More Monitor Help...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Atom Bomb
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Atom Bomb

Atom Bomb

Wtf is a PRS
So i think i have zeroed in on what i want.

The M-audio BX5a Monitors. Muscians Friend canada has a nice little package...


but before i buy it... Quick question...

On the back for inputs into it there is only XLR and TR5....

Why is there no RCA or SPDIF??? All my audio devices only have RCA and SPDIF outs?

Am i missing a piece of the puzzle?
 
I've got a buddy who just bought my old pair of KRK rp5s as an upgrade from those BX5as. He only had rca outputs on his system too, ended up just getting rca-1/4" converter plugs.
He said it took him a while to learn the monitors and that there were always problems with them he just couldn't quite identify or reconcile.
Also, one of them had a slight tear or something in the woofer - nothing visible, but he demonstrated it by soloing the low end of a kick track and there was a fuzzy sort of torn-speaker-cone sounding distortion that was clearly audible - that had developed after about a year.
Of course, your experience with them may be entirely different, but this is a product I was just discussing/playing around with the other night, so I thought I'd toss my $.02.

As for your question, they don't have an rca or spdif in because those extra features cost more money, and you're looking at a product designed to be as cheap as possible while still accomplishing basic goals. The major concern in their design is (I assume) accurate sonic reproduction, and they didn't have enough left over in the budget for cost-per-unit after they had achieved that to their satisfaction to add extra inputs.
 
Another reason why, rca (analog) is considered consumer, so any company making items they consider professional or prosumer would not have rca plugs. Pro standard is XLR for balanced signal and 1/4"TS for unbalanced.

As for s/dif or digital coax, the monitors would have to have built-in D/A converters which is added cost and unnecessary if you have already converted your digital to analog with your interface.

As to hooking them up, what Cancers said. Just use rca to 1/4" adapters and you are good to go!
 
Hmmm..

I thought the BX5's would be a bit better then the average. I know the AV40's were complete shit and finding a set of those used is not a problem. but also cautionary.

I'll have to review more.

It always seems M-Audio is a crap shoot.

Hmmm. I may have to rethink my options then.

I just need a somewhat beter replacment for my headphones and bookshelf speakers.

Anyways... Thanks agian guys.


If i do decide to go with the BX5's and use the RCA to 1/4 converters am i comprimising the signal flow to the monitors?
 
Atom Bomb said:
If i do decide to go with the BX5's and use the RCA to 1/4 converters am i comprimising the signal flow to the monitors?
Click to expand...

Nah... I use RCA to 1/4 adapter from my monitors to my UX2 with absolutely no issues or noticeable degredation at all.
 
Most likely not compromising the signal in any meaningful way. RCA is unbalanced, but that won't affect anything as long as you don't have an extraordinarily long cable run from your interface to your monitors.
My advice is, especially if you've been using the headphones and bookshelf speakers for a while and can get relatively decent translations of your mixes (ie you've learned your current monitoring system), then hold onto them until you've saved up for another step up in the price range from the m-audios.

Those m-audios will be noticeably better, but you aren't anywhere near the point where the price/performance ratio starts becoming too large (that is, the point where you're paying a couple thousand more for a miniscule improvement).
The set of speakers you'll be able to get for $500-$1000 will be as much better than the m-audios as the m-audios will be than your current setup (try and parse that sentence!:D) And it will take you as long to learn those m-audios as it will to save up for the next step up from them.

Basically, I'm recommending you skip the entry level studio monitor step altogether and wait until you can take the step above that, as it will be entirely worth the extra time and money you invest in that better pair of monitors.

Then again, this is all just my opinion/how I would have done it had I known then what I know now.

Good luck either way.
 
i have to agree with cancers...i find m-audio anything but up to par, you can find many deals on monitors out there that are around the same price range but better quality monitors with the connections your looking for. Id save up and depending on how you mix (i.e. i have a tendency to mix bass heavy so i got monitors that really have a good low end) do some research and more than likely you will be happier with your decision in the long run, and who knows maybe the m-audios will be your best option. It can be somewhat challenging to give advice sometimes on monitors for the simple fact everyone mixes differently and has their own ear, what works for some may not work for others at all.
 
