Upgrade Monitors...help me narrow down

[Johnkenn]

Hey Sal - I had the A7's, A7x's and went to the Focal Twins and ended up with the Solos. I also use a KRK sub with all of those. I LOVE the solos...loved the Twins too - massive amounts of mid-range info from them (twins) - but I feel like my mixes are better with the Solos. Felt like the twins were even a little brighter than the solos and of course, more bottom...but the sub is doing the work for me down low. You will be really surprised how you ever mixed on the A7's if you spend a little time with the Solos. Btw - seems like I just saw some solos on CL for $1800.

[littlesicily]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

Hey Sal - I had the A7's, A7x's and went to the Focal Twins and ended up with the Solos. I also use a KRK sub with all of those. I LOVE the solos...loved the Twins too - massive amounts of mid-range info from them (twins) - but I feel like my mixes are better with the Solos. Felt like the twins were even a little brighter than the solos and of course, more bottom...but the sub is doing the work for me down low. You will be really surprised how you ever mixed on the A7's if you spend a little time with the Solos. Btw - seems like I just saw some solos on CL for $1800.

Excellent...thanks John.

[littlesicily]

Those solo6's on CL just sold yesterday! Dang...

[sphereman]

Sal,

I just switched over to the Pro Ac Studio 100s. Excellent. Better mid range detail than my PMC TB1s. Of course Bryston amps all the way around. Power Pac 120s.

[littlesicily]

Originally Posted by sphereman

Sal,

I just switched over to the Pro Ac Studio 100s. Excellent. Better mid range detail than my PMC TB1s. Of course Bryston amps all the way around. Power Pac 120s.

Thanks, R

[John Willett]

You mentioned PMC TB1 - these don't exist. Do you mean DB1 or TB2?

What is your budget?

At the £1,000 range the Neumann KH120A is my favourite.

I actually went for the next step up from these and use the ME-Geithain RL906 which have a superb review in the latest (November 2012) edition of Sound on Sound HERE and the "printer-friendly" version is here.

If you can't access either of these - SOS lock out the on-line magazine to non-subscribers, so if you can't see the review, send me a PM with an e-mail address and I'll send you the pdf scanned from my printed copy.

In the "for and against: box - I just love the: "against - I had to give them back"

[3singes]

Maybe PSI Audio ? Fantastic monitors.
Active Monitors | PSIAudio

[littlesicily]

Originally Posted by John Willett

You mentioned PMC TB1 - these don't exist. Do you mean DB1 or TB2?

What is your budget?

At the £1,000 range the Neumann KH120A is my favourite.

I actually went for the next step up from these and use the ME-Geithain RL906 which have a superb review in the latest (November 2012) edition of Sound on Sound HERE and the "printer-friendly" version is here.

If you can't access either of these - SOS lock out the on-line magazine to non-subscribers, so if you can't see the review, send me a PM with an e-mail address and I'll send you the pdf scanned from my printed copy.

In the "for and against: box - I just love the: "against - I had to give them back"

Hi John,

The TB1's exist. Maybe u just missed them. Google search them if u like.
My budget is $3000USD or less. I'll look into the monitors u recommended. Thanks!

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by littlesicily

Hi John,

The TB1's exist. Maybe u just missed them. Google search them if u like.
My budget is $3000USD or less. I'll look into the monitors u recommended. Thanks!

I stand corrected - thanks.

Must have been discontinued over ten years ago, though, as the TB2 has been around at least that long.

[littlesicily]

Originally Posted by John Willett

I stand corrected - thanks.

Must have been discontinued over ten years ago, though, as the TB2 has been around at least that long.

Yeah, I think it's been discontinued about that long. They are nice speakers...Ken Love at Mastermix/Nashville turned me on to them. They were just a bit too sweet for me, though.

[littlesicily]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

.loved the Twins too - massive amounts of mid-range info from them (twins)

Went down to GC Pro today and checked out the Solo's and Twin6's...holy schnike...I was impressed with the twins! Mid-range is right!

They are def in the running.

[Led Music]

Unity Audio Rock MKii . You're doing yourself a disservice by not trying these out. Worth every penny and right in your price range.

