Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: MDV on February 28, 2007, 12:30:17 PM
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Can anyone recommend any monitors to me?
I'm not looking for anything awefully flash. Powered monitors up to about £500 for the pair (so, entry level) is what I'm after.
This is to finish my recording setup: I'm currently using an E-Mu 1616M through a creative 5.1 amp, 3 satelite speakers (which I frequently unplug) and two bog standard and decidedly rubbish Sony hi fi speakers in front left and right. It needs sorting, ASAP!
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We use Mackie active speakers when we're playing live.
http://www.mackie.com/products/speakers/index.html
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We use Mackie active speakers when we're playing live.
http://www.mackie.com/products/speakers/index.html
Ratrod, he's wanting speakers to monitor with in his home studio - a think 350w a side is overdoing it (even for me) :lol:
I used to have a studio/rehearsal space that doubled up the band's studio and I used our Mackie SRM500s for monitoring - they were thunderous (ouch!!!) however not entirely accurate for mixing on (would sound completely different on anything else).
I'd just say to get some hi-fi speakers that sound good to you - I use B&W (bookshelf) speakers with decent stands that set me back £250 four/five years ago.
:twisted:
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(just had a thought) - make sure you bi-wire the speakers, the bass end and seperation is much better this way.
if you can afford to, you may even consider bi-amping too (seperate amps for the treble and lo/mid drivers)
:twisted:
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i have Event TR5 monitors and i am EXTREMELY happy with them, they were around 400€/pair
for 500 pounds you can get the TR6 ones, which are better, as they have a bit more low end.. or the TR8
http://www.thomann.de/de/event_tr6_studiomonitor_aktiv.htm
http://www.thomann.de/de/event_tr8_aktivmonitor.htm
i'd go with the 8's as they are within your budget and judging by my monitors, they should sound AWESOME!
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some extra thoughts...
(1) find a shop where you can try out the speakers with source equipment similar to what you're gonna be using.
(2) bigger and more expensive isn't always better - what size room are you using them in? you don't need massive speakers in a bedroom.
I know when I buy audio equipment I rarely come away with the gear I thought I would. I've always found that the more expensive items haven't always fitted my needs (i.e. TOO refined)
:twisted:
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Thanks guys!
I just happened upon a pair of B&W DM10s, which I believe are ancient, for £20: I'll see what they're like for a bit.
Then I'l be chasing up all the recommendations here!
Edit:
HTH: Small room, and I doubt very good stuff would do me much good, the environment isnt clean enough, in fact its rather densly packed with sound relecting things, so I wont be going too nuts!
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Update:
A purchase approaches. I can feel it in my bones....fingers twitching toward the phone....
I'm thinking about 3 candidates at the moment:
My requirements are: transparency in a room of my house at distances of up 1-2m.
Mackie HR824: allegedly transparent, but reviews repeatedly say that they sound great, but bias mixes somewhat, adding low end and tailing off high. No doubt fun for hifi speakers (these speakers will be what I listen to everything through when at home), but not so great for mixing?
Event TR8: the consensus seems to be "Great for the price". I'm swaying toward these at the moment, for the bang for buck and the fact that, though they're undoubtadly not the best, I hardly need that for a home studio, especially given my whole couple of months experience recording and mixing!
Event SP6: Because, in great part, of the reviews for the TR8s, and, y'know, surely they must be even better! :lol:
Does anyone have any experience with these (I know you love your TR5s, davey, thanks for chipping in with that!)
Others....?
I cant get to a place to hear any real range, or any at all within 100 miles (I live in whitehaven, on the coast of cumbria). Theres just no chance at all. So some comments on these, or any others I havent considered at a similar price would be great (if you advise any, please say why!).
Thanks guys.
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At this price range it's well worth looking at:
* Blue Sky Pro Desk
* Genelec
* the lower end of the Quested range
The Mackie's get quite mixed reviews, and they're definatly not that transparent (and have been termed "aggressive"), but if you're comfortable with the family sound then they are pretty decent monitors :)
*Rahnooo*
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I doubt you can get Genelecs at that price point, but they are the standard by which powered monitors are judged, and rightly so.
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http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/20195
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/4289
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/1385
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/1387
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/10390
That covers what dolphin at least have to offer for those brands that I even migh be willing to spend.
