OKAY, looking for input on new monitors purchase.

[BroKen_H]

My wife wants my old speakers, so I get to get some new ones

So here's the questions:
Is there any reason for a startup home studio to look at level 2 speakers (824 Mk IIs, KRK VST's, Alpha 80's etc.) in the $500-1000 each level. I think the budget would stretch there if I wait a few months, but I'd really be pressed to warrant spending $700 extra for a set of monitors that won't do that much for me in my limited acoustic room.

What does everyone recommend for good, solid monitors?

I have some KRK 8's that I get to keep (she's taking my old 5s), but they're Gen 2s. Are the G3's really a lot better, would I need that as a second reference set?
Should I give her the 8's and keep the 5's as my second reference? (This seems like a good idea to me). One set of cheap 5's and a set of nice 8's.

Just on specs I voted for the M3-8's. Let me know what you think.

 

[Mickster]

Were you thinking of getting better monitors before your wife gave you a reason to? There's absolutely a point....after which.....bigger / better "level 2" type monitors do little if anything to help you if your space is not treated completely.........in my opinion. And of course........I know nothing about your space to begin with.

You're going to get MANY different people advising you on MANY different monitors. Here's my 2 cents. First.......KRK Gen 3's are not worth upgrading to if you already have the Gen 2's of the same size. I'd give the wife the 5 inch models and keep the 8 as there's little doubt the 8's are more revealing. Are you sure that the extra $$$$ might not be put to better use somewhere else? You do call your home studio a "startup".

 

[BroKen_H]

Got some rudimentary stuff done. Got some money coming in, and new/better monitors was on the list of upgrades. (as well as more room treatment). A new desk to move the position of the speakers more to the center of the room and a piano to replace the one that's been at the church for the last 5 years. Getting a KA6 interface to replace the one that I'm having problems with and some cans to replace the old ones I've had for 10 years (they're starting to buzz in the left speaker and it's not pleasant.). Maybe I'll just hang onto the 8's and be happy, but I was looking for opinions on the stuff I mentioned.

 

[Rafael Morgan]

I have a pair of Presonus Eris E8 and I can say with confidence that they sound real good...Way superior to the KRKs, in my opinion.

They sound really flat to my ears as well, differently from the KRKs, which, in my opinion, embellish the low-end quite considerably.

Just my two cents.

 

[JimmyS1969]

I have a pair of Presonus Eris E8 and I can say with confidence that they sound real good...Way superior to the KRKs, in my opinion.

They sound really flat to my ears as well, differently from the KRKs, which, in my opinion, embellish the low-end quite considerably.

Just my two cents.

Way superior to which KRK's? What models have you compared to in the same room with your E8's?

 

[JimmyS1969]

Got some rudimentary stuff done. Got some money coming in, and new/better monitors was on the list of upgrades. (as well as more room treatment). A new desk to move the position of the speakers more to the center of the room and a piano to replace the one that's been at the church for the last 5 years. Getting a KA6 interface to replace the one that I'm having problems with and some cans to replace the old ones I've had for 10 years (they're starting to buzz in the left speaker and it's not pleasant.). Maybe I'll just hang onto the 8's and be happy, but I was looking for opinions on the stuff I mentioned.

I would first get your monitor placement and room treatment done before you decide if you even need new monitors.

 

[BroKen_H]

Fair enough. I like the 8's, but I thought I might find something better while I could afford it. You know what I mean.
Maybe I'll turn the extra $600 into a decent guitar...see what I can find at the pawns.

 

[BroKen_H]

I suppose if gerg can put out the sound he does with Rokit 8's, they're probably worth keeping, but I was hoping for another reference set. Maybe a good set of Pioneer home speakers just to get a second listen? Could grab my Bose setup out of the other room, but that might raise a ruckus with the toob crowd.

 

[JimmyS1969]

Keep in mind that just because you can afford it does not mean you need it. Spend money on getting the room right man. I have the G2 8's myself and have not found the need to upgrade them yet. My room is quite well treated and also pretty big. The KRK 5's are really colored and worthless IMO as reference. I gave them to my boy. I also use Event TR8's as a clean reference and a pair of Phillips PC speakers also for reference in studio. They all tell different things, but the KRK G28's have been what works for me. I do also have a sub that can be switched off.

 

[Rafael Morgan]

Way superior to which KRK's? What models have you compared to in the same room with your E8's?

Sorry. I was referring specifically to the KRK Rokit 8 G3, which I have indeed tested in the same room.

They cost about the same, but the Presonus Eris E8 sounds much superior to my ears.

Raf.

