External Speaker recommendations?

ariadi · Post by **ariadi** » Sun May 13, 2012 9:46 am

I use KRK Rookit 5

http://www.krksys.com/krk-studio-monito ... kit-5.html

EXer · Post by **EXer** » Sun May 13, 2012 11:29 am

A keyboard like the Kronos deserves high quality speakers.

If your budget allows it I would suggest a pair of Genelec 8020B active monitors with their matching optonal 7050B subwoofer.

EXer · Post by **EXer** » Sun May 13, 2012 12:10 pm

Sharp wrote:I also don't care one bit about the negative things people say about Behringer. Everyone I know uses Behringer including me, and I've yet to hear anyone who use them complain.

I respect your opinion Sharp, but I'd like to warn the OP, or at least to give him another point of view:

There's a reason why Behringer gear is so inexpensive.

The design of their mixers, FX processors and monitors is beyond dispute, but the issue lies in manufacturing quality consistency. On their website they say 'designed in Germany'; what they don't say is 'manufactured in China'.

nitecrawler · Post by **nitecrawler** » Sun May 13, 2012 12:30 pm

Tannoy Reveal 501A.

jeremykeys · Post by **jeremykeys** » Sun May 13, 2012 12:54 pm

Edirole MA-15D.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audi ... nitor-pair

I really like the sound of them and they don't take up too much space in my phone booth sized studio!

SeedyLee · Post by **SeedyLee** » Sun May 13, 2012 2:22 pm

Sina172 wrote:IIt's basically a rebadged Genelec 1092A sub. They use the exact same parts at a fraction of the cost. Truly a steal for what it was....

Sina

Most Behringer equipment is basically a copy of some other brand's design - they have a track record of infringing designs and coming perilously close to trademark infringement. For example, Xenyx vs Onyx. Mackie even sued Behringer for infringing their intellectual property.

The problem is that in many jurisdictions, circuit design is not protected by copyright or other IP law; only the actual circuit layout and mechanical realisation of a circuit design is protected. There's nothing to stop anyone from reverse engineering a piece of quipment and copying it, as long as they use a different circuit layout.

Some of their equipment is designed from scratch, and is really quite good. But even in those cases, they often have terrible quality control, and the mechanical engineering is exceedingly poor. Glue is a common construction material in Behringer products

Ksynth · Post by **Ksynth** » Sun May 13, 2012 2:41 pm

SeedyLee wrote:
Sharp wrote: Everyone I know uses Behringer including me, and I've yet to hear anyone who use them complain.
I can be the first, if you like

Every piece of Behringer gear I've had has failed within 2 years. Keyboard amps, compressors, mixers have all been very unreliable, and the specs are "optimistic" at best.

Having said that, I have heard their studio monitors are well regarded and I know many peopel who have them and are happy with their performance.

I've used a Behringer mixer problem free for 7 years now. Also a behringer PA K300FX for 2 + years. No issues. And a Behringer subwoofer for 2 years. No issues.

Also Behringer FCB1010 for 5 years. No problems. And a behringer BCR2000 absolutely fine for 54+ years.

There has been a really strong attack on Behringer over the years.

I suspect that its been driven partly at least by competitors propaganda / rumor mongering.

Sorry if your mileage varied but really I found Behringer products to be just fine.

dfahrner · Post by **dfahrner** » Sun May 13, 2012 3:15 pm

I've never had any problems with Behringer equipment, either...I've been using their small mixers (MX602A) and PA speakers (B208D) for several years for keyboards / vocals at rehearsals and small venues...the B208Ds sound good, with an amazing amount of bass from such a small package (8" bass driver, 200 watts, 14 lbs.)...the only real problem is how silly these tiny speakers look on speaker stands...I have various other kinds of Behringer equipment, and again have never had a problem with any of it...

df

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sun May 13, 2012 6:41 pm

I haven't had any Behringer stuff fail on me, but I have noticed big differences in sound quality switching to other gear. I have a small A&H live mixer that I replaced my Behringer equivalent with and our sound guy asked me if I had new keyboards (he hadn't noticed the mixer switch). I also prefer (by far) my DynAudio monitors to the Behringers. But their value for money is really hard to beat if you just want "decent" or "pro-sumer" quality.

RonF · Post by **RonF** » Mon May 14, 2012 9:04 pm

If you want the ultimate....get Focal Twins.

But for a more reasonable budget, these are what I use (after working on dozens of monitors over the years) and I swear by them. They almost mix themselves! Especially if you use their room tuning feature first.

JBL LSR4328P
http://www.amazon.com/JBL-LSR4328P-Stud ... B005TTZW32

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Mon May 14, 2012 9:16 pm

Well, then my "more reasonable budget" isn't quite yours, Ron

Else I certainly wouldn't reject those ...

Sina172 · Post by **Sina172** » Mon May 14, 2012 11:57 pm

jimiki · Post by **jimiki** » Tue May 15, 2012 12:05 am

SeedyLee wrote:
Sharp wrote: Everyone I know uses Behringer including me, and I've yet to hear anyone who use them complain.
I can be the first, if you like

Every piece of Behringer gear I've had has failed within 2 years. Keyboard amps, compressors, mixers have all been very unreliable, and the specs are "optimistic" at best.

Having said that, I have heard their studio monitors are well regarded and I know many peopel who have them and are happy with their performance.

Well, I had a pair of truth monitors from Behringer... mere copy of hybrid from mackie HR824's and with Genelec's looks... Uli Behringer survives this way...

RonF · Post by **RonF** » Tue May 15, 2012 12:11 am

jimknopf wrote:Well, then my "more reasonable budget" isn't quite yours, Ron

Else I certainly wouldn't reject those ...

Sorry Jim, I hear ya. I wasn't thinking through my definition of "reasonable". They do remain expensive! But if quality, accuracy, and ease of mixing (especially electronic) music is what you crave.....at any price, I swear by my JBL's.

RonF · Post by **RonF** » Tue May 15, 2012 12:24 am

Sina172 wrote:
Not the Twins if you want the Ultimate.

SM9's are THE pair of monitors to get! I just placed my order for 8 Pairs of SM9's to put in the Studio after I heard them today.....

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! WHAT A SPEAKER!

Sina

Naw, I'll take the Focal Twins, trying to keep it "reasonable". Of course we are in a subjective area. But if the matter at hand is mixing reference "tools"....the Twins do indeed have that undeniable Focal sheen, for half the money. I have mixed on both a few times in a good room, and the results were equally superb. Even with the Twins, the music just literally fell into place and transferred perfectly onto everything else I tried it on. Not even using a sub (in this case) and the sub-bass STILL fell right into the pocket. Sounded huge, solid, deep, and without any mush or bleed over, on several sub-enhanced car audio systems and home theaters. It was so easy to grid the frequency spectrum of the mixed material. Focal are the monitors that have impressed me the most. The Sm9's are amazing for sure....but the difference compared to the Twins, for the money, as a tool in the real world, is getting into the smallest of critical areas. I *perhaps* even felt that the SM9's didn't transfer as well to the outside world, perhaps because they are too "perfect". Sometimes, in my experience, the most expensive is not always the "best". IMHO of course.