How to test studio monitors in the store

[dontouch]

Do you just put on a CD and listen on different speakers?

What should I be listening?

Most of the CDs are mastered. So how do you know if the speakers are accurate on the frequencies of the mixes?

This may be pointless but if I bring a CD of the music I made, should I make a copy of all the un-mastered mixes, or should I just use the final mastered version?

The store environment is different than my home studio, how do I know if the speakers will suit my room?

How did YOU pick out the monitors you're using?

 

[moresound]

You just can't test with all accuracy in a store.
It's best to be able to have a 30 day guarantee from the store and bring them home to make sure, but even then who can tell.
You can have a cheap pair or expensive pair of monitors, you kind of grow into them, learning them as you go.

 

[dontouch]

You just can't test with all accuracy in a store.
It's best to be able to have a 30 day guarantee from the store and bring them home to make sure, but even then who can tell.
You can have a cheap pair or expensive pair of monitors, you kind of grow into them, learning them as you go.

In that sense I should just stick to my $99 Sony MDR-7560 headphones. I kinda grew into them...

 

[Massive Master]

I'd bring a collection of music that you're INTIMATELY familiar with -- Great, wonderful, audiophile-quality recordings AND really crappy sounding recordings.

The wonderful recordings should sound wonderful. The crappy ones should SOUND crappy. If they don't, move on to the next set.

 

[jeffree]

What Massive said. Then buy your top two contenders (two different models) and bring them home for a final shoot-out. A good store should allow this approach if you explain that you'll be buying one or the other. A sale's a sale. If not, use the same approach online. I've done both and would never eliminate that final step of in-studio A/B. Good luck.