cheap studio monitor speakers

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Member Since: Oct 01, 2008

i'm workin in a studio with a super low budget but i've recently aquired aroun 350 dollars, that i can spend on anythign for my studio,, i think i need to upgrade monitor speakers,, currenly i'm using some ghetto m-audio studiopro3 www.guitarcenter.com/M-Au...300-i1153199.gc

but i was hoping to find something a decent amount better for around 350 i can order them online if needed but if theres local chains that carry good stuff it would be nice not to pay shipping,

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I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Feb 19, 2010 03:35 pm

I'm about in the same boat. I'm needing some super cheap monitors for my small home studio. I was actually looking at those StudioPros from M-Audio. Are they pretty terrible?

I see a few monitors for $150 each, like the KRK Rokit and a couple of offerings from M-Audio and Alesis. I'm curious about their quality.

Marijuana Czar
Member
Since: Oct 01, 2009

Feb 22, 2010 07:07 pm

Idk if you guys are talking $US or not, but I got a pair of Behringer Truth a2030 monitors and they work great for me, though I've never had any other kind of monitors.
They were $479 a pair in $AUS.
If you can, go into a local music/instruments store and see if they'll let you play cd's or something on the test monitors if they have em,
and that way you can really know what you're buying.
Don't get those $99 mon's, especially if you havn't heard em yet. (I'm assuming)

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Feb 22, 2010 07:58 pm

In my day's worth of research about budget monitors (below $500/pair), I ran into a few interesting possibilities. There are a couple of brands of studio monitors that are kind of under the radar as far as availability from the big chain and online stores.

The main brand I saw that was interesting was ESI. This is the same company that makes the MAYA and Juli@ audio interfaces, which garner great reviews by a few folks here at HRC that use them.

Their studio monitors are hard to find online for some reason. I think that they're an up-and-coming brand in the studio monitor market that hasn't found widespread distribution via chans like Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, Sweetwater, or Zzounds quite yet.

Here are a pair of 70-watt bi-amped ESI monitors with 5 1/4" kevlar woofers, 1" silk dome tweeters, with a 60 Hz to 22 KHz frequency response for $235, but they're in the UK and shipping is friggin ridiculous (over $300!!!):

www.juno.co.uk/products/350550-01.htm

They also make a version with 8" woofers, with their frequency range extended to 40 Hz - 24 KHz for $341/pair:

www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/350556-01.htm

I've read just a few reviews online and they seem to be great for the price. With ESI's reputation for great home studio audio interfaces, it makes me really want to check out their monitors as well, especially at these low prices. I've only found them at one US store online and the prices aren't nearly as good as they are at that UK store linked above. $300 for overseas shipping, that's a load of crap! I could fly to pick them up myself for not much more than that! I wonder if they'll start to show up in more US stores or if they're old technology and being phased out.

For what it's worth, here's the company line for the 8" version:

www.esi-audio.com/products/near08experience/

Anybody have any experience with ESI's studio monitors?

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Feb 22, 2010 09:12 pm

er, no, but I found the speakers in FL.

www.floridamusicco.com/products~cat~54~pg~2.htm

same place i got my esp1010, so it was the first place i looked =).

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006

Feb 22, 2010 09:59 pm

I use the BX5a by M-Audio, for $300 I've been pretty happy with them (I think the 8" goes around $400). Also, I had no idea ESI made monitors, I would definitely give them a go based on my past experiences.

Member
Since: Sep 30, 2009

Feb 23, 2010 07:49 am

Hmm. I really outta get a set of monitors. I'm using my PA system at the moment. But I think i might run out and get a set of those sennhesier headphones this week. Mine are a major pain in the crapper. But then again i am graduating soon. I'd imagine i'll be getting a few Guitar Center giftcards :D

John
Member
Since: May 06, 2007

Feb 23, 2010 10:57 pm

I am pretty happy with my Samson Resolve 40as. I have mixed a few projects on them. I'm looking to add on a pair of bigger monitors that offer a bit more low end, but these are pretty solid for a small home studio set.

www.samsontech.com/produc...1&brandID=2

Unfortunately I see they have been discontinued.

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