Monitor Poll: M-A BX5A, Alesis M1 520, KRK RP5 Rockit

[Monkey Allen]

People seem to like the KRK's better than the M-Audio's, is there a real reason why? What's so much better about the KRK's?

It's because rockets are cool...like a spaceship and people want to drive them...like astronauts

 

[Bguzaldo]

Skip the expensive isolation foam pads, they're a waste of money. There should be umpteen million items around your dwelling you can sit them on that will cost you nothing and do the same job. I had a couple unused bar stools with cushy pull-over tops on the seats (as fancy as it sounds) that otherwise were collecting dust. I put them at the rear corners of my desk and plopped the monitors down on them. Shazam: instant desk space and isolation, all in one.

+1 I stole a bunch of mouse pads from my school and those usually do the trick.

 

[sozaye1]

Krk has their speakers sweetend. When I say sweet I mean they cut out the mid range and leave the bass and highs. Which means when you playback you cant hear some discrepancies in your instruments and vocals. They are not recommended for mixing, go to the music store and compare them your self.

As far as M-audio, straight crap. Dont think because they are popular they are good, trust your ears. The best monitors in a budget price range are the yamaha Hs50m or the Mackie Mr5's. You hear every frequency from these monitors.

 

[xyrium]

The M-Audio monitors are not realistically flat. They sound super scooped in the bass. I A/B'd about a dozen a couple months ago for damn near an hour. I ended up with KRK RP8's. The RP5's should be fine, and you can always the sub later if you feel you need it.

Skip the expensive isolation foam pads, they're a waste of money. There should be umpteen million items around your dwelling you can sit them on that will cost you nothing and do the same job. I had a couple unused bar stools with cushy pull-over tops on the seats (as fancy as it sounds) that otherwise were collecting dust. I put them at the rear corners of my desk and plopped the monitors down on them. Shazam: instant desk space and isolation, all in one.

I believe the isolation pads also perform absorption of early reflections if you're not placing these on stands.

 

[darrin_h2000]

Krk has their speakers sweetend. When I say sweet I mean they cut out the mid range and leave the bass and highs. Which means when you playback you cant hear some discrepancies in your instruments and vocals. They are not recommended for mixing, go to the music store and compare them your self.

As far as M-audio, straight crap. Dont think because they are popular they are good, trust your ears. The best monitors in a budget price range are the yamaha Hs50m or the Mackie Mr5's. You hear every frequency from these monitors.

I agree...if you are choosing things you have to consider that there is a reason why some equipment is used in real pro studios and some is not...if the cheapo stuff was good enough everyone would use it.

 

[D-Kakes]

And that someone is right here

I was pretty much dead set on the BX5a's, I'll be sure to check out those KRKs now.

Another "someone" who found this thread via Google.

Exactly the type of opinions that I was looking for re: $250-$350 studio monitors.

 

[CityDump Record]

Indianapolis recording studio - CityDump Records

Dont do IT!!!, Save up and get the Yamaha HS 80 M's. I just got a PAIR and WOW are they HOT!!. You cant beat em the range is so dramatic and clean I feel like i can hear so much more of my mix. My friend has a set of krk's they are ok but i would save up and get the HS 80 M's.

ICON
CityDump Records
www.citydumprecords.com

 

[nytro]

i would love to check these monitors out but it seems in glasgow there is nowhere you can do that these days......

so i have to go by what all you guys are saying

 

[nytro]

the best monitors ive ever worked with are the mackie hr624s ,but that was in a proper treated room ,the stands were custom made concrete stands,they sounded like you could almost see every frequency with your eyes(if that makes sense)thats what i like...then i can go to work like a mechanic fixes a car
ive had a few budget monitors that have caused me a lot of problems ,ie
my mixes have too much bass or not enough definition in the midrange or vocals too quiet or not defined enough.
for me a good monitor has to be honest.i'm always wary of budget monitors for serious mixing,sure you can do a decent job but can you really trust them?
thats my 2 cents worth

 

[Clark Grizwald]

One thing that has not been mentioned...
An old engineer told me once (quoting a top-notch studio guy from somewhere like the Record Plant in NYC):
"The minimum number of monitors even the most basic of pro studios has in the control room is 6 (3 pair) mounted at different heights to optimize the speakers individually."
One pair - for critical mixing (the best your wallet/conscience/ears/wife will allow for)
One pair - for another take on what you've got. Cheaper is fine, but don't get junk. (I'm thinking $300-$700 range, per)
One pair - average monitors (probably like the first pair you got for your home studio way back when)

The reason being, ear fatigue, and the need to hear what "Joe Schmoe" is gonna be hearing. "Joe" might have a $3000 audiophile home stereo system, but he might only have a boom box. That boom box might have great bass response, but maybe not. Muddy? No highs? Who knows?
Multiple speakers can help you find trouble spots, where lesser speakers can't handle the low end that your high-priced JBLs will.

There's no telling what "Joe" is gonna be listening to your latest creation on.

But chances are, it won't be top-line studio monitors !!

Keep that in mind

 

[byrie]

Krk has their speakers sweetend. When I say sweet I mean they cut out the mid range and leave the bass and highs. Which means when you playback you cant hear some discrepancies in your instruments and vocals. They are not recommended for mixing, go to the music store and compare them your self.

As far as M-audio, straight crap. Dont think because they are popular they are good, trust your ears. The best monitors in a budget price range are the yamaha Hs50m or the Mackie Mr5's. You hear every frequency from these monitors.

Absolutely agree in regards to the Mackie MR5's. To my ear, they blew away the KRK RP5s. There was no question as to which monitor was better. KRKs are very good, but ultimately overhyped.

 

[gearz]

Krk has their speakers sweetend. When I say sweet I mean they cut out the mid range and leave the bass and highs. Which means when you playback you cant hear some discrepancies in your instruments and vocals. They are not recommended for mixing, go to the music store and compare them your self.

If you believe that then you need to go and see this....

Why hit makers at Hit Factory choose KRK

Many top artists use them and nothing else.

 

[d-rock]

Skip the expensive isolation foam pads, they're a waste of money. There should be umpteen million items around your dwelling you can sit them on that will cost you nothing and do the same job.

Expensive?? Dude they're like 40 bucks, and they honestly help my mix more than I first realized, ESPECIALLY with bass roll off.

 

[Treskalle]

I have the M-audio BX5a. Their ok for that price, but was a bit dissapointed over the sound quality.. Sounded a bit cheap From working on Genelec 8030A a couple of days in the week at the school, and then over to Bx5a a couple of hour everyday in my homestudio. They are absolutely good enough, and you get what you're paying for (I've had the famous economic problem )

If I was you, I'd go for the Krk's. Never tried them out, but I really want to