Inexpensive Pro Monitors

[EminentAndrew]

I need a pair of Pro Monitors around $600. What are Good quality yet cheap Monitors to mix on? I forgot to mention I have a Digidesign 003 so I'd like to take advantage of that sound quality and actually hear what I payed $1,200 for. THANKS!

[jaketanner]

For that price I would recommend the Yamaha HS50. You can always add a sub for the extended low end. I'm a full time engineer and have used these for many mixes and have had great results...they do translate very well. Not exactly NS10s, but you'll get used to them quick.

[tINY]

I saw the last ST6 in guitar center for $70. These are passive, so you'll need an amp. My RA150 does fine for up to moderate loudness. There are other passively cooled amps for $200 (or you can use an old home stereo amp).

That's $140-$200 for the speakers and $200 or less for an amp.

The ST6 monitors sound good - a little subdued in the the high end, but solid and present.




-tINY

[awakened]

Originally Posted by jaketanner

For that price I would recommend the Yamaha HS50. You can always add a sub for the extended low end. I'm a full time engineer and have used these for many mixes and have had great results...they do translate very well. Not exactly NS10s, but you'll get used to them quick.

these or hs80s. i used the hs80s for over a year and was doing label work.

they translate well on the cheap.

[quickmill]

Originally Posted by jaketanner

For that price I would recommend the Yamaha HS50. You can always add a sub for the extended low end. I'm a full time engineer and have used these for many mixes and have had great results...they do translate very well. Not exactly NS10s, but you'll get used to them quick.

These are not the most pleasing speakers to listen on but I can't imagine a better cheap monitor for mixing. I love these things.

[Joe Gilder]

HS50Ms are great, but those new JBL LSR4325s might be some new competition in that price range. They sound pretty good.

[bruno gouveia]

I don't think they exist...

[Bleek]

I think Joe might be referring to the JBL LSR2325P's

I have a set waiting at the post office for me now.

We'll see....

[eaks]

I agree that the yam's are nice for the price, but when I made a round up 3 years ago, I ended up buying the krk rp6 over the yam's because of the 200$ difference.

However, prices have changed since and the rp-6 are now generation 2.


still, consider krk!

[hello people]

Mackie MR5.

They're basically all the same in that price range. You wanna just get to know them really over time. Maybe take them out to dinner...ask them what their favourite colour is.

[kidvybes]

Originally Posted by quickmill

These are not the most pleasing speakers to listen on but I can't imagine a better cheap monitor for mixing. I love these things.

+1

[andersmv]

Look at some KRK's. You can get the big 8 inch rokits for $250 each, that would be a great option if you are mixing stuff like R&B where you need a more low end. If you don't need a lot of low end in there and mix in a smaller room, look at their nicer VXT series. Brand new you can get the VXT-4 for $300 each brand new. I've seed the larger VXT-6 go for around $650 used on here. I love KRK's and have not found something better in their price range. Guitar Center carries lots of KRK's and have great prices on them and usually have a lot of them set up that you can listen to. They also almost always have the Yamahas and others you can compare to. Check those out, I had not really heard of KRK before a friend got some and now I'm sold on them.

[XHipHop]

i like the small blue skys. i use them along side my adam a7's and i'm a happy camper.

[PdotDdot]

Since you are nearing the $1000 range, I suggest looking into the possibility of springing the extra bucks and getting a pair of Adam A7's. I realize is it more than you are allowing for but Monitors are pretty important in the chain so if you can reconsider and find a way to come up with the extra cash, in the long run, you will be happier.

I had used a pair of JBL 4312 Studio Monitors for years and the Adam's sent them into the living room to become stereo speakers.

My .02

PS - I am not saying the Yamaha's are a poor speaker by the way. Just that I prefer the Adam's.

[JSchaefer]

I use a pair of KRK VXT-6s and I love them. I am planning on adding a sub later though since I work a lot with funk and other bass heavy styles. I got mine on sale with 12 months no interest from Guitar Center for about $700 I think (it was a while ago so I can't exactly remember the price).

[stevens119]

Mackie HR824 or Adam A7 Used. Completely different sounding. But both are considered pro.

[NotVeryLoud]

+1 for the HR824's (the old ones, I haven't used the MKII's). Really great monitors for the money.

If you can scrape up an additional $150, you can get a pair of used A7's.

The A7's are clinical, amazingly detailed, and have fantastic hi frequency reproduction, but can be a little light on the bass response.

The HR824's are great all'rounders and put out a lot of bass for their size.

[close/far]

HR824s again... tons of people use them as main reference.

[doncaparker]

If you are tempted by tINY's suggestion, I have a pair of KRK ST6 passives and an Alesis RA-100 for sale in the classifieds. I'll make you a great deal on them.

[EminentAndrew]

I Think I'm gonna end up going with the MSP5's. Anybody disagree? Or offer a better alternative

[Joe Gilder]

Originally Posted by Bleek

I think Joe might be referring to the JBL LSR2325P's

I have a set waiting at the post office for me now.

We'll see....

Whoops! You're right. Thanks for correcting. I'm so used to the 4300 series!

[NotVeryLoud]

Originally Posted by EminentAndrew

I Think I'm gonna end up going with the MSP5's. Anybody disagree? Or offer a better alternative

If these are going to be your only monitors, the Yamaha's are probably a bigger risk, compared to the Mackie 824's which are used by many people (including pro studios) and have a solid track record. That being said, you can learn to make good mixes on almost any monitor, once you get comfortable with them and know their sound.

You'd have to get the 824's used to keep within your budget, but $600-$700 is about the going rate.

[Heartfelt]

Originally Posted by awakened

these or hs80s. i used the hs80s for over a year and was doing label work.

they translate well on the cheap.

+1 thumbsup

You CAN get them that cheap.

[~Zenshin Suru~]

I must urge you to go for the Mackie Hr824 because they will probably make you better at making music. They work really well, and you see them in real control rooms quite often

[BudgetMC]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

i like the small blue skys. i use them along side my adam a7's and i'm a happy camper.

+1 on the Blue Skys. I've got the MediaDesk 2.1 system, and it makes me very happy. Check out the Blue Sky Website link below for B-Stock deals on Demos. I got mine for well under your price point... heck, you'd almost have enough left over for the Yammie 50s.

Blue Sky

[rolo]

Event ASP8's!!!

[Darth Preamp]

AudioProz modified Paradigm Mini monitors v4
Simply the best bang for your buck out there, and damn fine monitors at any price.

DP



Gear Rebbe - Reicher Recording

[fallforward]

I have the HS50's with the Matching sub and love them. Everything I do translates very well. The HR824's were a little bass-hyped for me.