Help a newbie choose some monitors

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Member Since: Dec 09, 2010

Hi all - first post here so please be kind.

I am trying to choose a pair of monitors for my home office/studio. I'd be running them off my imac (using logic pro) and need them to be active/powered and I have listed a few below that fit my (small) budget and was hoping that someone out there can give me their opinions on what set to go for, or indeed anything else out there that would give of suit the <£100 budget. I know I'm not going to get an amazing pair for that but it's a start and would just appreciate some guidance. Many thanks

M-Audio Studiophile AV30
Behringer Ultra-Linear Studio Monitor BH-B2030P
Studio Monitors - Samson Media One 3a
Behringer B1030A Active
Alesis M1 Active 320 USB Pro-Grade

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www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Dec 10, 2010 03:05 pm

I think the "P" in Behringer Ultra-Linear Studio Monitor BH-B2030P stands for "passive" so you will have to stay away from those.
As for the rest you are just going to have to listen to them all and then decide. I don't think you could expect too much for the budget that you have given.

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007


Dec 10, 2010 08:28 pm

For under £100, I'd probably choose monitoring headphones instead of speakers. I think the Audio Technica M50's are great.

MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Dec 11, 2010 01:07 am

I'd just save up. The most important purchase you will ever make isn't where you want to cut corners...

Skimp on anything else -- Heck, skimp on everything else. Don't skimp on your monitoring chain.

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Dec 11, 2010 03:36 am

The only set of those that I've heard is the Alesis and they hurt my ears. Everything seems harsh in the highs. Can't comment on the rest though...

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Dec 11, 2010 06:13 pm

Something else to consider is the room you are listening in. Won't matter if you have an awesome pair of monitors if your room sucks.

Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Dec 12, 2010 10:49 am

I dont like to be a doom and gloomer but of the ones uve listed i like and trust none... just keep saving up?

Byte-Mixer
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2007


Dec 12, 2010 01:29 pm

I'm pretty much on the same bandwagon with the other folks here. For $100 or less you're not gonna find anything. Now, if you can save up a little more, say $200 to $250, the options really open up. You could get a pair of Yamaha HS50M for around $220.

Note: by $ I really mean pounds. I can't remember the keystroke to get pounds on a US keyboard...or if there is one heh.

Also, what is also important with monitors is that they have to work for -you- That is, everyone's ears are different. Everyone perceives sound differently, and certain frequencies will stand out more with some people than others when listening to the same systems/speakers/headphones/etc. So if you can get a chance to go to a music shop and actually listen to the speakers, and see if they work with you or against you, then I highly recommend doing so.

Otherwise some (usually) decent brands are stuff like KRK, Dynaudio, ADAM, JBL, Mackie, Samson (the resolv series were supposed to be pretty good), Tannoy (the Reveals aren't too bad), Yamaha, and possibly Focal (though I haven't heard of them until recently.)

No monitor is going to be truly flat. Some will have a footprint here or there, and the more money you pay, the better accuracy you get. BUT--like Beerhunter said, if you've got them in a crummy room with no acoustic treatment (i.e. my current condition really) it will still be difficult to get a good mix that translates well to other systems. Though decent monitors will still help.

Unfortunately, I can't really say much about the stuff you listed, other than I wouldn't trust them. Particularly the Alesis monitors. I was acquainted with one guy who had the original M1's (or maybe they were the MKII variety, I forget) but he was always complaining about being able to get a decent mix, and how things sounded funny through the Alesis monitors.

Out of your options listed, the Behringer 2030P is probably the best bet, but they're passive, so you'll need an amp to go with them, which would be about an additional $100.

Anyway, that's my thoughts, and IMHO, YMMV, etc.

Member
Since: Dec 09, 2010


Dec 17, 2010 05:51 pm

Thanks guys for all the thoughts. I think the point raised about the room is a good one - it really is just a home office with no sound proofing etc. I think a wise solution maybe to use a good set of headphones as suggested to do all mixing etc and perhaps then I can get away with some of the speakers I mentioned just to use if needed to just sit back and chill to it if that makes sense. I can understand that it would be good to stretch the budget and I possibly could but when the room isn't right, perhaps it's putting the cart before the horse so to speak?

http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor
Since: Nov 11, 2007


Dec 17, 2010 06:34 pm

Bingo! At least, that's where I was coming from. It is true that monitoring and room treatment are most important...but those are likely a little more costly to do right than you'll want to invest in the first 6-12 months or so of learning. The aesthetics of properly treating a room on the cheap can be offensive to any non-audiophile, and it's hard to know what things should sound like until you've gone through some critical listening. I've been in that boat recently.

I tried to skimp on my first pair of monitor headphones with the ATM M20's and 6 months later bought the ATM M50's to replace them. Absolutely night and day difference. For your budget, I think the M50's are great. Keep in mind while you're getting used to them that the bass response is slightly hyped; meaning that the bass you hear is more present than it will be on most other listening systems. Make sure you play your recordings on multiple systems whenever you get a chance, this gets you closer and closer to knowing how the recording should sound. Kind of hard to describe but you'll know it after beating your head against the wall mixing and re-mixing.


www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Dec 18, 2010 01:07 pm

I love my M50's and think they work great but.... I have noticed that you need to keep the volumes down while mixing. It is easy for the volume to creep up while mixing and if it is too loud while mixing it wont translate well.

+2 on the M50's though

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