Buying 20/20's...talk me out of it!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Slackmaster2K
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Slackmaster2K

Slackmaster2K

Gone
So I've got 300 smackers and my current "monitors" are driving me nuts. In its price range it *appears* as though the Event 20/20 is the best bang for the buck, mostly because Ed gives it high marks for the price.

I know there are other threads about this, but here's another one. I'd just like some current feedback. I know that there's a Tannoy monitor out there for even less than the 20/20's and some people seem to like it, others don't.

Is there a better monitor than the 20/20 at $300?

I'm not considering active monitors. I would prefer the flexibility of more discrete setup, and I can't stand it when crap is all lumped together. :) For a time I'll be using an "adequate" amp to drive them, and later I'll probably upgrade to that 150W Halfer reference amp. Since active monitors cost the same as passive monitors plus a reference amplifier, I'm pretty much set in my opinion.

Anyways, what I'm looking for here is "yeah, the 20/20's are the best in that price range" or "no, get such-and-such, they're way better than the 20/20's at about the same price, here's why...."

Thanks.

Slackmaster 2000
 
You really can't go wrong with the 20/20's. I use to use NS-10's, had no problems with those. But, when shopping for monitors again (after a hiatus, and looking for a new flavour), the 20/20's seem to get some good marks, so I just bought them without hearing them(but with the help of others opinions - Ed). Certain things I like about the NS-10's over the Event's. The NS-10's were 'tighter' sounding, bit more definition. I won't babble into a bunch of other meaningless subjective adjectives to describe the diff's though.

The yorkville products look interesting, maybe if you can demo those, if not - Just get the Events, their a good monitor for the money.
 
I personally like the Tannoy Reveals a little better, though the 20/20's are plenty good and you can't go wrong with either. I also used to mix on NS-10's and both the Reveals and the 20/20's give the same amount of mix transparancy without the harshness of the NS-10's. I use the 20/20's in my home setup and like them alot for everything over 200Hz, but the bottom end on anything in the near field category just isn't there (unless you buy Alesis monitors, which all have disproportionately heavy bass artficially boosted by the tuning of the cabinet). I find myself guessing as to low end content on my 20/20's a bit, but they are absolutely flat and that is what you want for a speaker like this. You can put an EQ inline and punch it in for a little more lows should the need arise when mixing bass and kick.
 
Buy the 20/20's, Slack... you'll love 'em.

I have a pair of 20/20bas, and I bought them after listening to over 15 sets of monitors.

20/20's are the shit.

Buck
 
Purchase the Event's

You can't go wrong with the 20/20's.

Plus, for the price you can't beat it. :)

spin
 
NS-10's are not really harsh! Midrange heavy? Yes. Harsh? NO!!!

Most of my recent mixes have been mixed on NS-10's, and really, with a sub woofer, the sound is quite pleasant in the studio, and the mixes are REALLY transferring quite well.

But, I still like my Events A LOT! :)

Ed
 
you cant go wrong there.

The only thing I can recomend is that you try the 20/20base also.
I prefer the 20/20 base to get the real lows to come forward a bit, but it´s allways the personal judgement that has to make the final decision.
For the same money there is nothing better though.

regards.
Lars.
 
Originally posted by Slackmaster2K
I'm not considering active monitors. I would prefer the flexibility of more discrete setup, and I can't stand it when crap is all lumped together. :)

OK, I'll talk you out of it: Get active monitors. Really. The reason for this is that active monitors like the 20/20 bas and the Reveal Actives are biamplified at a reasonable price. If you are going to get your own biamplified system it will cost you a lot more than $700.
 
(dobro's eyes narrow suspiciously...)

Slack, those 300 "smackers" you mentioned... They wouldn't have anything to do with a certain homerecording.com CD project now, would they? No, no - of course not. I mean, you're fully aware of the fact that I have many and various 'friends' over there in your country...

(The saga commences. In a small, unlikely Montana town, a car pulls up across the street and just down the road from a quaint suburban bungalow. Two men inside. Black suits. Sunglasses. Odd, that - it's 11 pm... Lights out, engine off. Just sitting and waiting... and watching...)
 
Thanks to all for your replies. I'm going to get the 20/20's!

Slackmaster 2000
 
I should have asked earlier...but who's got the best deal on 20/20's right now?

It looks like musician's friend has them at $300, but I can't tell how much it will be to ship, and when I add them to my cart it says "heavy item, may require additional shipping charges."

