Skip to main content

If I want to use monitors for just music listening on my PC or my portable MP3player should I get the M-Audio AV 20 or the AV 40? I just wanted to know which monitors is more for computer, games and portable MP3 players.

M-Audio.com website does say that the AV 20 are made for music and movies listening etc. Also it did say that you can hear what your music is really playing on the AV 20 monitors. But is Myler tweeters really not that good since I know a lot of car speakers use them and a lot of home speakers use them too. I thought since they use them for car speakers that they are very good since they can handle heat and cold temps. I also see that the tweeters for the AV 20 are made so you can place them on your computer desk and the tweeters will face towards your ears without having to level them to your ears like normal monitors. Looks like that M-Audio did update there owners manual and now they have specs for the AV 20.

Here's the link to the manual for the AV 20.

http://www.m-audio.com

Also here's a link to the details for the AV 20 on M-Audio.com

http://www.m-audio.com

Topic Tags

Comments

lcswoosh05 Wed, 01/30/2008 - 00:28

So you have heard the AV 20 or are you just saying that all M-Audio monitors don't sound good? Anyways on the specs for the AV 20 they do say that they use high tech stuff like MDF enclosures high end class amp etc. I know they don't have alot of power since they are small but are they good for there size? Meaning for a 2in woofer and a 1in Myler dome tweeter do they make good audiophile clear sound as it says on the detail page on M-Audio website?

bent Thu, 01/31/2008 - 10:09

FYI lcswoosh05,

Both of the links you posted above are broken.

Additionally, it sounds to me like you just want all around monitors for in-home use, not specifically for recording / mixing.

If these are not for critical listening per se then I agree with Crankitup, look for speakers on Craigslist, Ebay, your nearest Home Stereo outlet, etc.

hueseph Thu, 01/31/2008 - 10:10

You are the only one who has to live with your decision. Go to the store. Listen to the monitors. If you like them, buy them. No one can chastize you for your decision except you.

As far as specs are concerned, they may as well be made up. They are at best aproximations if not exaggerations of the truth.

Edit: My suggestion was made as, it seems you are already set on those particular monitors. From my past experience it is dificult and sometimes impossible to change the mind of a person who has essentially made their decision.

Davedog Thu, 01/31/2008 - 16:37

The significance of the AV in the model number cannot be emphasized enough. This , (I'm sure), stands for Audio Visual and alludes to these being a general speaker for a desktop and not a specific needs monitor like one would find in a recording studio or Video editting suite.

If you want em, buy em.

lcswoosh05 Thu, 01/31/2008 - 18:01

Well I have heard the AV 30 monitors since they are sold in Best Buy but I never heard the AV 20 or AV 40. But I can say that the AV 30 had really clear and birght highs and good deeps lows for its size. I was amazed and they sounded ALOT better than $100 Altec Lansing speakers that have a sub. But I would assume that the AV 20 and AV 40 would sound the same but I just wanted to ask if there is anyone that has heard the AV 20 or the AV 40 monitors.

lcswoosh05 Fri, 02/01/2008 - 19:13

Ok I finaly was able to play my music on both the AV 20 and 40 and I can say that the AV 40 has alot more power and lower end bass but the highs and mids are exactly the same to me meaing both sound really clear and precise like pro studio monitors. I currently own the AV 20 since I really like the small cute size monitors. I can say they are very powerful for a 2in woofer but acutaly when I measued the woofer it is about almost 2in and a half so it is bigger than 2in. The tweeters are 1in and yes I can see they are made of Myler since they are shiny plus whats really cool is that I can place them on my computer desk and the tweeters will point at your ears. Since normal monitors you have to level them to your ears. They are pretty heavy for there size but that means that are built well and durable so that's good. I can say that how the enclosue designed is really like the higher end BX5a I use to have but just they are soo small. The AV 40 I saw were pretty big and they are closer size to the BX5a and even sound almost about the same. Just that the BX5a has more power thats all really. So I would consider the BX5a and AV 40 are really alike monitors and both make very flat response and clear sound.

lcswoosh05 Sat, 02/02/2008 - 15:17

I have been listening to the AV 20 and they just dont have enough volume meaning they didnt go loud enough but now I have the AV 40 and its more than twice and more bass too. I am happy with the AV 40 they are much better. Plus the AV 40 has a better waveguide on the tweeter than the BX5a so the highs can spread out more clear. Also the AV 40 has a bass boost that the BX5a or the AV 20 doesn't have soo alot of bass comes out when you turn on the bass boost for the AV 40. I can say the AV 30 has the bass boost too but the AV 40 has alot more bass since it's a 4in instead of a 3in woofer that the AV 30 has.