I use a pair of Linn Turkan speakers from an old technics amp from my pc, for recording. I don't tend to monitor on them though I use a pair of Bayer headphones. If I keep the EQ flat on the amp for monitoring it's seems ok.
Question, monitors don't require an amp? :?
The vast majority of monitors are internally amplified, so no, they dont require an amp.
Any worth their salt are typically bi-amplified as well.
Its to match the amp/s to the speakers.
Passive monitors are available, especially older ones, but I know folks that have spent years trying to get a speaker/amp match up they're happy with for monitoring.
Ahh I never knew that. That would explain why they cost so much. Is there a noticeable difference from monitors and a pair of hifi speakers and good amp?
Yes, very, very much so.
Speakers are by far and away, in my experience, the strongest influence on the sound you hear, followed by amp, followed by source.
The various combinations of amps and speakers I've had (including hifi speakers and passive near-field monitors) all sound very different, and my adam a-7s, the only active monitors I've spent time in the same rooms (also a very big infuence, as is speaker location) as the passive stuff, sound very different again.
Bens the expert on this stuff, though. I just dabble. I havent dabbled in a while eithers, since I'm very happy with my adam A7/Sub 8 combo and my hifi setup in the lounge doesnt need to be any better than it is.