Monitors

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gwayms

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What is the difference between powered monitors and non powered. What powers the non powered ones (my pc).
And which ones are generally better to use?
Im not sure if I should get monitors or just some really good headphones.
 
gwayms said:
What is the difference between powered monitors and non powered. What powers the non powered ones (my pc).
And which ones are generally better to use?
Im not sure if I should get monitors or just some really good headphones.
Click to expand...

Well, powered monitors just have a built in power supply and they plug straight into the wall. Non powered monitors need some kind of external power to crank them up. In other words, powered monitors have the electricity jack at the back ready to plug into the wall and non powered ones just have a spot for connection to an external PS.

Powered are better in my opinion because I don't like the idea of having external lumps of hardware cramming up space that I already don't really even have.

You'll have to go monitors for mixing. They are outstanding. I used headphones for ages before I finally got some monitors. I never thought I would ever get monitors, but eventually I did. Now they are my babies, I love them a lot. I have a set of M-Audio BX5's and they rule.

Anyway, I may be chastised by someone for this answer, it could be incorrect, but it's roughly right.
 
:eek: :eek:

Nope, sorry that's 100% incorrect! (well, maybe just 95% incorrect!) The "power" they are talking about is whether or not there is an amplifier built into the speaker cabinet. Most audio is run at Line-Level, but speakers need alot more signal to "move" the speaker, so you run your line level output into an Amplifier to get up to speaker level. This amp can either be a standalone rack-mount thingy, or built into the speaker. If it is built into the speaker, you have a powered monitor. Of course, this speaker needs to be plugged into the wall to power the amp, so that might be why you got confused. Non-powered speakers (those that require an external amplifier) don't need any power since it's just a speaker. Also, most desktop PC speaker systems are Powered (AKA Active) as the speaker outs on most soundcards are actually just line-level outputs.

Hope that clarifies everything for everybody! :)

Monkey Allen said:
Well, powered monitors just have a built in power supply and they plug straight into the wall. Non powered monitors need some kind of external power to crank them up. In other words, powered monitors have the electricity jack at the back ready to plug into the wall and non powered ones just have a spot for connection to an external PS.

Powered are better in my opinion because I don't like the idea of having external lumps of hardware cramming up space that I already don't really even have.

Anyway, I may be chastised by someone for this answer, it could be incorrect, but it's roughly right.
Click to expand...
 
Would my computer monitors work?
Right now I have Harmon/Kardon, two small desktop with a subwoofer on the floor. They sound pretty good, just wondering how much of a difference real studio monitors would be.
 
I don't see how Monkey Allen was wrong, Gordone. You basically said the same thing. :P In this case, a power supply and an amplifyer are the same thing. Speakers with power supplies have amplifiers built into them.

Gwayms--studio monitors are generally more complex than your average pc speakers. Harmon/Kardon is a high class of speakers, but they are probably not at the level of studio monitors.
 
Thanks for the information, it looks like I have to buy some monitors.
Man they are more than I was expecting.
 
Alexbt said:
I don't see how Monkey Allen was wrong, Gordone. You basically said the same thing. :P In this case, a power supply and an amplifyer are the same thing. Speakers with power supplies have amplifiers built into them.
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Here's Mr. Allen's quote which is incorrect -
Well, powered monitors just have a built in power supply and they plug straight into the wall. Non powered monitors need some kind of external power to crank them up. In other words, powered monitors have the electricity jack at the back ready to plug into the wall and non powered ones just have a spot for connection to an external PS.
Click to expand...

He is saying that Powered Speakers have an integrated PS and non-powered speakers require an external Power Supply (ie wall-wart). This is not the same as the amplifier needed to get line level up to speaker level. My PC speakers at work use a wal-wart for power, but they are definetly powered/active speakers.
 
gwayms said:
Thanks for the information, it looks like I have to buy some monitors.
Man they are more than I was expecting.
Click to expand...

I keep hearing great things about "Wharfedale" monitors.
The 8.2Active models, they cost $339, but from what I constantly hear, they are worth 3 times the price.
 
gwayms said:
Thanks for the information, it looks like I have to buy some monitors.
Man they are more than I was expecting.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but they're good fun
 
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