Monitors

[Zozobra]

I have a bit of trouble (still) with my A7 top end - I find it quite glassy and often either over (thinking 'it'll be a bit brighter through these) or undershoot (just mixing to how I like the sound, then finding translation is a bit dark) high mids and top end as a result. Much more back and forth on reference systems than should be needed results.

Can anyone suggest anything with similar (or better) detail with a less inyourface character to them? Budget in the region of £500-£600 (horrible price range, I know, if theres anything thats a little more thats bang for buck at the price, I'll entertain it).

Or is what I'm asking for daft, contradictory and impossible, and should just stick with A7s?

I'm running with a sub8, so I can handle it if something good doesnt have great low end extension.

Edit - I've been looking at HS80Ms and focal CMS range, am I barking up the right tree?

 

[jipchen]

Do you have any room treatment already? This is what you should work on next.

 

[Zozobra]

Of course. Not a total n00b just cant try out monitors where I live.

Though my treatment isnt perfect, thats another story.

 

[P-E]

I referenced A7Xs at a shop a few days ago and they seemed also to have upfront high end. Backing the tweeter just a bit made it much better. In that price range, the HS80Ms and the Focal CMS are recommended, as are the lesser known Klein & Hummel KH 120A. Unfortunately I didn't reference those. I'm sure that in the UK you could find somewhere not too far to try out stuff, and it'd help you much more than whatever you can read on the Internet.

 

[Zozobra]

yeah, I've got the tweaters backed off a bit. Its as much voicing/character as level though. Thanks for the reply though; might not be new info, but another consistent 'hs80/csms' vote is still usefull.

 

[jipchen]

Of course. Not a total n00b just cant try out monitors where I live.

Though my treatment isnt perfect, thats another story.

Ah sorry, I didn't want to imply you were a noob (I honestly did not remember any posts of you either).. and we all know how many semi-pro's and pro's have no room treatment whatsoever.

Personally I liked the A7s a lot better than the Yamaha HS80, but perhaps they fit your needs better. If you order them from a company like Thomann, you can try them out and compare them to the Adams and send them back within 30 days if you decide to keep the Adams.

 

[Skaldir]

Isn't there a knob to give the tweeter up to 4 dB more and less gain? Maybe you should just turn it down a bit if your mixes are too dark.

 

[OneDaySky]

Isn't there a knob to give the tweeter up to 4 dB more and less gain? Maybe you should just turn it down a bit if your mixes are too dark.

I would personally keep the speakers flat. If your used to listening to music on em and there is no problem, then its the mix that needs tweaking!

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

The HS80's should be right up your alley. I haven't tried the Focal CMS range, but as a Twin6BE owner, I have a feeling they just might be awesome for the price

 

[zvish]

Neumann KH 120 there is a lot fapping about them on Gearslutz, I am thinking about buying them ;/

 

[Zozobra]

Ah sorry, I didn't want to imply you were a noob (I honestly did not remember any posts of you either).. and we all know how many semi-pro's and pro's have no room treatment whatsoever.

Personally I liked the A7s a lot better than the Yamaha HS80, but perhaps they fit your needs better. If you order them from a company like Thomann, you can try them out and compare them to the Adams and send them back within 30 days if you decide to keep the Adams.

No bother, its a sensible first suggestion if you dont know who the hell is posting (but I wouldnt dream of starting a 'dont like my monitoring' thread without exhausting all currently practicable/most suitable for the problem treatment options)

Thomman are a good call as well. KMR audio too, now you mention it.

Some more adjustment of the tweeter and +6k level today and I'm getting better translation...hope it holds up, if not, thomann/kmr and monitor testing will ensue (cheers for reminding me such services exist; its not like I havent used no-qubblie return policies before )

Replies appreciated folks

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Neumann KH 120 there is a lot fapping about them on Gearslutz, I am thinking about buying them ;/

And they're only double the OP's budget

 

[Skaldir]

I would personally keep the speakers flat. If your used to listening to music on em and there is no problem, then its the mix that needs tweaking!

Yeah, but whats flat in the anechoic room must not be flat in your environment. I could never understand why people are so scared to touch the filters of monitors.
Hook up a measurement mic at the listening position, play pink or white noise on it, open an specturm analyzer and adjust the speakers in your room.

 

[Zozobra]

Yeah, but whats flat in the anechoic room must not be flat in your environment. I could never understand why people are so scared to touch the filters of monitors.
Hook up a measurement mic at the listening position, play pink or white noise on it, open an specturm analyzer and adjust the speakers in your room.

Yep. They're there for a reason, and they work, in a hamfhisted sort of way.

EQing in monitoring should be cut only though, it has to be noted. Because boosting is retarded: you're just ramming more energy into a cancelation, affecting the relative level of that frequency range somewhere between minimally and not at all, and therefore killing your headroom.

 

[Zozobra]

Update:

I moved my monitoring to the other side of the room

Firing down the SHORT axis (really fucking short, ~2.8m)

Right up against the wall (no space)

And away from all the absorbtion I had around them

And its far, far, FAR better. Go figure. Possible Monitoring Improvement Honeymoon, but I'm loving it now. Some pink noise tests show that its very much more linear throughout, and the glassy spikey horriblness on everything is just gone (except when its harsh in the mix, and all the half a dozen or so listening systems and my main phones (M50, HD25, Pro750) of one form or another I have agree on it). Detail and stereo image is improved as well.

Moral of the story; yeah, monitors are really important, yeah, treatment is really important, but by fucking christ is placement the most important. I kind of knew that already, but have never had the reality of it shoved in my face so extremely (and so couterintuitively; I did everything wrong, thinking 'fuck it may as well try', and it worked).

Thanks for the replies everyone, but I'm a happy camper now.