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I'm kicking around getting something else to compliment my current set of monitors which are the Yamaha HS-80Ms and would like recommendations. I do have a treated room that is approx 15x15 (yeah, I know) and whilst I've come to learn the Yamaha's pretty well I can't help but wonder if it would be a good thing to have a secondary monitor set to reference my mixes rather than my current option of using my headphones.

I mostly deal with rock music, largely guitar based (electric and acoustic) and my budget is probably $500 or less. If I left out any pertinent details, please let me know.

Thanks.

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jimmys69 Mon, 08/15/2011 - 16:29

NS 10's can work very well for second monitors. I run Event TR8's, NS10T's, and KRK G2 5's with a sub. Obviously not all at once. The TR8's I do most of my work with. The NS10T's are good for balancing midrange stuff. The KRK's have I hyped low end that makes it really clear when the low end is boomy. It nearly mimics how my car stereo translates mixes.

lambchop Tue, 08/16/2011 - 07:51

My two-cents worth: Since you already have the HS-80M's, I think I would look for a 2nd set of monitors from a different manufacturer than Yamaha. While I know that the NS10's are different than the HS-80M's, they probably still do share some similarities. If you notice in Jimmy69's informative post, each of his sets are from different manufacturers.

moonbaby Wed, 08/17/2011 - 16:09

I am going to take a wild guess and say that you want something smaller than the Yammies? I heard a pair of the new Mackie MR5II (NOT the original MR5 ! ! !) at a friends "studio-in-a-poolhouse" this past weekend. OMG!! I couldn't believe
the sound quality and THE PRICE (under $300/pr). Then I read a review of them in MIX. I'm sold...
How's the Ramsa?

sshack Thu, 08/18/2011 - 08:43

My initial considerations are certainly for something different than the Yammies...the KRKs 5" seem like a decent option as I've heard them before...usually with a sub though, of which I would not get.

Moon, how ironic....I was just about to reach out and see how you've been. The Ramsa is great. It took me a while to figure out how I wanted to connect everything up, but I have a work flow established that is serving me well. I purchased a 'custom' desk, assembled, stained and treated it, integrated all of my outboard gear, etc. and I've just been hunkering down and recording/mixing anything and everything I can get my grubs on. Tons to learn, but loving every minute of it. I'm very grateful for your help in this. I will check into the monitors that you've mentioned too...thanks for the tip.

BrotherLove Tue, 08/23/2011 - 14:14

I use Aventone MixCubes. They sound like crap, but thats kinda the idea. It is way easier to get a ballance mix using them, plus great to check my mono compatability. Fairly cheep and they look sweet.

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.avantone…"]Avantone Pro | Affordable High-Quality Professional Audio Products[/]="http://www.avantone…"]Avantone Pro | Affordable High-Quality Professional Audio Products[/]

sshack Thu, 08/25/2011 - 15:42

I've heard very good things about the Avantone's.

I suppose the other thing that I need to consider in conjunction is some kind of headphone amp/distribution (or the like) that will allow me to switch between the sets of monitors and headphones. I'm not fully certain the best way to tackle this, mainly because my interface (RME) switches between the monitors and headphones via software mixer.
I want the ability to do all of my switching via hardware...knob turning, switch flicking, etc.

Any thoughts or suggestions here?

BrotherLove Thu, 08/25/2011 - 17:05

Its funny you ask that, Ive just dropped a post asking for feedback on the JBL MSC1. Its a small box that sits on your desktop. You can select between in and outputs like the Mackie Bigknob, but it also has room correction, so in theory it should help eliminate bad modes in your room.
Anything that helps your room treatment has got to be all good.

Ripeart Thu, 08/25/2011 - 20:03

You have a decent set of monitors so I think you should ask yourself why you want to get another set. In my case I needed a second set because I needed a reference for what approximates consumer level reproduction. To address that need I bought a pair of passive Mixcubes. I find myself setting levels and pans on the mixcubes and then listening to my go-to monitors which are Dynaudio 6a series 1. Sometimes I will collapse to mono and listen to one mixcube to get a rough level setting. It helps because I can easily hear where i need to carve out a frequency or how a pan setting is affecting the level. Additionally I run a spdif out to my home theater and listen in simulated 7.1, which is the way a lot of folks with home theaters listen.

My thought is that you should either get a pair of much better or much worse monitors rather than opting for something of a similar sound quality.

It really all depends on what role you need to fill, you know?

Chicobluez Tue, 09/06/2011 - 11:47

BrotherLove, post: 375553 wrote: Its funny you ask that, Ive just dropped a post asking for feedback on the JBL MSC1. Its a small box that sits on your desktop. You can select between in and outputs like the Mackie Bigknob, but it also has room correction, so in theory it should help eliminate bad modes in your room.
Anything that helps your room treatment has got to be all good.

I have JBL's MSC1...Made my mixes translate nicely.