looking for bang for the buck monitors help!

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phillymac

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Hey guys,

I'm looking for some decent monitors that will go with my pc setup. Preferably some that are already powered, but I'm on a budget (around $300). I know that's not much to go on, but like most folks you want to get the most while spending less. I've been looking at the Samson DMS80, Yorkville YMS-1, and maybe a few others. I'm leaning towards the Samson because it's powered (40 watts per/chnl) and also has a sub output which i would plan to use (question about a sub here in a moment). But there is no place in my area where I can listen to them. I've been reading a few post and some of the members like the Yorkville YMS-1 recommend them for quality for the price. But then again, there's no place in my area where I can listen to them (Guitar Center and Mars Music doesn't carry either brand, which are the only nationwide stores in my neck of the woods. I'm mainly into R & B/ Hip-Hop so is there any monitors of choice for this type of music. Any input on this topic would be helpful. Oh yeah about the subwoofer, would using a powered subwoofer help or hurt while mixing and is such thing as a flat response power sub, or could you control your subs crossover/decibel levels to make say a sub you would buy at Best Buy flat.

Thanks
Phillymac
 
Alesis monitor ones are on blowout sale for 140.00

You wont need subs with these. add a r-100 amp for 150.00
 
The Yorkville YSM1ps (Actives) are supposed to be coming out sometime pretty soon (I hope) but not sure when and not to sure on the price either, I think I remember hearing about $400 (more or less) for both but I'm not sure. Anyone care to comment on these?

-tkr
 
Hey darrin, where are those Alesis montiors on sale at for $140, and for how long?

I know I've heard to stay away from Alesis monitors and that they aren't that great, but mabye for $140 they might be worth looking into (I mean, they'd have to be better than my Aiwa CD-player speakers right?). I know there are other inexpensive monitors like the NS 10s (which I want really badly BTW), but $140 for "powered" monitors is a pretty good buy (or are they?).....would they be a good "second reference monitor" for when I do get new monitors or would they just be a waste of money all together?

-tkr
 
I've been looking for monitoring setup for a similar $300 - 350 budget as well and ended up buying Alesis RA100 for $150 at Mars and ordering YSM1 for $199 a pair (that includes $178 for monitors, $20 for two shielding magnets and free shipment) at Wheaton music. They also have YSM1i (same drivers, plastic faceplate, no grills) which were about $30 - 40 more expensive than YSM1, and YSM1p for $209/pc.
Other option considered was Hafler set at Mars for $300, but I found M5 speakers to lack bass beyond acceptable level (Hafler suggests to add a sub, which is another $200 or so).
Also auditioned Tannoys ProtoJ ($150/pc at Mars). Many people said that sonically they were very close to reputable YSM1, but hundred dollars more expensive.
So, my set totaled at about $350. The only option to save another $50 was to go for Hafler M5 boxes. I strongly suggest that you audition them before deciding.
I haven't heard Samson setup and I didn't want to: professional monitoring system with built in graphic equilizer? Give me a break. My home hi-fi amp has nothing more than volume knob.
I don't know if subs are advisable for mixing, but for listening they are rather tricky. Decent powered sub would have its own volume and high cut off frequency knob. What I found out thrugh exprience with hi-fi was that cheap subs are usually slow. By cheap I mean $200 - 300 range. Good fast sub which will stay on pace with your tweeters would cost much more. I had a chance to try $800 REL at home together with my Missions and decided that I am not settling down with anything worse than that. I'd rather wait till the budget allows.
Hope it helps.
My 2c marketing study
 
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Yo Phillymac:

Hey, man, you can get the Yorkville YSM-1's for about 99 pezzutos apiece and have enough left over to buy a couple of real Philly sandwiches!!!

I paid a little more for mine in Grand Rapids, MI. [107 each]

They will blow your mayo off your sandwich when you hear them.


As far as Alesis I monitors -- I sold mine when I got the Yorkvilles. Alesis does not make very good monitors; no round sound, no depth, not much but the name.

You wil dig the Yorkville YSM-1's unless you want to wait for their powered version which isn't out yet. [they will cost more $$]

Don't forget the Mayo.

Green Hornet
 
i suppose i'll have to make a trip up to Mars and listen to some monitors, this is the only piece of equipment i haven't purchased. I'll be back with the results later, wish me luck. By the way i'll take a cd with me for the audition, probably Dr. Dre's Chronic 2001, i like it because for a rap cd, it's a lot more than just beats, if you really listen, you'll hear all kinds of stuff, atmospheric shit and the like, any other hip-hop cd's out there could anyone else recommend when listening to monitors? I guess it's going to come down to which one suits me. I'll be back.

Phillymac
 
tekker

If monitor ones are so bad why are they winning alot of awards. If someone tells you to stay away from them in a thread, maybe its time to trust your own ears. I came to my desision by doing a side by side comparison with many other brands recommended by some of the dudes here like events haflers tannoys soundcraft (yamaha ns10s were nowhere to be found along with yorkvilles).and by seeing how many studio sites had them on thier list of equipment. and there was far more than anything else currently availible. you cant let three persons on a thread somewhere discount hundreds of professional opinions out in the real world.

oh by the way cool avitar.:cool:
 
Yo Darrin of monitors:]

Two ears can really discern sound. Just read all the ads in EM and you come to realize that the EM experts are merely mouthing their advertisers.

