Monitors, does size matter?
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Posted on Mar 30, 2010 08:44 am
Fragile
Member Since: Sep 30, 2009
Looking into finally upgrading to a real set of monitors. Moneys a little tight so i may have to buy used. But i was wondering, does size matter here? Would a set of 5inch monitors preform any worse than a set of 8's? What sort of frequency response should i be looking for here? Also i'd like a set loud enough to play my drums threw, either midi triggered or being monitored direct via podfarm. Just in case i loan my PA system out or one day start doing some cafe gigs again, it'd be nice to just leave my PA in the car (probably trade for a smaller system lol) and keep all my recording gear here in my room. Its such a pain moving back and forth.
So, ya. what sort of thing should i be looking for while researching monitors online?
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Mar 30, 2010 08:57 am I can't recite technical info on this, just theoretical...as I have made a few sets of speakers in my day, and some have been very nice sounding.
Using your example of 5 and 8 inch speakers. technically speaking, 5 inch speakers can no reproduce the same frequencies that an 8 inch speaker does, however, the smaller the speaker, the earlier the full wave form develops, so for a monitoring system that is less than 6 feet from your head (or thereabouts), the smaller speakers work because while they are close, you are still hearing the fully developed audio...hence the name "nearfield".
Smaller speakers have more trouble reproducing bass, however, bass response is often compensated for very effectively by how the cabinet is tuned and ported...which is how home theatre subwoofers can have such small speakers but still produce a very low end.
The performance depends on the size of the cabinet in relationship to the size and specs of the speaker...so you can get pretty small speakers that do a decent job as control room monitors.
Over all, in pro studios you will often see a large set of speakers (or more) placed farther away and a set of Yamaha NS10 placed right over the mixing board...that way you can listen to the recording in both situations.
The smaller speakers are more often making available a matching subwoofer these days, as well, to help the smaller ones deal with the extreme low ends.
I like small speakers myself...they take less space, sound good at comfortable listening levels, and at those lower levels are affected less by bouncing waves and such other environmental anomolies.
Researching online, what to look for depends on your situation. If your speakers will be backed up against a wall, make sure they are front ported. If they are rear ported, you'll need a couple feet between the back of the speaker and the wall. 8 inch speakers can make fine nearfields. I have a smaller set (5 1/4, I believe) and they are good for my use, but I'd not use them in a pro studio.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Mar 30, 2010 09:52 am Before aquiring the Onkyo 2x4s that we currently use, I used a set of home theatre speakers that had 2x2"-full ranges in each 'towers', and an 8"-sub woofer, with ok results. When it comes to using speakers that are not as flat as a set of 'very-good' monitors would be, is it really seems to be a matter of learning what your working with(limitations and freq-coverage), as much as tweaking them for the room that you're working in.
Systems with a sub-woofer are sometimes nice to mix through, 'cause they give you such a good picture of what the low end is doing, and you can focus on that at any time by killing the other, full-range speakers... which can be a good thing, if you have low end mixing-issues, as I sometimes do.
Mar 30, 2010 04:39 pm Alright, so there's nothing "wrong" with the tiny speakers, especially for a hobbyist like myself? what sort of bass frequency should be the cutoff point? i was looking at the KRK's, which have a range of 53Hz - 20kHz. If i think i can afford it, i'll probably buy new to see for myself the difference in tone and feel. But i figured some preliminary research never hurt anyone.
Quincysanhttp://www.unitedmusicians.infoContributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007
Mar 30, 2010 05:03 pm Last year I got a pair of used Event ASP6 (6") monitors for $375. I plopped them in my room following some room setup advice (MM approved!) and they do a great job letting me hear the things I know to listen for in the mix. I was recommended the 8" variety but couldn't track down a pair for a decent price. The 6" Events sound great to me, low end and the rest. While the ASP series may be discontinued you might get lucky with a pair on Craigslist like I did.
Before using Event I used a pair of Alesis Monitor One passive monitors with a 100 watt amp. It's my understanding that this is a popular beginner monitor setup (they were recommended to me by local friends) They were not transparent. I found myself having to re-mix several songs in order to get the mix sounding decent on other systems. I was also a lot crappier at hearing the mix so take that into account...but the mix I get when using the Events seems to translate very well.
I was considering the NS10's before I found the Event's but decided against them because of some scathing reviews online. Many people use them; presumably because it more closely simulates a car stereo or perhaps a home theater system...I dunno...they aren't flat was the resounding complaint.
Having researched tens of hours on forums across the internet before buying my monitors about a year ago there seems to be a common ground among experienced engineers...don't cheap out on sub-par monitors.
I think the Mackie HR824's were what I was REALLY looking for before I stumbled into the Event's. You might see if that's something you would like.
Mar 30, 2010 05:30 pm Funny, I was just looking over this post, when one of my former co-workers walked into the door. He was carrying two Mackie HR824's with him.
He's looking to sell them for $950 for the pair.
Just putting it out there. :)
OH! And they are brand new in the box, never opened.
Quincysanhttp://www.unitedmusicians.infoContributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007
Mar 30, 2010 06:08 pm Deleted By Quincysan
Mar 30, 2010 06:27 pm Hmm, sounds like a good price for that set! Unfortunately my price range will likely be somewhere between 200-500. The way i figure it, someone of my current skill level won't benefit as much from a serious high quality set of monitors, so the mid-budget class range should do me pretty well. I'll definitely look into the events'. Anything right now would be a step up over having a 1000w PA system blasting 10 feet behind me lol.
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
Mar 30, 2010 10:08 pm ive had few different sizes and the bigger i get em, the better my mixes. Im talking from 4's to 5's to currently 6's atm.
I bought some "EMES" man they are the best ive heard so far for sure.
You'll tend to overcompensate the low end using smaller speakers. once you know this though, you can easily just adjust things to fit.
Smaller ones sound more compressed and punchy i have found.
an un natural punch proly isnt what you want in a speaker.
but hey, ya get what you "must" in the end.
we arent recording for Century media or Sony here. at least not yet.
