Beginner Monitors

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lumbergh
  • Start date Start date
L

Lumbergh

New member
Alright, so I'm setting up a little mini home recording studio in my room, just to mess around with and have fun, nothing amazing. I just bought a Phonic Helix 18FW, and its currently in the mail, and I can't wait. But now that means I need a pair of monitors.

What are some good beginner monitors? I'm currently leaning towards the Behringer Truths (2030A's), would those be a good choice? My budget is $200ish, so I'm stretching a lot for the Truths (I could probably get some good used ones off ebay for $220ish, i think). Any other monitors I should look at?
 
EMU PM5s are on sale at musicians friend for $198 pair. Reg price is $499.
 
Lumbergh said:
good used ones off ebay for $220ish
Click to expand...
Buying used monitors, especially if you need to take the sellers word for how they function, is always risky.

My advice would be to save up a little more and listen to speakers in the $300/pair range like the KRK RP5's or the Wharfedale 8.2's.

It sounds from your post like your basing your decision on price and price alone, and that never leads to any kind of long term satisfaction. These monitors are going to be the only way that you can judge your mixes and therefore the only way you can judge your music, and you need to make a careful choice especially if you can't afford to make a mistake.

Instead of rushing into the Behringer Truths, take your time and listen to the alternatives.


.
 
Not sure if you're looking active or passive, but my first set of "real" monitors were Yorkville YSM-1s. They still hold a spot in my heart and I know they get good reviews around here. They make a passive and an active model now, but mine were the passives. Just my 2 Yen.
 
Last edited:
ssscientist said:
Buying used monitors, especially if you need to take the sellers word for how they function, is always risky.

My advice would be to save up a little more and listen to speakers in the $300/pair range like the KRK RP5's or the Wharfedale 8.2's.

It sounds from your post like your basing your decision on price and price alone, and that never leads to any kind of long term satisfaction. These monitors are going to be the only way that you can judge your mixes and therefore the only way you can judge your music, and you need to make a careful choice especially if you can't afford to make a mistake.

Instead of rushing into the Behringer Truths, take your time and listen to the alternatives.


.
Click to expand...


I vote the Alesis M1 Active MKII's. Great great monitors for the price, and if you're willing to shop around you can get them for under $300. Mine were around $240.
 
what kind of music will you be creating/mixing on them? acoustic folk songs, hip hop, pop country, modern heavy rock?

different monitors (especially at that pricepoint) have different things they excel and suck at.....for instance, i wouldn't want to mix hiphop on those 4in m-audios, and i wouldn't want to mix soft and gentle acoustic music on those beri truths you mention.

at the $200 pricepoint, it's more about playing to the strengths of the monitor while trying to mitigat the weaknesses than it is about getting a "truthful, all around good" monitor.

as always, YMMV.


cheers,
wade
 
I'll be recording hard rock/space rock (led zep/pink floyd styles).

Those EMU PM5's look intriguing, are they decent monitors?
 
Lumbergh said:
Those EMU PM5's look intriguing
Click to expand...
The fact that monitors 'look intriguing' and are priced within your stated budget doesn't mean shit.

You don't listen with your eyes or your wallet.

Go find a pair to listen to or if you live in the sticks have them shipped to you by one of the mail order houses with a 30 day refund policy.

When I was first starting I bought monitors based on criteria other than the sound and boy was I one sorry cowboy.


.
 
ssscientist said:
I one sorry cowboy.
Click to expand...
that's kinda what i was getting at.

see, 5in speakers won't do jack for reproducing the low end that you're gonna need for mixing hard rock. anything below 200Hz is gonna be a guess, and you'll spend more money on blank cds for reference checks than you will just buying decent monitors in the first place. not to mention the time and frustration.

bottom line, you need to test drive monitors before you buy em.


cheers,
wade
 
Lumbergh said:
Alright, so I'm setting up a little mini home recording studio in my room, just to mess around with and have fun, nothing amazing. I just bought a Phonic Helix 18FW, and its currently in the mail, and I can't wait. But now that means I need a pair of monitors.

What are some good beginner monitors? I'm currently leaning towards the Behringer Truths (2030A's), would those be a good choice? My budget is $200ish, so I'm stretching a lot for the Truths (I could probably get some good used ones off ebay for $220ish, i think). Any other monitors I should look at?
Click to expand...

Look at Event 20/20s (passive version) I have a pair and like them. Very honest flat sound.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top