Need near-field monitors.. confused.. what.. to.. do.. Spock?!?

  • Thread starter Thread starter WATYF
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WATYF

WATYF

...happier than you.
O.K.. So I need monitors. I'm aboot to go and buy some new gear and one thing on the "gotta get" list is near-field monitors.

So... I ask this recording buddy o' mine what to get... he says, "There's these Mackie monitors that basically everybody uses.. self-powered.. cheap... even larger studios will often have a pair to use for some mixing even though they're fairly inexpensive"

So I think.. great.. yipee... I'm set... unfortunately, he can't remember the exact model number.. So I come here... and what do I see..?

a thread aboot these Mackie monitors that everybody uses... and how they're crap... :( *ack* So what's the deal...? I need some near-fields in that price range (200-400 or so). So what are my options...? Keep in mind.. I'm a total moron... assume that I know absolutely nothing (and you'll usually be right) :p

any help would be appreciated.

WATYF

P.S. I searched for a "best near-fields under $500" type thread and didn't find one, so don't jump down my throat for asking a repetitive question. :p
 
WATYF,
Back when I was doin' tha Near-field blooz.... I found the JBL LSR25P (~$500/pr). I'm quite pleased with them. Where did you read the Mackies were crap? I thought they were nice, but they were almost 3X what I paid for the JBL's. :eek:

Anyhow, monitors is one of those things where you've gotta go listen to some demos. Bring your favorite big label releases on CD, and bring a few of your own mixes. See how they sound.

Queue
 
I just wanted to get an idea of what's oat there.. or what to stay away from... I'll have to have the final say by listening, but I right now, I don't even know where to start.

And whoops... I read that thread wrong.. they were talking aboot Yamaha monitors.. so having said that.. what Mackies are the most common? He was talking aboot Mackie self-powered near-fields that go for aboot 500 a pair. Which model do you think he was talking aboat??

WATYF
 
I believe the monitors you are looking for are the HR624's, they sell for $499 + shipping. They are really a great set of monitors, if $499 is too steep though you could look at...

The KRK V4 powered monitors ($299) The woofer is only 4 inches but it is Kevlar so has very nice bass response...

And to make you decision even harder look at the Alesis M1MKII powered monitors, they are exceptional for the price ($399). I actually own the non powered pair and love them...

When you get monitors look into spending $30 on the Auralex MoPad Monitor Isolation pads... they really help cut any added coloration from your furniture...

Hope I answered you question...
 
Yeah.. that helps..

I'll check those oat...

what aboot the Studiophiles?? are they any good ($299)

(did I just ask a really dumb question?) :p

He said I should get something with at least an 8 inch woofer so I could get proper bass responce... his sounded pretty nice and I think the woofers were 10's or so.. they were "Generic"s or something like that...


WATYF
 
Studiophiles are good. I use them and they sound great. However, as many here have recommended, you should go to your favorite music store and A/B all of the above. Only your ears will tell you what to buy. Make sure you set up any nearfields in a triangle with your head and not straight out facing front. They tend to project very narrow fields and you need to be in the sweet spot to really judge their performance.
 
WATYF said:
Yeah.. that helps..

I'll check those oat...

what aboot the Studiophiles?? are they any good ($299)

(did I just ask a really dumb question?) :p

He said I should get something with at least an 8 inch woofer so I could get proper bass responce... his sounded pretty nice and I think the woofers were 10's or so..


WATYF
Click to expand...

I just bought a pair of Studiophlie SP-8B's (which have an 8" woofer) and I'm really happy with them. You can find them for about $450-500 a pair, and for what you get, they're a steal.
 
yeah.. I talked to him again tonight.. he said he uses "Genelecs". (I was close.. when I first saw them, I was standin' at the back of the studio tryin' to read the name off the front of em, so I could see what he uses. :p ) And he said the Mackies are a great monitor for the price. Either the 624 or 824 (obvisouly the 8" woofer is gonna be better)... but I dunno... I'd like to stay closer to the 300 range than the 500 range... so maybe I'll look more at the Studiophiles.

WATYF
 
Hi there....

Check out my post here entitled "Yorkville YSM-1P versus Behringer Truth's".....which may be of some help....

Over the past 2-3 months I've extensively listened/compared about 20 sets of active, nearfield monitors....including both the Mackie 624's and 824's that you mention...using a variety of CD's from heavy rock, to progressive & classical, etc...

and my conclusion is that there are only 4-5 decent sets in the under $1000 Cdn ($600 USD) price range to choose from....those being....the Behringer Truths, Yorkville YSM-1P, Studiophile SP-8B, Yamah MP5 Roland DS-50, Fostex N1 and Tannoy's....

