monitor suggestions needed

[Sidhu]

Hello to everyone! My forst post here...

Finally got my hand on cash enough for a pair of monitors (and a soundcard!).

This is what i have zeroed in on... u guyz WILL have to tell me what to go in for, cause the option of cheking out these myself does not exist. also no chance to A/B them or to return them....

my shortlist according to what i have read (and availability).

KRK V4

(have worked quite a lot on the E8 in a studio before... the bass management there was ***ed up, tannoy sub and not matched, but i found the KRK to be a bit harsh on the mids, then again, what do i know. And the roon was bad.. not that mine any better.. its four walls and a bed. The SOS revies saz it roks. The V6 ?)

Alesis M1A

i acutually did my first ever mix on the speakers. And it came out sounding something entirely different everywhere else, dint like these monitors then, but ive read some nice reviews since)

M-audio BX5 / BX8

Heard a lot on forums bout them. ppl praising them and all. Bit wary of the rear port thingi.. then i realized that bass would anywaz be omni in natre.. still close to a wall could cause issues ??? Someone said somewhere the Events smoked these things.


Event TR 5 / TR6 (maybe the tr8 if i strech it)

Just read good things bout these too... a friend has a pair of tr5. Will go chek them out.


Behringer Truth B2031A

?????



My Bias is towards rock. Though i need a versatile monitor system. Room is not treated. But i will spend the leftover money on some DIY Acoustics. Placement could be near corners. Current size of room bout 10x14x10. And it's boomy in the lows. But it's on rent, so ill be carefull wtih money i spend here..

Ill be highly obliged to all those who reply.


thank you.
Sidhu

P.S are the pres on the Behringer UB series transparent enough.. plan to get a UB 502 for monitoring.

 

[Ellegaard]

I was in the same situation a few months ago, not having a huge budget but still wanting something decent to work on. What was available at the time was a pair of Tapco S5s, M-Audio BX5 (not the BX8, unfortunately - I'd have loved to hear them), those little Yamaha monitors that seem to follow the NS10 line of being studio standard, the Alesis M1 and Behringer Truth. And although Behringer is rarely considered being more than worthless crap, I was surprised to hear that they seemed much more linear and powerful than the competitors.

I also use a Behringer Eurorack mixer mostly for routing signals around (hardly touch the EQ), and while I can't say if it sounds like $*^t or not (the guitar still sounds like a guitar in the end), it's not the noisy monster everybody talks about.

 

[Sidhu]

thanks for that reply.. i share the same opinion bout the UB series.. also the Truths... there is a lotta say that there actually quite a good monitor system.. suspect a lotta flak cums cause of the attitude ppl. have towards the company.

 

[Kurt Foster]

Get what you want now ... later you will want the KRKs or the Yamaha MSP5's ... (not the MSP10's) .....

 

[Sidhu]

Get what you want now ... later you will want the KRKs or the Yamaha MSP5's ...

that means the V4's are a good choice now ?

 

[Kurt Foster]

Monitors, much like pre amps can almost always be judged beforehand, according to what they cost. Good ones are usually expensive, medeocre ones are cheap. If they were really very good, the manufacturers would sell them for more (a no brainer IMO). Believe me, the manufacturers are not in business to give folks good deals ... they will wring every dollar out of whatever they can.

Many companies (Behringer, Event, Mackie, Alesis, M Audio, etc.) use crossovers, drivers and hi freq components that are "off the shelf" and design a cabinet around that, all to a price point. The results can be less than stellar. Often these speakers will have either good imaging, great bass response or smooth and extended highs ... but almost never all three ...

I have always liked KRK's stuff ... KRK is a company that uses propriatary drivers and crossovers. To me that is usually a good starting point when searching out great monitors.

As always, the room interface is as important as anything else. What really matters is how a monitor reacts in your enviornment ... I suppose even Mackie's might sound good in some instances ... It is very important to have your treatments installed before you start to audition a monitor system, because the two elements interact with each other. Please don't ask me how you are supposed to test your room with out speakers ... I don't have answer for that one ... it's a case of what comes first, the chicken or the egg? What I do know is treatments will make a difference in what you need from a monitor system and and different monitor systems will make a difference in what you may need for treatments.

There are several basic steps that should be taken in all rooms, as far as sonic treatments go. Bass traps, first reflection absorption and diffusion are all part of this equation, Do that first, then start with a monitor assesment / search.

I also suggest you build a relationship with a local dealer that will let you audition monitors in your room ....

 

[missilanious]

even better look at the V8's. I own and obviously use them alot, compared to the V4, another no brainer, has less low end and a tad bit less high bass. Currently looking to buy the KRK sub. All the V series need the extra low end or your not going to be judging right (not like your going to anyway if your room isn't treated it will actaully make more problems due to frequency nodes and standing waves.) They don't pump out that much low end but the lower harmonics are represented accurately so you get a false sense of bass. Personally for a $1000 a pair, the V8's are my favorite choice for that price point.

 

[Ellegaard]

As always, the room interface is as important as anything else. What really matters is how a monitor reacts in your enviornment ...

