Yamaha has been popular with many. I don't have any problems with most of their speakers except for the old NS 10's. I am a longtime diehard JBL user. It WAS the definitive rock 'n roll monitor speaker back in the day and still is. Though I also like the KR K-series which has gone through a few ownership changes since I got my original V6's and Rock-It's. I find the KR K. to be slightly more alike the sound of my preferred JBL's. I don't find Yamaha like that. Some Japanese speakers sound like, well, Japanese speakers. And I always liked my direct coupled Crown DC 300 A type II, over the autoformer outputs of the Macintosh 2100. One was quite tighter than the other sounding. And some of that comes from a very low damping factor of the amplifier. So now what do you think? $350 per powered monitor should at least provide for you a truly good professional monitor. You absolutely have to listen to some of these before you purchase any of these. Otherwise I'll tell you you should vote Democratic this coming November and I'm not kidding. We can't just have wealthy people who only care about other wealthy people running the country. We need someone who cares about all of the people in this country and not just some of the people. So you need a pair of monitor speakers that make certain whatever politician you are listening to makes sense.

Speaker Libertarian
Mx. Remy Ann David

Really enjoyed that post, informal, and I hear what you're saying

I can only speak from my limited experience - I have a pair of HS80's and I think they are excellent, although bceause they are ported, you have to be careful with the bottom end, what sounds good on the HS80's doesn't always sound so good in the car - and vice-versa.

Hey Remy, what is your recipe for monitor placement? For 5 inch two ways

There are so many to choose from. My personal preference lies toward the KRK line of powered monitors for good sounding affordable monitors. I like this particular brand as it seems to relate better to my 30+ years of using strictly JBL's. I find they have a similar tonality whereas other monitors such as Mackie's also sounded nice, I don't find that they relate truthfully in the same way as my old JBL's with Crown amplifiers. Where the KRK's do. But that's personal preference like underwear. And I have a couple of pair of KRK's both passive & active monitors 5 inch, 6 inch, 8 inch and then the 12 inch JBL's that range in age from 1968 to 1998 of which I have more than five pairs of and not all with Crown amplifiers. Though I prefer direct coupled output amplifiers over Auto-former types such as Macintosh amplifiers which has nothing to do with the computer operating system. You only have to be concerned with that when dealing with passive speakers and separate amplifiers. Most self powered monitors are of the direct coupled electronic variety as they would be too heavy to put in a auto-former since those are mostly made out of large blocks of iron and coiled wires. So the actual amplifier does play a large role in the sound coming from your speakers. Different amplifiers connected to the same speaker can sound hugely different from each other. And vice versa we're different speakers on the same amplifier can sound hugely different from each other also. The best way to evaluate what kind of speaker you think you should get would be to take your favorite CDs of the most notable type, by the most notable engineers and use that as a reference before you purchase. Always use the same CDs as your reference. I have certain CDs by particular engineers and producers whom I know, have worked with and would also perhaps like to emulate some of their style. George Massenburg Bob Clearmountain Bruce Swedien, etc. by Linda Ronstadt, Toto, Michael Jackson, Steely Dan, Tears for Fears, Simple Minds, Earth Wind & Fire, etc.. At least with those, you know you are listening to actual musicians and actual engineering and not a bunch of software or plug-ins. And that's where it's at for me. But that's just for me. So I always start with playing back a reference before I ever start mixing anything for anybody. Part of that is also because, I've gone to other studios to do this and you use whatever the monitors are. So to get acclimated to whatever the monitors are, I need to hear my references. BTW those references also include some of my own recordings throughout my 40+ years of doing this. I'm one of my favorite engineers.