By the way, it's "avatar."

Green Hornet

The Yorkvilles will kick butt on any pair of Alesis I monitors.

PS I'm just a studio person and nobody owns my results.
 
well guys I'm back, went to Mars Music to listen to some monitors. One's I've heard were the Yamaha MSP5, Roland DS90, and Tannoy Reveal. All around my price range and to tell you the truth, I really wasn't amazed. I have bookshelf speakers (JBL S38) that sound just as good and if not better. So now I'm thinking what if I could use those for monitors instead of using monitors (if you could understand where i'm coming from). Would this be a bad idea? What you guys think? If there's a better monitor worth looking into please let me know.

Thanks
Phillymac
 
The Yorkvilles ARE good, but I've been working a lot lately with the Tannoy Proto-Js - very similar to the Yorkvilles but not quite as smooth. The Tannoys are a good fit as an alternate reference to my Events (PS6s) because the PS6s are also a bit smooth, making it easier to miss something critical in the mid-range.... the Proto-Js catch that kind of thing right away.

From that perspective, as much as the Yorkvilles are fine monitors, I've come to prefer the Tannoys.... and good news for you, the Proto-Js come in about the same price as the Yorkvilles.

Bruce
 
phillymac said:
I have bookshelf speakers (JBL S38) that sound just as good and if not better. So now I'm thinking what if I could use those for monitors instead of using monitors (if you could understand where i'm coming from). Would this be a bad idea? What you guys think? If there's a better monitor worth looking into please let me know.

Thanks
Phillymac
Click to expand...

When you say your bookshelf speakers sound better, are you refering to how your music sounds coming out of the speakers, or how your mix sounds on other systems when using these speakers to mix with?

If your speakers just sound better, then there is a strong possibility that you are missing the bad frequencies that although your speakers will filter, other playback systems will not.. You really don't want monitors to sound good as much as you want them to sound accurate, and this is probably why you weren't impressed with the monitors you heard at the store..

If, on the other hand, the mix on other systems sound great because of your use of the bookshelf speakers, then don't mess with a good thing.. keep using the speakers, keep your cash, and just be open to the possibility down the road of using additional monitors as secondary references..

Cy
 
Blue Bear Sound said:
The Tannoys are a good fit as an alternate reference to my Events (PS6s) because the PS6s are also a bit smooth, making it easier to miss something critical in the mid-range.... the Proto-Js catch that kind of thing right away.

From that perspective, as much as the Yorkvilles are fine monitors, I've come to prefer the Tannoys.... and good news for you, the Proto-Js come in about the same price as the Yorkvilles.

Bruce
Click to expand...

Tannoys reveal mid-range better, eh? That range is a problem area for me.. Maybe I should consider these instead..

Hey Bruce, what's the wattage on these? The Tannoy website showed 6 ohm but no wattage rating.

Thanks,

Cy
 
Off-hand I don't know... probably low (like NS-10s).... does it matter??? I know from use it has no problems handling typical monitoring levels (80-90db)...

Bruce
 
yeah it kinda matters for me (at least right now).. I'm low on cash but need monitors. The only amp I can use right now is a Technics stereo receiver. It's 100 watts per channel, and the yorkvilles are rated at 70 watts (I think).. making a pretty good match until I can afford a better amp to drive them with.. I'm guessing the Tannoys are probably the same or close..

Cy
 
The idea of matching speaker wattage to an amp is a misconception dating back to the 70s!

Regardless of the rated power handling of a speaker, you want to power that speaker with as powerful an amp as you can afford....

The reasons most monitors blow is because of the distortion created by overdriving an underpowered amp into clipping!

So all having a low-wattage monitor means is that you wouldn't likely use it at a dance party - for normal monitoring or even listening, you're fine...

Bruce
 
phillymac

Yes, your "home stereo speakers used as reference monitors" idea is a bad one. Studio monitors are designed to sound accurate. Home stereo speakers are designed to sound good. That's why home stereo speakers are manufactured to boost the highs and the lows--some even cut the mids. That's what humans like--lots of bass and high end. Unfortunately, this is not an accurate representation of the actual music. So when you try to mix on home stereo speakers you tend to mistakenly cut the bass and highs and boost the mids.

Another thing. Studio reference monitors are meant to be listened to in the near field while home stereo speakers are meant to be listened to in the far field.
 
Hey guys, thanks for the input. I've seen the Tannoy proto-j on the mars website for about $168.00. Would you guys consider this monitor worth checking into. And as far as using a amp would the alesis ra150 do the trick. I've got a mars card and a musicians friend card so I would prefer to find something out of those two places. What about the event 20/20. They look like something worth checking out as well (haven't seen a monitor with a 8 inch size woofer for that price). What do you guys think, any suggestions?

Phillymac
 
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