8thstreet has them at like 310 or 320 with free shipping.

Anybody know of any sales?

Slackmaster 2000
 
Slack, 8th Street may slap a $25 "oversize handling charge"......
 
Actually, Dobro, $300 is exactly what George W. thinks it's going to cost to buy my respect. Unfortunately, my respect starts in the genelec price range.

As far as the comp CD goes, I'm taking a loss. Be patient.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Gidge,

I just got an email back from 8th street and they're going to ship them for free!

Slackmaster 2000
 
NS-10m and 20/20bas - the pair is unbeatable

Dear Artists,

I have worked with NS-10m. They are awesome - the only problem, that spoiled many of my early mixes was their "bass shyness". Their "upper-middle heaviness" + 12Khz lowpass makes precise and airy mixes also quite tricky.

As you read all this (and all the other anti-NS10 emails) you may wonder why the monitors are so widely used if they have so many faults.

1) they sound very detailed and balanced at low level.
2) they have awesome sweet spot. I compared them with the Mackies and Events in an almost anechoic mixing room, and NS had the sweet spot so wide that the sound was identical from one wall to the other, back 2 meters (only losing a few dBs from the hights).

3) And - in this environment their EQ was VERY FLAT, flatter than (save the shy bass). The scene when playing reference CDs (from Michael Jackson to Messiaen to modern techno) was nearly 3D.
They were better in the studio than Events (not too exciting at lower levels) , Genelecs 1031 (which had peaks on 3 and 6kHz).
and they were as good (and in panning and overall listening pleasure, better) than Mackies.

I must add that the mixing room was very specific, the project included a big bass trap on the ceiling that was lowering the bass response too much as for my taste. But in the strange, "not helping" room, it was deifinitely winning!

On the other hand Events 20/20bas sounded much better at my home studio, which has no acoustic treatment, but its walls are wooden, the reverb is short (no flutter), and I got accustomed to its sound, I have been mixing in the room for more than a few years now.

When the room was helping - Events had very nice sound, not aggressive but very punchy, with great bass response.

Yet in the "big studio", on the Events my best mixes sounded not as exciting as I expected.

Now, in the "big" studio we also measured the monitors (Genelecs1031, Events 20/20bas, NS10m) using a special measurement mic and software.

This was really revealing an experience! It showed that NS10s' and Events' EQ response complemented , with better bass and highest treble added by Events. Events had the ear piercing frequencies attenuated a few dBs (the same accentuated by NS10s, and especially by Genelecs), and because of that one could mix at higher levels without straining his ears.

I visited "Sound and Drumland" in Berlin, in May 2000 to buy Mackies (at the time I have only read the ads; I have in-depth tested them onlt recently). In the expo room where I have heard them (really reverberant, big room), Mackies, expensive A.D.A.Ms , the cheaper active new Yamahas sounded simply terribly. The only good ones were small Genelecs 1029/2029.

I was shocked to hear that Mackies sounded so un-musically. They were critical, even when playing "HIStory" or classical music of well known brands.

After further tests in the "big studio", Mackies sounded much better, first - much flatter, but still they had that strange boost around 140-160Hz. But in a typical room they sounded too big and small together, like a small radio, telephone, PA, car stereo and a good HI FI - yet not so dynamic (transient-wise).

I decided to buy the Events 20/20bas, and spent the rest of the money for a Genelec 1091 sub - to be used with NS10m-s, then with my future pair: 1029s, which sound clear and real, that's why, and because they have another sound of their own not similar to NS or Events, I am going to make them my third pair as only I will be able to afford them.

For now I am using NS10s for mixing, Koss headophones for critical panning (involving EQ), and Events 20/20bas for final EQ tweaks and reference (including sheer listening pleasure).
Maybe important note: I am producing and mixing pop, rock (songs), cinematic (for theater spectacles), and modern classical music.

and with the NS-20/20bas setup I enjoy my life a lot

best regards

Sebastian
 
werent u in Skid Row?......

2nd question..dont you find it difficult to do "critical panning" with headphones, as they tend to distort your perception of the stereo image?.....
 
Slack,

I have the 20/20s and love them. They have the warm and rich sound I was seeking.

I recently saw a great price, since I want two more. I always look. I can't remember now, but it could have been the Guitar Center since they send me their catalog.
 
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