There are several basic steps that should be taken in all rooms, as far as sonic treatments go. Bass traps, first reflection absorption and diffusion are all part of this equation, Do that first, then start with a monitor assesment / search.

That's absolutely true. Check out http://www.ethanwiner.com and read the Acoustic FAQ, in my opinion the best guide around that's not impossible to understand. A pair of cheap monitors in a well treated room will probably do a lot better than the most expensive monitors in an untreated room (I guess!).

 

[Sidhu]

the few pro audio dealers that we have in town do not stock Monitors (besides perhaps the Behringer and an instance of Yamahas) So auditioning them is out. I need to make a decision and order them. In fact for KRK ill need to go outta town.

On the room front. This is a rather catch 22 situation. I have money for either Monitors OR acoustics. Here is what i thought. Ill have some money leftover.. With that ill get some basic DIY acoustics. DIY cause

1) we hardly have any pro acoustic engineers here.. the few around are not affordable

2) we do not get auralex

3) i live in a short lease rented appartment. I was thinking of getting glasswool acoustic pannels / basstraps made that i can remove easily and take with me. Also there cant be any major fixations in the wall...

4) ill really need to research a lot. Availibilty i not that good. For example i read in an SOS article hat open cell foam serves as a good absorber to correct flutter etc. I have yet not been able to locate opencell foam.. no one knows what that is.. and the samples i got were not it... so ill have to use alternatives i most cases.

I have acoustics up next. As soon as i decide which monitors i want.. ill have all of you helping me with acoustics.. perhaps ill put a pik ot two....

so now... the list on top is what im getting here.. within my budget. I need to decide...

Also whats the deal with the KRK rocket series ????


thanks a ton,
sidhu

 

[Murdock]

Cedar Flats Fats is right... KRK is very good for the price range… Extra careful for the room treatment… very careful…

V4 don’t have really the bass to move the air, if you need it… but very precise for that price and beat Event in 20/20 field… without that BBBBAAAASSSSS…

Thank for the help of choosing in the KRK RP-8 with sub versus V 8 series2… but if you have time, help me… I listened both but I don’t have decide yet….

Your opinion?

Alesis M1 are sweet and Behringer warsh and capture radio waves… Jesus, my Marshall do it some times, but uses valves instead chips, transistors and … for my ears KRK sound’s very good, upper levels; try ADAM’s or Dynaudio… that’s another league…

Have a nice day… and don’t fool your self…

Murdock

 

[Sidhu]

thanks for that.. And i suppose the 'Sweet' in Alesis is not good.

Im almost zerod in on the KRK's... a bit hasseled bout the bass.. but it's one area ill stay away from.. there has been a suggestion fot the Event TR8. What say...

and ill be getting to acoustics soon.


Sidhu

 

[Sidhu]

just got quotes for the Event TR range..
I can push in the TR6/8 . At the cost of a soundcard or a mic.. but thats liveble.

Ok I need to make a decisioon now..

KRK V4
KRK V6

(maybe the V8 )

or the

Event TR5
Event TR6
Event TR8

the strange thing is that the TR6 has two ports.


Acoustics next


thank you
sidhu

 

[Ellegaard]

That sucks. Listen to the Yamahas and the Behringer at the store then, if that's all they have. It's really a crucial decision, and I would never base it on other people's opinions or reviews. If you need to get out of town, it's really worth it - you're going to sit with those monitors for a long time.

One member claimed his Truths picked up radio waves. While picking disastrous Behringer cases is popular, I wouldn't count on any of the other products in the same price range being much more reliable. It's all from China or Taiwan anyway - better hope you get a piece of gear that works (and chances are you will, believe it or not!), and if not, return it and get one that works.

If you could just get a few sheets of rigid fiberglass (the compressed Rockwool isolation type), mounting them into a wooden frame, covering them with cotton and attaching them to the walls, especially in the corners, is no big deal and isn't going to cost you a lot. Here, five pieces cost about 20$, and if you attach them to wooden blocks glued to the wall you can easily take them with you.

 

[Sidhu]

im gonna do up the basic acoustics of this room very soon. AS far as monitors go... I really need to A/B them to come to any concrete conclusion.. which unfortunately is not a possiblity here... there is really no point in doing the with the Behringers or the Yamahas.. the MSP's dont have very good feedback from it's uesers including an outstation friend) and the behringers just dont seem serious enough.. i want a dedicated company making monitors for me.

I have almost zerod in on the KRK's (V4 or V6) unless someone suggets better...

Sidhu

If you need to get out of town, it's really worth it - you're going to sit with those monitors for a long time.

that would be just too placve an order and have them piked up on delivery :?

 

[Murdock]

Hi!

V6... or V8, for the Bass...

The Alesis are fine in field position... nothing more; the highs are metal to my ears, in that field... the bass is very, very pooorrrr...

Behringer are fine in the price position (295 dol.); better price? Made in Angola???!!!

Better?? ADM's... ATC... for the money, KRL is very good...

I never heard Mackie's... is so bad???

Genelec are very fine but for the price, ADM's is far more better... for my ears...

Be nice...

Murdock