I just returned my M-Audio Bx5a's a few months ago due to the high frequency driver cutting out on one of the monitors. If you are looking at the package at musicians friend's website be wary of the fact that they are owned by guitar center and their return policy is shit. I bought my monitors in-store and they told me I had to return them by mail. The whole process took about a month before it was over. As far as the sound...EH...they are very bass heavy even for only having a 5 inch woofer. I agree with everyone else about m-audio not being up to par. I bough a pair of Wharfedale Diamond Pro 8.2's from American Musical for about the same price as the M-Audio's and they sound WAY better. They also have 1/4",RCA, and XLR inputs as well as a bass cut switch.
 
Precarious situation.

I'll look at some of the other packages. I really like the packages on muscians friend's canadian site.

I see some alesis and fostex packages. I'll dig a little deeper.


I'm getting some really negative reviews from people who have used m-audio stuff. :confused:

I'm going to 'the city' this weekend so i'll look around at some other stores and see whats there.

Awesome everyone, thanks agian.
 
I have a set of Alesis M1active520's and I like them a lot. Very reasonable. If you are in Canada, one site you may want to visit is Moog Canada. A lot of their stuff is high end, but they sometimes have some great specials. Here's the link: http://www.moogaudio.com
I got my Alesis Mastercontrol from them for $799 when every other site was over $1000.

They have a nice store in Toronto and Montreal if you are near there.

Good Luck
 
Washburn100 said:
I have a set of Alesis M1active520's and I like them a lot. Very reasonable. If you are in Canada, one site you may want to visit is Moog Canada. A lot of their stuff is high end, but they sometimes have some great specials. Here's the link: http://www.moogaudio.com
I got my Alesis Mastercontrol from them for $799 when every other site was over $1000.

They have a nice store in Toronto and Montreal if you are near there.

Good Luck
Click to expand...

ha! Not even remotely close.. I may as well be past the arctic circle give nthe weather were havign and my geographic location.


But i will check them out for sure. thanks man.

hows weather down that away... haha.

No snow i hope.
 
So i was in the city this weekend and went to NOT Long and Mcquade and this place had a really great demo station to try out a bunch of monitors.

From those silly little 20 watt M-audios right straight up to some monster big KRK 8's.

My general take on what i expereinced is that every set sounded completely different.

Bearing in mind this was a store setting and not in any way shape or form in a treated environment. But that aside it gave a great representation of what options there are.

Didn't really help me out but gave me broader insight to making some decisions.

The Edirol Cakewalk ones were a massive fail. They were an option for me but not any more. really dissapointed with what i had heard.

Truthyfully i really liked the Samson Studio dock. It was a little harsh on the highs but i think in the environment i usually work in it wouldn't be that bad.


The BX5's i was discussing the sales lad claims that they did have problems and there was a recall on them. However there are BX% deluxes i should check into before writing them off...


That said....


BX5 deluxes????
 
It's either that or the Tyler Acoustics Decade D10.


;)


G.
 
Yea i had been talking to the Western Canada Tannoy rep back and forth a few weeks ago. Nice guy.

outta my price range though.

And the only way i can get them was to talk to L&M to get them for me.They want a 10% mark up + their shipping on top of the MSRP.

It's to be expected of non stocked item they said.

I told them thanks.

Mike will not let me buy direct from him.
 
Atom Bomb said:
Yea i had been talking to the Western Canada Tannoy rep back and forth a few weeks ago. Nice guy.

outta my price range though.

And the only way i can get them was to talk to L&M to get them for me.They want a 10% mark up + their shipping on top of the MSRP.

It's to be expected of non stocked item they said.

I told them thanks.

Mike will not let me buy direct from him.
Click to expand...


yeah thats whats stopping me...though Ive found them for $500 on fleabay...Ive also found some bills i have to pay :(
 
I got no issues with the price per se,


My minister of finance seems to think that that money can go elsewhere. haha.
 
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