Studio Monitors on the CHEAP
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Posted on Dec 13, 2007 02:42 am
Keith Warren
Mans reach exceeds his grasp
Member Since: Oct 23, 2007
There's been a bit of talk lately about studio monitors around here and I'm on an extreme budget now that I've sunk 1,300$ into software and another 1,100$ into an interface and new CPU.
I wanted to see if I could get an opinion or some advice on nearfield/ reference monitors around the 100$ mark. I came across these Behringer monitors, as well as a pair of M-Audios and they both seem suitable for my needs, but again, any advice or opinions would be very helpful.
www.zzounds.com/item--BEHMS20
www.zzounds.com/item--MDOSP3
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Dec 13, 2007 04:19 am your best bet would be to listen to all of those your are considering...(usually can be done at any Mega Giant music chain store (i love using them to check gear out!) and bring a densely mixed cd (no 50 cent here) and actually, throw a pink noize track on it aswell...a/b tests will give you a TON more confidence with your purchase, don't get the ones that "sound best" try (and i know it's hard) to be as objective as possible, note the low end, do the vocals 'sit in' or 'pop out' of the mix? and are the highs 'harsh'?....i'd go for 6's (inch woofer) and not even muck with a sub (they tend to cause more problems than help). really try to stretch your budget as far as you can cuz your monitors will stick with you long after your software gets updated, you get a new computer, and probably have a new interface....monitors are like refrigerators. ya get a solid pair the first time around and you won't have to fuss with 'upgrading' them for many years...passives will also save you a bit of money aswell (ya can find good power amps pretty cheap)....but i prefer actives for several reasons, which are totally up to "personal preference"....
if you can get into the $600 price point, build quality and reliability take a good step up....
which reminds me, going used is totally acceptable.....monitors tend to be taken care of by their owners (espically good ones) and generally don't get moved around a lot. important inquiries would be cigarette smoke exposure, did they move or get handled a lot, did the owner buy them new? how long ago? and "why are you selling them?"
if you can get into Dynaaudio, Event, or KRK etc. it would be WELL worth it.
OH! what type of music will you be mixing most?
Keith WarrenMans reach exceeds his graspMember
Since: Oct 23, 2007
Dec 13, 2007 05:01 am I'll be mixing predominately 'Stone Sour' type music. Acoustic Rock for a genre label. I've had KRK Rocket 8's before, but they proved to be too coloured on the low end for my taste, as I have tonal sensitivity issues from 300Hz and below.
I wish I could get into the 600$ margin, but I've delved so much into it all in the last few weeks that I simply can't afford it right now, but need monitors to move on. I figure spending 100$ now for some general referenceis a good idea for my project goals. And in a few months, hopefully no more than 6 I can afford some nice Adam monitors, which is what I use at work and love to death.
I would love to get some passives, but there are few I trust for accurate sound reproduction; like you said, they'll be around for a long time and if I'm going to buy some dedicated monitors, I figure I'll plan ahead to what I'd really like to do for a living, which is mastering/ studio engineer. I'm just touching the tip of the iceberg, but I'm dedicated and attending Berklee after graduating from Full Sail with a degree in 'Music Business', which left me with nowhere to go. Really unnecessary information, but these are my goals and I'm living on grants and 2 minimum wage jobs, so I guess my point in this matter is that I'll take what I can get right now, but I will never settle for just ok.
Also, there are no big music stores around here, the closest Sam Ash, which is my fav store of all time, is 90 miles away, which is a trip I cant afford to take. Guitar center is right around the corner, but they've screwed me on so may other deals that I can't stand to go through them anymore. I agree though, they must be heard before they're bought. There's too much riding on 'em to make a 'buy now, regret later' decision.
