Monitor speakers/new member

[ejkennedy516]

Hi just joined. Need advice on some monitors. I have a pair of Mackie HR824 monitors. One of them has a serious issue with the tweeter that I don't have the knowledge or ability to figure out. It just sounds awful and is unusable. I was considering getting a whole different set of monitors to record with. Can anyone reccomend a good quality set of monitors that are not super expensive? I'm considering selling the HR's separately for whatever they will sell for and using that towards a new set. I'm not up to date on monitors. thanks

 

[Seidy]

First off I belive you can get the Mackies fixed (contact your dealer and see how much would it cost).

However what is your budget of new monitors? There are monitors in the 300 and 3000 dollar range.

 

[John Willett]

First off I belive you can get the Mackies fixed (contact your dealer and see how much would it cost).

Yes

However what is your budget of new monitors? There are monitors in the 300 and 3000 dollar range.

Agreed about the budget question - however, there are not many real monitors under $1,500 and $3,000 is still pretty inexpensive for a monitor. Monitors can go up to $100,000 and more and the mid-range professional monitors are in the range $5-25,000 I would say.

 

[ejkennedy516]

Yes




Agreed about the budget question - however, there are not many real monitors under $1,500 and $3,000 is still pretty inexpensive for a monitor. Monitors can go up to $100,000 and more and the mid-range professional monitors are in the range $5-25,000 I would say.

Here I am asking for advice on what to do after my $800 monitor fails and first you state as a matter of fact that my monitor isn't real because of its price range and then you mention $100,000 monitors in the same breath. I seriously laughed out loud reading this. . Thanks for no help at all man. I take it this type of reasoning is normal for you so back to my op.... I can spend $2000 but I've found I can mix better than guys with super high end monitors using these mackies. I think it's related to just having a better talent and ear for it. So yeah. Anywhere between the $500-$800 per monitor range is what I'm looking at. I spend more time writing and performing than recording so I'm not a stickler for brand. Just want some direction. What's the best thing going on in that price range ? Anybody?

 

[JimmyS1969]

Actually, I think you misread the quote. Otherwise you wouldn't have laughed out loud...

It is just another persons opinion.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Here I am asking for advice on what to do after my $800 monitor fails and first you state as a matter of fact that my monitor isn't real because of its price range and then you mention $100,000 monitors in the same breath. I seriously laughed out loud reading this. . Thanks for no help at all man.

If you want to be precise, John said there are not many real monitors under $1500.
I tend to agree. Mackies are one of the exceptions.

I'd fix the ones you have, or get someone else to.

 

[ejkennedy516]

If you want to be precise, John said there are not many real monitors under $1500.
I tend to agree. Mackies are one of the exceptions.

I'd fix the ones you have, or get someone else to.

I'd love to have it fixed. Just no one local to me and the legit shop that I called is sketchy about people shipping them monitors. I'd just as we'll buy one used on eBay. But it's good to know these mackie monitors are "real". Ha. Sorry that's still funny to me. I see that mackie has a version 2 of these monitors. Is it possibly worth it to just buy a whole new set of these for upgrade purposes? Or is this all pointless. And I should just buy the parts and see if it works after I replace them?

 

[Bobbsy]

Assuming it's the HF Driver, on your Mackie it's a pretty easy fix. From memory (so check me) the whole HF assembly comes out with 3 screws then the driver is easily accessible. Again it just screws on and the cabling is a VERY easy solder job to two lugs on the driver.

I just Googled, and a new driver (no diaphragm) is $19 at Full Compass.

Now, it could also involve the diaphragm or it could be to do with the crossover--but I'd say the driver is by far the most likely issue and, for $19 I'd risk that money before buying a whole new set of monitors.

Regarding the cost of monitors, yeah, they can go up to many thousands of dollars--but even if you spend $100,000 you have to: A) Learn the "sound" of the monitors and B) realise that the acoustics of your mixing environment are just as important.

John is right that there are too many cheap speakers where somebody has plastered the word "monitor" on them so they can raise the price--but your Mackies are decent kit for the money and, as they say, can "punch above their weight".

 

[ejkennedy516]

Assuming it's the HF Driver, on your Mackie it's a pretty easy fix. From memory (so check me) the whole HF assembly comes out with 3 screws then the driver is easily accessible. Again it just screws on and the cabling is a VERY easy solder job to two lugs on the driver.

I just Googled, and a new driver (no diaphragm) is $19 at Full Compass.

Now, it could also involve the diaphragm or it could be to do with the crossover--but I'd say the driver is by far the most likely issue and, for $19 I'd risk that money before buying a whole new set of monitors.

Regarding the cost of monitors, yeah, they can go up to many thousands of dollars--but even if you spend $100,000 you have to: A) Learn the "sound" of the monitors and B) realise that the acoustics of your mixing environment are just as important.

John is right that there are too many cheap speakers where somebody has plastered the word "monitor" on them so they can raise the price--but your Mackies are decent kit for the money and, as they say, can "punch above their weight".

Thanks very much bro. I had found a replacement driver for $100 is this what your talking about plus the diaphragm? Again. Extremely helpful. Thank you. And I do get what he was saying. It's just, in the context of a $700 speaker, mentioning what Capitol records probably has in studio A seems a bit off. But then again, I googled "great home studio monitors" and low and behold this same guy throws around the same comments. Not very helpful. Actually not helpful at all. Haha. Anyways. Thanks again for your help.

