Monitors

[BrandonS]

I need a couple good quality monitors for listening to recorded stuff, mixing and mastering. I get strange results with my desktop speakers from various CDs. I always master so that there's no "crackling" whatsoever, but some CDs I listen to have crackling and it makes me wonder what more I could actually get out of my music if I had a better set of speakers. These ones are great quality with a beefy subwoofer, but they don't seem consistent enough.

A small local studio uses a couple Mackies... They sounded pretty good to me, and the sound was pretty familiar coming out of them for my stuff. I'm not looking to spend a ton of cash. Maybe $500 total for a couple monitors. I need to upgrade from these desktop speakers, so any recommendations would be appreciated... I have an Alesis io|26 interface, and I'm assuming I would plug each speaker into the back of it... I have no experience with studio monitors.

The $500 is just a reference point but really...... not TOO far off from that please... x_x

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Yep monitors plug right into the main outputs on the alesis via balanced cable (either TRS->TRS cable or TRS->XLR cable).

I like my BX8a monitors and you can get those for cheap right now. The older version KRK rokit 8 monitors are also cheap (under $500).

 

[Metaltastic]

I've heard HORRIBLE things about the KRK's (Moonlapse, for example) - if you want all purpose monitors for both pleasant listening and monitoring, BX8a's all the way; if you want something more useful for mixing but (as a result) less pleasant for listening, Yamaha MSP5's can't be beat for the price (though I'm curious about the KRK VXT4's...)

 

[iamdunker]

don't skimp out and get the bx5a's, you will need the 8's. i am in a predicament right now where my bx5a's won't produce the bass i need and the woofers just go nuts but just like bottom out. You will need the better firepower.

 

[greyskull]

nooooooo anything but mackies!!
if i was installing a home cinema system, sure id put em in, but for monitoring, they are the most lying smeared scooped pieces of shit dressed up as a studio monitor ever to have offended my ears

buy some adam a7s

 

[Wolfeman]

nooooooo anything but mackies!!
if i was installing a home cinema system, sure id put em in, but for monitoring, they are the most lying smeared scooped pieces of shit dressed up as a studio monitor ever to have offended my ears

buy some adam a7s

Must be my room then, because when I A/B them with HR824's, they don't sound extremely bad.... Yes there are better, but for the price they can't be beat.

 

[006]

I love my BX8As also. Got them for like $200-something new from GC! They were selling them off to make room for the new deluxes though...

~006

 

[JJO]

I'm in the same boat on this one. Though a friend of mine got some MSP5's which he wants to get rid of. So i was wondering, i just want to make killer mixes with it. Not really in for the joy of listening. So like metaltastic says... i should get the msp5's especially since they are way cheaper not being brand new and from a friend. But i was wondering. Aren't they like little bit to small for being good monitors? Should i perhaps look at the BX8a's? I'm in a large room btw

 

[greyskull]

Must be my room then, because when I A/B them with HR824's, they don't sound extremely bad.... Yes there are better, but for the price they can't be beat.

i meant 824s!!!!

 

[DestroyTheColossus]

Out of curiosity, what are the complaints about the KRK rokits?

 

[JJO]

KRK: I've heard they are really hi-fi sounding, so not really flat. Lots of bass, considered as a dance trance hardcore monitor.
My own impression was kinda the same. noticed that they smoothen out the mix and sound already way to good then your actual mix is.

 

[Wolfeman]

i meant 824s!!!!

Lol I just saw that.
I guess I have the same opinion then

 

[gibbed]

If you can cut plywood and solder, you can build speakers:

http://zaphaudio.com/

 

[Soundlurker]

Building studio monitors is not one of the things the average Joe can do. There's a lot more to it than putting together a box with speakers.

 

[Pot]

I don´t know about your room, but one should seriously consider some acoustic treatment in order to profit from the monitors u buy...cos a very good and expensive monitor will sound like....... in an untreated room

 

[MetalJonesy]

i still love my passive Alesis Monitor One MK II monitors, they have a very nice response to them, not too bassy and have great clarity!

 

[ProjectHamsterdam]

I have the same Alesis Monitor One MK IIs (passives) and dig them, but that's the first time I've heard something good said about them. A lot of people bash them just because they are cheap.

What amp do you run them through? I have the Alesis RA150. . . Yeah, I know, I'm a cheap bastard.

 

[MetalJonesy]

yeah i use the RA150, i just find mixes sound really gud thru em and they are truthful. very good for the price they are. not saying they are the best, but you cant go a foot wrong with them for how much you're paying!

 

[ProjectHamsterdam]

Yay! Go Alesis. I am sure they are not the reason why my mixes suck, but I still want to try something better once in a while, hehe. . . For the money though, I agree they are gold.

 

[grywolf627]

Another Alesis MKII user here...and love them.