New monitors to replace the Focals

[purplesky]

Originally Posted by Andy_bt

I'm french and personally I like Focal but are you saying Andrew's wrong and he cannot dislike Solo's highs?
A.

I didn't say he was wrong. 5 years to realize the solos have a nervous high end seems kind of odd.
He said they have been great for 5 years and he likes them so maybe I am confused.

[purplesky]

Originally Posted by Fleaman

One man's 'harsh' highs is another man's 'detailed' highs.

If they are harsh in the high end why use them for 5 years?

He said the solos have been great for 5 years.

[vintagelove]

another thumbs up for the opals

[Joram]

Originally Posted by purplesky

If they are harsh in the high end why use them for 5 years?

He said the solos have been great for 5 years.

Didn't the OP mention that he tried out several ways to improve the sound? It is well possible that you changes your opinion after a few years. At least, i do. That is called development.

[purplesky]

Originally Posted by Joram

Didn't the OP mention that he tried out several ways to improve the sound? It is well possible that you changes your opinion after a few years. At least, i do. That is called development.

He did mention 5 years of working great. That is more than a few years dude.

If the OP likes Focal he can get out the wallet and develop into some SM9s or the Twins with the sub6.

There are many speaker choices out there now and it all depends on how much cash you wanna blow and how big you wanna develop your opinion.

He could try the Opals or something similar price wise.

Obviously the Opal guys love their speakers so why not start there?

Sell the Solos.

[Arksun]

Originally Posted by purplesky

He did mention 5 years of working great. That is more than a few years dude.

I think you misread his post, he didn't say they've been great for 5 years and THEN he noticed a problem. He's saying he's enjoyed working with them overall, but always kinda felt like the top end was a bit fatiguing to work with (an opinion I share), so he's wondering if there's something else out there that also has a lot of the great qualities of the Focals but less fatiguing.

Switching to the Twins isn't really gonna solve the top end issues imho, so its worth recommending other types.

[andrew montreal]

Originally Posted by purplesky

Seems like if the Focal Solos are truly excited or nervous in the high range you would have noticed in the 1st year and not the 5th year of use.

Originally Posted by Arksun

I think you misread his post, he didn't say they've been great for 5 years and THEN he noticed a problem. He's saying he's enjoyed working with them overall, but always kinda felt like the top end was a bit fatiguing to work with (an opinion I share), so he's wondering if there's something else out there that also has a lot of the great qualities of the Focals but less fatiguing.

Switching to the Twins isn't really gonna solve the top end issues imho, so its worth recommending other types.

Originally Posted by Joram

Didn't the OP mention that he tried out several ways to improve the sound? It is well possible that you changes your opinion after a few years. At least, i do. That is called development.

And it looks like we have a tie... Arksun and Joram! Though Arksun's thoroughness gives him the extra points so, Joram did throw in a nice compliment with the "That is called development".

Perhaps I wasn't clear (though I thought I was), on the whole I enjoy the Focal. Of all the monitors in that price range that I had tested when I originally bought them, to me they were superior in terms of imaging, detail, and, highs aside, sound quality. But the highs were always a little edgy to me. I was told by a representative that I should consider the volume control that I was using. Someone else suggested the power supply. I'm open to improving my system and so I tested. It did help, but the feeling is still there. So I continued working with them... my investments since have been in microphone purchasing, modding, preamps, instruments, wine, so on. And yes, to an extent I've gotten used to "living" with the element that still bothers me. I figured that if I wanted to upgrade my monitors I'd end up having to spend $4000... which was a bit of a leap for me.

Of late, I've been mixing alot and it's been getting to me. So I'm finally resurfacing to see what might be out there. At least test some models once again... perhaps there are new monitors in my price range that can do what I want and need from my monitors.

Originally Posted by purplesky

In your price range you already have great speakers.

My exact feelings at the time of my purchase.

[purplesky]

Originally Posted by andrew montreal

And it looks like we have a tie... Arksun and Joram! Though Arksun's thoroughness gives him the extra points so, Joram did throw in a nice compliment with the "That is called development".

Perhaps I wasn't clear (though I thought I was), on the whole I enjoy the Focal. Of all the monitors in that price range that I had tested when I originally bought them, to me they were superior in terms of imaging, detail, and, highs aside, sound quality. But the highs were always a little edgy to me. I was told by a representative that I should consider the volume control that I was using. Someone else suggested the power supply. I'm open to improving my system and so I tested. It did help, but the feeling is still there. So I continued working with them... my investments since have been in microphone purchasing, modding, preamps, instruments, wine, so on. And yes, to an extent I've gotten used to "living" with the element that still bothers me. I figured that if I wanted to upgrade my monitors I'd end up having to spend $4000... which was a bit of a leap for me.

Of late, I've been mixing alot and it's been getting to me. So I'm finally resurfacing to see what might be out there. At least test some models once again... perhaps there are new monitors in my price range that can do what I want and need from my monitors.



My exact feelings at the time of my purchase.

The solos are now $2700.

If you are truly miserable using the solos and have out grown them demo some speakers in the 3k range.
Obviously there will be tradeoffs with other brands.

You might get lucky at this price point and find something that fits your hearing better.

There are guys that master with the Solos as you probably already know.


I just didn't get the impression that you now hate the Solos. My bad.

[mml]

Westlakes are definitely smooth on top across the board. Audition a few models that you can afford. Also, truth audio fit the bill as well.

[andrew montreal]

Originally Posted by purplesky

You might get lucky at this price point and find something that fits your hearing better.

