help picking new monitors

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woody777

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Budget: $200 to $400 (pair)

I know my budget is pretty low, but these are just for a modest home studio in my non-treated basement. I'm recording rock music in the vein of Jimmy Eat World.

I don't think I'm necessarily looking for the best sound quality, rather the most accurate sound quality. I believe those can be two very different things. I would rather the mix sound "real" on my monitors and sound "good" when I take that mix to my home stereo or car. I don't want exagerated highs or lows that trick me into thinking my mix is where it needs to be.

I'm looking at a pair of these: http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--YAMHS50M

The reviews across the board pretty much say these are outstanding, but don't have much bass. Is this specific to the Yamahas, or pretty much a characteristic of 5" drivers in general? Bass is important to me, but midrange and highs are MUCH more critical in my music. I want realistic bass, but I don't need gobs of exagerated low end. And I think the matching yamaha sub is way too expensive and the 8" monitors are out of my price range.

So, what would you suggest? The Yamahas or something else? Thanks!
 
I suggest gathering a few CD's of commercially released music that you know well, and head up to guitar center (or wherever.) From there, just pop in the cd and cycle through the monitors in your price range and see which one you like the best... That's the most realistic way to do it.

What I like, you might not. So just because I love 'em (or anyone else for that matter) doesn't mean that you will too.


Having said that, a lot of people here really praise the KRK RP-5's for their bang for the buck.

But in the end, you're the one using 'em....
 
I did actually. Although I didn't bring my own CDs... that's a very good idea.

What's really throwing my off is this: I particularly disliked the sound of the KRK RP-5. Yet they are so well liked and so well respected on a number of forums.

I liked the M-Audio BX5a second best and the Yamaha HS50M best of all.

Now I know everyone will say, get what you liked, and I will, but why all the love for the KRK RP-5? And if it's price... here's side note: the guy at GC will sell me the Yamaha pair for less than a pair of RP5s.
 
woody777 said:
I did actually. Although I didn't bring my own CDs... that's a very good idea.

What's really throwing my off is this: I particularly disliked the sound of the KRK RP-5. Yet they are so well liked and so well respected on a number of forums.

I liked the M-Audio BX5a second best and the Yamaha HS50M best of all.

Now I know everyone will say, get what you liked, and I will, but why all the love for the KRK RP-5? And if it's price... here's side note: the guy at GC will sell me the Yamaha pair for less than a pair of RP5s.
Click to expand...

Well, technically the idea is to get "accurate" monitors that dont colorize the music. I dont particularly like my KRKs, I find them unispiring. Get the Yamahas.:cool:
 
Yeah, I didn't like the KRK's either. It's funny, I was recently in the market for a cheapo pair of monitors and my initial choice was between the KRK's and those same yamaha's. I decided that I was gonna get the yamahas..... Until I listened to some event tr-6's. Those are what I ended up with.

But shit, If I could've scored the yamahas for cheaper than the KRK's then I'd have me some yamahas! :p


Really, it's all about knowing your monitors really well (and listening environment)
Listen to a lot of commercial music through them, and get to know every little nuance about them. Then you'll know how to compensate (for lack of a better word) for any shortcomings that the monitors may have.
 
I use KRK Rockits, passive. Very loose and big in in the bass, weak in the high end.


So I went to a store, and A/B'd a bunch of monitors...including the Rockit 5's and 6's??...and those Yamahas you're talkin' about, among others.

The new SP Rockits sound just like the old passive ones I have.
I was switching back and forth between the 5's and the Yams, using one of my own records...


No contest.

The Yams win


Rockits sound like Rosie O' Donnell looks. Yams are Lucy Lu. IMHO
 
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woody777 said:
That almost made me spit out my morning coffee!

Any other opinions on the Yamahas or other monitors in that price range?
Click to expand...


I've only been recording for less than a year...so take my opinion for what it is..here's what I think , and what I've heard

I have a friend who uses very expensive JBL's, and another who uses mackie. These guys make money with their recordings, so they're doing something right; but the speakers cost more than my entire setup.

The guy I bought the KRK's from is another pro. He replaced them with Yam NS 10's...to compliment his super-speakers. And now he uses the NS10's almost exclusively. He warned me about the belly in the KRK's. But the price was outtasight. He also A/B/C'd all three sets. I liked the NS10's. I can hear everything in the mix, and, judging by what I've experienced mixing, these would really make it a lot easier...for a lotta reasons. Some I can't define.

From the monitors in the $500-range, I've heard nothing tighter, truer, flat-two-dimensionaler than the Yams. The hew ones are self-powered...which would eliminate my worries about if the amp and pre I'm using are gumming things up. And, to my ears, they have the same clarity as the NS 10's...or at least approach it. I've sampled around a dozen makes. I didn't bother to remember the names of the ones I didn't like.

Now the NS 10 standard: Not everyone likes 'em. I really do. And I note that in virtually every single shot of a million-dollar studio in Mix Magazine, that along with the $10,000 wall-mount supermonitors, there's a pair of
NS 10s stting in back of the console desk. Or maybe a pair of these new Yamahas. Little white cones everywhere. And something tells me the good speakers...when not being used to impress the clients...are off...and the engineers sit at the desk , mixing on the little Yams.


I've been trying to score a set of NS's on craigslist or eBay. Hard to grab them for less than $700...well worn. In the box pristine starts at a thou.
But then I'd still be passive...wondering about my amp package, and true freq response. The new SP Yams eliminate that...have that trad Yamaha reliability and rep....give me new space in my rack, and cost the same brandy-new, with warrantee.

Yams sound like all steel-wire and glass and right angles. The others I know..and use...are yarn and particle-board and bent-shack. I hope that makes sense. I pretend to be an artist...not an engineer.

But again, I'm a guy who writes elevator musik, and just started. Take it FWIIW

I have some badly damaged ears. Maybe that has something to do with my likes.

Here's the best way I can describe what I like about Yam.

When I listen to a mix on brand X,...sweet-sounding [ corpulent "Rosie O's] speakers....it's a three dimensional thing when I close my eyes and listen...it's like I need to re-focus to 'hear/view' little things in the mix...like a hi-hat. On the Yams, I get a sense of a flat, clear photo...two dimensions. When I 'scan', i don't have to focus my ears.

The speakers I don't like are an aural diorama. The Yams present a flat picture. Capish???

Hey...this is the thing I'm workin' on now. I got it handy as a d'load file...sent it to someone for an assay of a mastering software preset program.
There's artifact in the bass...and the EQ needs to come down 3db in the mids. Squished massively..mp3. But it'll give you a pic of where I'm at. Elevator music. My goal is to make really good sounding elevator music.

http://download.yousendit.com/A32032F44E5BCAFE
 
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Thanks for the reply! I'm definitely leaning toward the Yamahas.

I'm going back to Guitar Center tomorrow... this time bringing some CDs I know and love.
 
Hi,

Im using the Hs 50´s from Yamaha and I´m very happy with them , but others say there are better ones for the same price. Well, its like choosing the right microfone for a recording situation .. the microfone or the monitors have to please you. You should like the sound ... I guess you can mix on every monitor system if you get used to its unique sound issues !!!

Dirk
 
Any chance you can get in front of a Blue Sky EXO system? The sub will give you some real low end, unlike most everything else in that price range.

Cheers,

Otto
 
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