It's good to love yourself.
Mx. Remy Ann David

RemyRAD, post: 386778 wrote: There are so many to choose from. My personal preference lies toward the KRK line of powered monitors for good sounding affordable monitors. I like this particular brand as it seems to relate better to my 30+ years of using strictly JBL's. I find they have a similar tonality whereas other monitors such as Mackie's also sounded nice, I don't find that they relate truthfully in the same way as my old JBL's with Crown amplifiers. Where the KRK's do. But that's personal preference like underwear. And I have a couple of pair of KRK's both passive & active monitors 5 inch, 6 inch, 8 inch and then the 12 inch JBL's that range in age from 1968 to 1998 of which I have more than five pairs of and not all with Crown amplifiers. Though I prefer direct coupled output amplifiers over Auto-former types such as Macintosh amplifiers which has nothing to do with the computer operating system. You only have to be concerned with that when dealing with passive speakers and separate amplifiers. Most self powered monitors are of the direct coupled electronic variety as they would be too heavy to put in a auto-former since those are mostly made out of large blocks of iron and coiled wires. So the actual amplifier does play a large role in the sound coming from your speakers. Different amplifiers connected to the same speaker can sound hugely different from each other. And vice versa we're different speakers on the same amplifier can sound hugely different from each other also. The best way to evaluate what kind of speaker you think you should get would be to take your favorite CDs of the most notable type, by the most notable engineers and use that as a reference before you purchase. Always use the same CDs as your reference. I have certain CDs by particular engineers and producers whom I know, have worked with and would also perhaps like to emulate some of their style. George Massenburg Bob Clearmountain Bruce Swedien, etc. by Linda Ronstadt, Toto, Michael Jackson, Steely Dan, Tears for Fears, Simple Minds, Earth Wind & Fire, etc.. At least with those, you know you are listening to actual musicians and actual engineering and not a bunch of software or plug-ins. And that's where it's at for me. But that's just for me. So I always start with playing back a reference before I ever start mixing anything for anybody. Part of that is also because, I've gone to other studios to do this and you use whatever the monitors are. So to get acclimated to whatever the monitors are, I need to hear my references. BTW those references also include some of my own recordings throughout my 40+ years of doing this. I'm one of my favorite engineers.

It's good to love yourself.
Mx. Remy Ann David

I went to the local shop and ab'd the JBL LSR2328P, KRK Rockit 8, and Yamaha HS80M's and the JBL's sounded the best to me, they sounded balanced, more dynamic, and you could hear the lows better.
The Yamahas sounded super bright and mid scooped in comparison to the other two pairs, and the KRK's sounded "coney" and somewhere in between the JBL's and KRK's.

Now Im wondering how the Event 20/20's would compare to the JBL's??

I've heard the Event 20/20's and wasn't real impressed by them. It might be interesting to note, the guys at Event came from JBL. So why the heck didn't they make them sound like JBL's, I thought, when I heard them? Yup, JBL's are still my favorite. They are punchy sons son of a gun's. One of those official and definitive rock 'n roll speakers.

Whatever happened to electrostatic speakers? We all love condenser microphones. We should be listening to condenser microphones on electrostatic speakers. Don't you think?

Electrostatically charged
Mx. Remy Ann David

I believe you can get a pair of genelec 1030s in this price range or a pair of BM5A's. Both are fantastic buy you may need to invest in a sub.

I still love JBL's.

Mx. Remy Ann David

RemyRAD, post: 390923 wrote: I still love JBL's.

Mx. Remy Ann David

What Jbls would you go with if you had to get new ones tomorrow?
What do you think of the Adam Audio monitors?
Been looking at the Adam A7x's..

ChrisH, post: 387257 wrote: I went to the local shop and ab'd the JBL LSR2328P, KRK Rockit 8, and Yamaha HS80M's and the JBL's sounded the best to me, they sounded balanced, more dynamic, and you could hear the lows better.
The Yamahas sounded super bright and mid scooped in comparison to the other two pairs, and the KRK's sounded "coney" and somewhere in between the JBL's and KRK's.

Now Im wondering how the Event 20/20's would compare to the JBL's??

I would bet bucks for donuts on this; Every one of those monitors will sound different in your studio. Speakers never sound the same in the studio as they do on the showroom floor.

I have heard monitors that I loved in one room, sound like doo-doo in another.

"Gee Judge, I didn't know the shotgun was loaded."

Kurt Foster, post: 393428 wrote: I would bet bucks for donuts on this; Every one of those monitors will sound different in your studio. Speakers never sound the same in the studio as they do on the showroom floor.

I agree with you on that, its true, happens with everything, guitar amps, drums ect..