Dec 13, 2007 05:19 am it totally understand the KRK issues!! they're the muddiest monitors i've ever heard, but are GREAT at hip-hop type stuff that will be played in da club.
which full-sail, i had some friends come outta orlando, and was heavy into the hard rock scene down there....and yes i know whatcha mean on the 'left me nowhere to go' issue, i went to AIM (Atlanta Institute of Music), and got the same results.
and i NEVER said "buy at the big store" just 'shop'....hehe ยง;o)
Keith WarrenMans reach exceeds his graspMember
Since: Oct 23, 2007
Dec 13, 2007 05:27 am Well, my point with the big store issue was not buying there, but driving out to hear the monitors there. I'll be damned if I pay 40$ in gas to hear some 100$ monitors, lol.
As for Full Sail, I went to the Kissimee campus, which I guess you could call Orlando. Same difference.
Back to the monitors, I'm looking for flat response at a low price, which should be easy to find, but damn it all it's not. You can buy an amazing 5.1 home stereo system for far less than you can get a pair of 'plain' sounding nearfield studio monitors for. Seems really dumb to me, but then again, I know what goes into the design and whatnot, which justifies about 12% of the cost. So actually, it still seems really dumb to me.
Dec 13, 2007 05:36 am you're right, it is dumb....i'm not too experienced with anything in your price range, ...my first pair was Event 20/20's 5 years ago, and i still use them to this day...but i have since learned 8" woofers are way overrated. a buddy of mine has the m-audio 8's (i forget the actual model number) and he seems quite content with them...i say go used.
Dec 13, 2007 05:40 am $150 is possible for semi decent stuff, you drop below that it starts getting iffy and speakers loose major responsiveness, particularly in the low end as the cabs and speaker sizes get really small.
At least from what I saw...I was on the same mission as you a while back and just could not find a conceivable way to spend less than $150 and actually be even remotely happy with the product.
Keith WarrenMans reach exceeds his graspMember
Since: Oct 23, 2007
Dec 13, 2007 05:58 am Wow. I just typed a really long response and it got lost because I was automatically logged out. :(
I'm off to work, I'll continue this later, thanks for your help guys, and I look forward to more insight on the matter.
Dec 13, 2007 06:00 am ouch! i've had the same happen to me..awhile back my browser quit working randomly, and i took to saving my reply in word, then copy and pasting.....'course you're gooin' to work, so that wouldn't help much.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 14, 2007 11:18 pm ON the KRK thing there guys. Are you both nuts? :-)
KRK was my salvation here. Granted they are an older pair of K-Roks with the 8" driver's. And they are not powered. I use either an Alesis RS-500, 250 watts a side or a Crown XLS-402, 450 watts a side. I just recently started using the crown after I started having issues with my Alesis and needed to find something to use while the Alesis goes out for repair.
The major thing is KRK's cannot be under powered. In other words the bi-amped units need to have their amp turned flat out. Then you control the input for level. I've honestly never heard a set of KRK's put out a muddy sound.
But honestly Monitor's are a personal thing really. What I like the next guy might not. But for me I must have tried well over 35 pairs before I got these and they were golden. I haven't looked back since.
Dec 15, 2007 03:50 am hmm on the two times i got to a/b 'em with others, and on the one time i mixed on 'em in someone else's studio, they sounded 'tubby' to me....somewhere around 200hz there's a bump in the response....and when i mixed on 'em, my first mix came out glassy as all heck...i obviously overcompensated on the high's (perhaps i was tryin' to get it to sound like my 20/20's)....for a 'modern' mix i'm sure they're fine, but i can't imagine using them on a more 'open' track....then again i never gave myself an opportunity's to 'get used to them'...whereas if you own them, you can learn to compensate.
Keith WarrenMans reach exceeds his graspMember
Since: Oct 23, 2007
Dec 15, 2007 07:12 am I think it's just a matter of personal preference. I don't like my music boomy, and I 'perceive' the KRKs to be a bit boomy.
Dec 15, 2007 08:08 pm Was the m-audio 8's the "BX8" model?
Those were $300 if you found a good sale (no longer available new), but then they replaced them with the BX8A model which adds a bunch of electronics and is $500.
