Monitor questions

[nomotivation]

heres a couple questions bout monitors

so for all those who know whats up:

What is the difference between active and passive?
Are there any outstanding pros and cons for either?
What are some quality brands for mixing heavier music?

 

[Niimo]

well active monitors have a power source all there own (usually mounted on the back. passive monitors need a seperate power amp to drive them. i like active monitors because they take out a link in the chain. no power amp means one less thing to crap out on you. but i have actives and passives, i like to be able listen to my mixes on two different monitors. i have fostex PM-2 8” powered monitors and some no name brand that sounds decent.

 

[TuoKaerf]

Active=Powered. The monitor has an amp built into it. (The majority of monitors out there today).

Passive=Unpowered. These require an external power amp. (example-Yamaha NS10s)

I'd go with active monitors. Saves a lot of hassle of worrying about ohms, overload protection, and such. Also, with passive monitors, using a different amp can drastically change the sound of the monitors.


The best advice for you about picking monitors, is to use your own ears. Each one of us have different prefs for which monitors we use. Take a CD that you are very familiar with and test out monitors at the store. They should let you listen to them for a bit.