$500 Monitors

[Bunjji]

Avantone Audio Active MixCubes (Gloss Black) | Sweetwater.com

[RichArien]

Originally Posted by Bunjji

Avantone Audio Active MixCubes (Gloss Black) | Sweetwater.com

I don't think those go with what he is asking for, I think he is asking for something middle of the road, maybe not so accurate for mixing but decent and that are bearable to listen to...


I've always used Alesis Monitor One MKII Powered speakers actually for the same reason, they have good bass, and mixes translate decently if you know how they sound, but if you have $500 to spend I guess there are better options out there that other people can recommend you.


Said monitors:
Alesis Monitor One MKII Powered Refrence Monitors Pair M1A MKII


Also I would like to add.. I've worked with HS50M's too.. and even if those are heavier in the high end I don't find them to be unbearable or uncomfortable to listen to, and those may be superior to my recommendation as those are not ported are backed by Yamaha.. etc.

[Wylekalker]

Equator D5 5.25" Coaxial Studio Monitors w/ Internal DSP for Matched Output and Accurate Voicing. Under 300 Per Pair.

[icecubeman]

Prodipe Pro 8 Ribbon Professional Active Ribbon Studio Monitor 8”

[stella645]

I've worked with HS50M's too.. and even if those are heavier in the high end I don't find them to be unbearable or uncomfortable to listen to, and those may be superior to my recommendation as those are not ported

So when working with them you obviously didn't look round the back where the port is!!

IMO HS50 are a horrible listening speaker....I actually hated them as a mix monitor too, but I know a lot of people disagree.

Equator D5 are easily the best mix monitor under $500.
Get those for $299 and see how you get on....if you don't like them for listening spend the other $200 on something more hi-fi sounding.

[RichArien]

Originally Posted by stella645

So when working with them you obviously didn't look round the back where the port is!!

IMO HS50 are a horrible listening speaker....I actually hated them as a mix monitor too, but I know a lot of people disagree.

Equator D5 are easily the best mix monitor under $500.
Get those for $299 and see how you get on....if you don't like them for listening spend the other $200 on something more hi-fi sounding.

I didn't knew they were backported, boomer.. and I agree with the equators, I'm planning on getting a pair soon.

[vijsolo]

Hi There,

Check out this option. I don't think it's possible to find something better for 500$

Behringer B2031A Truth Active Monitors

Cheerz!

[Puffer Fish]

Whoa! Those Equator monitors look pretty great! All the models. I will be doing some more homework on those, but the D5 boxes seem like a no-brainer for the price and since there is a great return policy. If the boxes are half as good as the rave reviews I was reading, they are worth owning, especially given all the junk that is available out there for the same price-point.

[halcyo]

Originally Posted by Wylekalker

Equator D5 5.25" Coaxial Studio Monitors w/ Internal DSP for Matched Output and Accurate Voicing. Under 300 Per Pair.

I'll be damned if I've heard nary a negative thing about these monitors. I can't imagine SO many GLOWING reviews could be THAT wrong. They have a 30 day return policy too, so I'd say it's a no-brainer to try them out. They are probably a little bit small for a large mix room, but they seem to be amazing for a small project studio.

That being said, I own a pair of Behringer Truth B2031's and they are pretty decent.

[trevjonez]

I love my tannoy 601a set i got new on ebay in a package with cables and mopads for 500 even.

[prizebeatz1]

Get the Yamaha MSP5's.

[goodkeys]

I used to recommend Blue Sky eXo2's at that pricepoint. It's a very good system - one of the best for under 500$ imo.
Had to have mine repaired on warranty recently and it was one of the worst experiences in customer service I've ever had:

Everything ok over at blue sky's?

In short: when they're up and runnings they're great. But if you have an issue brace yourself for a very unpleasant odysee

[thrustman]

Audition some Tascam monitors if you can find them. You might be suprised.

[Bewarethewolves]

Originally Posted by jdomini00

Get the Yamaha MSP5's.

I was looking at the MSP5's. I was trying to find a comparison between them and the Equator D5's. Are the MSP5's good for the price?

[Ragan]

I've been seeing Dynaudio BM5a (original version) pairs on Criagslist for around $500. They are fantastic. I have the mkIIs. I tested everything in the sub $1200 (new) range and they were my pick. Adam A7s were next. I'd get some used Dyn's.

[ctoth666]

I have the HS50M's and HS10W from Yamaha. It might not be bad idea to get a pair of HS80M's and then when you have more money you can add the sub to make a pretty killer sub-$1000 system.

[gsilbers]

Originally Posted by vijsolo

Hi There,

Check out this option. I don't think it's possible to find something better for 500$

Behringer B2031A Truth Active Monitors

Cheerz!

the maudio bx8 series.


both are actually pretty good sounding speakers for the pricepoint.

and if you compare them to higher priced monitors they stand pretty well.

of course most of it its because they steal the designs.

the other problem is that they are very inexpensive so they are a crap shoot in terms of quality ...

you might get a pair that works fine and its great or you get one that brakes in 3 months.

i would keep the receipts and add extended warranty.

