Compare low-end to high-end monitors

[badhorsie777]

I've been making music for a long time, and over the last several months have been buying software and a computer (macbook) and I have a wonderful setup that I am able to crank out great song demos and even just finished recording my own album, playing everything and recording it from start to finish.

That being said, the primary listening has been on sennheiser hd-280 pro headphones and my computer speakers, referencing on my car and stereo systems (both with high-end components, but definately "hyped" listening environments, albeit familiar ones.)

The guy at sweetwater is recommending for my money, unless I spend the Adam A7 or Dynaudio BM5-style money, that I pick up the event ALP5's... will I be using my money more wisely by saving up or are these $329 monitors (or any alternative in this range) going to be real production tools? I am working in a LONG (30 feet long) narrow (9 feet across) bonus room over our garage. I just don't want to spend my money on things I don't need. Anyone survived this stage of the game want to share some advice?

This isn't exactly "Events vs. Adams" but rather an "is it worth it" thing. I know when I bit the bullet and got Eden cabs and a Demeter pre, my bass gear buying was done. I knew my fender twin reverb was the same kind of purchase... I also have made cheap deals be incredible working tools (the amplitube group buy I just got in on and my $329 ibanez archtop come to mind)...

Thanks, everyone.

-Badhorsie777

[tINY]

Even Rockit-5 monitors will do if your acoustic environment is under control (sure, the more spendy speakers are a bit better). The biggest difference will be from decent acoustic treatment of the room - absorbtion at first reflection points, good placement, and bass trapping.

9 feet wide (and I assume 8 feet high) is a tough space. The headphones and checks in other familiar environments may not be worse...



-tINY

[Lunatique]

My personal opinion is that the low-end monitors aren't much better than typical stereo speakers, and if you want monitors that do more good than harm, it's best to save up for good reference quality ones. In the meantime, you need to replace that HD280--it is far from being accurate. For the same price, the Audio-Technica M50 kicks the shit out of the HD280--no comparison at all. The M50's also a sealed design too so you can use it for tracking just fine. Many people say that mixing on headphones is bad because there's no crossfeed, but you can get headphone amps with crossfeed function, and there's also a plugin that does it--can't remember the name though.

If I were starting over and I had very little money, I'd save up until I can buy monitors that are at least in the $1,000~$2,000 a pair range. Until then, I'd just learn my available stereo speakers well and supplement with the M50 headphones.

From all the monitor listening tests I've done, if I had to spend less to still live with a pair that I can love, I'd say the Digidesign RM2's, JBL 6328P's, Dynaudio BM15A's, or Focal solo/twin 6's. They are just at the threshold of going into diminishing returns for me--meaning they are really worth the money and sound head-above-shoulders better than monitors below their price range. Beyond that price range it's definitely diminishing returns territory. Two to three thousand dollars may seem like a lot, but considering the much more expensive monitors only sounding 5~15% better, they really are very reasonably priced.

Keep in mind your room acoustics play a huge part too.

[badhorsie777]

Thanks, y'all - that's exactly what I was wanting.

[A LaMere]

I'm not trying to endorse the buying of cheap monitors but...

I think the real question here is, will they help you to create music? I'm assuming you're setting up more of a songwriter's studio and not a proffessional mixing environment right?

I'm going to go ahead and say just having a pair of speakers to monitor on and just to listen to music on will be immensely helpful.. period.
Would it be nice to have the Dynaudio's? Yep, probably....

but I have a friend who has the tuned reference 6's as his main monitors and does absolutely fantastic work on them.. I've heard them/used them at his place many times and I think they sound fine.. Since they go for $400 brand new, I'd wager that you could find a used pair for $300 or so??

Point is... there are probably a LOT of cheap monitors that will do the job... find a pair that you like the sound of... maybe that sound flat to you and upgrade at a later date, if needed...

