Another "which studio monitor should I buy" thread

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Farmogoyf
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Another "which studio monitor should I buy" thread

Post by Farmogoyf »

Hi all!

Another “which studio monitor should I buy thread”! Woooooottttt!!! :D

Also, I did use the search function, some useful info, but I have a very specific question, so I wanted to get a little more clairification. I A/B’ed some monitors at Guitar Center, and really liked the Adam A7X’s, and also the DynAudio BM series. I am especially looking for a 7” – 8” driver per speaker and no sub. I have a home office and an untreated room, and these monitors would be ONLY for listening to myself play the Kronos, and I would do NO recording at all, therefore these speakers don’t have to translate well to anything, and must be capable of being a bit adjustable in an untreated 12’x12’ office.

Now, my question is this: is there a set of monitors that can be purchased new in the range of $400 - $500 / speaker? I would probably be looking at the used market, and would like to pay around $250 - $400 / speaker (which I figure should be doable from new speakers around 4-500), but there seems to be a gap in selection in the $400 - $500 range, with things like the HS80M and KRK Rokit’s in the $300ish range, and then a jump to the $600-$700 / speaker range for the A7x’s and the BM 6A’s. What speakers am I missing in my target price range?

Thanks in advance!
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Post by SanderXpander »

Tbh in a 12 by 12 foot room I think a 7 or 8 inch speaker would already be too big. I will admit to not calling my BM5As "bass heavy" for when I'm mixing modern dance music but when I play e.g. my Rhodes straight through them I'm already scared of my neighbours and turn down the bass a bit.

I would sooner go with the BM5s or the Adam equivalent (if there is one?) than the larger ones, in your situation. Acoustic treatment and monitor placement will do a lot more than getting a larger driver, in my personal opinion.
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spalding12
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Post by spalding12 »

why not the Yamaha HS80M powered monitors?

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/music-pr ... ies/hs80m/

they seem to ALWAYS get a favorable write-up
burningbusch
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Post by burningbusch »

Hello Music has the HS80Ms at $498 for a pair.

http://www.hellomusic.com/ec/DealMain.aspx?did=15627

Busch.
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QuiRobinez
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Post by QuiRobinez »

my choice for the main monitors where the KRK VXT8. These are near field monitors with some more focus on the Bass EQ area.
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Post by Niblit »

HI. I just purchased a pair of M-Audio BX8 (powered monitors).

I have an even smaller room (7 by 7) and they are just perfect for me. the 8" driver is just about bomb proof and doesn't distort even when i try to blow my lugg-holes off, and the sound is (IMHO) better than my last set of monitors which cost me twice the price.

They seem a little dull at low volume, but when you crank it up a little, they come to life.

Cost about £240 in UK.

I must confess I'm not a pro and I don't do "proper mixing" but to me they really make a difference to my setup.
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spalding12
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Post by spalding12 »

burningbusch wrote:Hello Music has the HS80Ms at $498 for a pair.

http://www.hellomusic.com/ec/DealMain.aspx?did=15627

Busch.
somehow i never even knew about that site
i've never seen them that cheap
hmmmmm
thanks for the link
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DennyC
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Post by DennyC »

I bought the HS80's a short time ago and they seem to be working out well.
My studio is a 12x12 room also and I use them at normal listening volume...I definitely don't blast them. Good luck. :) :)
Kronos 2 61, Wavestation A/D, Yamaha Genos and others.
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jeebustrain
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Post by jeebustrain »

Niblit wrote:HI. I just purchased a pair of M-Audio BX8 (powered monitors).

I have an even smaller room (7 by 7) and they are just perfect for me. the 8" driver is just about bomb proof and doesn't distort even when i try to blow my lugg-holes off, and the sound is (IMHO) better than my last set of monitors which cost me twice the price.

They seem a little dull at low volume, but when you crank it up a little, they come to life.

Cost about £240 in UK.

I must confess I'm not a pro and I don't do "proper mixing" but to me they really make a difference to my setup.
I love my BX8s. They sound fantastic in about every room I put them in.
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jimknopf
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Post by jimknopf »

Of course I wouldn't mind having a pair of expensive Genelecs or Adams.

But at a reasonable price range +1 for the Yamaha HS80, over anything else I know in that price range and even a bit higher. They are neutral and sound great. And even if you don't need how well they translate, it is still useful to have a good impression of the high quality Kronos sound.
Kronos 73 - Moog Voyager RME - Moog LP TE - Behringer Model D - Prophet 6 - Roland Jupiter Xm - Rhodes Stage 73 Mk I - Elektron Analog Rytm MkII - Roland TR-6s - Cubase 12 Pro + Groove Agent 5
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Post by Comrad_Durandal »

jeebustrain wrote:
I love my BX8s. They sound fantastic in about every room I put them in.
Another vote for the BX8s - they seem to be a very nicely made set of monitors for the price. Low volumes are muddy, though - agreed.
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Post by NuSkoolTone »

I'd go for the adams A7X or M Audio BX5s (NOT the BX8s) on a budget. Though my recommendations are from a mixing POV.

Though if these are just pleasure speakers, it's really just whatever sounds best to you!
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JuneauUnderground
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Post by JuneauUnderground »

spalding12 wrote:why not the Yamaha HS80M powered monitors?

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/music-pr ... ies/hs80m/

they seem to ALWAYS get a favorable write-up
I concur. These are great monitors for the money. Add the matching HS10 sub and you are in business big time.
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Farmogoyf
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Post by Farmogoyf »

Hey all, Original Poster here,

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! I will say, I tried the M-Audio BX8's, and really did not like them. I live in an apartment, and at reasonable listening volumes (so I don't disturb the neighbors), the BX8's were just too muddy.

The HS80M's I am very hesitant on. Yes, they have many very positive reviews, but I also notice that many many of those reviews are from people actually recording mixes. Increasing my hesitation even more is the fact that they are based on the NS10's, which were designed to be excellent crap speakers that would translate to anything. I am not looking for great translating speakers, I just want the sound to be excellent right out of the speakers I have (which may be the same thing in this case, I'm just inexperienced here!). Being that I don't have much experience, I can only share my thoughts and concerns, and I really do appreciate all of your input.

I am ok buying on the used or 3rd party market (thanks so much for the suggestion of HelloAudio.com, never saw that place before, it's a cool site!). And I really believe you get what you pay for, especially for music equipment. I know the Adam A7X and the Dynaudio BM5a sound great, they are out of my ideal price range though, and I want something just a little lower on the price totem pole.
Last edited by Farmogoyf on Tue Aug 21, 2012 3:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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jimknopf
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Post by jimknopf »

Just have a listen to a pair of HS80s. I have no idea what your conclusions from the comments are, but I guess that just listening to them will probably change your mind.

How could anyone not want a realistic sound coming close to the original signal???
Kronos 73 - Moog Voyager RME - Moog LP TE - Behringer Model D - Prophet 6 - Roland Jupiter Xm - Rhodes Stage 73 Mk I - Elektron Analog Rytm MkII - Roland TR-6s - Cubase 12 Pro + Groove Agent 5
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