I don't mind if I'm not able to "shake the walls" with my monitoring equipment, but I have to be able to turn it up pretty loud sometimes just to check. Transparency would be more important than to be able to play really loud for long periods of time, but I don't want an amp that will cause the monitors to blow up either.
Unfortunately I won't be able to A/B the rotel and the NAD. There is only one firm in sweden that is allowed to sell NAD amplifiers and they don't have Rotel
Guess I have to first buy the reveals and then bring them to the hifi-stores.
I am not sure if it is possible in sweden, but some audio stores allow customers to borrow amps for a short while if they think you are a serious buyer. The best way to test the amp is with your speakers in your home/studio. If they wont let you do that then bringing the reveals to the store is your next best option.
The reveals are reasonably sensititive and the impedance doesnt drop too low so they shouldnt be too hard to drive. If you are listening in nearfield at typical and recommended levels (~83-85dB) then the RA-01 should be fine. If you expect them to fill up a large room at rock concert levels then you may have a problem. Anyway your auditioning should give you a good idea. Have fun.
ps do you plan on auditioning the B&Ws (or other accurate hifi speakers) or are you set on the reveals? I am interested in hearing others comparisons.
Unfortunately it probably won't be possible for me to borrow the NAD-amp since I live 300km from the closest dealer. I don't know about the rotel-amps but I can Imagine the situation is about the same there.
I wan't to buy me a set of hifi-speakers as well, since the speakers I have right now sounds like a pile of shit. When I'm looking for those I will surely audition the B&W:s! But mixing on hifi-speakers isn't that a no-no?
As for rock-concert levels, I'm off to college in a few months and will be living in a small appartment. I doubt my neighbours would appriciate shaking walls.
The terms 'monitor' and 'hifi' speaker are too general to be meaningful. An accurate quality speaker is a good speaker no matter what it is called. Many budget monitors are not accurate at all ie the monitor label is a marketing ploy. Of course there are many inaccurate hifi speakers too. My philosophy is that a good speaker for mixing or critical listening is an accurate speaker. Some may disagree and many good mixes have been done on not so accurate speakers.
An important difference with speakers labelled as monitors is that they tend to have better performance at very loud (rock concert type) levels, something that a home recordist doesnt need. Studios usually need to go that loud to impress deaf clients.
There are two interesting articles on www.sospubs.co.uk comparing hifi and monitor speakers. Do a search for hi-fi and have a read. They find the 'hifi' B&W DM303 is measurably better than the KRK V4 'monitors'. Remember Abbey Road studios uses B&W speakers as their monitors so you cant say that you cant track and mix with hifi speakers. Many mastering studios also use high end hifi speakers like Dunlavy and B&W (because they are accurate).
The only other thing to note is whether the speaker is shielded or not if you are going to put them right next to a crt computer monitor (which might happen if you use a dual monitor setup with two large screens).
I've read the articles now. Wery interesting reading. They didn't compare the B&Ws with the KRK V4:s tough. I think it was KRK- Kroks, whatever.
I'll look into the B&Ws but I'm still leaning towards the reveals, since I know for a fact that many people are using them with great success as monitors. But then I'd probably like to buy hifi-speakers as well. Maybe I should audition the B&Ws for hifi listening and if I like em, they would be great in my hifi-system and probably useful as a monitor until I can afford "the real thing". I've got loads of stuff to think about now.
Whoops I mixed up those krks. I should have said K-Roks.
Anyway the Tannoy reveals are definitely decent speakers. I auditioned them and found they had a natural though somewhat laid back (dullish) sound. That can be a good thing because bright speakers can be fatiguing. The B&W 600 series will probably sound a little brighter and more detailed. I havent heard the DM303s. Let us know what your impressions are.
You should be able to monitor on any decent, accurate speakers. You have to 'learn' whatever monitor you end up with. Personal taste plays a big part which is why there are so many opinions. Measurements dont lie though (as long as they are done properly). So dont rule out accurate hifi speakers. There is one guy here (Gunther I think) that uses B&Ws. Maybe you can ask him.
Whoops I mixed up those krks. I should have said K-Roks.
Anyway the Tannoy reveals are definitely decent speakers. I auditioned them and found they had a natural though somewhat laid back (dullish) sound. That can be a good thing because bright speakers can be fatiguing.
Then I suppose the RA-01/Reveal combo wouldn't be so bad, since I've heard the RA-01 is a little on the bright side of neutral (or maybe more transparent than other warm hifi-amps) and the reveal is a just a bit dull.
There is another important difference between nearfield montirs and hifi speakers. It is the difference in design based on the intended listening area.
Nearfields are designed to be listened to exactly there - in the near field (with 3-5 feet). HiFi speakers are generally designed for proper imaging in the far field - 6-10 feet.
There is another important difference between nearfield montirs and hifi speakers. It is the difference in design based on the intended listening area.
Nearfields are designed to be listened to exactly there - in the near field (with 3-5 feet). HiFi speakers are generally designed for proper imaging in the far field - 6-10 feet.
Right now I'm mixing on my shitty stereo and the imaging sure is different within 3-5 feet and 6-10 feet as you mentioned. Didn't think about that. Thanks for reminding me!
Don't Know if they sell them in Sweden of Not but I votes for other or Blue SKY System One monitor with integrated SUB. I heard them and for the price they blew me away $1395 for the whole package in the U.S..
Don't Know if they sell them in Sweden of Not but I votes for other or Blue SKY System One monitor with integrated SUB. I heard them and for the price they blew me away $1395 for the whole package in the U.S..
Intended distance to the listener is not an issue for hifi speakers vs monitors unless the speaker is time and phase accurate (which 99% of speakers arent but should be) or a large floor standing model where there is a large separation between the drivers. Typical, non phase coherent speakers arent 'time aligned' and bookshelf speakers have only two drivers closely spaced, so driver integration at close distances is not an issue. The frequency response graphs you see are usually done on MLSSA equipment with the microphone right next to the driver. The differences you hear when moving further away from the speaker are not to do with driver integration but room interaction issues.
The best thing to do is to audition all your speakers at the distance you plan to use them (preferably in the room that you are going to have them in) and use your ears. If a speaker sounds inaccurate at the distance you intend to listen to it then cross it off your list.
I can't stand those brand anymore (nad B&W) they brought pain in my family!
I just want to say...my dad use to have a pair of expensive b&w 901 and a 100 Watts NAD.
I think this was the worst combinason i've ever heard. OF course the B&W are well rated and the NAD too....but they didn't go together at all. The NAD was always broken...And believe me...the pieces are long to order (something in the preamp was wrong) And the 901 was demanding too much juice. The 901 as 2 15 inch speaker but i swear i can have more bass with almost any other cheaper speaker. he sold the 901 and the amp is in the basement because it's not working (again) and this time he deceide to buy a new amp and new speaker (now he's happy!)
So i keep a bad taste about these two brand (even if know they make greath products...i just can't see NAD of B&W)
I bought a home theater denon amp and some infinity with 2 12 inch and they work well for me. I don't remember the price but my denon was not expensive.
All that to say...poor you...buying befor listening must be a pain in the a$$. I use to go to the "festival du son de montreal" that's a place where all company gather and you can listen to their stuff and generally i don't prefer the speaker of amp's that most people like. I wish you good luck!
