M-Audio BX5 Vs. Event TR5

[John Meyers]

Hi guys, I'm a n00b looking for a pair of monitors which will be used more for listening to music, rather than mixing/recording. I'm also a college student with limited space. Therefore, I am looking at the above two speakers. I personally like an analytical sound, and for those of you who are familiar with canalphones, I really like the sound of my Etymotics ER4P.

I've found these two monitors to be good options. Both are about the same price.

One of the main concerns I have, is the speakers cannot be taller than 11". So, for those of you who vote "Other", please make sure that your reccomendation is under 11" in height.

Thanks a lot!

EDIT: I will likely be pairing this up with an EMU 0404.

[deepwater]

I'll say it first -

WHARFEDALE 8.2 or 8.1

[John Meyers]

Originally Posted by deepwater

I'll say it first -

WHARFEDALE 8.2 or 8.1

Unfortunately, .6" too tall.

[deepwater]

The 8.1 is a 5" and the 8.2 a 6.5"

So the 8.1 should work

[John Meyers]

I wish it was true. 8.1:

"Dimensions H x W x D (mm) 295 x 198 x 252"

295 millimeters = 11.6141732 in

[WinstonCowboy]

M-Audio

God has spoken.

[John Meyers]

Any reason as to why?

[WinstonCowboy]

Because that is the perfect monitor for yer sitch. I was looking for something small enough to be able to travel with...and the M-Audio BX5 are perfect...they are quite small...yet pack a punch...in terms of quality, pricing and size. Man, you cannot go wrong with those. Powered. Shit. Get'em.

Reach out and touch faith.

[sile2001]

I'll second the M-Audios. Their small size is perfect for the desk I have to use for mixing. They also have some "acoustic space" controls, allowing you to boost or cut highs, mids or lows separately to adjust for the space you are in. I first heard them in a wide open room at a music store and was totally blown away. I was actually looking at other things, and then one of the sales reps starts playing something on them and it sounded good enough for me to stop and turn arround to see where it came from. The bass reflex from these little guys is surprisingly strong, but also well balanced.

[jeffree]

John, I'd third the M-Audio vote, but I really suggest that you search this site a bit. There's a lot of feedback on the BX5s here--i know because I've written some of it. Spend an hour or two searching, and you'll have your answers.

Best,

J.

[John Meyers]

I've read many good things about both monitors. Often times, not in the same thread. Therefore direct comparison wasnt too easy.

I've gotten the general impression that Event is more of an "audiophile" company, and I've been leaning torwards them.

Anyone like the events more?

[John Meyers]

I am going to go guitar center this weekend and give these guys a try.

Hopefully ill like what I hear!

[bruuen]

i'm in the monitor market to...and after much reading, i've really been leaning towards those wharfedale 8.2's. i gotta hear them personally, but a lot of possitive feedback.

[Richard Monroe]

Iv'e had very good luck with the SP5B's, the forerunners of the BX-5's. It took me a while to adapt to the the lack of bass output, and just when I had gotten so I could do a half way decent mix with them, it was pointed out to me that they were designed to work with the SBX powered subwoofer. Since I got the sub evrything is copascetic. I've learned to mix with them, and have no further Genelec cravings. My opinion, the M-audios are a perfectly good place to start at the price point, and later on, you can add the sub, which vastly improves them as a mixing tool. If you upgrade later to high end monitors, the BX5's will make absolutely kickass computer speakers.-Richie

[jeffree]

In support of Richie's comments, here's a short but compelling review that I've shared before...

http://www.proaudioreview.com/par/ju...speakers.shtml

J.

[Middleman]

I have been using the SP5BS, same box older model name, for a couple of years now. I also have the M-Audio matching sub.

They translate very well except at the cross over point which is anywhere from 100-180 depending on your room. I am never surprised above or below this point and translation is pretty accurate.

In the "dead zone" as I call it, I do have to check on my car speakers and occasionally will miss things like excessive lows on snare, hi end notes on bass etc., whatever lies in the 100-200 range. But, now that I know where the liabilities are and more importantly, where I can trust the speakers, I can say I am very pleased with these.

Another area that could be improved upon is the image depth and width. This is indicative of smaller speakers however and I am making the jump to larger monitors in the future.

