Entry Level 8" Studio Monitors

[ghetto3jon]

hello. i'm interested in upgrading my studio monitors. right now i'm using event tr6s, and they're not bad. but i'd like to get 8" woofers for more accurate bass response. my first thought was the event tr8, but now i'm wondering about the various yahamas, or whatever else there is out there. so can anyone suggest any other entry level 8" studio monitors? thanks!

[DrDeltaM]

Don't let woofer size fool you regarding accuracy. While a bigger woofer can transduce more energy (read: volume), it doesn't mean it's more accurate.

If you want accurate bass, the overall monitor design is much more important then the size of the woofer. Bass reflex monitor systems for example (almost all cheaper monitors are bass reflex) are not very tight and defined in the bass, even tho many of them have loud bass.

[ghetto3jon]

good point. i just found the tr8s to have more accurate response than the tr6s, so i extended that to other monitors...even though it might not be true.

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by DrDeltaM

Don't let woofer size fool you regarding accuracy. While a bigger woofer can transduce more energy (read: volume), it doesn't mean it's more accurate.

If you want accurate bass, the overall monitor design is much more important then the size of the woofer. Bass reflex monitor systems for example (almost all cheaper monitors are bass reflex) are not very tight and defined in the bass, even tho many of them have loud bass.

Not true!!!

Bass reflex alignments can be every bit as 'tight' as a sealed enclosure. It's all in the implementation and box design.

It's a common misconception... The enhanced lowend output may seem like boomier bass, however it's just more lowend output. We're talking 50hz and below here... Bass below 50hz isn't 'tight'. The punchy tight bass occurs at 80hz and above (in my opinion).

I actually prefer ported boxes for monitoring without the presence of a sub, because you still need to hear what's going on down there.

Now, if it's a cheap ass shitty monitor, where 5 minutes of design when into the driver and the enclosure... Sure it will be boomy and muddy. But that comes from a driver that shouldn't be used in a ported design, or a poorly built box. NOT from being a ported cabinet...

As per the original poster, I wouldn't suggest any Guitar Center type of monitors. (KRK has some nice offerings, but I think that you can find better...)

I would suggest getting a pair of B&W 601 speakers from your local high end home audio dealer. These run around $450. These are passive however, and you'll need an amplifier. I would suggest an Onkyo or Yamaha stereo reciever. Or, if you have some kind of monitor controller (a volume knob on your interface) you can look into a lot of other amps. Hafler, QSC, Crown... There's a lot of stuff out there.

I think you'll get a lot more bang for your buck that way, than with a $1000 pair of powered "studio monitors".

But... I have no idea what I'm talking about.

[ghetto3jon]

i just noticed the first edition of the event 20/20 active monitors are pretty affordable used. anybody have any thoughts about them?

[Fast420A]

You should try out the Samson Rubicon's with the Ribbon Tweeter. These are a very impressive monitor for the money.

[DrDeltaM]

Originally Posted by Thumper

Not true!!!

Bass reflex alignments can be every bit as 'tight' as a sealed enclosure. It's all in the implementation and box design.

It's a common misconception... The enhanced lowend output may seem like boomier bass, however it's just more lowend output. We're talking 50hz and below here... Bass below 50hz isn't 'tight'. The punchy tight bass occurs at 80hz and above (in my opinion).

Of course you're right that there can be a huge difference between several bass-reflex designs. But still, I find for example a transmissionline design like PMC uses (granted, those aren't low end speakers anymore) to be tighter.

Originally Posted by Thumper

I actually prefer ported boxes for monitoring without the presence of a sub, because you still need to hear what's going on down there.

I agree, I'm not a big fan of subs for accuracy either, tho they're nice for vibe :-)

Originally Posted by Thumper

Now, if it's a cheap ass shitty monitor, where 5 minutes of design when into the driver and the enclosure... Sure it will be boomy and muddy. But that comes from a driver that shouldn't be used in a ported design, or a poorly built box. NOT from being a ported cabinet...

Not all ported cabinets fall into the standard bass-reflex category. PMC's are ported too for example.

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by ghetto3jon

i just noticed the first edition of the event 20/20 active monitors are pretty affordable used. anybody have any thoughts about them?

I've got a pair of the 20/20BAS monitors. They work. Nothing special, but you can get used to them and work without fatigue.

Nothing wrong with NS-10s and a Bryson.

[iceberg]

How about the M-Audio BX-8's, I have a set that I actually like quite well.

[djbrough]

$500- $1,000 = ADAM A7
$500- below = Event TR8