HI-FI Speakers versus Studio monitors !!

[rxkevco]

Just wondering what peoples veiws are on using hi fi speakers to moniter and mix, as opposed to low end studio monitors. Have a set of wharfdale diamonds lying around in the loft somewhere, and was wondering whether or not to bother getting into the loft at all. Have a samson amp arriving this week to use for monitoring mixes on my Fostex FD8. Have been using my teac hi-fi so far, but the speakers cannott handle any low bass sounds, from the fd8.
They are great on pre-recorded music cds etc, but as soon as its rigged up to the fd8, they turn shite, hence my samson amps imminent arrival, and the loft search for the wharfdales. Any advice would be appreciated.
cheers, kev.

 

[chamelious]

Theres a thousend threads like this. Everyone will tell you to use the studio monitors everytime but always check your mixes back on as many differant systems as you can.

 

[mshilarious]

They are great on pre-recorded music cds etc, but as soon as its rigged up to the fd8, they turn shite, hence my samson amps imminent arrival, and the loft search for the wharfdales. Any advice would be appreciated.
cheers, kev.

If you have studio monitors, use 'em. But they aren't going to suddenly solve your problem. If commercial mixes sound good, but your mixes sound bad, that isn't because your speakers can't handle low frequencies. Maybe they can't, but why isn't that a problem with the commercial CDs? The speakers you are already using are trying to tell you something about your mixes.

 

[CoolCat]

here's a classic link:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Jun02/articles/monitors.asp


it has a shootout with krk rok, dyn audioBM5(Monitors) whafedale 8.2, BW 303(HiFi).

if u don't like to read, it says there is no difference.

 

[usekgb]

I would say get your Wharfdales out. They actually sound pretty decent for what they are. They should sound a lot better than the Teac's you are using now. Also, the Samson amps really aren't that great. I have found that they don't really deliver enough current to accurately reproduce low frequencies well. You may want to look at some of the Stewart convection cooled amps for low cost sudio amps. You can also find used Hafler P300's around. They are no longer being made, but you should be able to find used ones, or find a store that has some stock left.

Cheers,
Zach

 

[rivv3t]

Definitely use monitors.

Hi fi speakers are better than PC speakers but they're still colored and not accurate for mixing and mastering.

If you can afford hifi speakers you can at least afford a pair of these things:
http://oceania.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=32305
http://www.maximumpc.com/2005/06/tascam_vl-s21_2.html

They come with a sub and are actually pretty accurate. More accurate than a ghetto blaster or home stereo.

 

[Massive Master]

Almost *all* mastering speakers are HiFi loudspeakers...

 

[rivv3t]

Mastering Monitors

I use regular speakers when mastering too. Good for beefing up or testing the bounds of your final result but not so for mixing.

 

[Alexbt]

I don't know offhand what brand they are, but our college radio station has some nice monitors in the studio room. I'll have to check back and get the real scoop on them.

I know they must be at least somewhat good because my headphone mixes sound terrible in them!