[ironman187]

KRK Rokit 6s would fit the bill I think, at $400.00 for a pair, a lot of people say they sound more like Hifi speakers than monitors, but I like them for mixing too. Different strokes for different folks I guess. The Tannoy reveals are also really nice.

[prizebeatz1]

Originally Posted by Bewarethewolves

I was looking at the MSP5's. I was trying to find a comparison between them and the Equator D5's. Are the MSP5's good for the price?

Yes. However, if you could save up another $100 or so and be willing to be patient enough you could score a pair of Dynaudio Bm5a's. I see a good deal on ebay right now. Those are a very noticeable upgrade from the Yamaha MSP5's. Hell, you could even prowl the used section of Guitar Center and buy them one at a time for cheaper.

[KrisHayes]

IMO, save an extra couple bucks and wait for a pair of Yamaha HS80M's to go on sale. They're $700 for the pair retail, should be able to get them a bit closer to $500 if you look around. In that price range, nothing else touches those monitors.

[whatlaysbeneath]

I recently bought the event 20/20 BAS and am so far EXTREMELY happy. SOunds great and translates well. I found them to be quite low budget and well with the money.

[bigdoghat]

Originally Posted by Bunjji

Avantone Audio Active MixCubes (Gloss Black) | Sweetwater.com

These are lovely monitors but are kind of their own animal. The lowest they go down to is 90Hz so they won't be much good for checking bass. They're supposed to be a recreation of the Auratones or "Horrortones" as they were called that were in a lot of mixing studios back in the day and were used more to simulate small crappy speakers with a big focus on what your mix is doing in the midrange.

Checking your mix in mono on a single avantone is a great additional tool to have in the arsenal but they won't work as main mixing speakers

The original Event Studio Precision 8 are kick ass monitors, as mentioned somewhere on this forum by multi plantinum producer and mixer Ken Lewis. You can pick up a used pair for about $500. They now have a new incarnation of this speaker called the ASP 8 I think? Way more expensive and not as good. Event got sold and taken over so you want the originals from when Event still owned Event!! A friend of mine has these originals and I really really liked them. Some nice bass and treble trim pots on the back too. They're self powered, when they first came out I think the list price was $1200

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Event-Studio...item51a20d0e49

This ebay link says they're passive (meaning needing an amp) but I don't think they came in passive. Anyway, that's how they look

Here's another link that shows them as active (self powered) but of course no longer available, so you would have to look around used gear sites to find them

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-EVE-ASP8-LIST

My bad, the link above says they came in active or passive. So if you look around you should be able to find an active pair for $500, that's what my mate said they should go for, though sometimes you'll see them for a little bit higher, like $600 or $700. My mate paid $500 for hers

[thebennyd]

Originally Posted by KrisHayes

IMO, save an extra couple bucks and wait for a pair of Yamaha HS80M's to go on sale. They're $700 for the pair retail, should be able to get them a bit closer to $500 if you look around. In that price range, nothing else touches those monitors.

+1

I got mine VERY close to $500 NIB

They are absolutely great sounding monitors. I am getting ready to pick up another pair for my home mix room.

Save a little longer & get the HS80m's.

[awhitebeats]

Originally Posted by ctoth666

I have the HS50M's and HS10W from Yamaha. It might not be bad idea to get a pair of HS80M's and then when you have more money you can add the sub to make a pretty killer sub-$1000 system.

+2 on the HS80M's
Got mine used on eBay few years ago for $275 from a guy who produced for Jessie Powell

[robstercraw]

another + for hs80ms. I traded in some vxt8s for the hs80s and love them!!

[thisismyusername]

Originally Posted by icecubeman

Prodipe Pro 8 Ribbon Professional Active Ribbon Studio Monitor 8”

these are what i've decided on getting after reading about them here. can't vouch for them yet though cuz i've yet to experience them but they seemed to be highly praised. also you can find really freakin cheap i think. i've seen them for 280 in some places online (though not recently...should have jumped on that when i had the chance)

[Dustwulf]

Forgot about my thread

I could definitely pick up some HS80m's, my only concern is that they will be too harsh to listen to for longer periods. I'd like to be able to both mix accurately (at least slightly) and be able to listen to my vinyl and such without excessive ear bleed.

The Prodipe Pro 8 looks promising but I don't know much about it, definitely let me know once you get them thisismyusername.

And I'll look into the Events bigdoghat, hopefully some more ebay listings go up.

[Temple of Light]

Mackie MR8MKII are reference class mixing and mastering monitors,
or HS80M's are the only thing I would even look at for less than 3K Ea.

[thebennyd]

Harsh isn't a word I would associate with the yamahas.