 

[Bobbsy]

Thanks very much bro. I had found a replacement driver for $100 is this what your talking about plus the diaphragm? Again. Extremely helpful. Thank you. And I do get what he was saying. It's just, in the context of a $700 speaker, mentioning what Capitol records probably has in studio A seems a bit off. But then again, I googled "great home studio monitors" and low and behold this same guy throws around the same comments. Not very helpful. Actually not helpful at all. Haha. Anyways. Thanks again for your help.

Here's the part I found: Mackie 0021511 Mackie HR824MKII Driver | Full Compass

It's for the MkII version (which you didn't mention) but there aren't too many MkIs around any more. I'm sure a search could find the MkI version anhow As I say, your problem could go deeper so it's a bit of a gamble...but better odds than a casino!

Good luck.

 

[Steenamaroo]

I would swap the HF drivers between your two monitors.
I imagine, and from what Bobbsy said, it's going to be an easy job.
It costs you nothing to try it and it could end up proving the fault for you.


If it doesn't then the problem runs deeper.

Personally I'd tear down the faulty monitor to see if the circuitry is all in one board or if there are other stages that can be swapped out.
If you're not inclined to do so then fair enough. I bet you could pick up a single HR824 on ebay for not a lot of money.

As far as the mk2s, I honestly don't know if they're much of an upgrade. I've only ever used 624/824 mk1s.

 

[mdainsd]

I'd love to have it fixed. Just no one local to me and the legit shop that I called is sketchy about people shipping them monitors. I'd just as we'll buy one used on eBay. But it's good to know these mackie monitors

I have four of the same in my studio control room and live room. When I was shopping for a pair I had a 3000 dollar budget. I had the saleman demo every pair at or below my price range and he wasnt to tell me what brand or what price was for the units I was trying out. I selected the Mackies on how they sounded to me. Saved some of my budget even after buying the second set, LOL.

Mine developed a problem where over time one would lose level and have a very distorted signal. Im a tech and it took a while but it came down to shitty contacts in the supplied power cables. Never seen anything like that before. Threw away the four power cables and replaced them with US sourced ones and never another whimper.

 

[ejkennedy516]

All of this is extremely helpful guys. I'm gonna swap the driver to see and just buy better power cables just in case. If that doesn't work I'll buy a new set of monitors. I'll admit I was being lazy. I'd just as we'll buy new ones after so many years of use. But instead I'll try and fix it.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Cool. Please keep the thread up to date. It might be useful info for someone some day.
Incidentally, what exactly does the fault sound like?

I take it you've swapped input cables just to rule out the easy/obvious?

 

[ejkennedy516]

Cool. Please keep the thread up to date. It might be useful info for someone some day.
Incidentally, what exactly does the fault sound like?

I take it you've swapped input cables just to rule out the easy/obvious?

Yeah I swapped stuff to make sure. It's the one monitor. The hf is gross. Static. Hissy. It still puts sound out but it's gross. Ha that's my favorite word for bad sound. Even in text. Lol

 

[JimmyS1969]

Gross! That works for me too.

I agree, change out the HF driver and see what happens. It would be a shame to start over with new monitors if it was only an easy fix to get the ones you are used to fixed.

Even if you decide to upgrade, you will hopefully have a pair of reliable monitors for sale that someone else can use, and of course help to finance the new ones. Never throw away anything, unless it is just no good and dead.

 

[Bobbsy]

Gross shall become my new technical description for any nondescript fault!

...as in "the speakers with the broken HF drivers at my son's school hall are gross".

Important safety note: never let any relative's school know you have an audio background. At least my recent heart op gives me a few month's excuse...er...breathing space.

 

[John Willett]

Here I am asking for advice on what to do after my $800 monitor fails and first you state as a matter of fact that my monitor isn't real because of its price range and then you mention $100,000 monitors in the same breath. I seriously laughed out loud reading this. . Thanks for no help at all man. I take it this type of reasoning is normal for you so back to my op.... I can spend $2000 but I've found I can mix better than guys with super high end monitors using these mackies. I think it's related to just having a better talent and ear for it. So yeah. Anywhere between the $500-$800 per monitor range is what I'm looking at. I spend more time writing and performing than recording so I'm not a stickler for brand. Just want some direction. What's the best thing going on in that price range ? Anybody?

I was only asking for what budget you had as you did not say and you cannot help someone who does not say the price range he has in mind.

Now you say $1k to 1.6k with a $2k max we can help you.

At that budget, I would say that the best is the Neumann KH120A - it's excellent for the price and right in your price range.

 

[pe1mmk]

I use Tannoys. I recommend these as Tannoy makes monitors for every budget. On Ebay you can find a set starting from $50.
If you want to know what Tannoy is all about: visit my Tannoy Monitor Gold Website:
(not allowed to post url's)

I use Monitor Golds for the final mix and tiny Mercury's for on the road monitoring.

regards,
Hans.

 

[ecc83]

Steeny beat me to the punch about swopping the tweeters over. Good idea because I don't know if the Mackies are "bi-amped" but if they are the fault could lie in the HF amplifier?

Then, if the speakers are getting on and it IS the drive unit I would change both if you intend to keep the monitors because,...
1) Two new ones will likely be from the same production batch and be a better match than new and old.

2) If one tweeter has failed, Sod's law says the other one will go in six months!

Soldering speakers can be dodgy. Usually they use push on receptacles but if soldered I would chop the wires and connect with a bit of 2amp choc block or twist and heat shrink. If they are on a separate HF amp check there is no DC offset on the wires when the speaker is disconnected otherwise you will just pop the new one.

Hans, yes Tannoy! I have the 5as and love them in our tiny room but Golds? The fifteen inch dual conns? Bet they sound bloody gorgeous but a bit dated and coloured these days???

Dave.