Need advice on studio monitors

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leavings

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I recently came to the conclusion that if I want the album I'm working on to sound truly good, I need quality monitors to mix through. I had been using a good pair of headphones in conjunction with frequent listening sessions on various systems, and I don't think I'm getting what I need out of it.

The problem is that I know very little about studio monitors, what to look for, how much I should expect to spend, etc. For some background, I'm using mostly various Rode NT models and SM-57's going into an Aardvark Q10, and Cakewalk as my software. I have a Mackie 808s, so I don't necessarily need powered speakers. The music I'm recording is mostly folk oriented, myself and my acoustic guitar, though there will be some other instruments. Lastly, the mixing is done in my room, a moderately large (25 ft. x 20 ft. x 8.5 ft. high), not too reverby basement space.

If anyone has advice you can give me on what I should look for, please add a thread. Any information you can give me about brands, models, prices, specifications, techniques, or whatever else you can think of would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Peter
 
You forget the mention THE most important information...

What's your budget?
 
Good point.

I have about $1500 to my name right now, and I could conceivably spend all of it. Obviously I would prefer not to. I was hoping to spend no more than $600, but I don't know how feasible that is.
 
The Yorkville YSM1p is highly regarded (approx. $400), as are the Yamaha NS-10 (discontinued, maybe on eBay, no idea how much). I think you can squeeze into a pair of Dynaudio's for what you have.
 
With your budget I would go with Mackie HR824. These are highly regarded and in the top tier of the prosumer monitors. They might be a little more than what you need, but you can always grow into them and you'll never regret it.

They're around $1,250 - $1,350 a pair new, or less if you don't mind doing the used Ebay thing ($950 - $1,050). They'll also keep their value!
 
Thanks for the advice, I'm going to go check out some of the monitors you recommended today. Still, I have a few specific questions:

1) Since I have the Mackie PA, is there any reason for me to get powered speakers? Will I have significant signal degradation between the Aardvark and the speakers with the PA in the middle?

2) I have heard (and imagine I will continue to hear) conflicting viewpoints regarding near-field monitors. Because I don't have a large enough room to provide a great distance between my speakers and my ears, I was planning on going for near-field. Any suggestions about that?

3) What do I need to do with respect to mounting and positioning the monitors? Do I need to buy special stands or can I just put them on top of my dresser and bookshelf and point them in my general direction?


Thanks for all of your help,
Peter
 
I have the Mackie 824s. They are pretty good.


Honestly, I would grab a pair of Yorks.

I like the passive ones. I got them a while back and was surprized by the way the sound. It would be a good purchase for the money.

Good Luck

Malcolm
 
pennylink said:
With your budget I would go with Mackie HR824. These are highly regarded and in the top tier of the prosumer monitors. They might be a little more than what you need, but you can always grow into them and you'll never regret it.

They're around $1,250 - $1,350 a pair new, or less if you don't mind doing the used Ebay thing ($950 - $1,050). They'll also keep their value!
Click to expand...

Where did you find them for that much? I see them mostly for $800 a piece, not $500.


I just bought some Yorks last night:


Yorkville YSM1p Studio Monitors 419.95
Subtotal: 419.95
Coupon offer (5% savings): -21.00
Subtotal: 398.95
Shipping: 19.95 Tax: 0.00
Total: 418.90


They're supposed to be the bizzomb.
 
ChristopherDawn said:
Where did you find them for that much? I see them mostly for $800 a piece, not $500.


I just bought some Yorks last night:


Yorkville YSM1p Studio Monitors 419.95
Subtotal: 419.95
Coupon offer (5% savings): -21.00
Subtotal: 398.95
Shipping: 19.95 Tax: 0.00
Total: 418.90


They're supposed to be the bizzomb.
Click to expand...


I got mine from Sweetwater for $1,200.
I had a little history with a sales rep. That was about the best they could do I guess.

Malcolm
 
Online vendors like www.zzsounds.com and www.8thstreet.com will sell the Mackies for around $625-$650 a piece. No tax if you're out of state and you can possibly get free shipping.

I bought a used pair in very good condition recently for $950 on eBay.
 
pennylink said:


I bought a used pair in very good condition recently for $950 on eBay.
Click to expand...

Nice find. I would've had to have busted out my credit card for that.
 
I guess I feel pretty good about scoring a slightly used (so I'm told) pair for $800.

These are my first genuine monitors. In the past I used phones to do a rough job and then fine tuned it over my (fairly high end) stereo. Results weren't bad, but the logistics were a major hassle.
 
I have been mixing on my Mackies since 1997 and won't part with them...

Well ... Ummm...

if you got me some K&H O300D's i would. LOL

$4500 list.

So I guess that means unless I hit it huge they win;t going nowheres....

Bryan Giles
 
So I checked out a few models today. The Mackies (HR824) were nice. So was the KRK V8. The rep said he would sell me a set of the V8's with stands for $1000 including tax. Then, a pair of the Alesis Mk2's with stands for $450. I thought those sounded pretty nice too, but I stupidly didn't have a cd of music that I had recorded and mixed myself, so I could only copare using other cd's of mine.

I'm hesitant to spend a lot on my first pair of monitors, especially since my mixing environment is not the greatest. Can anyone give me a reason why I should NOT buy the Mk2's?

Thanks, Peter
 
I dont know about the MK2's but,..I have a pair of Alesis Point 7's.
They SUCK!!! Or I have come to realize anyway.

Get the Mackies!!!!! Thats what I'm saving for as we speak.

Good luck brother.

Later,..
Calwood
 
leavings said:
Can anyone give me a reason why I should NOT buy the Mk2's?

Thanks, Peter
Click to expand...

Because in another year you'll have wished you bought the Mackies?
 
Okay...

why will I wish I had bought the mackies? Are the KRK's anywhere near as good? Money is an issue of course, but I'm not so worried about wishing I hadn't bought them in a year as I am about wishing I hadn't bought them when my album is finished.

I've read in several places that the important part of a monitor is training your ear to compensate for it's deficiencies, since no monitor is perfect. Naturally, I want to buy a monitor that has less of those deficiencies, or else I could just train my ear to compensate for a tin can on a string. If there are specific reasons why the Alesis monitors suck, then please let me know.

Anyone have a feeling about the KRK's?
 
Great articles, thanks Z. He certainly did have an opinion on the KRK's.

Can anyone answer my question about the need for powered speakers? The rep I talked to said I wouldn't want to run the signal through my PA (Mackie 808s) because then I wouldn't get the flatness I want. Is that true? Are there other benefits to having powered speakers?
 
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