Monitors...what are you using?

[PRSkeeto]

Well it's time to upgrade my studio monitors. I currently use a set of Alesis Monitor ones, and while they have served me well enough, I'm getting more serious with my studio/recording and think better monitors are the next step. I'd like to stay under 1K, but will consider anything close new or used.

I've heard a few reccomendations around here (Les and his Mackie HR624's) but would like to get more perspectives too. SO tell me whatcha got, what to look for, things to consider, but most of all whats good!

Thanks!,
Mike

[Bryan T]

I have a pair of the Event 20/20 bas monitors. I like them, but some don't care for them.

If I were shopping today I would look hard at the Mackie's, but would probably save my pennies for some Genelecs.

The best recommendation is to grab some of your favorite CD's and audition the monitors. I spent a lot of time auditioning before getting the Events and compared them to monitors costing lots more and lots less. For my budget and ears, they were the best fit.

Bryan

[Unburst]

If I were in the market I'd be looking at KRK, active V8's or the for nearfields KRok or Rockits.

Great sounding monitors that won't flatter your mixes or pund you with sub-bass.

[MichaelK]

The only KRK's I've ever heard that I like to work with are these (http://www.krksys.com/v3/expose_e8t.asp), but they're huge.

Thanks to a disgruntled ad guy in Motown I got hip to Mackie HR624s, and I'm freaking nuts about them. They are so easy to mix with it's scary... I keep expecting that I'm hearing something wrong, but I'm not. They just work.

[Boogs]

i use the Tannoy Reveal passives with a decent consumer amp. great detail, very nuetral, non-fatigueing, mixes translate very well. of course, for the price, there has to be some trade-off, and in this case it's less deep bass - though i'm happy for the midrange accuracy and don't mind chacking for over-bassiness on my Mirage hi-fi's.

if i had to do it again, with the same budget, i'd probably get the Reveals again - though i'd check out the M-Audio BX8's for sure!

[Mike Dresch]

I use the passive Event 20/20's. They have worked well for my price range for a few years now. I would really like to check out the new active Events. They look super sweet!

[Scott Peterson]

I run Dynaudio BM6A's; outta your price range but utterly worth every single penny they cost IMHO.

In your price range I'd be all about Mackie. Seriously.

[Tim Z]

I'm using the Event 20/20 bas, but if I could start again I would not choose these speakers. They sound nice, but they don't translate the best. If I could afford them I would get the Blue Sky's. Or, for the price, I would prefer Mackie HR824's or 624's over the 20/20 bas.

Cheers

T

[fatang]

A lot to be said for all the suggestions so far, so much of the selection has to do with the style of music, the rest of the rig and the size of the room.

The HRs are both popular and really good, I've had a few folks moving to the Genelec 8030s and others having success with Tannoys active in a smaller room. I'm really fond of the Adam's but they're well out of your (and my) price range.

I'd really need to know more to be more specific but you're getting great suggestions here.

Robert

[Boogs]

Originally posted by Scott Peterson
Dynaudio BM6A's


man, would i love to check some Dynaudio's out! in fact, the first review i read of the Reveals, while very positive, had to qualify it with the statement that they sounded wooly in comparison to one of the Dynaudio BM-somethings. doh!

oh well, like i said... given the budget, i did pretty good. ;)

[GaryNattrass]

At home Tannoy Jupiter 2's from the early 90's.

At work Dynaudio M3's

[PintoMusic]

I'm actually selling a pair of Yamaha NS10M's. I actually had them up on eBay but the buyer flaked out on me. I might just relist them though.

[LSchefman]

>>I've heard a few reccomendations around here (Les and his Mackie HR624's) but would like to get more perspectives too.<<

I like these a lot, because they are easy to mix on, and translate well; maybe they're like the NS-10s of the 2000s.

I had a terrific sounding pair of Genelec 1031As, but I was actually having a more difficult time getting the low end right than I do with the Mackies; I think it was probably room anomalies, since they do sound a lot more detailed, but I sold them anyway (and bought more guitar stuff ;)).

I may add a pair of PMC monitors out of England, they sound accurate, but I need to hear them in my own room to figure out what I want. Genelec has a new series of cast aluminum monitors that also look interesting. Of course, both are out of the price point you're thinking about.