Of course the Makie's 824's, Dynaudio's or the Genelecs "ARE" better.....but these systems cost 3 x times as much....at approx $2500 Cdn ($1500 USD) and up.

I myself ended up buying the Yorkville YSM-1P monitors....coz they are definitely the *best* sounding speakers of the bunch....they have 115W per side, so enough power for most home studio's...and the mid-range definition/seperation is very good....No *coloured* highs....and a great flat, but warm (not harsh like the Behringer's) response....

Personally, I think it will be hard to find a better set...than the Yorkies (designed & built right here in Toronto BTW, and not in some far flung Asian sweat-shop factory:-) in this price category.....in fact, I believe that one would have to spend 2-3 x times more $$$, in order to actually get a real "noticeable" improvement....

I paid $740 + tax Cdn ($450 USD) here in Toronto for mine...and I'm very happy with them.....

So go check 'em out........

KEV
 
I dont think you can possibly beat the Yamaha product, They get alot of flack from guys that cant seem to mix to thier standards. they are tougher to work with but will be the best tools you can get for monitoring
 
yes....I did hear that the new Yamaha MP10's
are indeed very good.......BUT, they retail here in Canada for over $1600 Cdn ($1000 USD)....which is more than double the $$$ for Yorkvilles....and the original poster here is looking for monitors in the under $500 USD category....

In this price range I don't think your'll beat the YSM-1P's.....with the Behringer's second of the bunch....

Just My 2 cents worth...

KEV
 
Well, you can get them at any Long & Mcquade music store here in Canada coz they actually own Yorkville now.....and, many US retailers carry them too...plus online.....at:

http://www.gear1music.com/yorkvilleysm1p.html

http://www.musiciansbuy.com/yorkville_ysm1p_studio_monitor.htm

www.yorkville.com (go tp products/monitors/choose model YSM-1P)

http://www.long-mcquade.com/
(it's under hot gear/pro audio hot gear)

Yorkville have made good quality gear, amps, PA's cabs, etc since 1963...but only recently got into the studio monitor field about 5 years ago...

KEV
 
If you can't monitor a mix with the Event 20/20s and a modest amp-

you're freekin' DEAF!
 
Well, it's very difficult to give a blind opinion from cyberspace.....with monitor speakers ya just gotta listen to em up close n personal :-)

The Resolve 65 actualy look more like a regular near field monitor set to me ....but to be quite honest, anything for only $200 can't really be very good in this field.....the DSM80 just look like PC desktop speaker set up....not studio monitors for mixing, etc...

In the under $500 USD category......the Behringer Truth B2031, Yorkville YSM-1P.....Studiophile SP-8B and Yamaha MSP5 are about the only real decent monitors....

IF only you want a reasonable PC speaker system....then the Klipsch Promedia 2.1's for $199 USD are quite good.....

KEV
 
Yeah, I agree you get what you pay for, but I thought I might be able to get away with it. I've decided to wait a little longer to save and buy the monitors I've had my eyes on for a while, but now I don't know since you've guys have been mentioning the Yorkville's. These speakers seem to be beautiful, have a look. $259USD each, but they look sweet. I have done a lil shopping myself, but have not taken a listen to each of them. I guess that's what is missing huh. :rolleyes:
 
Don't want to sound like a skeptic....but I doubt if speakers costing $295 USD can really be as good as the web info claims.....Lot's of products LOOK and appear great on the net.....but get em up close and it's another story.....

Personally, I wouldn't buy anything that I cannot test (ie: listen to :-) at my local musician store.......and certainly not on a blind spec from any online site....

There are a few companies out there at the moment that are attempting to enter the studio monitor field at a lower, home user, budget cost, etc....like Klipsch, Videologic (Sirocco series), etc...but, these speakers do not sound as good, or do the same job that establish monitors do.....

I suggest that you go down to your local BIG musician store and check out what they have and have a wee chat with the audio/recording guys there....

For under $500 USD you simply won't beat the Canadian made Yorkville YSMP-1P......with the Behringer Truths M-Audio Studiophile SP-8B pretty good too. The Yamaha MSP5 are a smaller cheaper version of the MSP10 and sound good as well.

I use the Yorkes myself at home...and for $425 USD they are great...I'd have to spend 2-3 times the money to actually get a better sounding monitor.....I've compared them with a load of other sets...and only the Mackie 824's, Genelecs, Dynaudio's sound noticeably better....and they cost a ton more...

again, just MY two cents worth...

KEV
 
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