Studiophile SP-8B - Please Talk Me Out of It

  • Thread starter Thread starter DigitalDon
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DigitalDon

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Looks like this story ain't over yet. Just got the new Musicians Friend catalog today and verified the price online. The Studiophile SP-8B's are back at $299/pair. Shipping is about $18.

Somebody please tell me these aren't great monitors and a bargain at $299. The next closest price I've found for these is $399. I'm building a studio right now ($$$) but my credit card is shaking in my hand :eek: :eek: :eek:

Right now I'm using 23 year old JBL 4311's. I plan on having them reconed and keeping them for mains (soffit mounted in new studio). I'd like to have a good pair of near-field's for a second reference.

DD
 
Damn - Too late. I just ordered them. I didn't really need that insulation in the studio did I??? Huh?? Did I??? :D :D :D

DD
 
You won't be disappointed... I just finished my very first mix using my new 8B's and I can't believe how much better it sounds.. I don't have anything to compare 'em to, since they're my first set of nearfields... but for $299.. I guarantee you they can't be beat.

WATYF
 
DANG IT! MF SEND ME MY NEW PAIR!!!

: peeks thru curtains hopefully to veiw if UPS is coming:
 
Only took mine two days to get here... :p (cause I live so close to their central hub in K.C.) :cool:

WATYF
 
Whats the difference between the Sp-8B's and the Sp-5B's? I just bought the 5s for $299/pair.. Did I get screwed?

Scott
 
Yeah you did. Send them back if you can. Read the difference at the mfg site http://www.m-audio.com

Here's the specs anyhow. You decide.

SP-5B Specs:
• Type: 2-way near field monitors
• Woofer: 5-inch driver with magnetically shielded mineral-filled polypropylene cone, high- temperature tolerant voice coil and damped rubber surround
• Tweeter: 3/4-inch swivel-mounted silk dome incorporating magnetic shielding, ferro-fluid and internal damping technologie
• Crossovers: 4th-order Linkwitz Riley
• Input Connectors: XLR balanced, TRS balanced/ unbalanced
• Input Sensitivity: 200 mV input produces full output with Input Sensitivity control at maximum
• Input Impedance: 30k ohms balanced, 15k ohms unbalanced
• Protection: RF interference, output current limiting, over temperature, turn-on/off transient, subsonic filter, external main fuse
• S/N Ratio: > 100dB below full output, 20kHz bandwidth
• Frequency Response: 48Hz - 22kHz
• Crossover Frequency: 2.7kHz
• LF Amplifier Power: 42W
• HF Amplifier Power: 33W
• Indicator: Power On/Off indicator on front panel
• Power Requirements: Factory programmed for either 115V-50/60Hz, 230V-50/60Hz or 100V-50/60Hz; Power via detachable 3-circuit line cord
• Dimension: 9.85 in. (h) x 6.54 in. (w) x 7.88 in. (d)
• Shipping Weight: 28 lbs./pair

SP-8B Specs:
• Type: 2-way near field monitors
• Woofer: 8-inch driver with magnetically shielded mineral-filled polypropylene cone,
high-temperature tolerant voice coil and damped rubber surround
• Tweeter: 1-inch swivel-mounted silk dome incorporating magnetic shielding, ferro-fluid and internal damping technologies
• Crossovers: 4th-order Linkwitz Riley
• Input Connectors: XLR balanced, TRS balanced/ unbalanced
• Input Sensitivity: 200 mV input produces full output with Input Sensitivity control at maximum
• Input Impedance: 20k ohms balanced, 10k ohms unbalanced
• Protection: RF interference, output current limiting, over temperature, transient on/off, subsonic filter, external main fuse
• S/N Ratio: > 100dB below full output, 20kHz bandwidth
• Frequency Response: 33Hz - 22kHz
• Crossover Frequency: 1.8kHz
• Low Frequency Amplifier Power: 55W
• High Frequency Amplifier Power: 45W
• Indicator: Power On/Off indicator on front panel
• Power Requirements: Factory programmed for either 115V-50/60Hz, 230V-50/60Hz or 100V-50/60Hz; powered via detachable 3-circuit line cord
• Cabinet: Vinyl-laminated MDF
• Dimension: 14.97 in. (h) x 9.5 in. (w) x 11.82 in. (d)
• Shipping Weight: 57 lbs./pair
 
the 8Bs are some bad little puppies for 300 bucks. I got mine at MF with free shipping. Maybe you have to ask for it (free shipping)? Be hard to go wrong with these unless you wanted to spend a lot more money.
 
According to MF they shipped Monday. Should be here by Friday. :D :D :D Damn, we're going to the beach this weekend. Damn!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

DD
 
You know, the 5bs may do you just as well or maybe better than the 8bs in a small environment. I can only use about a quarter to a half of the volume on the 8b anyway. LOUD. Once you learn the 5bs you can most likely accomplish the very same thing with them as with the bigger speakers. You don't really need that much volume in a bedroom or garage. I imagine the 8bs have a better bass response but that could even possibly be a disadvantage in some ways.
 
Yeah!!!!! My wife just called. UPS just dropped them off and damn I'm at work.

DD
 
that's why I have all my stuff delivered to my work place!
 
StevenLindsey said:
You know, the 5bs may do you just as well or maybe better than the 8bs in a small environment. I can only use about a quarter to a half of the volume on the 8b anyway. LOUD. Once you learn the 5bs you can most likely accomplish the very same thing with them as with the bigger speakers. You don't really need that much volume in a bedroom or garage. I imagine the 8bs have a better bass response but that could even possibly be a disadvantage in some ways.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly... I thought about swapping the 5's for the 8's and figured that since my space is so small I'd probably just be better off with the 5's

Scott
 
Gave the SP-8PB's a quick listen last night. I was really surprised at how flat they were to my ears. Especially compared to my 22 year old JBL 4311's :D The supplied test sheets showed a very closely matched pair. Guess I got lucky. Hey - and that blue LED on the front. You just gotta love it.

They were packed very well in the manufacturers original box. One of the top corners was severely crushed but the internal formed foam and 2nd box really protected it.

It'll be a little while but I can't wait to really give them a workout.

DD
 
DigitalDon, you've made a terrible mistake, I'll trade you straight across for my SP-5Bs. If it makes you feel any better I paid $299 for them (ouch!):)
 
Well, bigger is not necessarily better. I'll admit to using SP5B's in a very small studio, and they continue to serve me very well. Enjoy your new speakers. With luck, we can get a monitor war going like the mic situation, and we can watch the prices of KRK, Mackie, etc., drop like a stone. Besides, I've got Chinese, Australian, Japanese, British, Austrian, German, and American gear. Gotta have something from Taiwan...Richie
 
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