sure was it KALI or other but they discuss exactly that JBL focus on imaging and space, but not critical monitoring,which is essential for final mix.
Other thing is crossover,if it's around 2khz sound is dull,if it is 3-4 khz it's basically better speaker used for mid range.
Best in that category imho is Dynaudio LYD-5 with Crossover frequency: 5200 Hz which mean that woofer can achieve all sound in 50-5200 hz range,unbelievable,but it's expensive.
https://www.thomann.de/gr/dynaudio_lyd_5.htm
Other thing is crossover,if it's around 2khz sound is dull,if it is 3-4 khz it's basically better speaker used for mid range.
Best in that category imho is Dynaudio LYD-5 with Crossover frequency: 5200 Hz which mean that woofer can achieve all sound in 50-5200 hz range,unbelievable,but it's expensive.
https://www.thomann.de/gr/dynaudio_lyd_5.htm
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- KVRAF
- 35262 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
JBL is very good in my experience. I have a portable Bluetooth speaker from them, and, while it's a consumer product, it's really very nice for that size.
I don't think the LSR305's are necessarily bad, it's just that I noticed that frequency bump/peak, and found that they sound a bit "boring", while I'm not sure if that's down to them being flat.
I don't think the LSR305's are necessarily bad, it's just that I noticed that frequency bump/peak, and found that they sound a bit "boring", while I'm not sure if that's down to them being flat.
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- KVRAF
- 3089 posts since 4 May, 2012
I would start as objectively as possible, using spec sheets to narrow down your options. Beyond that, you need to trust your ears and personal taste.
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Winstontaneous Winstontaneous https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=98336
- KVRAF
- 2344 posts since 15 Feb, 2006 from Berkeley, CA
I have the 1st-gen JBL LSR305 plus a Presonus Temblor 10 sub, it's a good combo.
The big plus on the JBLs is the imaging and sound stage.
I've learned how to make mixes on 'em that sound good elsewhere.
If I was buying small monitors today, I'd probably go with Focal.
To the OP - I'd check out the Fluids just because the imaging/phase response on coax speakers can be noticeably better.
@chk071 - Do you have the LSR305 LF switches on the lowest setting?
Mine are on floor stands and don't have any noticeable bass bump.
@pekbro - Are you saying you can't calibrate the Eris 5s with an SPL meter to match dBs using the input gain controls? Did you ever contact Presonus about that?
The big plus on the JBLs is the imaging and sound stage.
I've learned how to make mixes on 'em that sound good elsewhere.
If I was buying small monitors today, I'd probably go with Focal.
To the OP - I'd check out the Fluids just because the imaging/phase response on coax speakers can be noticeably better.
@chk071 - Do you have the LSR305 LF switches on the lowest setting?
Mine are on floor stands and don't have any noticeable bass bump.
@pekbro - Are you saying you can't calibrate the Eris 5s with an SPL meter to match dBs using the input gain controls? Did you ever contact Presonus about that?
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- KVRist
- 153 posts since 17 Dec, 2020
I can recommend the Adam T5Vs. Did loads of research, including watching YouTube videos of a guy who does comparison videos between pretty much any monitor you can think of. Obviously the sound will not be as you'd hear them for real, but they do actually give a good indicator of the differences & the various 'colouring' of the reference track.
(e.g. here's one: https://youtu.be/E31EQd_EJKc)
As a back-up I was also lucky enough to be able to test a few out in a store last summer & the tests pretty much tied in with what I expected from the YouTube videos (although one could perhaps argue that by that point I was perhaps a little biased & hearing what I expected to hear!).
So given the reviews, reputation & sound test I picked the Adam T5Vs.
That said, the Rokit 5s were a close second (not in your shortlist I appreciate) - it was either Rokits on their own (since they had more of a bass response) or T5Vs with the matching T10S sub. In my home 'studio' the T5Vs actually sounded more bassy than I expected, no doubt due to imperfect room response (I'm very much an enthusiastic amateur!). I wouldn't call the Rokits 'flat response' at all, which is perhaps why they are so popular with bedroom EDM producers...
