Monitor Investmenting, help!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Vintage
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Vintage

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Im investing in the first pairs of monitors for my recording room. I dont have a special six room studio, just a single room that Ill be using my PC & DAW to compose. Ill also be recording acoustic guitar & some vocals here & there, I was considering investing in a pair of Shure SM57/58s. My room will be redone with a solid core door, and a Rockwool-filled window cover. Im also going to be throwing on some Auralex to make my acoustics more tuned, and bass traps. Dimensions are 13x11, 8.5 height. Measured in ft.
 
Im sorry, but unless im missing something, you didn't ask a question :()
 
Well, its not that hard to figure out.

I think I explained it rather well, the first sentence sums it up. I think this forum is to discuss monitors and so on, am I right?

Im asking for suggestions on monitors, to fit my needs I posted.
 
aah, ok..

Well what is your price range? Do you want Active Monitors or Passive?
do you know the difference?
main thing is price range, i would definatly reccoment active monitors. They are self powered and have amplifiers built in, that closly match the speakers, to give the best performance. That way you don't have to buy an additional amp.
 
More info!

I want active, you explained why in your post. I dont wanna have the hassle of finding the right amp, I dont think passives are the way I wanna head towards. Well, I dont need the absolute best monitors out there, just a good pair that will fit my room & sound great. Price range, roughly from $200-$400. Hope that helps!
 
Here's how I like to shop for gear:

Step 1 is to go to http://www.8thstreet.com, select the type of gear I'm looking for, and click on the button to sort by price. I write down a few models that are in my price range.

Step 2 is to come here and click on the Search button. I type in one of the models in my price range, and generally find plenty of opinions. People have asked about every piece of gear imaginable on this board before.

Step 3 is to make the 1 1/2 hour trip to the nearest music store that actually has a selection comparable to the internet mail-order sites to poke at and listen to the most popular items discovered in Step 2.

So far, this has worked out pretty well for me. Last week I bought my first pair of monitors, M-Audio SP-5B's for $300. I heard some good about them here and the salesman at the music store recommended them to me even though I gave him a price range that went up to almost twice that. I'm happy with them, although I can't say I've had a lot of experience with other models -- I was mixing on my stereo speakers before.
 
When buying monitors there's nothing like trying them out with your own ears, and preferably with your own mixes that you are familiar with. Take some of your own mixes, and a couple of reference commercial CDs down to as many stores as possible and give them a listen. Ignore the sales chatter -- its amazing what some of the salespeople say!

When I did this recently, I ended up with Fostex PM-1 speakers ($400.) which I am absolutely loving, but your mileage may (probably should!) vary. They are active speakers with a +/- 2dB response from 50-20K. Nice and flat.

Remember, you want "honest" speakers (flat response, etc.), not "good sounding" speakers that flatter the mix by smearing over details, etc. You need to hear the warts in order to fix them.

Good hunting!
-lee-
 
Thanks

Thanks all, Ill remember that flat tip. Im looking at those Fostexs right now, but the reason why I ask for opinions is because the closest music store to me is a four hour drive! But Ill be sure to take all of these tips in consideration when I get there, Vintage.
 
yea, definatly try to try em out and let your ears decide, but the Yorkville YSMIp's are awesome, and in your price range! check them out!
 
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