Which pair of monitors?

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a_zander

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Hello all,

I'm finding it impossible to mix with my headphones, so I'm looking to get my first pair of active monitors to hook to my comp. I've heard good things about the Wharfedale 8.1s (2s?) but my local store doesn't carry them. From what they can get, and what I'm looking for they suggested the "KRK RP5 Rokit". So should I get a pair of the "KRK RP5 Rokit" and if I don't like them I can take them back, or should order a pair of the Wharfedale 8.1s online? Is the Wharfedale a much better monitor?

Couple side questions, how far apart should they be? I pretty much have to have them on my desk, so will a couple feet to 3 feet be enough? And what kind of volume can the likes of what I mentioned above put out? I'm sure they put out enough, I'm just slightly hard of hearing.

Thanks
 
3ft is very standard for nearfields.
There's alot of articles...i'd recommend Ethan Winers stuff. basic DIY beginner articles. That will lead you to other monitoring stuff.

If your using a PC based, I thought it was fun to do the RTA room/pink noise test. Kind of gives you a ballpark what your dealing with in your room.
I wish I'd had done this earlier instead of blindly-hanging sht on my walls and searching for different speakers. (like a room "tuner").

imo, from 300-1000 I haven't even heard a big difference in monitors.
(actually the Wharfs and RP5's are below $300 now.)
I'm currently testdriving the Yorkville YSM1p's $380...their nice too.
A friend just got some B2031A's and the mixes are amazing. $335.
RP8,RAM, BX5,JBL' Control5, Optimus 7, PAradigm, BW303.....
their all beautiful inventions :D !!


my advice is to try to get something you can return easily incase they are poorly built or have issues.

good luck...
 
a_zander said:
Hello all,

I'm finding it impossible to mix with my headphones, so I'm looking to get my first pair of active monitors to hook to my comp. I've heard good things about the Wharfedale 8.1s (2s?) but my local store doesn't carry them. From what they can get, and what I'm looking for they suggested the "KRK RP5 Rokit". So should I get a pair of the "KRK RP5 Rokit" and if I don't like them I can take them back, or should order a pair of the Wharfedale 8.1s online? Is the Wharfedale a much better monitor?

Couple side questions, how far apart should they be? I pretty much have to have them on my desk, so will a couple feet to 3 feet be enough? And what kind of volume can the likes of what I mentioned above put out? I'm sure they put out enough, I'm just slightly hard of hearing.

Thanks
Click to expand...


Dude, if you are hard of hearing, you shouldn't have monitors pumping in your ears. Thats just common sense.
 
Place the monitors as far from each other as you are from each of them.

With nearfields don't go more than 8 feet or less if your room is tiny. 3 feet seems awful close to me.
 
frankieballsss said:
Dude, if you are hard of hearing, you shouldn't have monitors pumping in your ears. Thats just common sense.
Click to expand...

Dude, I think I know that. I'm sort of kidding about the volume, but anything at any volume is better than headphones. I'm hard of hearing because a poorly trained nurse poked a hole in each one of my eardrums when I was in kindergarten. Damn...

Okay, so I guess I should buy locally. Now if I am able to find the Wharfedales, would they be the best bang for the buck?

Thanks
 
Just out of curiosity, what is the RTA room/pink noise test? Thanks.
 
in simple terms, the RTA I downloaded is a software package. I'm a newbie on this but maybe it'll help.

OUTPUT: It plays Pink Noise. thru your soundcard thru your monitor system. Sounds like Tape Hiss. sshshhshhhshshshss. Its like all the frequencys at once.

INPUT: You have a measurement microphone that reads the Pink Noise coming from your monitors. Mic is plugged into your soundcard, input into the pc. Mic's usually placed where your head would be during mixing for at least basic tests.

RESULTS: The software then graphs the input.
pink noise is 20-20K (which is all freqs at once). Your graph will show drops and peaks.
It graphs in Real Time which means if you turn up the treble the graph will respond in real time, high freq peaks immediately. If you decrease the High freq the chart will show a dip in that range.

here's an example, i just did.
Ideally you get a flat line from 20hz to 20Khz.
Pro's often tout +/- 2db variation from a center/average in a anechoic chamber (perfect situation).
I'm lucky getting +/-4db swing for the most part and if you notice the lower freqs really drop off. Which is common with a bedroom studio, from my understanding.
 

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Ah, ok. I just had never heard it under the "official" name. I was wondering if there was a different test than that one, but it was the same one! Thanks!
 
COOLCAT said:
in simple terms, the RTA I downloaded is a software package. I'm a newbie on this but maybe it'll help.
Click to expand...

Where did you get this software?
 
Allen Heath. It was free for 14 days. Then for $10 they give the code.
 
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