 

[DM60]

I have the 8's G2s and for me the low end is not at all embellished in my ears. I have actually started being more aggressive with bass on my mixes so I can get it up on on other systems, could be my newby status at work here, but I haven't found the 8's to be exaggerate bass.

 

[JimmyS1969]

I have the 8's G2s and for me the low end is not at all embellished in my ears. I have actually started being more aggressive with bass on my mixes so I can get it up on on other systems, could be my newby status at work here, but I haven't found the 8's to be exaggerate bass.

I neither.

 

[Rafael Morgan]

I have the 8's G2s and for me the low end is not at all embellished in my ears. I have actually started being more aggressive with bass on my mixes so I can get it up on on other systems, could be my newby status at work here, but I haven't found the 8's to be exaggerate bass.

Or could be MY newbie status at work here. Hehehe. I'm totally new to this audio production stuff.

Honestly, these things can be quite subjective.

Anyway, there's a nice comparative review here.

Cheers,

Raf.

 

[BroKen_H]

Lots of info on that site! Thanks Raf.

 

[RAMI]

I'll be following this thread. As of this morning, my next purchase is going to be monitors.

I see some used KRK 8's in my local Craiglist for only $300. I've been using shitty "Realistic" speakers from an old stereo system for years now, and to be honest they've worked for me. Like I mentioned in another thread, my room is well-treated and I think that's way more important than good speakers. You can get to know your speakers, but a shitty room will always lie to you.

Do KRK make any un-powered speakers? I'm not crazy about the idea of powered speakers at this point in time. I like using my receiver as an amp.

Anyway, don't mean to hijack. I'll be lurking.

 

[PDP]

I'll be following this thread. As of this morning, my next purchase is going to be monitors.

I see some used KRK 8's in my local Craiglist for only $300. I've been using shitty "Realistic" speakers from an old stereo system for years now, and to be honest they've worked for me. Like I mentioned in another thread, my room is well-treated and I think that's way more important than good speakers. You can get to know your speakers, but a shitty room will always lie to you.

Do KRK make any un-powered speakers? I'm not crazy about the idea of powered speakers at this point in time. I like using my receiver as an amp.

Anyway, don't mean to hijack. I'll be lurking.

If you like using a stereo power amp, maybe consider a pair of used Yamaha NS-10m. Nice speakers.

 

[RAMI]

If you like using a stereo power amp, maybe consider a pair of used Yamaha NS-10m. Nice speakers.

I'll look into them. Thanx. Who wrote the reviews in the link you provided? All of them are completely in-coherent and moronic. I'll look around the net for some reviews I can make sense of.

 

[BroKen_H]

RAMI is always welcome to lurk in my threads.
Sent you a PM, but to boil it down here, went to GC and tried a bunch of different pairs in the vault.
My walk away favorite was the M-Audio M3-8 despite a little hiss at idle.
But you know, the Behringer Truth B3031A was honestly the best sounding monitor in the bunch. Just never been a fan of Behringer.

 

[RAMI]

Broken,

I know I said I'd lurk, but I want to throw some links into this thread. So, feel free to tell me to get lost and start my own thread if this gets in the way of you getting the help you're looking for.

I started looking for speakers. I know myself, I'm probably going to get in my car and buy something later today, it's just the way I roll.

Here's 3 links, all about the same price. Anyone familiar with any of these? Any idea which would be the best deal?

JBL S-38 CH STUDIO MONITORS

Mackie MR-8 Powered Studio Reference Monitors (PAIR)

http://montreal.en.craigslist.ca/msg/4502296880.html

I love the wood finish on those JBL's, but I don't want that to be why I choose them, so help me. I'm a real impulse buying-motherfucker and can be my own worst enemy.

 

[Rafael Morgan]

RAMI is always welcome to lurk in my threads.
Sent you a PM, but to boil it down here, went to GC and tried a bunch of different pairs in the vault.
My walk away favorite was the M-Audio M3-8 despite a little hiss at idle.
But you know, the Behringer Truth B3031A was honestly the best sounding monitor in the bunch. Just never been a fan of Behringer.

Just because Behringer is specialized on making budget gear, a lot of people underrate it...You know, most people tend to believe that expensive=goodness, but this is not always the case, specially noways when China produces stuff for basically everyone in the world.

Behringer's products are designed by their own team in German. They're just produced in China, and when things are produced there, the final results depend a lot on quality control and and active supervision...And it seams that Berhinger's got a good quality control policy because I hardly hear people complaining about their products nowadays.

To be honest, most of their products are quite good, at least the the ones I've tried.

So, if you like their monitors, throw your prejudice away and just buy them...I've never tested them myself, but I've heard some nice comments about them.

Raf.