Just got my M-Audio BX5's!

[djmemory]

Finally! Now I start doing some real mixing of my tracks. I'm not going to post a review of how I like them, since it'll be a personal opinion formed by newbie ears. Although I must say that I'm hearing a lot of new sounds that were less apparent through my headphones.

Anyone else mesmerized by the blue LED's on M-Audio products?! (1 on my FW410 and 1 on each monitor)

[jeffree]

Congrats. Great monitors--I use them, too. As with all small monitors, though, you'll probably notice that mixing the bass can be tricky. There just ain't enough there with a 5" woofer. The mids and highs are very fine, and I'd suggest doing the best you can with the lows until you can add a sub, even a cheapo, someday. I recently added a $125 wharfedale sub, and it intergrates beautifully. The added low end really makes the BX5s shine, overall. My home mixes have never sounded better nor been easier. And yeah, those intense blue lights rock late at night.

Have fun,

J.

[mrface2112]

i use the SP5B's (predecessors).......and i've found that you need to make sure that the bass on these things is NOT kicking you in the chest. otherwise, you'll have VERY bass-heavy mixes. in fact, the bass almost needs to be "anemic" in the mix. it took me a while to learn where it needs to be, but now i can mix without having to overcompensate for the bass, and i don't need a sub. but it literally took HOURS and HOURS to learn the bass on these monitors.

the thing i like best about them with regards to bass, is that it's more round than anything--you can hear the bass clearly and it's easy to address issues with it, rather than having it level your chest and you think it's good.....if that makes any sense. i think they also *shine* when it comes to acoustic guitars and vocals. honestly, i think they're better sounding in the mids and highs than the BX8's.

so....spend a LOT of time listening to commercial cds/mixes on these things. learning them is paramount to being able to do a good job on them.


enjoy!


cheers,
wade

[djmemory]

Wow you guys rock. Your advice/pointers are greatly appreciated!

[mrface2112]

anytime!

another thing--make sure you have them close to a wall. this will help the bass response, as the ports are in the back.

this is "backwards" from what you would do with other nearfields, where you tend to want them away from walls.


cheers,
wade

[jeffree]

Good thoughts, Wade. I also spent many hours getting used to mixing on the BX5s, running mixes to my 4 other stereo systems to check how they transfer. The mids and highs were nearly always spot on, which let me know that I was hearing these freqs clearly. The low freqs, though, were always the kicker. You're right--since small monitors like the BX5s are light on the low end, one needs to mix with that fact in mind. When I added my sub a few months ago, my low-end "guessing" was over (even though, like you, I had gotten quite good at that compensating). Also, because the BX5s have a low-cut switch (at 80 and 100hz), I'm able to stop my BX5s from trying to produce those low freqs that it really shouldn't even think about, which seems to me to help the BX5s to sound even better on the mids and highs.

Either way, the key here is taking plenty of time to get to know new monitors.
I spent literally weeks of evenings trying different pro reference CDs and then my own recordings to know what I was shooting for while mixing with these monitors. Spending a lot of comparison time early on is a no-brainer.

And yeah, I've seen two pro-mag reviews that have backed your suggestion that the BX5s are better monitors, overall, than the BX8s. Rather mushy lows, scooped mids, and a bit of harshness in the BX8s' highs are the criticisms I've seen raised--although both reviews have still thought that the BX8s are useable monitors. One review (Future Music, pro monitor shoot-out) included both models and gave a significantly higher rating to the BX5s, despite their smaller size.

So get to know those new monitors well, DJ! It's a fun process and your mixes will thank you.

J.

[LemonTree]

I A/B'd the BX5's with the wharfedale 8.2A's a while back and went with the wharfedales. I felt there was more defenition in the midrange...where most of the mix happens. And hey....mine have cool blue leds too Good little boxes for a first buy. Happy mixing

[Richard Monroe]

I also use the SP5B's, and spent months learning to turn the bass down. Then I got the SBX subwoofer and the world changed. Now, what sounds good on the monitors doesn't blow my head off in the car. Worth every penny.-Richie

[mrface2112]

richie--

does the sub allow you to "hear inside" the bass? or is it more of a matter of "now it's loud enough to judge without guessing" ?

been thinking about adding the sub, but unless it can let me accurately hear inside the bass, i'm not sure i want it.


cheers,
wade

[Richard Monroe]

Sorry, but I have no idea what you mean.-Richie

[Tifstorey]

Originally Posted by mrface2112

i've found that you need to make sure that the bass on these things is NOT kicking you in the chest. otherwise, you'll have VERY bass-heavy mixes.

Im in no way being disrespectful here mate, but i just thought i would ask.. If the bass IS kicking you in the chest, wouldnt you have a very bass-heavy mix on any monitors you were listening to it through? I dont know if im reading it wrong... i probably am....

Again, dont think im taking the piss, cause im not

[jeffree]

Tif,

I think the idea here is that such small monitors just don't put out much deep bass. If you raise the level of the lows to even a solid level (let alone a chest-thumping one) on these monitors, then the lows will be overwhelming on other larger systems. Thus, one needs to compensate while mixing by accepting the light low end on these small monitors... unless one uses a sub, that is.

J.

[Tifstorey]

ahhh, i get it now! apologies, i just couldnt really understand it.. I use the BX5 myself, nice speakers, and i agree with you about the bass. Im setting up a 5.1 set up, dont know whether to stick with the BX5 and get a sub, or maybe upgrade to getting a nice 5.1 set up of BX8... Will have to think...

[jeffree]

Tif,

I've been a very saitisfied user of the BX5s for more than a year and recently added a sub. What a wonderful budget system. I read all I can about the M-Audio line, and everything leads me to suggest sticking with your BX5s and adding a sub (whether in 2.1 or 5.1 mode). Search a bit online using these keywords and you'll find some very positive mag reviews of the BX5/sub combination--including some praise by notable pros currently using this combo in the 5.1 setup. I can't write as highly about the BX8, which is a whole different puppy that has received decidedly mixed reviews. See for yourself with a search and even a listen, if possible.

Best,

J.

[sile2001]

I've been really happy with my BX5's as well. But I just moved to a different house and the room (and my setup) is totally different, so I'm having to relearn how to compensate for the bass .

The blue LED's would be cool, if it weren't for the fact that they sit on the desk in my room. They kept me awake for many a night until I finally decided to cover the LED's with electrical tape

[djmemory]

Sile,

Not tryin' to be a smartass, but why don't you just turn off the monitors?!

[OneRoomStudios]

Are there any decent cheap subs that integrate well into the system? I don't know if I could bear to plunk down more money on the sub alone than on the pair of speakers....

Maybe the SBX will go down in price?

[mrface2112]

Tif--

No offense taken--no worries!

jeffree put it straight--the BX5's simply don't put out much bass at all. i would NOT want to use them for hiphop, rap or dub/reggae. these would NOT be snoopdog's monitors of choice.

what i meant was this: you CAN get them to kick you in the chest with the bass, but in doing so, this will translate to *very* bass heavy mixes. like, insanely bass heavy. it's a limitation of a 5in driver.

on larger speakers that better handle bass (or output heavier bass), a "proper" mix is able to get your chest thumping.....but on the BX5's, it's a little much.


cheers,
wade

[jeffree]

OneRoom...

Check my earlier post that responds to your question:

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/sho...ght=wharfedale