I've decide to go with the Adam Audio X series monitors.
Now I can't decide if I should go with the A7x's that have a 42 Hz - 50 kHz Frequency Response or the A8x's that have a 38 Hz - 50 kHz Frequency Response.
My control room is 500 sqft with proper acoustic treatment (bass traps, diffusion, absorption)
Is it necessary to hear the extra 4 Hz lower?

can you hear that low in your room? probably not.

do you have any other monitors? twos better than one.

something big, something small. three sets (mid fields?) can be good or bad depending on how you are firing.

some times less is more. that sounds like a nice room. is that the sq footage or the volume?

Kurt Foster, post: 393513 wrote: can you hear that low in your room? probably not.

do you have any other monitors? twos better than one.

something big, something small. three sets (mid fields?) can be good or bad depending on how you are fireing thr room.

some times less is more. that sounds like a nice room.

I have some M-Audio BX5a's but plan to add some Avantone Mixcubes as well, so with the Adam's I'd have three sets

we as humans are very deficient in 'hearing' stuff even as high as 80hz? its feel below there. w/ nearfield, i'd say go w/ the speakers that have smaller drivers, even tho your CR can is a good size. your 3ft(ish) away from them. I mean w/ out testing the room i'd er on the side of smaller speakers. Most people aren't listening to music on anything larger than a typical 4" driver in a car, or some ear buds. It's eisier to compensate for smaller speakers in a bigger room, than vice versa.

Yeah but for a main pair of monitors, I personally wouldn't go for anything less than low-frequency drivers of at least 8 inches. There's something magic able about 8 inch drivers. They have the low-end that can compete with larger ones, and much more than the next size smaller. Part of this is the internal dimensions of the box, I think, more than anything else? I mean have you ever stuck a small speaker in a large box? They don't quite sound small, then. And larger speakers in wimpy, smaller boxes, just never seem to satisfy.

Indicating a frequency response at these lower frequencies can be somewhat misleading. These measurements were done in anechoic chambers. As soon as you stick it in a room, all bets are off. Because we don't live in anechoic chambers. Small rooms with high resonant frequencies to them will pummel your low-end. And so you still want to be able to move some air. I find that 8 inch drivers can move just the right amount of air to sound big. In fact my main monitor pair. When I first started up the truck were JBL 4408's, which I simply loved. And actually moving to the larger ones, and three way units at that, I've never quite liked as much. I also simply love my KRK V6's, which, albeit they are six-inch drivers and a very tight sounding, lack of low-end is all too obvious. So I think the 8 inch size is a breakaway point, for a main monitor pair.

Step-by-step. Inch by inch.
Mx. Remy Ann David

Alright everyone, I've narrowed it down to the KRK VXT8's, Adam A7X's, and Genelec 8040a's.
Now if there was only a store that had all three...
Help!

FWIW my personal pair of monitors are 8". I really get a sense of the low-low (sub) end more than when i use 6's. But it took me like 4 months to figure out that sense and decipher it. Easy enough, turn lows where i like then, then turn then down a couple. then they sound like they should everywhere else.

Guess i'm contradicting myself, but your right remy, under the condition of having one set. all the main nearfields i use are 8's. Even in my car system i installed an 80's kicker w/ dual 8's instead of the other dual 15's. It just represented the music better, less mushy, more defined.

Wish i could help more chris, but i have no experience w/ any of your contenders. All i can say is buy all three and try them in your place. take advantage of the 30day return policy, and credit card companies willingness to give money out. Buy them, take two weeks, return the failures, even if its all of them. Let the salesmen know your intent. Maybe he'll give ya a demo pair of each. This is not illegal as far as i know, and is actually profitable for your credit card company, who chomps at the bit for transactions. Unless your room is exactly the way the store's room is, it's could easily be night and day. Also, in your room, set up a basic home stereo, or boom box, get a feel for what the new monitors are reducing/enhancing.

I'm partial to the KRK's. Though I wouldn't turn my nose up at a pair of Adam's. Those GEN-LAX have never really done much for me. They sound good, at times, but I've never wanted to mix on them.

I know, George Massenburg was recording and mixing on JBL L-100's (the consumer version of 4311's, much nicer looking) at his own studio, which he loved. Though I once saw an advertisement for GEN-LAX indicating he was using those. I've not asked him about what he's using, today?

