5.1 monitors on a budget

  • Thread starter Thread starter electricmonkey
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electricmonkey

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For years now I've been using some pretty standard $200 home stereo speakers to monitor my home projects, with mixed results. I've gotten used to compensating for them and getting thing to where they sound decent on other systems. Lately I've been thinking of taking the plunge into proper monitorhood, especially since Musician's Friend is currently selling Mackies and Beheringers for $400/pair.
However, we've also got a (very) small film and video making business starting on the side, and I'm feeling the need to get a 5.1 setup so we can mix in surround. I've been looking around trying to find a budget 5.1 studio monitor package, but I'm beginning to doubt such a thing exists. I'm unsure about buying 5.1 designed for a home theater system, since I'd like as neutral a sound as possible.
Any ideas? I can spend $500 absolute max, and I'm willing to search for deals on used, so feel free to mention things in the $1000 and under range.
Thanks, in advance.
 
You're not going to get a real 5.1 monitor system for $500 but you can try to find 5 monitors and a sub. The real question is how are you going to master 5.1 mixes? The software to master DVD's with 5.1 is pretty damn expensive. The cheapest I've found is about $3K and it can take a day of processing time.
 
You might want to check out M-Audio's new 5.1 system, which I believe would only set you back around $400 (street $). I haven't read any reviews (it was just released), but I do like my small BX5s that appear to be similar to the 5.1 satellites.

Best,
J.
 
TexRoadkill said:
The real question is how are you going to master 5.1 mixes? The software to master DVD's with 5.1 is pretty damn expensive.
Click to expand...
Good point, Tex. I've seen that Vegas has a plug-in for mastering in 5.1 but I haven't checked it out closely enough to see how the actual DVD creation on it works. More research to do...

I also just stumbled across this:

http://mixonline.com/ar/audio_alesis_proactive

Any comments on Alesis vs. M-Audio?
 
Hi,

I have the M-Audio Studiophile LX4 5.1
I'm pretty satisfied with it, but I didn't tryed the Alesis, I heard about it after I bought this one.

I use Vegas 5 DVD with them.
 
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