Sonodyne SM100 vs SM200, what to choose in a small studio

[Brad Lunde]

Originally Posted by akkimusic

Hey Everybody,
I´m new to the Gearslutz forum, though i´ve been a regular guest the last few years.

So after reading all the nice comments about the Sonodyne SM100 monitors here, i decided to go and buy them. I previously had the KRK VXT6, and was quite happy with them. The SM100 are sounding real nice so far, the only thing bugging me is the lack of low end that i had in the VXT6. I make EDM.

So i went to the dealer and borrowed the SM200´s.
They have that extra low end i was missing, but i just find them too big and massive, as my studio is pretty small: 4x3,5 meters, ceiling is 2m, and my listening position is 1m from the speakers. I´m also getting that extra bass "rumble" in the back of the room that i didnt have with the Sm100 or KRK´s
The room is acoustically threated though, with bass traps in the back etc. I also rolled of some bass (2 db) on the back of the monitors

Now i just can´t make up my mind, keep the SM100 and manage without that low end, or go with the SM200 and get that extra low end, but at the same time a bit too massive sound.

Hoping someone has some tips for me, i am really stuck right now.

cheers,
Akki

Yes, try the Sonodyne SLF210 sub added to the 100s....this is a very good combo and sounds quite nice. It resolves your need for low end but retain the nice size of the 100. The sub has a switch input so with a simple latching footswitch you can turn the sub on and off and compare "with sub" to "full range 100s only" . I will have this combo at my booth at AES 2012 in San Francisco next weekend. (I should note here I import Sonodyne to the US).
Brad

[akkimusic]

Yeah, i was hoping to not use the sub, i dont know why but i get the feeling it will complicate things.

Unfortunately i live in Norway, so i´m not able to visit your booth at the AES, sorry!

BTW i´m sensing the sm200´s has a bit less Mid´s than the SM100´s?

[Brad Lunde]

Originally Posted by akkimusic

Yeah, i was hoping to not use the sub, i dont know why but i get the feeling it will complicate things.

Unfortunately i live in Norway, so i´m not able to visit your booth at the AES, sorry!

BTW i´m sensing the sm200´s has a bit less Mid´s than the SM100´s?

On the statement of 200s have less mids than the 100s, I think the presence of so much low end certainly makes it feel that way.

I think the presence of low end can complicate things, as you experienced with the build up of low end in the back of your room with 200s. I have been in many studios in the US with similar problems but on a larger scale.

You often cannot have it all, and the truth is great playback is not speakers alone-it is speakers and room, and the key is a great sounding room, which requires investment, experimentation and work. In a great room, many things sound good. In a bad one, nothing works no matter how good it is. And a small note, electronics cannot fix acoustic problems (EQ) it can only mask or slightly reduce a problem.

This is why small speakers (50s and 100s)very close to you (with 1st reflection points treated with some absorption) can deliver amazing results. This is the idea in nearfields, to minimize room effects. You can experiment yourself: take your speakers outside and sit close to them- they sound very different without any reflections.

Brad

[Karloff70]

I'd stick with the 100's. I use them every week in a studio and have heard the 200's. To me the 200's didn't feel as good. Bit s making on some vocals which were not inherently sss-y and not quite as resolved in general, and the mids a bit weird. IMHO

The 100's have a little boost bump at 60Hz, so you still get a vibe off your EDM kick, but I would resort to a good pair of headphones and a bit of spectral meter checking on the end for sub bass lingering under the kicks instead of getting 200's. Sounds like by description it is what your room is trying to tell you to do.

[akkimusic]

Allright, many thanks guys, i´ll think i´ll stick with the 100´s