I find my KRK's relate to me similarly, to my plethora of JBL's. Those Adam's are a whole lot different, with that ribbon tweeter. Almost too nice. And that ribbon tweeter goes out to 50 kHz. I have found them quite impressive sounding. I have actually been considering getting a pair, but there is not enough cash on hand right now for that. I've also liked some of those smaller Westlake's. Though I find those more aggressive yet. So I am talking in a rock 'n roll application here for the most part.

You should also make sure that whatever you purchase has some kind of viable return policy. I have returned some monitors and turned down, others. Matthew POLK brought apiary into our studio, some years ago. I almost vomited. Then when my partner turn them up to his mixing levels, they immediately all blew out. When fed from a Mackintosh 2100 transistor amplifier. LMAO. Matthew was not happy about that. I had to leave the control room, and that happened, because I really didn't want to laugh out loud. Philip had no problem laughing at Matthew when he did that. LOL.

Fizzle, fizzle, fitz went the POLK's.
Mx. Remy Ann David

I love my mackie HR624 mk2.thumb

Today I went and purchased a pair of Adam A7x's, Event 20/20 V3's, and Dynaudio BM5A's. I brought them home to my acoustically tuned home studio to see what I like the best.

First Impression after 3 hours of A/B'ing..

Adam A7x's

- Clear not "bright" (Can hear every nuance)
- Fantastic low frequency and punch
- You can hear the sub frequency's really well
- Seem a bit mid scooped
- Probably my favorite of the three

Dynaudio BM5a's
- Almost as punchy as the A7x's
- Sound like the A7x's with towels over them
- Mix's sound a bit chaotic threw them

Event 20/20 V3's

- Doesn't have near the nice clarity of the A7'x
- Feels like there's sub frequencys the Adams cover that the Events don't, am I crazy? This is a bigger speaker?
- If the clarity was there, I'd be sold on these.

So anyways, I really the Adams overall but I just wish they were an 8 inch driver because with that size of monitors it makes you feel like you're inside the mix, it's really fun.

depending on the volume (cubic footage) larger drivers could create more acoustic problems than they assist. It also depends on placement, and a bunch of other stuff. Did you mix on the demo pairs to see what translates, no just what 'sounds best' in the CR.?

You seem to really like the adams, that's cool, i question maybe a bit 'too much' HF absorption. It's whatever works. Mid-range is where the vocals /guitar/snare sit, so based on what you heard, i'd be very cautious of over/under-compensating, in this very critical range. it comes down to taste, but i despise vocal sounds that don't sound like they're singing w/ the band, or cpu. Sure, upfront has it's spot, but, i dunno if i'd get monitors w/ a sub-dued midrange, because i would end up over compensating, and trust me, i have to tame my mix decisions w/ vocals/guitars, on already bright monitors. So i definately like defined vocals.

If adam makes an 8" version, maybe you should try them. The ear is most sensitive to 'mids', so i tend to listen for 'un-exaggeration' in this range. i listen for 'smooth' mids on monitors, cuz by the time i'm abusing the mix, it tends to sound like i imagined it would.

kmetal, post: 393936 wrote: depending on the volume (cubic footage) larger drivers could create more acoustic problems than they assist. It also depends on placement, and a bunch of other stuff. Did you mix on the demo pairs to see what translates, no just what 'sounds best' in the CR.?

You seem to really like the adams, that's cool, i question maybe a bit 'too much' HF absorption. It's whatever works. Mid-range is where the vocals /guitar/snare sit, so based on what you heard, i'd be very cautious of over/under-compensating, in this very critical range. it comes down to taste, but i despise vocal sounds that don't sound like they're singing w/ the band, or cpu. Sure, upfront has it's spot, but, i dunno if i'd get monitors w/ a sub-dued midrange, because i would end up over compensating, and trust me, i have to tame my mix decisions w/ vocals/guitars, on already bright monitors. So i definately like defined vocals.

If adam makes an 8" version, maybe you should try them. The ear is most sensitive to 'mids', so i tend to listen for 'un-exaggeration' in this range. i listen for 'smooth' mids on monitors, cuz by the time i'm abusing the mix, it tends to sound like i imagined it would.

Thank you for your info.
Heard allot about the 8 inch version of the Adam X series being very mid scooped and very bass exaggerated.
Theres lots of people that say the Event Opals are the money bag.