Edirol MA20

[beatbros]

AUTO-ADMIN: Non-MP3, WAV, OGG, SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and Facebook links in this post have been protected automatically. Once the member reaches 5 posts the links will function as normal.

Hi all,
i'm planning to buy a pair of digital monitor speakers for home and I've seen ...

http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ma20d.html (http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ma20d.html)


Anyone have already tested it?

Any impression/suggestion/input would be really appreciated

TIA

BeatBros

[benjamind]

Forget it, they're not quality monitors. My friend bought a pair of these and ended up returning them.

If you are going after decent monitors you're better off looking at the $700-1200 price range, they seem to have the best balance of price and performance. Anything less than that and you're wasting your money and will end up spending more when you realise that what you bought just won't cut it.

My advice, get a pair of high quality studio headphones. Sennheiser HD600 or HD650 are good for mixing and monitoring purposes. Another choice is the Etymotic ER4S (get the ER4P and get the ER4P>ER4S adapter part) and a good headphone amp for about $200.

All up about $650 if you go with the Etymotics and the amp. And in my opinion this beats the crap out of any studio monitor I've ever listened to in that same price range. Etymotics produce reference quality sound across the entire frequency range, and they do it well. Trouble is, you'll have to jam them in your ear canals and keep replacing (buying) new foam tips and earwax filters.

Forget the ER6i, they are a lesser quality version of the ER4P and they're made in China, they're half the price of the ER4Ps. But for twice the price you get something that has like four times the quality.

In other words, you get what you pay for.

[geeseaplenty]

If you are going after decent monitors you're better off looking at the $700-1200 price range, they seem to have the best balance of price and performance.

Yeah, I think that if he had that kind of cheddar, he wouldn't be looking at budget Edirols, benjamind.

Also, to imply that spending anything less than $700-1,200 would result in poor-quality monitoring is foolish. Hell, even some 2.1 computer speakers beat the hell out of pro monitors in terms of sonic detail (and volume).

In other words, you get what you pay for.

Anyone who has only $200 to spend on recording speakers doesn't need to hear that.

I suggest going with the MA-20s. They sound good at low to medium volumes and are perfect for a small project studio. If you need volume, then try to find some Altec Lansing 621 speakers on ebay. They are great 2.1 computer speakers as well as being great monitors to boot (about $100). Logitech makes a good set of 2.1 monitors called the z-2200. Super loud too. Klipsch ProMedias (2.1) are also good. And they're all around $100.

Happy shopping.

[geeseaplenty]

As for the assertion that quality only comes with a $700-1,200 price tag...

“My whole new thing now is 5.1. I’m never going back. I got those little M-Audio BX5 monitors —those are incredible. People who are totally into high-end home theater come to my studio and are like, ‘What the hell are these speakers?’ People I turn on to these things are dumping their $10,000 systems. Those little speakers and a sub are my favorite speakers in the world. It’s over; I’ll never mix in stereo again.

BT said this in Keyboard magazine. I'd take his word for it over any amateurs here. And never do all mixing on headphones alone. That's just bad advice.

Anyway, you can get a pair of the BX5s for $299 at Musician's Friend. You can always add sub later, when your budget permits.

[Igor 4000]

First, a little perspective: BT is a hired spokesperson for M-Audio.

Second, while it may sound elitist to say that one is better off spending more money on monitors, it's also the truth. A few years ago I spent around $500 for a pair of Yamaha MSP5s. In hindsight, I wish I held off and spent a little more dough on a better pair. Rather than spending $200 on those Edirols, I'd rather spend a little more and buy a better pair on eBay or something. That's just my opinion.

If you're not in a rush, hold off and buy something better. You won't regret it.

[beatbros]

Thanks to all for your opinions,
i'm not in rush now and i'm just planning for an home studio decent listening.
I can't really afford a $700/1200 budget at moment but i can wait for a while.
I know that Edirol or other cheap solutions can be only as a beginning stage.
Maybe if my music will become intresting to any (crazy) producer i will be supported by a "real" studio with a "real" and "hardware" gear with an unbeatable quality in comparison to an home-made and low-cost studio.
Probably the best solution at present is to wait and buy some Professional monitor on eBay, a good compromise.