crappy sounding monitors w/ no bass?

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digiboy

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Hi folks- I think I should have started by posting here but ...

I have a NYC apartment and a budget that are both very small and I am looking at about $500 for a set of monitors. I will be mixing on either a Korg D1600 or Akai DPS16, haven't decided.

In the mixing forum they are all giving a strong push for the JBLLSR25P's . I have to admit I am re-thinking my ideas on near-fields after reading their comments. I understand how important it is that a monitor be very accurate in that 80-2000Hz range to get a good mix which is what the JBL's are all about. I'm still concerned I might have a tendency to push the low end in the mix if I use them since they have such a sharp drop off below 70Hz. Can anyone explain how I should deal with the poor low end on these things? Does it have something to do with the fact that they are near fields being use in a very small room?

Also: At the JBL website they include something in the LSR25P specs called "low frequency extension"...what exactly is that??

Next question: everyone is saying go and listen to different monitors, then pick the ones that I like best...but my sense is that monitors are not supposed to sound "good" at least not in the same sense that home stereo speakers do. So how do I demo them? From the comments i have read, if i went by my ears i would probably pass up monitors like the Yammy NS-10's as everyone seems to agree that they sound like crap. Yet they are supposed to be very good for mixing.

Well I'm going to at least try to get to hear the JBL's before i decide now. But if I don't like them...I'm not sure what that means.... BTW-several people also mentioned these JBL-LSR25P's can be had for about $500/pr but all I'm seeing is $600. Please report any $500 sightings. Thanks!!

Appreciate any further comments
 
I think sjoko2 already explained why these monitors have that sharp drop off...since this size monitor cant accurately reproduce sounds below those frequencies,there is a dropoff....with practice mixing with them, you will learn how to place the bottom by referencing on other full range speakers and/or with a sub until you evevtually learn them...learning your monitor is essential no matter which one you get.....

I would continue asking Sjoko2 in the other thread, or maybe he'll see this....I could offer you up some of the answers you are looking for, be he is, without a doubt, the best one to answer this question, given his expertise in the business and his knowledge of this particular monitor.....
 
Yo Digiboy: Boy O Boy: Monitors?

For about 200 pezzutos or less depending where you live, you can get a pair of Yorkville YSM-1's and will be able to do a good job with these awesome monitors.

Oh, yeah, there are probably better ones out there, powered, etc., but for the loot, Yorkvilles work fine.

Green Hornet
 
I just got a sales catalog from Musicians Friend that has them at $479 if you buy them as a pair. I think it was $249 separately. Also, I just went to Mars today and their sales ad says $499/pr (Their in old store sign still says over $300 each) I am also saving for a pair of these monitors. I was pretty skeptical over the same issues you have had (bass response) but after hearing them and seeing endorsements from some people I really trust I finally made up my mind. Hope this helps.

Jason A.
 
crappy, shmappy...these things sound good!

Thanks for all the input...I found a local shop that has the JBL LSR25's and they let me demo them and I was just blown away.So just I took a pair home. I'm listening to them with CD's right now as I type this and I'm afraid I'm completely spoiled. I've heard Events and Rolands, not even close. Would like to hear the Yorkvilles but the powered version seems to be on permanent hold. If I keep these I'll be paying a bit more for them than if I did them mail order but I feel I shouold do right by this shop that's letting me try them. The only other option I would consider now would be to move up in the JBL LSR series to something with some more bottom which I'm considering, but I'm afraid that's beyond my means.....man, these LSR's are stunning.
 
Digiboy,
Go back to the shop, tell them you really want the monitors, and point out the price at Mars and MF. See what they'll do. You'd be suprised. Its not like you're ripping them off, just cutting into the profit a bit. If you don't have a local place offering them for less, don't forget to factor shipping and tax into the equation. Those puppies are like shipping sand filled cinderblocks. :D Maryland and DC are doing some weird 'sales tax amnesty week' to coincide with the tax relief thing, is NY doing anything like that?

I can't remember if I recommended them to you directly or on someone else post, but I love mine. I'm also pretty stoked to see sjoko come along and recommend them.

Queue
 
Thanks Queue,

That's basically what I did and He did drop the price down a good amoutn. I could do a bit better by mail order out of state because then there's no tax. Plus I can usually weasle my way out of paying shipping by working 2 online dealers against each other.

Speakers are a special case tho and I really wanted to hear these babies before buying. So I have to allow for the fact the local guy is letting me demo them. So I'll be paying a bit more for them but I have to figure for services rendered. I used to work in a Hi FI shop so I know what it's like. If I stiffed the guy out of a sale I'd surely not be welcome back in his shop. I could just say I hate 'em but I prefer to keep it honest. He did OK by me and I'm OK paying a bit extra for that.

BTW, I think it was Skojo who told me about the JBL's and he was insistent enough about their quality that I had to at least check them out...and I'm very impressed.
 
If you can get them from the local dealer for anywhere in the ballpark you should do it......
 
Yes, there's little chance of giving them up now unless I go to the LSR28's which are almost 3 times the price....not really an option. I wouldn't mind seeing JBL market a companion subwoofer for them someday.But it would have to be something that would fill out the low end without compromising their value as monitors.

BTW: I see now that it WAS Queue who first mentioned the LSR25's to me when I posted to the mixing forum. But, Queue, it's your own fault for gving yourself such an ambiguous moniker. I, as a total Newbie, honestly thought the word "Queue" indicated it was some kind of generic response to FAQ type posts or something along that line...didn't look like a name. Sorry Queue...
 
Sorry I threw you off on the name there. "Q" is the first letter in my last name, and as it is 11 letters long, many people just call me Q. Add to that the fact that most of my head has NO hair, there's also the 'cue' ball thing... Plus I work in computers where you often hear the term Queue..... and things are often Queued. And... and...

How 'bout something useful??? OK...

Just in case you didn't see, there's the LSR12P. Doesn't say anything on the site about matching those up with the LSR25's, but they were pushing these for 5.1 systems. (Using 5 LSR25's and one LSR12).

Queue
 
Wrong Cue

Hey Queue

Yes I was thrown off by "Queue" for similar reasons. I work a day job running large format digital printers where the "Queue" refers to a window listing processed files that are waiting to be used or re-used for printing.
( And FWIW-I'm also approaching Q-ball cranium status myself)


As for the LSR12..That's a lot of money..Wouldn't I be better served for that kind of cash to just move up to a pair of LSR28p's with no sub? Have you ever heard the 28's? If they are anything like the 25's but with fuller low end, they must be awesome.


I was thinking maybe JBL might someday come out with a sub that would be more in line with the scale and pricing of the 25's...as long as it delivers a nice even low end to match them, I'd be game.
 
Yo Digihappyboy:

If your ears are happy, and your wallet is happy, ears are more important], enjoy your speakers.

Green Hornet
 
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