Are Digital Monitors Not the Cat's Meow?

[blackscot]

Looking into a monitor upgrade. Got a couple of other posts asking for general info. From what I've seen so-far, many of the better-regarded monitors are analogue-input only.

I work from an Mbox, which has digital S/PDIF output along with the analogue. Was figuring I ought to go digital for any replacement monitors. Am surprised to see that keeping things digital all the way "to-the-cone" hasn't become at-least more widespread, if not the current standard.

Am I missing something? Is there no real advantage to digital monitor input?

 

[Track Rat]

Am I missing something? Is there no real advantage to digital monitor input?

The converters in said monitors.

 

[blackscot]

The converters in said monitors.

Please forgive my quasi-novice knowledge level, but are you stating that the digital signal is converted to analogue inside the monitor, and by a device of inferior quality to that producing the analogue signal from my Mbox?

 

[mixsit]

If putting the D/A at the speaker makes sense in a particular set up that would be fine. I could see enabling them to do extra processing there in digital for example but otherwise in my case, which might be fairly typical, the D/A is my multi-channel A/D and D/A and is also the master clock. And there is good reason to have the master be the converter (important for recording and playback). Not sure if that might make for some compromises there.
Wayne

 

[Farview]

Please forgive my quasi-novice knowledge level, but are you stating that the digital signal is converted to analogue inside the monitor, and by a device of inferior quality to that producing the analogue signal from my Mbox?

Speakers are not digital devises. In order for a digital signal to be amplified and sent to a speaker, it has to be converted to analog. Another problem is, how are you going to control the volume of the speakers? If you use the master fader in Protools, it will effect the volume of the mix when you bounce it down.

 

[Neito]

Speakers are not digital devises. In order for a digital signal to be amplified and sent to a speaker, it has to be converted to analog. Another problem is, how are you going to control the volume of the speakers? If you use the master fader in Protools, it will effect the volume of the mix when you bounce it down.

Unless the speakers have some sort of individual control to allow you to set their levels.



I would say go with analog monitors. Digital sounds like a bit of a gimmick to me, actually. And analog has been tested and used for generations (okay, only three of them) and provides flat, clean response (with the right monitors). I say don't try something until it's been well tested and proven to be an improvement on what's already available.

 

[blackscot]

Speakers are not digital devises. In order for a digital signal to be amplified and sent to a speaker, it has to be converted to analog.....

Well that sounds perfectly sensible to me, but - like many things - isn't what I'd have thought on my own. "If it's digital, it must be better. Right?"

.....I would say go with analog monitors. Digital sounds like a bit of a gimmick to me, actually. And analog has been tested and used for generations.....don't try something until it's been well tested and proven.....

These are "sound" words (sorry....) and clear-up any misconception I had about the place of digital monitors (or lack thereof) in the recording realm. I'm certainly NOT interested in any newfangledness.

I'll be off to my local gear shop soon to see what sounds best (and has the nicest-looking pricetag).

Thanks once again wise sages of homerecording.com!

 

[Farview]

Don't fall for 'digital ready' headphones either. It's just a marketing gimmic.

Digital isn't better than analog, analog isn't better than digital. Better is better (and more expensive)

 

[mixsit]

Here's an example where digi in a monitor is being put to good use. Check out the 500c.
http://www.klein-hummel.com/html/studio/studio_index_e.htm
Albeit a $10k+ example.

 

[Track Rat]

Digital isn't better than analog, analog isn't better than digital. Better is better (and more expensive)

Well said.