Oh, my bonus comes in soon and scottish power have decided to give me some money back. They havent decided how much yet (they're trying to think ways to get it closer to £0 at the moment) but if its in anyway significant (its about £500 at the moment) then I'll up the budget to 800ish if its something really special. But I'd rather not spend all of it obviously. I'd still prefer 500ish.
Anyone got anything to say about those models compared to the others? I'm not buying anything on brand reputation alone ;)
Thanks for the help, fellas
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Mark were not you taken with the Blue Sky monitors? They have a reputation for being very forgiving of the room they're sued in, which is handy if you don't want to spend a fortune on acoustic treatment.
With any of the other monitors you will need at least some basic bass trapping and some treatment of the "mirror points" in your listening environment.
For my money, if you don't want to have to get involved in acoustic treatment, the Blue Sky package is the way to og.
Otherwise the Genelc's or Quested. The only downside of the Quested S6 is that they may be a little bass light on their own, and the subwoofer is another £1100. If that bothers you then the Genelec's would be an excellent choice. I'd certainly rather take any of those 3 over the Mackie's :)
*Rahnooo*
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http://www.beyerdynamic.co.uk/distributorpages/bluesky/bluesky.html
There werent any on dolphin/turnkey. Google is indeed your friend.
I'd be going for the media 2.1, then.
What you say about them needing less accoustic treatment is appealing, but 2.1 suggests I cant use ballanced outputs and am therefore limited in cable choices. I can hook them up fine, but I'd rather exploit all the sonic benefits that I can. Unless they come with a 1/8th jack with a well suited quality cable material? Otherwise I suppose I could make one.
Plus, they'll also have to pass muster for being loud and being entertaining when having mates round and such. These monitors, when I get them, will replace some old B&Ws as the only things I listen to anything through, and they look a little...pokey. Know what the media 2.1 sounds like in person? How about compared to the lower end genelecs or the events (I've pretty much ruled out mackie! the questeds are still on the list, though).
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If you can stretch to it, the Pro Desk is a cut above the Media Desak.
2.1 refers to it beign a stereo system with a subwoofer, as opposed to a 5.1 system (although you can add further satellites to upgrade to surround sound). As I understand it both the Media and Pro desk systems use balanced I/O so that shouldn't be a problem.
As for loudness, only you can judge that, but I would imagine they'll be plenty loud. Have a look at the User Reports section of www.soundonsound.com as someone wrote a very informative and glowing review of them having used them in a professional situation.
Have a look at the Digital Village website too - www.dv247.com as their prices are competative and they definatly stock Blue Sky products :)
*Rahnooo*
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OK I've tried a lot of studio monitors and basically it depends what kind of sound you want.
I'm a producer as well as a musician, basically you have two types of monitors.
There's the 'in your face' style of the 'super flat' style.
For a completley flat frequency response you're look at the following companies:
PMC
Quested
Mackie (824's)
now these are NOT cheap I assure you!
For a more agressive sound (which I recommend) go for these:
KRK
Genelic
Yamaha (NS10's)
I personally love my KRK V6's, but monitors are just the start of the story!
If they are placed in a poor sounding room it doesnt matter how good the monitors are because you end up EQ ing the mix to compensate for the rooms poor acoustics. Bass frequencies are a massive problem in most rooms so if you can afford it, then get the room treated with Bass Traps.
You can make DIY alternatives that cost next to nothing.
Check out www.soundonsound.com
a lot of very usefull info on there!
I hope that helps you.
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The KRK V6's sound AMAZING! and they may just be within your budget. Think carefully before you make your choice. :)
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Well, I got a second opnion (a mate thats a sound engineer) on the questeds: he said they're amazing.
They're also pretty expensive!
At the moment its looking like the S6's, MAYBE the S7s or, a new candidate, Adam A7s
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/15655
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/10389
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/10392 (ouch!)
At the moment I'm really leaning for the A7s. Heard nothing but good things.
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Quested really are top notch - British designed and built. The S6's with the matching sub would be a really nice set up, but set you back just shy of 2K.
The Adams that you mentioned are supposed to be nice monitors too, and definatly have a lot of bang for buck :)
I take it you gave up on the Blue Sky's all together then mate?
*Rahnooo*
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Yeah, rahnooo, the media looks a bit pokey when it may be going it a fairly large (albeit domestic) space, and the pro desk is really starting to push the price too far.
