(Cheap) Powered Near-Field Monitors?

[Saxman]

Hello all...Long time lurker, first time poster...

I'm on the prowl for an extra set of monitors (to supplement my Mackie 824s).

I'm liking the M-Audio BX-8 and the Tapco S-8. Anyone have any first hand experience witht either of these?

Thanks in advance.

[PhilE]

I've been looking at similar ranges- I don't like the makies at all so ruled out the tapco and have gone for the Yamaha MSP-5 - they should arrive today so will post first reactions in a bit

[Beezoboy]

I have not mixed on 824's, but I really like my Wharfedale 8.2a's. You can get them at www.8thstreet.com for a little over $300. They are all the rage on the Homerecording.com forum. They have very, very, good imaging and sound very balanced. Check out a pair at a Hi-Fi shop and see for yourself. They are actually marketed toward audiophile's like the B&W's.

I think they would be a good contrast to any studio monitor really. They are unhyped to my ear and almost a little bland sometimes. I am getting very good translation with mine.

Also I think they don't have a tendancy to lose bass or lowend when you turn the volume down, so mixing a little quiet is no problem.

Beez

[PhilE]

OK- first reaction on the MSP-5 ... OK, seem very monitorish! Cant tell about the translation but the mids SEEM good.

A word about the Warfdales- don't know which ones you mean but the ones I demo'd were overwelmingly flatering and had holes all over the mids- much like the Samson Rubicon ribbons.

[warhead]

On the cheap the KRK RP5 are actually very workable.

War

[azwun25]

the Event TR8XL's kick major ass in the under $500(depending on the dealer..my local dealer is Alto Music) range. They blow away some monitors that are over $1000 IMHO. I would listen to them if at all possible. Peace!

[gregl]

Check out the powered version of the Yorkville YSM-1 (I believe it might be the YSM-1i).

[audiothings]

i'd suggest that you go for a completely different approach than the 2 way 8" scene, as you already have the mackies. go for something bigger (used jbl lsr 32s if you can afford 'em) or smaller (msp 5s perhaps?).

or, build your own killatone, inspired by the standard tv refererence monitor, the auratone 5c. this should be a great contrast to your existing scene.

.02,
self.

[hopeless_opus]

I got the KRK rp5's about a month or so ago for my home set up. I am really liking them more and more each time I use them. I had the old BX5's and really didn't like them at all, I have not heard the newer ones. I think the KRK rp's are a great value.

[Veddie]

Forget the Tapcos---they sound very close to your Mackies. Anyway what do you need two sets of nearfields for?

I would save up and go for some bigger monitors like one of the other posters suggested. Like some Genelecs. They'll cost you, but they're worth every cent.

[thewelfareline]

dumb question, i am looking at a price on the jbls and was wondering if they are priced by pair or individual monitor?

[PhilE]

Yep- msp=5 are good... translated yesterdays mix very well... a little different from the ns10s but i think I'm gonna be happy with them as a replacement.

[dhughes]

I've used the MSP-5s before and was pretty surprised. From my experience, which is limited in small size, small budget speakers, I would say they are one of the best bets. They definitely sound better, to my ears, than any of the MAudio speakers in the same class.

[PhilE]

Yep- very happy with the msp-5a now... very workable, I'm used to NS-10 and bigger Quested, KRK and Genelecs- and these do the job nicely.

my advice- buy msp-5a!

[dasbin]

Yorkville YSM1p's are the best thing going for under $1000. The amps alone are worth more than their asking price. Build quality is just excellent and great components are used all over the speaker (which is way more than I can say for the Wharfedale 8.2A's, which I also have).

The Yorkies are extremely flat and neutral sounding. Tight, quick bass that goes down surprisingly low. I prefer them a good deal over the far more expensive Mackie 824's, which have weird bass and mids. The highs on the YSM1P are similar though, a little "hard" sounding maybe.
I would stay away from the Wharfedales. Their response is all over the place, especially in the bass and lowmids, and they don't extend far in either direction. Detail is low. The only thing good about them is that they sound very pleasant. They are very "vocal" speakers; extremely warm with good imaging. I think this is mostly due to second harmonics because of bad components and drivers used, combined with a very subdued high-end and a poor cabinet design.

I've also heard MSP-5's and was not impressed. Super bright and hard with no bass to speak of. They sounded like the plastic they are.

[PhilE]

Originally Posted by dasbin

Yorkville YSM1p's are the best thing going for under $1000. The amps alone are worth more than their asking price. Build quality is just excellent and great components are used all over the speaker (which is way more than I can say for the Wharfedale 8.2A's, which I also have).

The Yorkies are extremely flat and neutral sounding. Tight, quick bass that goes down surprisingly low. I prefer them a good deal over the far more expensive Mackie 824's, which have weird bass and mids. The highs on the YSM1P are similar though, a little "hard" sounding maybe.
I would stay away from the Wharfedales. Their response is all over the place, especially in the bass and lowmids, and they don't extend far in either direction. Detail is low. The only thing good about them is that they sound very pleasant. They are very "vocal" speakers; extremely warm with good imaging. I think this is mostly due to second harmonics because of bad components and drivers used, combined with a very subdued high-end and a poor cabinet design.

I've also heard MSP-5's and was not impressed. Super bright and hard with no bass to speak of. They sounded like the plastic they are.

Thats really interesting- I don't know the 'yorkies' at all (do they exist in the UK??) but the Mackies and Warfdales I agree 100% about- I wonder how the MSPs you heard were being EQ'd cos I don't recognize them from your coments. They are certainly not flattering but I am finding the detailing great and the bottom end really good to work with- maybe just cos I'm coming from NS10s? Not finding them over bright either (although the top is certainly more extended than some things it is nowhere near a lot of what is on the market)
I guess this says a lot about the old adage of how personal monitoring is... the MSP for is a good monitor, not a 'nice' sound but a great tool.

[dasbin]

Indeed maybe because you are coming from NS-10's.

To me, the MSP-5's have a similar sound. Strident upper mids and anemic bass. Both elements are improved somewhat from the NS-10's but compared to "flat" reference monitors, they're definitely still a definable characteristic of the Yamahas.