Fairly priced monitors

[Bhok]

Hey there
I've been on the verge of buying studio monitors for quite some time now, after hunting around on the internet my choice is between the Samson R8a, the KRK rp8 G2, or perhaps pushing my budget abit and getting some Adam A5's.
Unfortunately there's not a shop anywhere near me where I can go and try these out, I was wondering mainly whether it would be worth the extra cash for the A5's, I make mainly electronica and dub, but ill be mixing a fair bit of rock/punk stuff on them aswell.

Any help would be much appreciated,
Cheers x

[UneducatedWeasel]

I've heard some A7s that were absolutely fantastic. At those prices I really would recommend trying to find somewhere you can try them out, even if you have to travel a little. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the RP series, but they are good for the price, especially if you can find a shop doing them on clearance. I picked up some Mackie MR5s on clearance that have been fantastic for me. Again, it's hard to really make a judgement without having a listen.

[verr]

I'm kind of in the same boat, as far as looking for great monitors around $400. I have done extensive review/forum searching and have had an eye on these guys. Prodipe : La moins chère des grandes marques there are a few American sellers on ebay. definitely worth a checking out. It would be awesome if anyone has used these and would like to comment. Good luck on your monitor hunt.
-V

[Bhok]

I managed to make it to a store where I could listen to the KRK rp8's and Adam a7s

Adam a7s sounded a hell of a lot nicer, but lacking in low end, and I can imagine the a5s, whcih are in my price range will be even more lacking. I can't really afford a sub either.
The rp8's where quite the opposite, I didn't like the sound of them much but they had a lot more bass.
Unfortunately for me the two monitors I could compare in the store where almost complete opposites, as I've read the rp8's have a lot more low end that a lot of monitors, which in many cases is quite bad, and of course the adams beign ribbon tweeters are very dominant in the high end.
Because of the sort of music I make, getting the right low end is important to me, and has been a problem for me in the past.
What I'm wondering is whether anyone else has heard these monitors along with other ones? How do they compare?

[captainate]

+1 for the MR5's. I haven't seen much about them on forums and such, but they've been great for me. I did a shootout between the MR5's, KRK rp8's, and Yamaha HS50M's and the Mackie's won hands down. It's really best if you can try them out somewhere though.

Of course the ADAM's are gonna be a hell of a lot nicer, but that's like asking a pinto to drive like a BMW.... no offense

[bebopxx]

It's always best to compare apples to apples

Mackie MR5 are apples

Adam A7s' are not an apple

[richgilb]

I have the MR5s and I hate them in all rooms I have tried them in. The bass is so big and loose on them that it is impossible to compensate when mixing. It is like guesswork. They are good at the mid and top, though.

Anyone else have this problem with them?

Rich

[BudgetMC]

I'd recommend picking up a pair of used passive monitors. If you keep an eye out, you can pick up a pair of the red Tannoy Reveal passives for under $200. Those are very workable monitors. There are also a fair number of KRK ST6's floating around pretty cheap.

[warhead]

How was the positioning of the ADAM A7 vs the RP8? The 8" driver ultimately will reach somewhat lower but not necessarily produce anything more clear. Each speaker's position in the room, especially their proximity to nearby walls, could drastically cause issue (canceling and strengthening of bass).

The A7 is pretty even handed in my book.

I still think the Yamaha HS80M is one of the better buys under $1k for a pair, or the MSP series from Yamaha.

War

[AlexK]

In the HS80 vs MSP5 vs A7 thing, it's the A7 all the way in my books. I would say this as I own a pair, but came out of a comparison yesterday between A7s, Genelec 8040A and Genelec 1032 (I've already done it with 8020A, 8030A and BM5a/BM6a), and I know the RP5, RP6 RP8, HR824, HR624 and MSP5 fairly well.

The A7 surprisingly, was competing with the Genelec 1032s, maybe a touch more sweetness and not as much low-end extension, but the consensus by me (and the other person who was swaying the Genelec way) was that the difference between the A7 and 1032 was not vast enough to warrant the price difference unless you really needed the extra extension of the 1032. This just gives you an idea of the sort of level the A7 performs to. I know it sounds incredible but it's truly what I heard yesterday.

In terms of RP8 vs A7 (to bring this post back to the right price level), there's no comparison. As great as the RP8 is for a budget monitor, it's just simply not truly accurate. If you want something which tells the truth, the A7 seems to be the way to go. The RP8 only goes lower with more bass, and doesn't actually tell the truth once you get down into those frequencies where the A7 runs out of steam. The same goes for the HS80 in my book, plus with the HS80 (and the RP8) you have to get at least a few feet away before they become properly phase coherent.

[lobsty]

Originally Posted by BudgetMC

I'd recommend picking up a pair of used passive monitors. If you keep an eye out, you can pick up a pair of the red Tannoy Reveal passives for under $200. Those are very workable monitors. There are also a fair number of KRK ST6's floating around pretty cheap.

I agree - I love the Tannoy Reveal passives, especially the old black cone ones. I love 'em so much I have two sets - each in a different country. I'll probably have to sell the ones here in Europe but I still have a pair back home to use when I get there.