The S7s are still tempting, but a grand is a fair whack of cash, and I need to think about the fact that this isnt going to be in an ideal environment, too so I may not get the extra benefit. I can give it some treatment, which as I understand it is nigh on as important as the monitors. I'll improvise some of that and buy bits I cant make, and the adams leave some spare for that too. And a guitar, or 1/3 of my next amp or 2.5 sets of bks, or 1 to 6 mics, depending which, and so on!
I'm thinking, based on reports, that the adams will be great for my purposes. I think I'm going with that, unless one of you folks that knows more than me has a reasonable objection?
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Thats a great choice, I agree that the Adams are amazing! especially if you can afford them, same with Quested!
If you do get the chance though, go to a decent shop with a large range of pro monitors, and play your favourite music on them, I did this and thats what made me go for the KRKs. I'd go for Adam or Quested over KRK's but I can't afford it! lol
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Well I've got a fair whack of stuff going for these Adams and basically nothing against them except that they arent questeds, which cost nearly twice as much (S7s).
I'm gonna order them tomorrow.
Thank you all very much for your help!!
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krk rp5's pretty cool for not too much money
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Cool Mark - the Adams certainly arew quality monitors from what I've heard, so I hope you enjoy them. Sounds like you've made a good choice.
*Rahnooo*
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Ordered them a few minutes ago!
Thanks again, guys!
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Got them!
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l198/D_Man666/DSC00021.jpg)
Thats my workstation. CD player to be replaced soon (aiwa xc003 for 15 quid off a guy at work), PC with the E-Mu1616M and sen' HD25s on top of it to the right, and the adams. Isolation pads are in the mail.
I've only got a coupe of honeymoon hours with them, so I wont try and say anything really analytical about them untill I've listened to about all my music again through them (could take a while!) and got over just how fucking incredible they sound (merciless though: some things I've tried so far sound awefull, such as early slayer, but I wanted them to be honest, not entertaining).
Some good news from my preliminary explorations: recordings that I'd nearly discarded as utter failures actually sound quite good through these. Encouraging! Maybe I was doing something right!?
Thanks again for your help folks.
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The KRK V6's sound AMAZING!
I recently heard these louspeakers in the studio while we were mixing some new songs. I think they were just about the worst monitors I've heard in a long time. All boom and sizzle, no soundstage, and the tonal balance is all over the map depending on where you are sitting.
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Mark, Ben, I've just re-read this thread. Any thoughts on moniters 2 years on as I need a pair. I do own a lovely pair of Linn Turkan hi-fi speakers. Would powered monitors give a more honest sound over the Linns with a half decent amp with no added EQ?
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Tapco S5's work for me.
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Mark, Ben, I've just re-read this thread. Any thoughts on moniters 2 years on as I need a pair. I do own a lovely pair of Linn Turkan hi-fi speakers. Would powered monitors give a more honest sound over the Linns with a half decent amp with no added EQ?
Threadnomancer!
That pic takes me back. Such idiotic placement :lol:
Hi fi speakers can work IF you know them like the back of your hand.
There are a couple of things that make actives and dedicated monitors in general better though
Amp/speaker matching - once something that people spent years trying to get right with passives, now something that R&D teams try to get as good as practicably possible for the price point of the monitors. Gives a more linear, transparent sound. Monitors will also tend to be bi-amped with some tuning built into them to let you get them more linear in a given place in a given room, which is very, very handy.
The other is how they handle dymanics and transiets - hifi speakers are designed to deal with, by and large, pretty linear volume, mastered music. Monitors have to handle being thrown around with huge dynamic range changes that are in raw recorded sound on a second to second basis, allow you to hear it accurately so you can control it, and be able to take it and not explode. They are all things being equal much more robust in that regard, and much more capable of letting you hear the sound generally going nuts (so you can do something about it) where a hifi speaker might mask it and lead to the detail in the sound being generally obfuscated and not translate well, or even be damaged by it.
As for specific monitors - it took me years to get them placed and tuned just reasonably well, but now they are, my adams (with a sub 8), when playing well mixed and mastered music, are to my B&W DM602s as a hypersonic, nuclear powered, ninja-piloted fighter jet is to the wright brothers plane. The sound they are capable of delivering is phenomenal (to me at least); incredible detail, stereo field, depth and clarity - I can hear things on these *effortlessly* that I cant even strain to hear on my B&Ws, or my senn HD25s, or ultrasone pr0750s, or senn IE8s, and in translation to other systems; if it sounds like its 'supposed to' (whatever that is) on the adams then it always sounds about right on everything else, minimal tweaking results from referencing with these, so I recommend the A7s.
