Help selecting monitors

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riccol

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I'm still quite a newbie at computer recording, recently bought deltal audiophile 2496 sound card -- and getting better at using
n-track and having a blast. I have learned so much reading stuff here in the forums.

Up till now I have been atttemting to mix with a set of headphones. (I know!! -- I need monitors)

Now ready to buy some monitors. Looking for direction to threads here in the forum, or preferably advice on what to buy.

I have $346.78 in my secret paypal account (Sold some golf clubs on e-bay, and the money is mine -- all mine!!!)

I prefer powered monitors, since I don't have a means to power them.

Can I get something -- for that price??

I know there is a ton of stuff written here in the forums but how about just recommending a few -- then I can go off to e-bay or elsewhere.

I'm just really starting so -- I can upgrade later.

(What about the delta audio SP-5B?
Read bad stuff about them hear in the forum -- but with my limited experiece it was over my head)
 
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for $350.. you might be able to get 1/2 of one good active monitor speaker. the operative word here is good.
i wouldn't go half-assed on monitors.
 
Aw Come on --- There has to be a step between, mixing with headpones for $75 to $100 bucks and $1000.00 monitor system,

dang -- wouldn't a boom box be a step up from doing it with headphones?

I've done a few things with the headphones that made my me happy -- but it sure took a lot of trial and error and a bunch of CDs ---
Again isn't there a cheaper step in between heaphones and $$$$$$$ studio monitors?
 
I looked on Ebay....right now, the pickin's be slim. I would try waiting a little. Maybe for some JBL LSR25s. Those seem to be highly recommended around here. Maybe some Tannoy ProtoJs. Those seem to be in your budget.

Mike
 
riccol said:
Aw Come on --- There has to be a step between, mixing with headpones for $75 to $100 bucks and $1000.00 monitor system
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It's amazing to me how many people with think nothing of laying $1000's down on mics, pre's, mixers, amps, etc., etc., but baulk at spending anything even close to a $1000 on the monitors with which they actually hear it all.

Not saying you fall into this category riccol. And I know what it's like to be on a tight budget. I'm just saying many people's priorities are often all out of whack when it comes to understanding the very high importance of actually hearing what they are doing. :rolleyes:

barefoot
 
If I were to recommend a budget moitor setup, i would say the Event 20/20s (passive) and a hafler amp.

The monitors: $280-$320 depending where....
The amp: $160-$300 depending on how much juice you want.

So you could get a very respectable monitor system for $400-$600.

The big boys will disagree perhaps, but for the money, there's not much better in my lowly unprofessional opinion! :)
 
Maybe Proto-J monitors and a Hafler amp

I think you can get a combo of the Tannoy Proto-J's and a Hafler amp for under $400 US. Check 8th Street and Musician's Friend. I can't remember the model of the amp off the top of my head but it's something TA-1100. That combo seems to be pretty highly rated around here - especially the Proto-J's. However, that particular amp might be a little underpowered (I think it's only 50 W.

I just bought a set of the JBL LSR25Ps last week and am learning to like them A LOT. I also checked out Roland DA-50's and Yamaha MSP-5s and to me the JBLs were the clear winner.
They're a little more than you wanted to spend - about $500 - but it seems like if you up your budget a little there's more to pick from.

So far I've mostly been listening to CDs through them to learn them, but the few attempts I've made at remixing with them have been eye-, well, more like ear-, opening. Until now I've been in your shoes using PC speakers and headphones and the difference they made is absolutley amazing.
 
Drummerbones said:
So you could get a very respectable monitor system for $400-$600.

The big boys will disagree perhaps, but for the money, there's not much better in my lowly unprofessional opinion! :)
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You will get a system very much like what most people use, and in that sense I guess it's respectable. But this doesn't mean it will be very accurate at all.

I spent about $1k wholesale on the driver and crossover components in the monitors I designed for myself. If I sold them retail, they'd probably have to go for about $3k in order to turn a reasonable profit. Still, I can think of a 100 ways to make them better. Building truly linear loudspeakers is an extremely difficult and expensive endeavor. I'm very familiar with the stuff that goes into the average monitor. They really aint that good.

Save your pennies and don't skimp on monitors. I've said it many times, but I'll say it again. Loudspeakers are the weakest link in any audio chain.

barefoot
 
i use a pair of Proto J's and a Hafler TA1100 with no problems......
 
Thanks for the input guys-- really helps -- I may up the budget a bit --

Gidge any suggestion where the best price in on the Proto J's -- and the Hafler TA 1100?

I listen to Gidge!!!-- He's da man!
 
Muscians friend has Tannoy Proto J & Hafler TA1100 package for $359.99 --
Looks like a done deal!!!!--
 
This looks good to me too

I was looking at the Behringer Truths ($399) and the Yorkville YSM-1P's ($418) so the Tannoy-Hafler package fits my budget. I always thought the tricky part with passive monitors was matching the amp. This seems to have taken the guesswork out, no?
Are these Tannoy Proto-J's anywhere near the quality of the Tannoy reveals?
 
Why don't you go to your nearest computer store and buy some 19.99 speakers to mix on? haha
 
I love those really helpful tidbids from folks like Timothy-DOG
There just so helpful!
 
according to Barefoot.you need to save your money for 3 yrs and get $9,000 monitors..:D

I'd go for the 20/20's with an amp...
 
barefoot said:
Save your pennies and don't skimp on monitors. I've said it many times, but I'll say it again. Loudspeakers are the weakest link in any audio chain.
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I agree 100%!!!

Bruce
 
brokenwindow said:
according to Barefoot.you need to save your money for 3 yrs and get $9,000 monitors..:D
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No, I'm simply trying to illustrate the fact that accurate monitoring is no easy task (i.e. expensive) and monitors are consistently under budgeted relative to other equipment.

Converting electrical signals into mechanical motion then into acoustic waves is just a really difficult thing to do well. I spent $1000 just on parts, and I consider myself a pretty damned good speaker designer. Yet I made many, many compromises in my monitor design due to cost considerations and their specs can't even come close to matching those of a $300 amp, not to mention a sound card.

To use a common analogy, you're never going to achieve the color and depth of a da Vinci by painting under fluorescent lights, no matter how fancy your paints and brushes are. This is what you're doing with run of the mill monitors. Mackie, Event, Alesis, etc. - to me it's like arguing whether one should buy GE or Sylvania bulbs.

Whether it's a $100 or $1M you spend most wisely when you allocate your equipment budget in proportion to the deficiencies of each component. Loudspeakers are by far the worst, so they deserve a significant chunk.

barefoot
 
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