Used monitors?

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bradsucks

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So I've never bought or used near field monitors before. I've been researching them a lot over the past month as the time to buy them has approached and have decided on the Event 20/20bas's. Now a day or two before buying them I found them used at a considerable discount.

I'm a little nervous about buying used monitors as I'm very/completely inexperienced and I'm concerned that if there's something wrong with the used monitors, I may be too big of an idiot for the first while (at least) to notice. Are there any tests I can perform or is there anything I can do to verify the quality/condition of these used monitors?

I'd obviously love to save the money if I can. I'd really appreciate any advice you kind experts have. Thank you.
 
First look at the surrounding they came from. If their are more than two drugaddicts lying around I wouldn't buy them. If their coming out of a respectable studio, I would be more confident.

Ofcourse you'll have to listen. Mayby you can find a cd with a frequencysweep from 20-20000Hz. If their are obvious malfunctions they should appear. buying secondhand is always a risk.
 
Oh yeah, look at the replacies. If the guy replaced them by other monitors that cost three times at much, he is indeed probalby upgrading his setup, and therefor selling these monitors. if they are replaced with equal or less monitors I'd be suspicious.

I once bought secondhand monitors (big tannoy's) and they sounded absolute great in the guys studio. After taking them into my studio the magic was gone. Changing amps ($$) and position made the magic come back. never regretted this buy.
 
These are just sitting in a (quite reputable) second hand shop. They're not on consignment, so I don't think they'd even know where they came from. Also, being inexperienced means I have no idea what this "magic" you speak of is.

It does occur to me that I'm probably equally boned if I shell out the money for the brand new ones and they for some reason are defective as well. With a guitar or an effects box or a sampler I pretty much know what to look for, but with monitors I just have no clue.
 
Find out if they'll let you hook them uo there, and bring your favorite cd. Acd you know really well, so that you can hear the accuracies or inaccuracies in them. This is in know way thourough, bet definately a good start.

Pete
 
Take close look at bass speaker's cone.
If you see that center calote have been removed or glued back, this means they have been smoked :)
 
Also, being inexperienced means I have no idea what this "magic" you speak of is.
Compare it to girls. Their is a point in your life when you come across one and their is MAGIC. This is what you are looking for all your life.

If this happens more than once a week, you just haven't been getting it enough.
 
1) Do not purchase these monitors if they do not let you test them first! Or... 2) if the do not agree to let you return the monitors if they are faulty (if #2, make sure you get it in writing).

;)
 
I wonder if there is a way to record Pink noise to a cd to test out monitors with?
 
Yous should be able to create pink noise in whatever audio editor you use. So just do it, save a wav, and burn it! But I don't think it will be of much use...
 
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