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Tapco S5's work for me.
Did you get the replacement tweeter in the end? I remember they sounded great apart from that problem I had. Wasn't a fan of their very slow customer service though which has kinda put me off getting a new pair.
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Yeah they were an absolute pain weren't they!
I got it working in the end, had to kind of glue it back in it's surround. Not sure if it's 100% right but it's definitely working.
I'm not really doing anyything to serios now so it's fine for my needs.....
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Well, I got a second opnion (a mate thats a sound engineer) on the questeds: he said they're amazing.
They're also pretty expensive!
At the moment its looking like the S6's, MAYBE the S7s or, a new candidate, Adam A7s
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/15655
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/10389
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/10392 (ouch!)
At the moment I'm really leaning for the A7s. Heard nothing but good things.
The Quested s7 are good but be warned they have a big bass response that can make mixing a pain.
edit: nvm read you made a choice. congratz :D
double edit: christ just realized how old this thread is
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Mark, Ben, I've just re-read this thread. Any thoughts on moniters 2 years on as I need a pair. I do own a lovely pair of Linn Turkan hi-fi speakers. Would powered monitors give a more honest sound over the Linns with a half decent amp with no added EQ?
Threadnomancer!
That pic takes me back. Such idiotic placement :lol:
Hi fi speakers can work IF you know them like the back of your hand.
There are a couple of things that make actives and dedicated monitors in general better though
Amp/speaker matching - once something that people spent years trying to get right with passives, now something that R&D teams try to get as good as practicably possible for the price point of the monitors. Gives a more linear, transparent sound. Monitors will also tend to be bi-amped with some tuning built into them to let you get them more linear in a given place in a given room, which is very, very handy.
The other is how they handle dymanics and transiets - hifi speakers are designed to deal with, by and large, pretty linear volume, mastered music. Monitors have to handle being thrown around with huge dynamic range changes that are in raw recorded sound on a second to second basis, allow you to hear it accurately so you can control it, and be able to take it and not explode. They are all things being equal much more robust in that regard, and much more capable of letting you hear the sound generally going nuts (so you can do something about it) where a hifi speaker might mask it and lead to the detail in the sound being generally obfuscated and not translate well, or even be damaged by it.
As for specific monitors - it took me years to get them placed and tuned just reasonably well, but now they are, my adams (with a sub 8), when playing well mixed and mastered music, are to my B&W DM602s as a hypersonic, nuclear powered, ninja-piloted fighter jet is to the wright brothers plane. The sound they are capable of delivering is phenomenal (to me at least); incredible detail, stereo field, depth and clarity - I can hear things on these *effortlessly* that I cant even strain to hear on my B&Ws, or my senn HD25s, or ultrasone pr0750s, or senn IE8s, and in translation to other systems; if it sounds like its 'supposed to' (whatever that is) on the adams then it always sounds about right on everything else, minimal tweaking results from referencing with these, so I recommend the A7s.
Thanks for the update Mark, that is some statement! I've been looking at so many brands and price points. My room is small with fitted wardrobes down one side d/bed and a Koch focal point at the opposite end as the workstation. So I wouldn't need to go to mad on the size and power of the monitors, just a good sound. Adam have a good rep' as do Mackie, I've been looking at some of their new products. There is so many options for this purchase, (my last for a while). I do want a sub too. What sort of money was your set up? Between £500-800? Or over a grand?
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With a sub its over a grand. The sub is 400 and odd, might be more now, the A7s cost about 550 or 600 for the pair when I got them, but last I looked they cost quite a bit more than that. That said, if for whatever reason (warning; harmony central review comment content approaching, read with caution!) I lost them I would just go and get some more instantly.
I got the sub to control room resonances with a third low end source and add extension in a bad room - in my previous place the A7s on their own went down to 40Hz just fine.
That said, stereo imaging and separation is much better with the sub dealing with the lowest lows and the A7s on a high pass, and I'd get the same sort of setup for that reason alone, regardless of low extension.
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With a sub its over a grand. The sub is 400 and odd, might be more now, the A7s cost about 550 or 600 for the pair when I got them, but last I looked they cost quite a bit more than that. That said, if for whatever reason (warning; harmony central review comment content approaching, read with caution!) I lost them I would just go and get some more instantly.