[oldgtarz]

I use T+A, KBX70 Hi-end bookshelf/monitors, very hard to find expensive (but great!) German speaker. My power source is a Denon PMA 880r and everything is connected with Hi-end cables (Oehlbach, MIT, Monster). For reference I have a set of early 80's IMF compact's, which I got from my dad after he upgraded to handbuilt Lambda colom speakers.
I've had these IMF for ages and I know them really well. The T+A's are a different story all together... Ever heard of liquid audio? Well, I know where it comes from! The highs are so beautifull, not schrill or annoying. I can work on them all day, and still spend the evening listening to music.
In my living room I have a Big T+A active set, top of the line with electrostat's and TSL's, way to expensive for me, but I got lucky... Source is a hi-end Toshiba DVD player (soon to be replaced by a Hi-End DVD recorder/SACD player), into Musical Fidelity X-PRE (tube preamp), into the T+A's.
The sounds in my living room are so awesome... like the band or singer is actually in the living room... Most impressive are great acoustic guitar recordings,it actually sounds like there's someone playing in my room (Roger Waters-Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking, Eric Clapton playing acoustic slide!!)
Beware: Do not get involved in Hi-End Audio unless you have a big bag of cash hidden in the basement!!
I got both T+A sets and the Denon second hand (who can afford $6500 for 2 speakers???)

[KungFuLio]

Genelec 1030A - The Work Horse
Yamaha NS 10M - The other workhorse
Minima 7 - lots o' fun
My Car - with the wimdows open

[Bassomatic]

Originally posted by KungFuLio
Genelec 1030A - The Work Horse
Yamaha NS 10M - The other workhorse
Minima 7 - lots o' fun
My Car - with the wimdows open

Hey- very hip looking studio you've got there (and I dig Pink Martini).

[LSchefman]

Cool studio, Kung!

Has a nice vibe.

[bjm007]

The big Mackies... They are the best near fields I've ever heard :D

[Bassomatic]

Also a Mackie HR824 user.

[TheArchitect]

I am using Alesis Monitor One's. They have worked very well for me.

[Screamer]

I too am using the Mackie 624's and digging them. I think that they are a great value.

[jzucker]

Originally posted by PintoMusic
I'm actually selling a pair of Yamaha NS10M's. I actually had them up on eBay but the buyer flaked out on me. I might just relist them though.

How much?

[PintoMusic]

Originally posted by jzucker
How much?

Since I posted that reply, I actually put them back on eBay.

They're at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3740848047 if you're still interested.

I might have a set of Alesis Monitor Two's for sale though. I think we want about $280US for those.

[jzucker]

Originally posted by PintoMusic
Since I posted that reply, I actually put them back on eBay.

They're at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3740848047 if you're still interested.

I might have a set of Alesis Monitor Two's for sale though. I think we want about $280US for those.

Any powered reference monitors?

[PintoMusic]

Originally posted by jzucker
Any powered reference monitors?

There are some Tannoys at the studio but they're not for sale.

[loudboy]

Dynaudio BM-15a and Realistic Minimus 7 at the studio. Wouldn't want to give up either ones...

My project studio has Tannoy Reveal Passives, which I REALLY like, in that price range.

On my PC, I've got a pair of Roland MA-12c powered monitors, and have done mixes on just them and a pair of AKG 240Ms that translated VERY well.

Loudboy

[nickdahl]

I use KRK V8 powered studio monitors and I like them a lot. Everything seems to translate well.

Nick

[Randy]

JBL 4408's

[Sparticus]

I'm use 20/20Bas and Mackie 824s. 20/20s are great for their price but will tend to make you (especially if your new to recording) go bass heavy. You can solve it slightly, like I did, by placing them near to a wall to get more bass naturally but that causes its own problems. Try picking out your favorite CD and playing it through all the monitors you can and finding which one is right for you.

[G'OlPeachPhan]

Wharfedale Diamond 8.2 Pro Active -

Read more about them here:
homerecording.com (http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=123752&page=1&pp=25&highlight=wharfedale)

or here:
Wharefedale website (http://www.wharfedalepro.com/frames/monitor_diamond.html)

[tac5]

Behringer TRUTH powered monitors. In spite of some bad reviews concerning their electronic reliability, they have worked flawlessly for me. Worth truly twice the price, at least.