[Bhok]

The adams where postioned correctly as far as I could tell. but the Krks where just on the desk, pointing more or less straight forwards.

The thing is, I'd be buying the A5's, not the A7's, I was only comparing the A7s and the shop had no A5s set up. In the A5's I would have even less low end, and for making the music I make (dub etc) it's kind of important for me to have low end.
I'm going to check out the prodipe ribbon 8's tomorrow, hopefully they will give me enough low end but still be true and sound nice.

I've listened to the HS50's recently, I wasn't too sure about them. My main problem is I dont currently have monitors, so I dont really have much to compare how monitors sound unless I can just A/B them on the spot, and the only things I usually mix through are ATCs, so everything sounds bad in comparison.

I doubt ill be buying passive monitors, as it means buying an amp, which is even more to consider.

Thank you all loads for your feedback x

[Byll]

+1 for the old Tannoy red Reveals. Like lobsky, our two location studio each contain a pair of them - not in separate countries, but in separate towns... One pair was purchased on this board, for $175.

Best.
Byll

[Multi-Monitors]

not sure what the budget it exactly but the Adam A7s are GREAT! I own'em and they rock...

[Bhok]

Today I went to check out some more monitors, I decided on the prodipe pro ribbon 8's
They are beutiful, I'm listening to them now, and I got a really good deal on them.
Massive thanks for verr for telling me to check them out.

I ran them against the HS50s and some small genelecs (8020s I think)

The prodipes just sounded the nicest, and are very very good for the sort of music I'm making.
Thanks to everyone who posted, been a MASSIVE help. x

[RTR]

Originally Posted by Bhok

Today I went to check out some more monitors, I decided on the prodipe pro ribbon 8's
They are beutiful, I'm listening to them now, and I got a really good deal on them.
Massive thanks for verr for telling me to check them out.

I ran them against the HS50s and some small genelecs (8020s I think)

The prodipes just sounded the nicest, and are very very good for the sort of music I'm making.
Thanks to everyone who posted, been a MASSIVE help. x

Are these Active or Passive? I may grab a pair of these, the reviews look great!!

[old_skul]

AMS has KRK Rokit 5 G2s for $119 each in white. I jumped on it and was shocked at the build quality and the sound.

[Little David]

I used the old red Tannoy Reveals for years, and got good results from them if I was good about checking mixes on headphones and other sytems. they are fairly neutral, though not as detailed as more expensive monitors.

on one hand, my new A7's are noticeably easier and more fun to work with and get great results. I have a much more immediately clear idea about what's needed versus the old Tannoys. on the other, the A7's aren't telling me anything new about my old mixes I didn't already know... if I worked hard on the mix using the Reveals, I got good results.

[Bhok]

The prodipes are active, Fantastic apart from getting a faint hissing from the tweeters when nothing is playing, though thats not really a significant problem.
I'd seriously suggest checking them out.

[Big_Bang]

The A7's DO NOT LACK LOW END! ... they simply dont lie to your face.

Remember Fletcher-Munsen curves? Adams do not over-emphasize! That means that what you mix is what you get! And surgically for that matter. If you do very low end work, get a sub or reference with proper headphones.

Any 20-money's "dj" closed back will produce far more LOW END that, say, Sennheiser 650's which a 20x costlier. They boom and boom and boom in complete obsurity of whats really going on, forcing the driver to under-work mids and high's. Same principle applies here. Plus, I'm certainly NOT a fan of rear bass port on close fields, and all the doo-doo that happens if you drop them near a wall or corner... yikes!! Obviously, lows are way more omni and the same thing happens to Adams... to a certain extent. At least first impact-wave are positively correlated and not 100% subject to room acoustics and respective positioning.

Tannoy's Reveal Red... unfortunatly I am forced yo use a pair extensively for one of my clients. I hate them. In a pro studio. With a Quad amp. The only thing I find them really good at is what I do with them... which is to slap an L2 on the mix bus and do the complete opposite of mixing. Slap in pre-mixed stuff and shoot straight to the stars! When I get that saussage-hair-trimmed waveform, when everything starts competing for L2's attention - THEN and only then I find the Reveals to be extremely accurate...

... get it?

[RTR]

Originally Posted by Bhok

The prodipes are active, Fantastic apart from getting a faint hissing from the tweeters when nothing is playing, though thats not really a significant problem.
I'd seriously suggest checking them out.

I don't like the hissing thing, is it the speakers or something you have hooked up? I would really like to get these but I don't want a hiss problem!

[Bhok]

Its definately the speakers, but its really not loud. It depending on where you position them you may not even here it at all.

[Iggy Poop]

Just wondering, do the Tannoy Reveals sound anything like the old Tannoy PBM 6.5's? I'm looking to replace my KRK V4's, they absolutely suck. I hate them. But I need something with more low end response to compliment my 6.5's

[PeteJames]

Originally Posted by old_skul

AMS has KRK Rokit 5 G2s for $119 each in white. I jumped on it and was shocked at the build quality and the sound.

Shocked in a good way or bad way