Studio monitors - what are you guys using?

elektro80

Tomorrow I can hopefully afford a new pair of active studio monitors. I listened to a lot of different models, but suddenly the 2 serious music shops here in Trondheim just have Samson and Behringer models and some old KRKs. I was hoping to compare models and test some pairs, but now it seems I either have to use mailorder or travel to London, Copenhagen or Stockholm. So.. what do you guys have and what do you recommend?

I have been thinking about the Event TR8. Any of you guys ever heard that one .. and compared it to other products in the same product segment..??

seraph · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 1:28 pm Post subject:

you know already I use Yamaha MSP5 but you told me they cost twice as much there than here. You don't want to be part of Europe so go get those Behringer Wink

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 1:37 pm Post subject:

As you already know, I am a part of Europe already.. it is the rest of this damned country.. ruled by social democrat capitalist reindeer.. which is the f*****g problem.
Well, the Behringers, the Samsons and the M-Audio monitors all sound like sandpaper chewing away at Cher´s new body.. I need something slightly more musical. I love the MSP5s, and I have used a pair for some time already.. but for some reason I would love to compare that model with something like the TR8s.

seraph · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 1:58 pm Post subject:

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:01 pm Post subject:

Yeah, well.. I did. Very Happy

But specs is not all.
Have you heard both? ...Do you have them in your shop?
Hmm, which models do you have in your shop?

seraph · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:06 pm Post subject:

jksuperstar · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:15 pm Post subject:

I heard some of these:
http://www.alesis.com/products/ProLinear820DSP/about/index.html

And for what they cost (~$500US), they are pretty nice. Digital input and FIR filter crossovers provide for very smooth transitions from the woofer to the tweeter (particularly in the phase spectrum). I also liked how they "emulate" a boombox, car radio, etc. for doing mastering. They don't have the transparency that something like a Dynaudio or Seas would have, but they are very clean.

If you're looking for near-field monitors, the 720DSP model goes for almost half the price ($265US).

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:24 pm Post subject:

Interesting..
Yes.. I am kinda looking for nearfields.. yes. I intend to do the mixing of material for 3 CDs using those new monitors.. and I guess I will have to do the mastering too.

jkn · Joined: Mar 14, 2004 Posts: 469 Location: La Porte, IN, USA

I have a pair of Mackie 824's I bought earlier this year.

I think I know someone with the TR8's and they did a nice write up on them at one point - probably buried deep in the Hypnos forum...

Here you go:

http://207.234.140.108/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=000692#000000

http://207.234.140.108/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=000832#000001

Yes - I'm the same "jkn" there... Wink

elektro80 · Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 4:01 pm Post subject:

I found a pair of the Event 20/20bas V2 in sweden. Anyone heard that model?

timothyday · Joined: Nov 05, 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Philadelphia

I use Quested F11 monitors in my home studio. I hear them accurate and easy. I've spent a lot of time on KRK V8 and V88 bith of which are nice but tiresome. I really like the Yamaha MSP(?) series. I've used the littles and the bigs. The bigs kick ass. VERY loud. I found both to be accurate and easy to listen to.

timothyday · Joined: Nov 05, 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Philadelphia

Sorry. About the Event 20/20. I hear too much bass in them. They are impressive, but not really true for my ears. I work with a few hip-hop studios that love them, because they kick out a lot of bass. Food for thought.

a.vanvranken · Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:02 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't get the behringers, I've heard them myself and they're kind of harsh. A friend of mine has them and he says the noise from the bass ports on the front drive him nuts. I wouldnt' do the 20/20s either, I had a pair and they always felt really muddy.

I have the Mackie HR824's and they're great. They're very clear, even at low volumes, the lows go really low (they document the rolloff at 39hz but I swear I've heard lower when messing with roll-offs in Waves Q). The other great thing is it seems that if you get everything balanced and sounding great out of these, the mix sounds the same everywhere else (to an extent).

The guy I buy most of my gear from swears by Warfdale if you're looking to spend less $$$. I've never heard them myself though.

mosc · Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:40 pm Post subject:

seraph · Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2004 3:19 pm Post subject:

elektro80 · Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 9:43 am Post subject:

I have actually had the chance to listen to the Event monitors now. One studio actually had both some Genelecs, the 824s and the 20/20bas V2.

I have always thought the 824s ahve some subtle rockish flavour to them and I still think so. The genelecs were placed very badly in the room, so there is no way to figure out what they really sound like. I commented on some weird phasiness in the lower mids though, and the owner told me that they have always had some weirdness in the lower mids no matter where they were placed in the room. The Event monitors were possibly placed in the absolutely ideal position. The bass was low, firm and not boomy at all. The stereo imagery was perfect.. It was possibly to listen into the mix and I found them far better than expected.
That said, we played several different mixes on the speakers and one that had been done on in a different studio tended to indeed sound boomy and messy in the lows. The mix had been done on a pair of small Genelecs.

Placement is of course vital and the Event monitors will be just as messy and boomy as any other when placed in a room with bass problems.. or just placed badly.
All in all I found the Event monitors to be quite good.

I have also listetend to a pair of passive 20/20s powered by an Alesis stereo amp. The bass was far from good and I think the stereo amplifier was not suited for use with these speakers.

timothyday · Joined: Nov 05, 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Philadelphia

If Genelecs are an option than the 1029 and 1030A are things of beauty. Quested are also in that arena. Both are very accurate and easy to hear. Which reminds me of the Dynaudio BM6A which I used over the summer on a project. A little sweet, but very nice and tight. A little more affordable than Genelecs and Questeds.

DES · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:16 pm Post subject:

elektro80 · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:20 pm Post subject:

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

DES · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:52 pm Post subject:

That's them! Very Happy

I think though that mine are just 809's not the 'A' version.

Des

elektro80 · Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:18 pm Post subject:

What is the difference between the A and the plain 809?

seraph · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 12:42 am Post subject:

elektro80 · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 12:45 am Post subject:

Hmm.. you might be right!

DES · Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 3:36 pm Post subject:

elektro80 · Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:10 pm Post subject:

Within a few days a will have a pair of the Event ASP 8 monitors here. I will tell you guys what I think.