[Stephen Trask]

I just posted in your looking for Focal Twin thread but here it is again. I have a pair of those and they are dynamite. Had a great music editor in my studio a couple of weeks ago while mixing a score and he couldn't stop raving. Going to buy a pair for himself. Another option would be to get a modified Tekton Design Pendragon and a decent amp. The Tekton speakers are unbelievably musical, dynamic, evenly voiced and efficient. They make a modified version of their floor-standing Pendragon for use as a center channel. It looks like it would make a perfect monitor for a studio setting. The thing that I love about both these speakers is they sound the same when they are pushed as when they are played softly.

[littlesicily]

Thanks, Stephen. I'm patiently waiting for a good deal on some twin6's.

[Stephen Trask]

Originally Posted by littlesicily

Thanks, Stephen. I'm patiently waiting for a good deal on some twin6's.

Well worth the wait. By the way, I just recorded in Nashville for the first time a couple of weeks ago. What a great town for musicians, studios and food.

[wasserwerk]

+1 for Geithain RL 906. I own this and IMHO this is the best near field monitor in 2500€ class.

[narcoman]

Focals for sure. but perhaps a good option might be contacting Earthworks and. Seeing if they have any Sigma 6.2 left. they discontinued these years ago but they were and still ARE the best 2 way system under $10k. I'll qualify that with an "in my opinion".

Other than the the Geithains are a good option.

[AlexK]

Used ATCs can be picked up in that price range. SCM 10s being a good example, little sub but very smooth gentle bass roll-off makes the low-end really easy to work out on the ATC speakers. I'm a big fan btw and own a pair myself.

Outside of that, the Gethains are good, as are the KH120s. I don't find either of these have the bass 'speed' and cleanness of the ATC stuff, neither the midrange transparency and sheer image depth.

[littlesicily]

Very helpful, guys. Many thanks.

[littlesicily]

Originally Posted by Stephen Trask

Well worth the wait. By the way, I just recorded in Nashville for the first time a couple of weeks ago. What a great town for musicians, studios and food.

Yup, Nashville is a great music town. Friendly people, musicians. I miss the East coast but this is a nice place to be.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by wasserwerk

+1 for Geithain RL 906. I own this and IMHO this is the best near field monitor in 2500€ class.

These are what I use.

They were reviewed in the November Sound On Sound and the reviewer said they "punched well above their weight" and didn't want to give the review samples back.

You can download the PDF of the review HERE.

[littlesicily]

Is there a US dealer for the Geithain RL 906? Can't seem to find one online.
If they are direct purchase only, I'd pass on them if not able to 1st audition here in the US.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by littlesicily

Is there a US dealer for the Geithain RL 906? Can't seem to find one online.
If they are direct purchase only, I'd pass on them if not able to 1st audition here in the US.

Go to the Geithain website and ask them who the nearest dealer to you is and they'll let you know.

[littlesicily]

K, thx

[Colour Field]

Have you auditioned the Trident HG3's yet? Great monitors at the price, not sure what the street is the US though.

Tim

[littlesicily]

Originally Posted by Colour Field

Have you auditioned the Trident HG3's yet? Great monitors at the price, not sure what the street is the US though.

Tim

Tim, I've not. You'd think Nashville would have more to demo than it does.

The Focal Twin6's are still a strong contender for me b/c I did hear them and really liked what I heard. I'd also like to hear the ATC's if possible b/c they've come highly recommended by some peers here in town.

[littlesicily]

Originally Posted by Colour Field

Have you auditioned the Trident HG3's yet? Great monitors at the price, not sure what the street is the US though.

Tim

Looks like $6k USD... more than I'm wanting to spend.

[Colour Field]

Wow, that's expensive - mine were $5750 NZD imported/freighted etc. Had to check it out - there's a lot of variance on pricing. Full Compass had nearly $7k for a pair, Vintage King have them new for $4k, the PMI audio site has ex display stock with 6month warranty going for $3495.

Good luck with your choices :-)

Tim

[Stephen Trask]

Here is the website for Tekton Design: tekton-designcontent2011 Their Pendragon speaker is customizable into a center channel that sits much like a large near-field monitor. Incredible sound out of this company. I know folks who drive them with a Crown Audio Drive Core amp and rave. I know folks who have replace systems costing many, many times the cost of this combo and who are more than satisfied - gratified.