So from a pure 'flat response' standpoint, the T5Vs are fantastic. In particular the high end is very clear without being annoying/fatiguing. Some other brands I listened to also had good high end, but although I couldn't put my finger on it, I found them uncomfortable to listen to. For bass response, the T5Vs are surprisingly good but I think they really excel when paired with the T10S sub.
Hope that helps & good luck!
(e.g. here's one: https://youtu.be/E31EQd_EJKc)
As a back-up I was also lucky enough to be able to test a few out in a store last summer & the tests pretty much tied in with what I expected from the YouTube videos (although one could perhaps argue that by that point I was perhaps a little biased & hearing what I expected to hear!).
So given the reviews, reputation & sound test I picked the Adam T5Vs.
That said, the Rokit 5s were a close second (not in your shortlist I appreciate) - it was either Rokits on their own (since they had more of a bass response) or T5Vs with the matching T10S sub. In my home 'studio' the T5Vs actually sounded more bassy than I expected, no doubt due to imperfect room response (I'm very much an enthusiastic amateur!). I wouldn't call the Rokits 'flat response' at all, which is perhaps why they are so popular with bedroom EDM producers...
So from a pure 'flat response' standpoint, the T5Vs are fantastic. In particular the high end is very clear without being annoying/fatiguing. Some other brands I listened to also had good high end, but although I couldn't put my finger on it, I found them uncomfortable to listen to. For bass response, the T5Vs are surprisingly good but I think they really excel when paired with the T10S sub.
Hope that helps & good luck!
- KVRAF
- 5718 posts since 29 Sep, 2010 from Maui
They are matched, one is just quite a bit louder than the other, I'm sure it's within theirWinstontaneous wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 8:15 am
@pekbro - Are you saying you can't calibrate the Eris 5s with an SPL meter to match dBs using the input gain controls? Did you ever contact Presonus about that?
tolerances. They are getting old, so I'm not super concerned about it.
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- KVRer
- 24 posts since 26 Nov, 2021
We are spoiled for choice!
I have the Equator D5’s and the earlier version of the JBL’s. I can vouch for both.
Are the newer hot times better?…..speaker technology hasn’t changed much. What has is manufacturing and downward economics…so we get these better choices now. I still wonder how long the electronics will last and who actually puts some effort in the quality there? All this modern cheap equipment gives excellent results, but isn’t usually built to last unfortunately.
I have the Equator D5’s and the earlier version of the JBL’s. I can vouch for both.
Are the newer hot times better?…..speaker technology hasn’t changed much. What has is manufacturing and downward economics…so we get these better choices now. I still wonder how long the electronics will last and who actually puts some effort in the quality there? All this modern cheap equipment gives excellent results, but isn’t usually built to last unfortunately.
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VELLTONE MUSIC VELLTONE MUSIC https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=404834
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2046 posts since 19 Sep, 2017 from The Future
For now favorite is fx50
i was very impressed with this video and was about to buy these,but 5 inch seems better option now cause new room is smaller and 5'' have higher crossover freqs,but not sure is it coaxial is really better in real life or just on theory.
Use to listen 2 and 3 way speakers and not sure about coaxial,will it be inspirational to listen and create on them .
Skip a minute to listen the sound if not fans of russian language :):)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNqAojzZR9U
i was very impressed with this video and was about to buy these,but 5 inch seems better option now cause new room is smaller and 5'' have higher crossover freqs,but not sure is it coaxial is really better in real life or just on theory.
Use to listen 2 and 3 way speakers and not sure about coaxial,will it be inspirational to listen and create on them .
Skip a minute to listen the sound if not fans of russian language :):)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNqAojzZR9U
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- KVRAF
- 35262 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
I just checked by placing the monitors in the other, "long room" direction, and placed them away from the walls. They don't have that bass peak that way. Definitely an issue with the speaker placement. I can't really place them any other way though.Winstontaneous wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 8:15 am @chk071 - Do you have the LSR305 LF switches on the lowest setting?
Mine are on floor stands and don't have any noticeable bass bump.