Dec 16, 2007 03:25 am yeah it's the BX8...i think he paid 350 new.
J-botByte-MixerMember
Since: Dec 04, 2007
Dec 20, 2007 12:14 pm I don't know if you'll find anything really worth using, at that price range, even if temporary, but if you can put anything more into it, or even save up a bit, you could try to see if you could find some yorkies on the cheap. I think the YSM1P's run around the $275 range normally and the passives are a little cheaper. They've had a pretty good reputation, though I haven't heard them myself.
I got my Tannoy Reveal6 Passives for around $350, which was a good deal since they normally run $450/pair. Judging by the response on Lantern, I'd say they work for me pretty well.
-J
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 20, 2007 01:59 pm For cheap, I've heard people use the old Radio Shack Minimus 7 speakers, with good results.
* edit *
here's an ebay link:
search.ebay.com/search/se...op=1%26fsoo%3D1
There's a few pairs on there right now.
* edit *
This referral was from a guy on another board, that's been in engineering for quite some time, some of it guerrilla style, i guess.
They're getting hard to find now, as they're discontinued. The new ones aren't the same, and not as worthwhile using. The old ones were the bomb.
I had 2 sets of those back in the day, had them both ripped off, dag nab it!
Never used them for reference monitors, but they sure cranked in my old pickup truck =).
Keith WarrenMans reach exceeds his graspMember
Since: Oct 23, 2007
Dec 20, 2007 03:54 pm You serious? I think I've got a couple of those in storage!! Only problem is, I dont have an amp for 'em :(
I found a set of Fostex www.musiciansfriend.com/p...tors?sku=600682 monitors that might work, have any of you guys heard these things though? I kinda feel dumb shooting in the dark, but I've sunk so much into my studio the last month or so I think it's time to back off throwing cash around; although this is one of the most important pieces and I also feel bad neglecting it. What to do, what to do.
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Dec 20, 2007 04:08 pm so, if you're pretty confident you're going to get a nice pair of monitors in 6 months... why not just use what you have until then? It would save you some money. Plus if you have a pretty good ear, you can mix on anything once you get used to how they react/sound, even if it's not ideal. I'm assuming you have a pair of computer speakers or something for the moment...
Keith WarrenMans reach exceeds his graspMember
Since: Oct 23, 2007
Dec 20, 2007 04:11 pm No, just using headphonesat the moment and it's killing me. I was using some Sony mini-unit monitors, but the left one just up and died.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 20, 2007 04:12 pm Heck, I've used home stereo receiver for an amp, plus I've used bookshelf stereo for an amp before. Both work quite well.
A boom box would work as an amp, if it's got aux in, or CD in, etc.
Use the min 7s, and you probably got an old stereo of some sort stored away too.
Keith WarrenMans reach exceeds his graspMember
Since: Oct 23, 2007
Dec 20, 2007 04:15 pm My dilemma; the Sony mini system has no inputs on it at all. And I was using an olf Realistic amp/reciever ive had for about 15 years now, but the left channel died on it for some odd reason. Maybe I should just wait and go for broke. Get some Tannoys or somethin'.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Dec 20, 2007 04:20 pm heh, i did, but I was replacing a set lost in a house fire. actually, i was replacing everything lost in a house fire =).
anyhoo, i got a set from sweetwater for cheap, as they were the 'old' model of powered speakers.
eh, 850$ speakers for 500$, i'll take it.
as it turns out, i spend more of my time listening on my cheap 2.1 SB set of PC speakers =).
( i do use the tannoys to finish though )
Keith WarrenMans reach exceeds his graspMember
Since: Oct 23, 2007
Dec 20, 2007 07:52 pm Hell, I might even go for the gusto when I get the bucks and buy a pair of Adam monitors. I guess I'm just itching to get a formal studio put together. I'll prolly go with the Fostex to hold me over for about a year or so though. Thanks for your help everyone :)
