Is there a set of monitors and amp that everyone agrees is a good buy?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JerryD
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JerryD

JerryD

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I have been trying to figure out which monitors to purchase.

Everytime I get ready to buy a set of monitors someone says that's crap.

I hate to start the monitor discussion back up, but if it wasn't so confusing in here I wouldn't have to.

Now everything can't be crap. There has to be one set up freakin monitors that everyone likes. What are they?

Thanks.
 
I'd suggest getting out there and auditioning a bunch of different ones for yourself... get what your ears like........ after all, you use your ears to hear with, not other people's opinion! ;)

Bruce
 
Thanks for the reply

I agree Bruce.

The only problem is I'm out in the middle of nowhere as far as music gear is concerned. I'm going to have to go by opinions on this site and reviews.

Right now I'm looking at:

Yorkvilles YSM-1P, JBL LSR25P, and NS10s.

I know the NS10s sound like crap from what I have read, but are a true picture of what's going on the mix.

Does anyone else like the JBL LSR25P?
 
Well... I understand about being out in the middle of nowhere, but monitors are one of those gear pieces you really have to hear before you plonk your hard-earned money down on 'em!!!

Meyer HD-1s are excellent $5K/pr monitors - I might love 'em, and you might absolutely hate them - even though they are truly professional pieces of gear.

Monitors are as subjective as a guitar or an amp is to a guitarist, and your have to pick ones that suit your ears... to do that, you have audition a bunch and make a choice then!

It's worth your while to travel on a little shopping trip for a purchase such as this!

Bruce
 
Thanks Bruce

Your right.

I think I will do that.

Looks like I will need to make a trip to Atlanta.

Anyone from Atlanta here?

Thanks Bruce.
 
to tell you the truth, I would suggest that you get two pairs of studio monitors.

Make sure one pair is ns10ms. That way, you'll hear what 90 percent of mixing engineers hear everyday.

Try and make the second pair a bigger pair, for low end accuracy.

You can find them used on ebay.
 
CJ

Hey thanks buddy.

Your right I think I will do that? THe NS10s sound pretty inexpensive.

Very good idea?
 
If you can spend the money.... the JBL LSR's are in a league of their own - simply the best nearfields in their pricerange by far.
 
Monitors

Hi There.
Well I'm just a newbie here but have been recording as an engineer and producer for the last 10 yrs.

On the subject of monitors, first of all I use a pair of Energy 2.1e's while I'm recording and when it comes to doing the final mix I have a pair of custom built nearfields that I use.

If you go to any music store and listen to monitors they will more than likely sound different when you get them in your own room.

I suggest that if you are going to invest a substantial amount in your monitors you talk tothe store and ask them if you can audition a couple of pairs. If they are interested in keeping you as a custumer this shouldn't be a problem.

No matter which ones you buy, I suggest that before starting any mix you listen to as much music that is similer to the mix you are doing so you can get a reference. ie (if you're doing a Hip-Hop group, Listen to some of the top Hip-Hop recordings).

Monitors that sound good to me may not sound so good to you so all you are going to get here is individual opinions. not that there is anything wrong with that.

You can create a good mix on a pair of computer speakers if you reference them properly.

Hope this helps
 
Hmmmm... this line of discussion prompts a question.

When it comes to your basic home stereo speakers, I can certainly go along with the notion "buy what sounds good to you, not what sounds good to me". After all, we all have our own personal sonic preferences.

But I have always thought the whole idea of studio monitors was to give as unaltered, "flat" and accurate reproduction of your material as possible, across as wide a frequency range as possible. And the idea was to buy as close to that ideal as you could afford.

If this is true, then (all else being equal) the "perfect" set of monitors should sound as good to one person as another.

Any comments?
 
RW - in theory you are totally correct.
However, there are exceptions to every rule. Personal preferences (and hearing abilities) come into play, and then there were also things like NS10's. Sounded like hell, but good reference monitors they certainly were. Tiring to listen to for any length of time, but if you screw up, you hear it, if you get it to sound good on them, it likely to sound good on anything.
Also, what is a good monitor in one acoustic environment might not be the ideal in another.
Fortunately, monitors are getting better all the time. Especially bi-amped monitors now often have a host of cut and boost options which makes them suitable for a much wider range of rooms / positions than previously the case.

I do agree with Bob Moore, wherever possible listen in your own environment first.
 
Monitors

I agree that in theory it is correct and they would be pretty close if we all listened to them with the same music in the same room using the same equipment. The only difference then is our ears. I still think there would be a difference of opinion which ones were better.

I think the new powered monitors are a good thing, it takes away the possability of amp/speaker mismatch.

As I said before the main ingredient for a good mix is reference. Listen to as much of the same type of music that you will mix and get a good feel for what sounds good.

I'll post a pic of my custom made ones later if you'd like to see them.
 
Well, I feel better now!

As for myself I am using a set of Yamaha S8M monitors, which I think must be the cheaper "Grandfather" of the NS-10 (they look like them and seem to have the similar componants). They sound a bit bright to me, but they do indeed do a ruthless job of exposing all the flaws in my work. So I guess that would be back-ass endorsement of the NS-10 for someone on a tight budget.

I intend to upgrade sometime in the future but for the moment my budget won't allow it.

Thanks for the comments.... as always, I love reading this stuff!
 
Custom Monitors

Well Sjoko2 here they are..... and no they are not upside down .. that's the way they are designed
 

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Thanks Bob - can I ask you for the reason they are 'upside down' and the spec?
 
Monitors

Sjoko2, I bought them about 3 yrs ago and the guy that built them came to the studio did the measurements and calculations and came up with that design. I have the spec sheets here somewhere. I try to find them and let you know.
I have had a number of people listen to the and they remark on how clean and clear they are. you can here everything.
Bob
 
Ever tried putting them on stands? It seems in the position you have them, you'll get a lot of reflections of the table surface
 
Monitors

Nope I haven't. The designer told me just to isolate them from the hard surface and that's the way they are designed to go. I really like them
.

Here's a pic of my other set ... Energy 2.1e's
 

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I like CyanJaguar suggestion about having two pairs - one being the NS-10. That is the method I went with in my studio. My second pair are Alesis Monitor 2. Someday I would like to replace the Alesis with JBL monitors (we'll see what models they have when I get to that point.)
 
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