I got the sub to control room resonances with a third low end source and add extension in a bad room - in my previous place the A7s on their own went down to 40Hz just fine.
That said, stereo imaging and separation is much better with the sub dealing with the lowest lows and the A7s on a high pass, and I'd get the same sort of setup for that reason alone, regardless of low extension.
Thanks Mark. Is the sub made by Adam too? From what you've said, it sounds like a great set up as i know what exacting standards you have! :D
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Too kind, And most welcome
The sub is an Adam Sub 8. In hindsight I could have done the same job with a model or two down, but its there now and can handle a bigger room if it ever has to (Which hopefully it will!).
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Too kind, And most welcome
The sub is an Adam Sub 8. In hindsight I could have done the same job with a model or two down, but its there now and can handle a bigger room if it ever has to (Which hopefully it will!).
Ok I've just bought them from Digital Village! :D I can't faff around any longer, i was looking at the A7X models a while back but for this bundle the price is about as good as I'm going to get. Cheers Mark!
:D
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Kickass!
You will love them!
Remember - speakers this good need to be VERY carefully placed. Inches matter (he he he, but seriously, they do) and sort some rudimentary treatment out for the reflection points. I made my own from generic acoustic foam and 60 and 120kg/m^3 rockwool from this place
http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk/soundproofing/amw.htm
This stuff, 50mm, stuck to walls at reflection points
http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk/absorbers/ffoam.htm
This stuff plus some planks and black fabric to make bass traps.
http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk/soundproofing/amw.htm
Two whole slabs stacked per corner (as in wall intersection), and squares of it cut and then layered with slate tiles into cubes for other-corner (as in wall/floor or wall/ceiling).
None of its optimal, but that stuff all helped enormously, and also wasnt crippling expensive (which many believe it should be, but I dont).
Just general hints as to what can be done to treat the listening position - bens the expert on this.
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Thanks for the info mate! I think I'll post a photo of my room to show how tight it is. I think it could be a bit of a mare! :lol:
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I got the two A7s and the sub8 this morning. They're amazing, the sound quality is the best sound I've ever had! I've only put them on the desk so far but I plan to get some stands and try and get the best I can from them.
Thanks again, I'm over the moon with them! :D :D
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which ones did you get in the end?
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I got the two A7s and the sub8 this morning. They're amazing, the sound quality is the best sound I've ever had! I've only put them on the desk so far but I plan to get some stands and try and get the best I can from them.
Thanks again, I'm over the moon with them! :D :D
Awesome!
Oh, I did think of one drawback - y'know how I said that I can hear things effortlessly on these that I cant hear on B&Ws and high end phones even though I know they're there? Well sometimes I can hear things on these without any difficulty at all, and once I know they're there I can hear them on the other stuff too but less so, but it all seems fine.....then I post stuff on players and other places and people say they cant hear the bass/kick/hats/toms/whatever!
Irritating. It that regard they're sorta too good :lol:
Which reminds me - reference systems are very important. I use phones and the B&Ws. I should probably add something a bit ghetto to the repetoire to make sure people listening on...well, shite systems can hear everything thats meant to be going on, some logitech PC speakers or a sony hifi or something :lol:
Anyway, dead happy youre happy with them - I was a little worried for a sec that after my enthusiastic endorsement and you buying them so quickly you would be dissapointed and mad at me!
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I'm still over the moon with them Mark! I count my self fortunate to be able to call on so much first hand experience in here. The sound from these is just beyond belief!
I got a pair of A7's and a Sub8 Davey. It was a grand for that deal, so according to where your quotes are from, all in all a good deal.
I can see how placement would crucial.
I've only got sub set subtley. The bass out of the A7s is great. If like you say your mixes sound lacking in certain areas then a datum reference point could be an idea with cheapo stereos in mind and another for highend gear.
My exeperince of this is the masess like it loud with plenty of bottom!
We shall have to look into this with more detail!
Thanks again mate!
:D
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Mark I've actually found I can usually get a consistent mix using my £50 Creative T20 speakers :lol: When I've listened to my mixes on other systems/through my headphones it usually sounds about right as well. Only problem is because they're so small I usually mix the bass a bit too heavy. And they don't have that great crystal-clear quality that better speakers have.
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I'm still over the moon with them Mark! I count my self fortunate to be able to call on so much first hand experience in here. The sound from these is just beyond belief!
I got a pair of A7's and a Sub8 Davey. It was a grand for that deal, so according to where your quotes are from, all in all a good deal.
