I realize that many of us with small tracking facillities can't get necessarily get something like the Dunleaveys (sp?), for mastering but I would like to know what you mastering experts consider the criteria for your monitors and what your choices might be. Right now I have Meyer HD-1s and am checking out the ADAM S3's for tracking and possibly a set of Reference 3A's or da Capos (cheaper). I'm also trying to improve the acoustics of my room. Any input would be appreciated?
regards,
raregroove
Comments
Funny you should mention Dunlavy, because that's what I was thin
Funny you should mention Dunlavy, because that's what I was thinking when I opened up the topic. If you have the room (think 8-12 foot equilateral triangle with you and the speakers, and still have some side and front room left over) then you may want to revisit Dunlavy for two reasons.
One, they have a 35ish% off list deal for pro recording studios, and two, the new Cantatas are supposed to be wonderful. As far as I know, they're the Alethas with a square box, so it's cheaper to make.
I have heard three or four pairs of Dunlavys in as many different rooms, and I can say that I would not master on anything else I have ever heard by choice. For straight mastering, they are much better than the product of a year and a half search for my control room monitors, the Quested VS3208's.
I wouldn't want to track with them, though, as the 6dB/octave crossover filters make the high end drivers pretty susceptible to pops and unplugging mics and such.
So, with the discount and a good deal on a Hafler P3 or 4000, you're talking about the same price range as your Meyers, I think. If you don't want to swing that, I bet you'd be best off just using the Meyers and maybe finding a good sub to go with them- Velodyne, REL, whatever, and spending a little on acoustics.
wait until AFTER you have demo'd the ADAMs. i have the S3-a's an
wait until AFTER you have demo'd the ADAMs. i have the S3-a's and you DONT need a sub at all [unless you are doing 5.1] the A.R.T. tweeter sounds like nothing i have ever heard before and translation is ridiculous to other speakers.
its just something you gotta hear to believe. i have heard good things about the S4-a's with the A.R.T. midrange also, more bottom too.
I've actually never heard of the ADAMs. I will look around on t
I've actually never heard of the ADAMs. I will look around on the net. Marketed as pro speakers, or audiophile jobbies? What size are yours? What kind of price range? Have you heard Dunlavy's?
Originally posted by alphajerk:
wait until AFTER you have demo'd the ADAMs. i have the S3-a's and you DONT need a sub at all [unless you are doing 5.1] the A.R.T. tweeter sounds like nothing i have ever heard before and translation is ridiculous to other speakers.
its just something you gotta hear to believe. i have heard good things about the S4-a's with the A.R.T. midrange also, more bottom too.
yes, the SC-V's biamped with levinson amps. they sound good but
yes, the SC-V's biamped with levinson amps. they sound good but no way i'd shell out $12k for them [plus amps]. i would REALLY like to hear the ADAM S4-a columns against them, i bet the ADAMs would sound sweeter due to the tweeter and midrange. there is just something about the extended top end that sounds so nice [35khz]
now not to sound like an ADAM salesman, someone posted on another forum about the DAS speakers comparing remarkebly well to the ADAMs for less money... $1000 for whatever model he had. i cant verify his critique but from his notes, i wouldnt suggest them for mastering. i dont know dick about mastering so what do i know anyways? i just threw them out there to check out to see if it suits their needs, they'd know better than i.
ADAMs are at http://www.mccave.com mine are the S3-a's. they go up to like S8-a's i think, big soffit mount versions for massive control rooms. my suggestion would be the S4-a columns
RG, It sounds like you have a good setup now, and a good p
RG,
It sounds like you have a good setup now, and a good plan for the future. John Dunlavey is a "fan" of a label I master for. After contacting his company I found
that some of his stuff is quite affordable. He also makes no distinction between "pro" and "consumer" stuff. Even his smaller speakers sound quite nice. At the risk
of starting another "you gotta have the best gear/room in the world" vs. "anything Radio Shack makes is good enough" I believe that knowing your room/monitor response intimately ...and...knowing how it translates to an "average" listening environment is most important. I would have no problem working with HD-1s, the A.D.A.M. boxes, or any other good monitor in a good room. This is why I like my Senn 580s so much. They are the same everywhere and will help me "calibrate"
my brain/ears for different situations.