passive monitors

[paresh]

Hi - Does anyone use passive monitors any more? It seems that all I see are bi amped monitors. Does the transformer/a.c.? hum bother anyone? Anyone have a favorite passive monitor that's still in production? Thanks!!

[MadAudio]

I still use my NS-10s and Minimus 7s as a reference, but I do most monitoring with my actives. I don't really have a hum issue (using a Crown Power-Base 1 to drive the passives).

[COOLCAT]

i went passive-monitors during my "upgrade" in Feb.
there are some passives out there, but i agree I don't see alot of 'em in the low end (cheap$$) like Guitar Center.
Wharfedale 8.2 diamond, B&WDM303, Events 20/20, some KRK ST8's...
around $250ish range.

yeah, most are active now. thats the wave.

hum??
from what i hear you can do worse than hum with alot of this sht cheap quality stuff thats out there now..... mountains of cheap quality crap that falls apart in a few months to year...or the speaker breaksdown.

buyer beware....two meanings to "cheap"...recommend good return policy.

.

[thane1200]

Alesis still makes cheap passive monitors. But I'm beginning to believe they ar on the way out. I use Alesis Monitor One MKII's driven with the Alesis RA300power amp. Clean sound, but seem to be missing a little bottom-end.

[fraserhutch]

You'd think it would be easy to find passive-agressive monitors over here on the west-coast

[thane1200]

bwahahahahahaha!

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Paresh ala Marinara:

I've been using passive monitors for a long time. I'm sure there are some great active monitors--but which ones depends on your needs and aspirations.

I replaced my dead Alesis monitors, [passive] with KRK monitors.

The KRK, passives, have 8" woofer; most of the others, are 6.5. Have to tell you that the 8"woofer is very cool. Nice big round sound.

I wish I could say I've heard several other monitors; however, I haven't. So, it is a problem for a person to commit several hundred pezzutos for "unheard" monitors.

I do know there are some very fine boxes both passive and active; but, it all revolves around dinero #$$$#

Green Hornet

[Massive Master]

I go out of my way to use passives if given the choice...

[fraserhutch]

Originally Posted by Massive Master

I go out of my way to use passives if given the choice...

Why.......?

[xstatic]

My Dynaudio's are passive. I greatly prefer passive monitors. I like having headroom, and a quality amp.

[paresh]

Any suggestions for passive monitors? The NS 10's are no longer available. I just need desktop size & want to power them w my stereo amp. Thanks

[xstatic]

If you are buying cheap monitors, I would actually recommend active. If not, then passive is a great way to go. Personally, for the last two years I have been a huge Dynaudio fan. Bm6's run about $800 a pair, and BM15's about $1100. Both Quested and Truth Audio also make nice, fairly affordable passive monitors as well, and I have seen some great deals on some used Westlake's recently.

[fraserhutch]

How about the pita of matching up the passives with an acceptable amp? That is the only reason I have forgone passives.

[paresh]

I was just going to use my stereo amp - it powers the stereo speakers OK. And at low monitoring volume & close range, I didn't think power was an issue, unless maybe the monitors aren't efficient. Does 4 ohm spkrs make a difference as opposed to my stereo speakers which are 8 ohms? Am I missing something concerning the amp??

[xstatic]

Amps can greatly affect the way your monitors sound. The problem with active monitors is that unless you spend really serious money on them, the amps aren't all that great, matched or no. In general, no better (probably worse) than a run of the mill Hafler. It really isn't that hard to "match" an amp to your monitors. No harder than matching a mic to its source.

[paresh]

I'm learning as we go along here. I don't really know what it means to match an amp to the spkrs (or for that metter a mic to it's source?) except not to go into clipping.?.? What about my stereo amp + a decent pr of passive monitors?

[rdozz]

I have a pair of Event ASP8 passives for about $650 at 8thstreet I think they are great. My mixes are translating beter than ever.

Rob

[Massive Master]

Originally Posted by fraserhutch

Why.......? (passive monitors)

The amps. Any set of active monitors under a couple $k are going to have fairly cheesy amps in them. ADAM's, Genelecs - not so bad. Most of the other "popular" models on the other hand...

[boingoman]

Originally Posted by paresh

I was just going to use my stereo amp - it powers the stereo speakers OK. And at low monitoring volume & close range, I didn't think power was an issue, unless maybe the monitors aren't efficient. Does 4 ohm spkrs make a difference as opposed to my stereo speakers which are 8 ohms? Am I missing something concerning the amp??

It's not so much a power issue. Part of the quest for good monitoring is the quest for truth. Part of that quest is shortest, cleanest path to the ears is usually best. A home stereo receiver/amp will do the job, but......the signal has to go through the preamp in the receiver, and through whatever tone and switching and other circuits that are in there as well. All of these stages will have their own effect on the sound, as will the overall design.
A seperate amp- even a home amp, as long as it is only an amp- puts the least amount of stuff in the chain to your speakers. That being said, whatever ya got will work till you want, need, or can justify something else. You are making a big step forward just by getting decent monitors.

As far as the impedance, your amp should have ratings on it somewhere. It will say something like 75W per channel @ 8 ohms. If it gives a rating for 4ohms as well, it is safe to plug 4 ohm speakers into it. If not, check the manual. The amp may not be able to handle a 4 ohm load, and will fail if 4 ohm speakers are plugged into it.

[Dogbreath]

I used to run a set of bi-amped Event PS 8's ( I think, don't remember now), but they had a scooped mid and didn't translate well. Now, thanks to a friend, I use a 1973 or so Pioneer SA 9100 amp with a set of Yamaha NS-A638 speakers. I've seen the amps on ebay before for a couple hundred or so but haven't seen the speakers. Of course, I haven't been looking any more so......
IMHO, these 2 pair up to make a great monitoring system. The amp has plenty of power and the Yamaha's have a nice overall balance. Again, just my opinion so take it as just a little more food for thought.
Peace...............

[jpw23]

I use a pair of sound tech st5's with an alesis ra 150.....sounds great!