I can see how placement would crucial.
I've only got sub set subtley. The bass out of the A7s is great. If like you say your mixes sound lacking in certain areas then a datum reference point could be an idea with cheapo stereos in mind and another for highend gear.
My exeperince of this is the masess like it loud with plenty of bottom!
We shall have to look into this with more detail!
Thanks again mate!
:D
Quite welcome, again. Glad youre enjoying them (I know just how much youre enjoying them too! You can see (hear!) what I meant before, I suppose, when I compared them to my B&Ws, which are well respected speakers and dont sound bad my any means)
There are loads of guides kicking round on placement, but in the end what works is whats right. Theres a minirator tool kicking round the net (I think theres a link on the Realtraps site I'll go find it in a minute) and I have no idea where I got it but I have a series of wavs of frequency progression through the whole spectrum for serious fine tuning - things like this, and a decibel meter, are essential to tune a monitoring position.
Tom, I've heard some of your stuff and it seems to translate pretty well to my B&Ws; its bass heavy and dulled in general, overheads are too loud and theres a lot of bass (as in the instrument, previously I meant low end in general), but maybe thats what youre going for, but they're not bad...I havent heard them on my adams though; that often tells a very different story ;)
Newer stuff in your link is a lot better than last I heard you, too, so well done!
Listen to clutch much ;)
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which ones did you get in the end?
Who me, or jonny?
We both got Adam A7s with a Sub 8 8)
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ah, cool
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Last night I was clicking through the 7000 odd sounds in the NI software via Kore 2 and found a huge selection of sub bass VSTs. Mary Mother of God, my whole flat was resonating without even going over board on volume or frequency! It's ffing mental this set up, i'm constantly thinking about it and things to do with it. I could make sub bass CDs at a fiver a pop for 'Carlos Fandango' and his boy racer mates for their sub bass Binatones in their Mum's cars :lol:
That tool for setting up the monitors sounds very interesting. The method sounds exactly like a physics class experiment. I'm well up for a go.
I'm finally getting all the audio and midi signals where I want them now. It's been a hard few weeks. I've never used a Mac before now either. I've been like a mad proffessor and a feel like one now as well. The problem I'm up against now is time. I was up till 12:30 last night and back up at 4.50 for work. I need a breather for..... No way breather more studio play, I'm an addict now. :D
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Dude, you want to minimise those room modes!
Start working on the treatment and tuning a listening position for level EQ and equal stereo field! position them wherever they go (move furniture is required!) to get them as level as possible with equal reflections from either side, then bass traps and absorbtion/dispersion/both at main reflection points as priority!
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Threadnomancy!! :)
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Dude, you want to minimise those room modes!
Start working on the treatment and tuning a listening position for level EQ and equal stereo field! position them wherever they go (move furniture is required!) to get them as level as possible with equal reflections from either side, then bass traps and absorbtion/dispersion/both at main reflection points as priority!
I need a pair of stands then the reflective stuff. I can get loads of
Kingspan expanded foam insulation from sites at work. Is that any good?
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Maybe, maybe not. I went with the stuff I used because there was data on its absorbtion coefficients with respect to frequency, and I went for what would work for what I was using it for - I wouldnt trust anything that doesnt have the measurements behind it, but it may be good, and if you can get it for nothing, whats to lose?
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Maybe, maybe not. I went with the stuff I used because there was data on its absorbtion coefficients with respect to frequency, and I went for what would work for what I was using it for - I wouldnt trust anything that doesnt have the measurements behind it, but it may be good, and if you can get it for nothing, whats to lose?
Good point. I am a bit of a chancer. Perhaps in this case I'll get the right product. I'll try and remember to post a photo of the room tonight to illustrate how awkward this room is!
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Tom, I've heard some of your stuff and it seems to translate pretty well to my B&Ws; its bass heavy and dulled in general, overheads are too loud and theres a lot of bass (as in the instrument, previously I meant low end in general), but maybe thats what youre going for, but they're not bad...I havent heard them on my adams though; that often tells a very different story ;)
Newer stuff in your link is a lot better than last I heard you, too, so well done!
Listen to clutch much ;)
Thanks for the "appraisal" :D Glad to hear I'm getting better. I've just finished uni and hopefully got a bit of work lined up so will finally be able to afford some monitors, better software (drums, mostly) and get back into writing music a bit more now I'm home with all my lovely guitar gear :P A bass might help as well, I'm still using pitch shifted guitar through amplitube!
