Best cheapest active monitors

  • Thread starter Thread starter MASTON
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MASTON

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Hi,

I'm looking to get some active monitors to replace the cheapos that came with the computer and with which I've been doing recording.

Basically I need the cheapest pair that'll produce a passable sound.

So far, my research has come up with the JBL control 1 ($240) and JBL control 5 ($399), though I have seen a 2nd hand pair of the latter for $180. Is this a good deal?

cheers
Maston.
 
Ive pondered this decision hours upon hours and have come to the conclusion that you cant get a decent pair of active monitors under $400.....

If you cant get the budget up there, get a pair of passive and power it with a home stereo reciever until you get the $$$ for an amp.....

Musicians Friend has a web special on Hafler M5 monitors with a power amp for $299.....

Tannoy ProtoJ's passive are 199/pr....

many many options....
 
Ok

Does it matter what kind of hi-fi amp you use, I only have a beat-box see, so I'd have to go get an amp.

Maston
 
Well, you want some good clean power, so I guess you are stuck getting an amp too.....

I just came back from Guitar Center where Wesley (a chick) was nice enuff to match that web special of $299 on the Hafler package...I've got 30 days to play with them....ill let u know how it sounds....
 
GC??

Gidge . . .

Did they open a GC in Baton Rouge or did you go all the way to New Orleans??

If there's a GC in Baton Rouge then my bank account is about to take a serious beating!! lol

--Tax :D
 
TaxMan,

Your bank account is saved.....I went to the one in NewOrleans (about 70 mile drive for me).....If there was one in BR id be one broke dude.....

Not a big fan of GC anyway.....Ive bought a few things at C&M Music in BR and its their policy to match any advertised price which is great, but they have such a little selection......lucky for me and my very small bank account.....
 
Yamaha MSP5's all the way! They're a little expensive but what a sound!
 
Well, the guy at Mars Music recommended the Yamaha MSP5's over the JBL LSR25P's. My ears said the JBL's were the way to go at this lower end level. However, I was really interested in the Roland monitors with their ability to go digital right up to the monitors. With the exception of my analog inputs into my digital mixer, everything is digital. No noise is induced by the Fiber optic and digital Coax cables. Then I found that the DS-50a monitors were lacking on the low end...and I'm a bass player.... However, the DS-90a's are great over the full range...says my ears...and other rare discussions I've read. However, they are much more expensive. I finally ended up ordering them from Musicians Friend online (www.musiciansfriend.com). I ordered the Refurb units for $399 each. They had 3 in stock, plus 1 blemished speaker (not functionally damaged...just a scratch or something in the case). I left them with one of each...and took 2 refurbs. Regularly they are $450 each.

1 week or so until delivery! Can't wait!
 
I bought the Yamaha MSP-5's at Mars yesterday. At $225 each, I couldn't resist. Shopped and saved for months to find something in my budget, and I'm very happy with these.
 
be careful with the msp5s, while they are a pretty good deal, they have a bit of a hyped highend. for synth stuff, this is fine, but for acoustic instruments, and voices this could a problem. To tell you the truth, the level that most home recordists play on event 20/20bas are no different to msp5s, or even lower end. They dont pay attention to much besides balance of music, and you CAN tell this somewhat, not to pro studio level, but good enough for a simple demo or to play for friends. the msp5s and other lower end monitors will allow you to balance your mix enough. You know the deal, you want pro go pro blah blah, you want to have fun and homerecord, have fun no matter what monitors you use :)

but i would say those $1000 mackies are overkill.
 
Well, I now have the Roland DS-90a's at home, and I love 'em! They cost me $450 each new from Guitar Center. Musicians Friend sold them to me (refurb) at $399 each, but 5 days later said that they couldn't find them in their stock, so they had now idea when they could ship. I cancelled that order and took the new monitors from Guitar Center... Did I mention, I love 'em!?!
 
kristian (and others familiar with the MSP5's) how would I know whether to adjust the trim switches? Why shouldn't I leave them at zero for a flat EQ? You say they're hyped on the high end - should I trim the high end, or does it depend on my room, or WTF?

Like I said, they're brand new to me, and I'm still tweaking everything.
 
leave EVERYTHING flat. EQ introduces distortion into the signal. I believe the engineers at Yamaha have a much better knowledge then me or you will have about EQing them. What i mean about the hyped high end is i notice this presence that is boosted high end. My 20/20bas don't have this same high end, but are the msp5s useable? completely. The only reason i have a pair of the 20/20bas instead of the msp5s is because i got mine for $500. every lucky rare deal, and i think it wouldnt show up again. anyway, from my testing and experience with the msp5s, they are very good value, you can get them much closer to the computer monitor then you can my 20/20bas, which is annoying.
 
I work for Yamaha in New Zealand and although I'm mainly the guitar technician I have a vested interest in all things studio. I've used the MSP5's to mixdown digital multitrack recordings from my DPS12 and have found them to be extremely good.

The MSP10's are obviously going to give you a more rounded sound because they are bigger but as near field monitors I would recommend the MSP5's for any project studio. I've listened to 16 bit 48 kHz information compared to 24 bit 96 kHz recordings and the resultant bigger frequency response sound amazing through these monitors.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you really need to drive them to the extremes to understand what a brilliant product they are.
 
industry standard?

witht the ns-10 discontinued what will now be termed the "industry standard" for near fileds?
 
Some flavour of Radio Shack NS-10 knock-offs, no doubt!!! ;)

:D :D
 
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