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First of all, hello to everyone as this is my first post on these forums although I've been lurking for a while :P

I've read through the existing monitor threads but would like to add details about my setup/future setup, music style and budget so I can get the best information.

The stuff I've already decided on are:

a Behringer DDX 3216 Digital desk w/ 2 ADAT interface cards (found a very good deal on this and it's probably the closes to my needs)

RME DIGI 9652 HDSP or RME HAMMERFALL LE 9636 on my PC

I have anywhere up to 900-1000 Euros to spend on monitors.

The music I mainly work with/mix is punk/hardcore/metal.

I was looking at the Genelec 8030APMs but all the reviews I've read include the subwoofer as well. I have worked a couple of times on the older 1029s (which I believe the 8030s are replacing) and they seemed lacking at the bottom end without the sub.

I've also heard good things about the M-Audio BX8s and since much cheaper I could probably get the matching sub for the same money as the pair of Genelecs.

Any other suggestions or comments?

Thanks in advance,

Alex M.

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Comments

anonymous Thu, 03/17/2005 - 11:43

I have the 8030 Genelecs with the 7050A sub. They are outstanding monitors in every aspect. Stereo imaging is fantastic and the lows, mids and highs are very detailed. Transient response is very fast and accurate. You can really trust this monitor.

It's not at all comparable to the older genelecs since it´s an all new design. The low end is actually pretty impressive and in a small control room it's perfectly enough. The sub would of course extend the low end a little. My suggestion: get the 8030's now, get the sub later when you have the cash.

iznogood Thu, 03/17/2005 - 14:14

jimbo_baby84 wrote: i second that. if you're serious about this it's better to make a good investment by getting a monitors you can grow with rather than ones you'll get the urge to replace in about 3 months.

the perfect reason for not getting genelecs.....

worked with gene's for years.... never been so cheated by a speaker.... and the new ones are even more severely colored... by the way genres where they mislead you the most is hardcore and metal.... i think metal is by far the most difficult genre to mix.... and i've mixed alot in the past five years where i mixed fulltime...

get a pair of hifi speakers instead ....

much more value for money...

only drawback is that hifi speakers don't have built in limiters

anonymous Thu, 03/17/2005 - 18:52

Yep, I'll 2nd Iznogood, IMO genies are just too pretty to mix metal and will outright lie in the upper mids where the guitars live. Just recently went to a set of KRK V8's( self powered with limiter) and while they don't sound "pretty" they seem to present the midrange in a manner that translates well out of the studio. No matter what speaker you buy, try it in your room before you by if you can. Good Luck

anonymous Thu, 03/17/2005 - 21:39

Just to toss an opinion in, there are very few things in your studio that will last you ten years. Your computer, your software, your sound card, your plugins, and everything that is digital or tied into the computer - will not.

Of the things that have the capability of lasting you a lifetime are monitors, preamps, and microphones. Spend wisely on those and you won't NEED to buy new ones later. Spend poorly and you'll waste a lot of money slowly upgrading those over time.

That's all.

Nika

LittleDogAudio Fri, 03/18/2005 - 06:52

Choosing monitors is no different than choosing shoes. It all has to do with comfort. You need to be able to understand what you are hearing and mentally remember how things transfer outside the controlroom. Or better yet, go listen in the car.

Maybe more important than that is how the controlroom sounds and how the monitors react in the CR.

I agree about the Genelecs. A monkey can get a good mix on them but, take the mix out to the car, home, boombox, ect and it will sound like a monkey mixed it.

Way too hyped for me.

I have always got the best results from Tannoy monitors. They are not the biggest/baddest sounding things out there but mixes seem to travel very well on them.

My .02

Chris

anonymous Tue, 03/22/2005 - 11:32

Thanks for everyone's advice....

At the end I decided to go with the M-Audio BX8s

I heard them and they seemed to fit the bill just fine..... Heard some of my good stuff through it...some stuff where i know what didnt quite work + some ref material and they seemed to be just what i needed and at the price i cant really complain

Once again thanks for your input