I'm not really going for a bass-heavy mix, just even/consistent and hopefully clear. But the sort of stuff I do does lend itself a bit better to heavier bass, I suppose.
As for Clutch, I'm not actually a big fan despite what my riffage may suggest!
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Here's a pic of my room. Note the right monitor is on the desk and the left is on the floor until i get some stands. The sub is on a shelf on the desk under the keyboard. I think that maybe better on the floor.
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Thats a tricky one because of all the cupboards, which you clearly need much less than a well tuned, sweet sounding listening position!
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Thats a tricky one because of all the cupboards, which you clearly need much less than a well tuned, sweet sounding listening position!
Yes those cupboards are needed. We live in rabbit hutches down here in London! I'm going to be perched on the end of the bed in front of the screen most of the time. Does it matter if the sub is down on the floor? Some of the 5.1 home cinema systems have the sub out of the way so I wondered if it's ok for a monitor sub.
Terrible news from your end of the country Mark.
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Shame...its gonna be hard to place them really well with them there.
I would probably try, given the shape of the room and the presence of the cupboards, getting them the same distance from the wall and the cupboard, sticking some absorbtion on the walls and the cupboard door, bass trapping the corners that dont have cupboards in (which assuming you took the photo from the doorway seems to be one corner!) and hoping that the cuboards actually help trap a bit of low end and reflections.
Youre clearly pushed for space in that little corner, but I'd try and keep the monitors away from the side walls and close to the back wall (in contradiction with much common wisdom I've found that works well in small rooms: the alternative, and best way in bigger rooms is usually to have them well into the room so the speakers are at nodal points in the rooms resonant modes, so they cancel the modes to a degree).
At least the room isnt very symmetrical, so maybe you dont have massive modes to deal with, which is something at least.
And, yeah, its a horrible thing; I was slightly aquanted with one guy that was killed and one that was shot (two of the cabbies). Just knew them to say hi to, been in there taxis quite a few times. Nice guys.
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Shame...its gonna be hard to place them really well with them there.
I would probably try, given the shape of the room and the presence of the cupboards, getting them the same distance from the wall and the cupboard, sticking some absorbtion on the walls and the cupboard door, bass trapping the corners that dont have cupboards in (which assuming you took the photo from the doorway seems to be one corner!) and hoping that the cuboards actually help trap a bit of low end and reflections.
Youre clearly pushed for space in that little corner, but I'd try and keep the monitors away from the side walls and close to the back wall (in contradiction with much common wisdom I've found that works well in small rooms: the alternative, and best way in bigger rooms is usually to have them well into the room so the speakers are at nodal points in the rooms resonant modes, so they cancel the modes to a degree).
At least the room isnt very symmetrical, so maybe you dont have massive modes to deal with, which is something at least.
And, yeah, its a horrible thing; I was slightly aquanted with one guy that was killed and one that was shot (two of the cabbies). Just knew them to say hi to, been in there taxis quite a few times. Nice guys.
Cheers Mark :D
I'll have to have a good look into these ideas. With regards to the sub, I've got it on the bottom shelf of the desk which obviously vibrates a lot. Would it be ok on the floor (concrete), but that would mean the cone would be lower and have more of the bed in its way. In 5.1 set ups, subs can be hidden behind sofas ect and they still sound good.
Sorry to hear about your sad news Mark.
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It would be much better to put it on the floor.
I dont buy that sub location thing, behind sofas and shite. I've had subs in corners and behind stuff, and yeah, really low frequencies have no direction and yada yada, but I'v heard far more clarity, note resolution and punch with the sub infront of me, in between the speakers, facing into the room. World of difference, actually. In stereo resolution as well.
As far as putting it on stuff - you dont want to have it on anything thats going to vibrate in sympathy with it, like desks and stuff.
And thanks :)
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I got the stands today. Set them up with the A7s. Wow, what a difference!
Also got my imac back from the Apple store and the Airports working fine now.
Fineto!
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Good good! Stands are just what you need in there (to begin with).
Now, work on a listening position with an equalised stereo field, and treat reflection points!
(You should be looking for the snare, kick, bass and vocals in the vast majority of music to appear to come from smack in between the monitors when you are as far from each monitor as they are from each other, so youre in an equilateral triangle.....if you dont know that already, just checking/making sure!).