The BX5 along with the Yamaha MSP5 speakers won the nearfield shootout last month in Future Music, I believe it was. The MSP5 overall best sound and value. The BX5s got their pick for most accurate.

[Dj17]

Originally Posted by Middleman

The BX5 along with the Yamaha MSP5 speakers won the nearfield shootout last month in Future Music, I believe it was. The MSP5 overall best sound and value. The BX5s got their pick for most accurate.

Go try the MSP5. Compare them to the other ones. Go *feel* the difference and hear (I was almost going to say "see") by yourself. After I listened to them, I tried the BX5 and the KRK RP8, and the "depth" in the sound had just disappeared.

I finally found a store that had the Wharfedales and I'm going to listen to them this week, but if I hadn't read the monster thread on this board, the MSP5 would be the ones I'd have bought.

Of course, I didn't have time to try mixing on any of the mentionned speakers, but since you're strictly using them for listening purposes, don't buy before you give the MSP5 a try. You'll be surprised by the way such small speakers sound.

[jeffree]

To add to Middle's comments--and to make your choices more confusing...

The Future Music shoot-out did, in fact, like the BX5s (along with the Yamaha 3s, which were the real surprise) for accuracy even if they were a bit bright. But they also liked the Event 5s in the next month's higher-priced shoot-out. I assume that they moved the Events to a higher price category because of their higher price point abroad. Thus, in the end, the M-Audios and Events that you asked about were both favorably reviewed.

Between these two models, both of which I considered, I like the fact that the M-Audios allow a lot of EQ tailoring, which the Events don't. This speaker adaptation was a big factor for me since I'm not able to do much to change my studio space itself (it doubles as a dining room, and my wife likes it as is).

Glad to make your decision harder,

J.

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by Richard Monroe

when I had gotten so I could do a half way decent mix with them, it was pointed out to me that they were designed to work with the SBX powered subwoofer.

Hey Richie:

Is that also true for the BX5? So if I'm willing to spend $300 I could go with the Event TR5 and not need any subwoofer. As I understand it, the BX5 are pretty accurate, while the EVENT TR5 are easier on the ears.

[Richard Monroe]

Either the SP5B's or the BX5's will work by themselves. They simply work much better with the sub.-Richie

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by Richard Monroe

Either the SP5B's or the BX5's will work by themselves. They simply work much better with the sub.-Richie

So, I don't need the sub? I haven't tried either, but I like the blue on the Events. I think the blue on the rim of those Event TR5 will make my mix sound good.

[vestast]

You can mix without one. You just have to learn your monitors and how they sound in your room.. As Richie said, It's just way easier to mix with a Sub as anything less than an 8" woofer usually cannot reproduce bass frequencies accurately..

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by vestast

As Richie said, It's just way easier to mix with a Sub as anything less than an 8" woofer usually cannot reproduce bass frequencies accurately..

So basically all the Monitors I've been looking at would still need a sub

Samson Reslov 65a
Event TR5
M-Audio BX5

Got it! Hmm, I'll have to see what goes with each one. I'm assuming it's recommended to stick to one brand (IE Event Monitors & Event Sub or M-Audio Monitors & M-Audio Sub) instead of mix and match.

[Middleman]

Well, if you can afford the matching sub its OK. I know of a large studio that ran down to best buy and for $150 got one of their specials. Make sure its a 12 inch sub at the very least. Matching manufacturers is not paramount.

[vestast]

Originally Posted by Dracon

So basically all the Monitors I've been looking at would still need a sub

Samson Reslov 65a
Event TR5
M-Audio BX5

Got it! Hmm, I'll have to see what goes with each one. I'm assuming it's recommended to stick to one brand (IE Event Monitors & Event Sub or M-Audio Monitors & M-Audio Sub) instead of mix and match.

Ironically I've owned the bx5's and still have a pair of Resolv 65a's.

I have the Resolv 120 sub. Not the greatest but it works. My main monitors are the Event ASP8's now which do fine without the sub.

The maudio sub seems kinda cool. If you set the frequency response on it to say 50hz it will actually stop everything below 50hz from being sent to the main monitors. Sampson's sub doesn't do that.

Good luck.