Monitor Speakers

[lordie]

i think its time for me to invest on a decent monitor speakers than using my 2.1 altec lansing speakers for recording work.

i play bass mainly and guitar as well. usually record via cubase le bundle withe the zoom effect ;p.

usually i record tracks and compose tracks for the band and brainstorm ideas, and online collaborations, etc..

usually the record via the zoom which has a usb interface so its nice and easy. but the altec lansing doesn't reproduce the type of sound and it makes really hard for me to dial the type of tone i wanted to hear and record and than mix as well.

any recommendation for a decent monitor speakers to replace the edifier. i use a Mac for the recording. do i need a power amp? pre? for the monitors? active? passive?

 

[Enjaykayb]

Monitors are a personal thing for each individual... That is because all of us hear things differently... What I may like very much, you may not and vice versa. I would recommend therefore, that you take some of the CDs that you are really familiar with (your reference CDs) and go out to the various retailers and actually audition the monitors before you actually put down your money for them.

My personal favorite monitors however are:

1. ATC SCM 20As
2. ADAM Audio SA7's
3. Mackie HR8s

You will notice that all of these monitors are vastly different in terms of sound, technology and price. So depending on where I am working at, I normally prefer to use either of the above.

Hope this helps... and good luck with your search!

 

[l0u5y]

What is your budget? for the cheapest but really good for its price monitors, get rp8g2. That will cover almost everything. If not get the smaller one, rp5g2. However, you can't really hear the bass on the 5". You dun need a power amp if u are getting active speakers by the way.

 

[milkmesto]

budget will be your primary concern. you can get a decent pair for under $500 - KRKs come to mind.

most monitors these days are active / self-powered, so all you need is an audio interface with stereo line out. remember that you also have to get the necessary cable to connect it all up!

do remember that your audio interface also plays a part in taking in and putting out a clean audio signal too.

 

[lordie]

my budget is between 500-800.

any recomendations, my kinda music to record down is mostly metal riffs. KRK what particular model i will do a google.

thanks

 

[unholyernest]

around 490 to 500 for the KRK rp5.. i feel krk is the best already.. cuz they are really dedicated to do studio monitors..
or save up for vxt6.. also by krk.. its high end toys.. at around 1.3k..

 

[lordie]

where can i find and hear those KRK's?

 

[hardpan]

where can i find and hear those KRK's?

Should be able to demo them at Sinamex, although the last time I was there I didn't see any RP5s on display.

 

[dric]

As stated already by Enjaykayb, it's very important for you to bring material you're familiar with and go demo the different types of monitors out there.

For the price range for $500 - $800, imho, i think you can stay away from the M-Audio bx5s, and KRK RPs.

You can consider either the KRK VXT4s, or Yamaha MSP5s.

The VXT4's have very clear smooth high end,tho you can't really FEEL the bass response, but you can hear it's there.
The MSP5's naturally have a better bass response than the VXT4's due to the slightly larger cone. However the high's can't be compared to the VXTs. Ultimately it's up to you to hear em for yourself.

However, before you get monitors, I would strongly suggest you get yourself an audio interface first. You're zoom doesn't have an L-R output to be connected to the monitors does it? Even if it does i don't think you'd want to connect your monitors through those. A good audio interface will definitely level up your recording quality, and this will better justify the need for those good monitors you'd be getting. Rmb tho, monitors are not made to sound good, they're made to sound true.

one precaution tho, when you demo the monitors at the shop, they would prob sound different back at home cos your room plays a very big part of the whole sound. but you should still go with the one you like best anyways. haha

just my 2cents worth.

p.s. if you're feeling the urge to spend on good monitors, you can consider the Adam A7s, Mackie HR824s, KRK VXT8s, or the Genelec 8030.

 

[drumandbass]

thinking of getting monitors too.

How are the Wharfedale Diamond 8 series? The ones sold at City Music.

I'm gonna get either that or the KRK VXT6.

 

[dric]

if you're only deciding between the diamond8s or the vxt6s, go for the vxt6s. i don't feel the diamonds are much of a comparison to the vxts.

 

[drumandbass]

Thats what i thought. The VXT's sound richer. But i was told otherwise.

But gonna trust my ears on this one. Heh.

 

[hardpan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the Wharfedale Diamond 8s are even in the league of monitor speakers, but rather hi-fi speakers? There's no question that if you wanna do monitoring you should definitely go for the VXTs.

 

[lordie]

usually i use a miniplug to those big plugs converter *grinz* from the laptop to the zoom.

by u mean audio interface does the line6 ux2 make the cut? does it work with cubase? cos most of my projects are in cubase