Can i use my home stereo-amplifier for passive studio monitors ?

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papusnance

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Hi, im about to buy a pair of Alesis MkII passive monitors , i have heard they are great

but do i need to buy the special amplifier from alesis. or can I use my home stereo amplifier. It has "flat" mode . ?

Is there too much of a diference between this types of amplifiers regarding the sound they can give to the speaker?
 
Technically, it'll work. I'd probably submit that it's likely better to use a ---- how do I put this... A "real" amplifier. There are plenty of home stereo amps that would certainly work, but they're not the typical "got it at Best Buy" type things (for lack of better terminology).

I have a Sony unit -- It's okay, nothing special, probably in the $600 range. Has a "flat" mode. "Eh" for driving a decent set of monitors. It's not that accurate, it's not very consistent.

But if nothing else, it'll get you started. At some point, I'd try getting something more substantial - Your monitors will only ever be as accurate and consistent as the amplifier allows (and as the room allows - but that's for another thread).
 
No idea how good that unit is - but there are still plenty of decent used hifi amps around. Look for makes like Rotel, Marantz or Hafler.

James.
 
It's true.
As master says, it's not ideal, but I have used leak/marantz/denon amplifiers in the past with a few different sets of speakers.

I'd much rather use a denon PMA than an alesis ra150 or whatever.

Your always playing catch up, but the best advice I can give with less than stirling monitors/amps is this.

Position everything correctly.
Treat the room.
Listen to music that you know very very well, for a long time! Every day for a few weeks.

The first two will reduce how much your room contributes to the problem, and the third one will increase your familiarity with how your speakers and environment sound.
 
jamesperrett said:
Marantz
Click to expand...

That's what I've been using (one of the high quality builds) recently for my "B" passive speaker set and it's working great! I keep all the eq dials flat. I know it aint no "studio amp" by any stretch, but hell, I'm powering Realistic Minimus 7's from the late 70's! Why the hell would I need an "accurate" studio amp if my vintage B speakers are far from it? It's the all-around retro monitoring set up and I love it for nostalgia purposes, and it also brings out the issues in my mix that I need to fix like mud/boxiness, as well as tells me if something in the foreground/background is too loud or too quiet.

Again, cool as a B set (using an inaccurate amplifier) , and I'd say the same for your case. Get em for a B set, but why not just get some active monitors and eliminate the worry about buying an amp or using that 90's-eqsue "Boom Box" amplifier?
 
thanks for the advice !
im on a 200$ budget so most decent active monitors excede that budget :S ...

How can i tell how good my amplifier is in comparison to others? is there some stats that can tell you ?
On the speaker output jacks it says "Impendance Use 6-16 ohms"

I found this info on the online manual:

The following measured at AC 110, 220 V 50/60 Hz
DIN power output (rated) 50 + 50 watts
(6 ohms at 1 kHz, DIN)
Continuous RMS power output (reference)
65 + 65 watts
(6 ohms at 1 kHz,
10% THD)
The following measured at AC 120, 240 V 50/60 Hz
DIN power output (rated) 60 + 60 watts
(6 ohms at 1 kHz, DIN)
Continuous RMS power output (reference)
75 + 75 watts
(6 ohms at 1 kHz,
10% THD)
Peak music power output (reference)
1000 watts


How bad can the diference be from a good amplifier to a lousy one?
 
papusnance said:
How bad can the diference be from a good amplifier to a lousy one?
Click to expand...

Surprisingly!
I don't have any 'good' amps, but the difference between my cheapo kenwood and my leak delta 70 is mental.

Keeping in mind they're both just standard old hifi amps, I still wouldn't use the kenwood for anything more than background radio.
The delta powers my big ol' wharfedales, which I suppose you could call a B set.
I final check on them for a bit of reality.

In the same way as recording master, the wharfedales are old hifi jobs themselves, so I have no desire for a flat reference amp.
 
I suppose by "Mental" you mean like "really big" difference?
im sorry, english is not my natural language hahaha
 
papusnance said:
I suppose by "Mental" you mean like "really big" difference?
im sorry, english is not my natural language hahaha
Click to expand...

Oh sorry. Yeah, that's what I meant.

You know what....If you haven't bought them yet, just save a little and buy the active versions.
They may not be the best kit in the world, but at least the amp is matched to the speakers, to whatever extent.
 
Try e-bay and maybe get an Adcom amp. A 60 watt model should do the trick. You should be able to score one for about a hundred bucks. Those numbers for the amp you cited? Bad news. ("Peak output" 1000 watts? Gimme a break.)
 
I've never had a problem using hifi amps for monitors. Decent hifi amps are often better sonically than professional stuff. The bigger difference can be the ability to pump out rated power 12 hours a day without committing electronic suicide which is where the pro stuff shines. You also have to be careful with impedance ratings and also the honesty of the power rating.

None of this applies to "music centres" or boom boxes though!
 
Those Tripath amps have a good reputation but they're a bit underpowered for serious studio work.

James.
 
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