Help me choose studio monitors

[AndyCarpenter]

I am just getting started building a humble home studio and I need some recommendations for monitors within my price range which is hopefully between $500 and $600 for a pair. Can I get a decent pair for that price? Should I buy passive or active?

[Kevzmusic]

Hi Andy,

I think considering your humble budget :-)...that ACTIVE studio monitors are the way to go for you.....unless you already own a decent amp....

Obviously your choices are somewhat limited, being in the $600 USD or under price category....but there are a few decent options out there....

Check out these...

Yorkville YSM-1P's
Behringer Truth B2031
Roland DS-90
M-Audio Studiophile SP-8B (not the 5B)
Tannoy Reveal $600 USD
Event 20/20 bias

There are also some new-ish JBL monitors within this budget - but I'm not familiar with the model numbers....

I've listened to all the above products myself in detail....and decided to buy the Yorkville YSM-1P's, which I think are the best of the bunch and great value at $450 USD.......plus they are designed & made right here in Canada

Littledoggie is now gonna give me shit coz I said that - AGAIN -LOL!!!!!!!

But, speakers are so 'subjective :-) so ya gotta do your own checking out and decide for yourself.......

Happy hunting....

KEV

[Cuzin B]

Andy,

Important tip - no matter what speakers your look at - do your listening tests in YOUR environment if at all possible. Any self respecting shop should allow you to take several pairs of decent speakers to take home to test. I have seen way too many folks in here take a pile of great suggestions from us - only to audition the speaker at the store (where it most certainly will sound completely different than your room) and then experience massive disappointment when they get the monitors home and they sound like crap.

Having said that - one small suggestion from me - try and obtain the Event 20/20 BAS during your analysis. Rock solid and flat as a board.

And remember - monitors are as subjective and unique as your ears and your music. This is one area where choices vary widely for a million different reasons.

Cheers,

Cuzin B

[Kevzmusic]

Hi Cuzin,

How ya doing out there in cowboy country :-)???

BTW, the OMNI is still working real well for me....

and yes, I agree with your choice above......I thought the Event 20/20 bas were very good also....However, I went with the YSM-1P's coz I wanted to keep my spending below $800 Cdn for the pair....

It seems to me - that there is a real 'niche' now emerging for decent monitors in the $500 USD category...according to a lot of recent posts on the web.

KEV

[Cuzin B]

Kev,

I am good, man! Calgary Stampede is in full swing...with beer, babes and lots of great music.

Glad to hear the Omni is going well for you.

And yes - The Events are not cheap but I figured monitors could be for life and I wanted to get the best I could afford at the time. And these Events just get sweeter by the day - they can handle anything I throw at them with no problem.

Have a great summer!

Cheers,

Cuzin B

[chance]

Hi
I've been useing JBL-4311's for about 20 years and have discovered that once you get used to the sound, AND know how that sound relates to systems outside of your studio you will be OK

[JuSumPilgrim]

I think the "know your speakers and youll be fine argument" goes only as far as getting a decent balanced mix. As far as being able to sculpt a sound and have real tonal control over your mix and how it will translate...you need monitors that allow you to hear EVERYTHING in detail. Monitors like mackie, event 20/20bas (though they are too forgiving), or blue sky from what I hear. Unfortunately pretty much everything in the $500 range doesnt qualify for this task.

[Kevzmusic]

Hey Jusumpilgrim,

Yeah, I do agree with your comments above....most monitors in the under $500 USD catergory are not very good....however, the Canadian designed & made Yorkville YSMP-1P's are truly an exception.........

I guess it's coz they've been making gear since the early 60's and know a bit or two about what's needed in an *affordable* set of monitors :-)

I don't know why they don't 'market' this product more extensively....coz not too many folks seem to be aware that they even exist.......outside of this country....

I listened to the YSM'1P's alongside pretty much ALL the competition over a 3 month period, including the Event 20/20 bas, Mackie's etc....and there really wasn't very much difference between the sets - quality/performance/flat-resonse -wise....but the Yorkies only cost $450 USD......

http://www.gear1music.com/yorkvilleysm1p.html

KEV

KEV

[Wil Davis]

JBL 4311, 4312B are both great monitor speakers!

Check on eBay - there's a pair of JBL 4312Bs going for $549 (buy now) which is pretty good!

[chance]

Ebay scares me, I could go broke in a heartbeat