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Hello, I am in a situation here, After working for a while with a pair of Mackie hr824's that I'm pretty pleased with, I need to swap them for something with a smaller footprint. Iv'e been looking into the blue sky 3 way system,(system 2?), but I havent heard all too much about them, and what I have heard hasnt been so great. Ive mixxed long term on a lot of different, very colored, yet pleasing "hi-fi" passive speakers, and Ive learned that after a month or two I can compensate pretty well for the coloration, and get mixxes to translate(on almost any speakers I mix with). I would obviously prefer accurate monitors over the guesswork colored speakers entail, but for the size/footprint I'm looking for, I don't think thats going to happen, even with an active sub.

Prior to owning the hr824's I was mixxing on a pair of JBL 4310's, I'm one of those "it's in the ears not the gear" kind of guys, And I managed to pull a few years of pleasing mixxes out of them, After switching to the hr824's I was very pleased with the clarity, and definition, but if you have ever heard a pair of 4310's in good condition, you know the hr824's on the low end can sound a little sterile in comparison. (ex: drummer=I Can't feel my kick drum).

So what it all boils down too, I now have to move to an even smaller room, and the hr824's are just too big, not only physically, but theres a lot of "boom" to the low end and little "thump" if you know what I mean, despite speaker placement.

Right now I'm looking for a 3 way active system for $2000 or less, That is accurate and will translate well, with some good but accurate/defined thump on the low end, and can push out some decent dB's.

The room size is about Wx8 Lx10 Hx8 (it's a small project studio trailer)

The speaker placement will either be a 4 ft stereo spread about 2 feet in front of the mix position, or a 6 ft stereo spread about 7 feet behind the mix position. (Yes, Eww, I know).

The room is tiny, I have no experience in enviroments this small, and with such an awkward mix position, I feel pretty in over my head.

Any and all advice is beyond greatly appreciated,

Thank you,

(edit: I apologize if some of you don't feel like replying to another "what monitors" thread, I have spent a few hours already searching the forum, I cant find any threads relating to the physical footprint of the monitors, or a recommendation on a small nearfield system w/ sub thats accurate and defined, thanks")

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Davedog Tue, 09/12/2006 - 16:53

Genelec 1029's with the 1081 sub. Or even get the newer model 8020's and the sub.

Killer for small workspaces. KILLER.

The real problem with them that I can see, is once you've worked on them for a bit, the Mackies will never be satisfactory to you again.

BTW, I came from JBL's to these. And I'm so with you on the low end 'feel' thing.

garynameischanged Tue, 09/12/2006 - 19:23

Hello again, Thank You for the reply,

I have been digging through everything I can find, trying to sort through the hype.

Now, I'm down to the adam p11a's or the Genelec 8020.LSE TriPak, I really like the form factor for the genelec 8020 TriPak, but I'm not so keen on the idea of a system relying on a sub for low end. Your average consumer isnt going to be listening to a mix on a system that can belly down to 20hz or less. Ive heard alot of bad about using a sub w/ a nearfield system, but Iv'e never tried it.

More then anything, I want my mixxes to translate--With that in mind ive heard that the p11a's do, and the 8020's are a bit more colored.

any advice?

Scoobie Tue, 09/12/2006 - 19:40

I agree with the Dog on the Genlec 1029's an the sub. Killer Montiors that have 5" speaker. You will need the Sub.
I could be wrong, but i believe that this product is no longer in production.

I'm sure you already know this, but................
With a room that small i would look into alot of bass trapping.
Check out Ethan Winner (Real Traps). My room sounds great
thanks to Ethan.

When i frist got my 824's I though they had to much bass, ?????
I guess it was my control room.

Peace...Scoobie

Davedog Tue, 09/12/2006 - 20:42

The ability to translate it why I have kept them. Like anything else, having a sub takes a little learning curve but you are soon keen to it and theres no question as to where your bass frequencies are sitting in a mix.

In a small room theres a need for it. Take your favorite CD's to a dealer (if you can) and listen. Buy from a dealer with a great trial period policy.

The 1029's are no longer being made. The 8020 is the replacement model(upgraded) and they sound fantastic. I mix all my work at a larger room with much larger monitors and space and I have had ZERO problems with things translating.

You cannot go wrong with the Adam's either. At this point its a coin flip. Both will do the job. Both will need a sub. I like the Blue Sky....just not that much.