[GloryisSilent]

Originally Posted by Lunatique

My personal opinion is that the low-end monitors aren't much better than typical stereo speakers, and if you want monitors that do more good than harm, it's best to save up for good reference quality ones. In the meantime, you need to replace that HD280--it is far from being accurate. For the same price, the Audio-Technica M50 kicks the shit out of the HD280--no comparison at all. The M50's also a sealed design too so you can use it for tracking just fine. Many people say that mixing on headphones is bad because there's no crossfeed, but you can get headphone amps with crossfeed function, and there's also a plugin that does it--can't remember the name though.

If I were starting over and I had very little money, I'd save up until I can buy monitors that are at least in the $1,000~$2,000 a pair range. Until then, I'd just learn my available stereo speakers well and supplement with the M50 headphones.

From all the monitor listening tests I've done, if I had to spend less to still live with a pair that I can love, I'd say the Digidesign RM2's, JBL 6328P's, Dynaudio BM15A's, or Focal solo/twin 6's. They are just at the threshold of going into diminishing returns for me--meaning they are really worth the money and sound head-above-shoulders better than monitors below their price range. Beyond that price range it's definitely diminishing returns territory. Two to three thousand dollars may seem like a lot, but considering the much more expensive monitors only sounding 5~15% better, they really are very reasonably priced.

Keep in mind your room acoustics play a huge part too.

Yet despite this hundreds of gold/platinum records have been mixed soley on NS-10's and auratones, which are 'home stereo speakers'.

[Lunatique]

I almost never buy anything new unless I absolutely can't find something used. Saves me so much money.

Don't take anyone's word--burn a couple of CD's worth of music that you know very well--spanning different styles (vocal, orchestral, jazz, rock, electronic, acoustic...etc), and then demand that the local pro audio store take a bit of time to setup all their monitors to volume match, flat EQ setting, and space them as equally apart as possible, and then just A/B the hell out of them on various material. If you've never done anything like it before, it'll be very fun and educational. Pick a day when the store isn't busy (avoid Friday and weekends, or evenings) too so you won't get distracted by other customers. Also, if possible, do this at a non-giant franchise store, as small boutique/mom&pop stores have better service and less crowds.

[kevinjhcw]

I know I am showing my age but I made a track that was on a well known artist back in the 90's using a Roland vs880 a yahama DJX and some headphones from Kmart. The truth is I was on tour, used the equipment everyday for 4-5 hours and after referencing my mix on the system in our tour bus I knew what my sound needed to be. Maybe it was luck but after It was mastered @ the Hit Factory (RIP), it sounded like it was made at Quadrasound....
My point, if you can learn through listening and referencing than don't waste the money on some high end monitors. Plus KRK 5''s are $99 now.

[Lunatique]

Originally Posted by GloryisSilent

Yet despite this hundreds of gold/platinum records have been mixed soley on NS-10's and auratones, which are 'home stereo speakers'.

Yeah, but were they mixed/mastered on those monitors alone, or other monitors were used to supplement the sessions? Also, the people who did them were professionals with years of training or experience, and know exactly how to compensate for monitors that aren't accurate. The OP is not a professional recording/mixing/mastering engineer--cannot expect him to do the same without a lot of experience. A more accurate pair of monitors will save him a lot of trial and error of learning a pair of inaccurate monitors.

[Unclenny]

I mixed on 280's for a long time before switching to Ultrasones.

I have a set of Event Project Studio 6 monitors that I go to when I can but the ugly truth is that in my home studio environment it's more often the phones that get the use.

I think that at this level you sometimes have to use what you have and get to know it very well to get the best results possible.

[theblue1]

The Alp5's have respectable specs for a 5" speaker, +/-3 dB down to 53, but if you were to move up in size (but not that much in price) you could move to one of Event's larger speakers and get a little more bottom. Events tend to have some of the best bass response for the money, I'm thinking, but that's not everything. (FWIW, I've been quite happy with an original pair of 20/20bas from them. I use them with a pair of NS10m's for 'cruelty' monitors.)