Well said. It reminds me of the fact that there are lots of people who enjoy listening to music loudly. I absolutely can't stand doing that, unless I've got earplugs on or the highs are brought way down... and I'm talking about any system. Especially live shows. But damn if I won't mosh with the best of them if I've got my plugs in.

Originally Posted by purplesky

The solos are now $2700.

$2700. Not bad. I wonder what the resale would be on them.

Originally Posted by purplesky

I just didn't get the impression that you now hate the Solos. My bad.

It's love, it's hate. It's a mixed bag of emotions. But if I can find this quality under $3000 with mellower highs, I'm sold. I'll begin demoing in a couple of months... right now I've got to finish the projects at hand.

[Musiclab]

for a goof did you try turning the tweeter down a smidge?

[Andy_bt]

Originally Posted by John Willett
At a lower price, IMHO, the Neumann KH120A are the best around at the £1,000 mark (£499 +VAT each retail in the UK).

Will look into them. Hopefully they are available for testing in Montreal.

I'd like to second John's opinion about the KH120, they sound much larger than they are and very natural IMO , surprising monitors (maybe not the best bet if you like some focus on the mids though).
A.

[purplesky]

Originally Posted by andrew montreal

Well said. It reminds me of the fact that there are lots of people who enjoy listening to music loudly. I absolutely can't stand doing that, unless I've got earplugs on or the highs are brought way down... and I'm talking about any system. Especially live shows. But damn if I won't mosh with the best of them if I've got my plugs in.



$2700. Not bad. I wonder what the resale would be on them.



It's love, it's hate. It's a mixed bag of emotions. But if I can find this quality under $3000 with mellower highs, I'm sold. I'll begin demoing in a couple of months... right now I've got to finish the projects at hand.

I would think the resale on the solos would be pretty good since they still seem to sell well and there was a recent price increase.

Yes hearing is a weird thing for sure.

[purplesky]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

for a goof did you try turning the tweeter down a smidge?

I was going to mention this idea but I didn't want to sound like an idiot.

I have my Twins tweeters set flat and they sound good as they have broken in so I guess I will leave them this way.

Seems like it might help take off some of the high end edge.

[7+1]

maybe try putting that cloth protector shield that came with your speakers over the beryllium tweeters...

might tame a little bit of the high end.. might ruin the sound.. i never tried it..

but it would only take 5 seconds to see.. and cost nothing..

[andrew montreal]

Originally Posted by 7+1

maybe try putting that cloth protector shield that came with your speakers over the beryllium tweeters...

might tame a little bit of the high end.. might ruin the sound.. i never tried it..

but it would only take 5 seconds to see.. and cost nothing..

I have thought of doing this but I was concerned that it would not be good for the tweeter to have part of its energy being forced back on it. Any thoughts?

[Fleaman]

Well, back in the dayz there was the 'ol tissue paper over the NS10 tweeter trick. Use a thin single ply toilet paper like Scotts.

[7+1]

Originally Posted by andrew montreal

I have thought of doing this but I was concerned that it would not be good for the tweeter to have part of its energy being forced back on it. Any thoughts?

It's Hi Fqs... there isnt a ton of energy there... give it a try.. it wont hurt!

[rakkaus]

..sell your car, buy a RL901k and a bike; be happy for the rest of your life lol

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by rakkaus

..sell your car, buy a RL901k and a bike; be happy for the rest of your life lol

Actually a pair of RL901K

[rakkaus]

indeed a very conscious setup, i dig the idea of just a little center desk. from experience i know that large surfaces next the monitors may degrade sound a lot.

[KolorPikker]

Originally Posted by purplesky

The solos are now $2700.

What. Seriously? Where?

Where I live, I can get a pair of twin6's for $2650 + free shipping....

Also, has anyone considered PSI monitors? PSI's aren't available to demo anywhere near here, but I'd like to know how they sound relative to the Focals, which I can demo locally.

[SteelyDani]

Andrew,

Have you made a decision?

I know very well that your ears are excellent and as I'm also thinking of buying new monitors, I'd like to know your final decision.

[Bluesdog]

Originally Posted by Tube World

How about the Adam A77x?

Yes! Well you mean A7x right?
Really love mine... everyone loves their own speakers of course but still... Great affordable speakers, not 'nervous' at all, dear OP.

[FadersmakmeHappy]

Here is my 02.

There is a big difference between the Focal Twin's and the Solos. I had the Solo's and traded them in for the Twins. There is a balance across the spectrum that the Twin's have that makes them...IMHO...much easier to listen to and therefore mix with over time.

Since you want a new pair of monitors, go out and give the new girls on the block a spin...but I would include the Twins on your list of potential suspects. I think some of the things you find troubling with the Solo's won't be there on the Twins.

FWIW...I also have a pair of Adam A7's, which I purchased for my mobile rig. I now use them to A/B with the Focals and I am pretty happy. Sometimes for me it just comes down to having something different for a while.

....now if my wife could just be more understanding.

[ECM]

Originally Posted by andrew montreal

Are there monitors in that price range that have as great a sense of depth, clarity, and precision, with perhaps a mellower upper range? I certainly wouldn't want to lose definition... on that front, in this price range, these guys are great.

ATC, PMC & PSI seem to fit that bill there.

[AlexK]

ATC definitely do not have a 'projected' or 'sparkling' top end - it feels honest and natural, maybe a little rolled off above 10k, but is hard to say. The upper mids are definitely not mellow though - they're completely revealing and true. Any upper mid roughness or hardness in the sound will be VERY obvious on the ATCs, which makes them incredibly easy to mix on. The upper mids are where most other speakers really miss out in my experience...