Alternatives to Barefoot for Nearfield Mastering?

[Synthnerd]

I know using nearfields is not ideal for mastering but due to space limitations that is my only option (5-6ft distance from ear to speaker).

I need nearfield monitors capable of flat bass down to at least 30Hz, under $7000 (less would be good, I can buy used if needed), mastering mostly bass heavy dance music. Room is already treated to the max.

I am looking at the Barefoots as they are advertised as midfields/nearfields and they have good bass and rave reviews. Any other suggestions?

[macc]

Using Klein and Hummel O300s here at a similar distance, for similar music. Amazing.

Ruler flat to 40Hz, but with a nice natural roll-off under that. Still possible to make judgements on the 30Hz area, although I might spring for the sub at some point - not sure how that all fits into your budget, maybe with some careful buying you can get the sub too...?

[dave-G]

K+H O300s really are excellent. The O110s are good too, but definitely don't approach full-range monitoring as well the 300s, and don't have the benefits of the 3-way design and dome midrange.

The smaller models from ME-Geithain are definitely worth checking out too, though expensive, and generally more easy to acquire if you're in Europe. I think the RL944K is the smallest of their 3-ways. The RL906 is a smaller 2-way that's pretty amazing.

Good luck!
-dave

[lostintime]

Perhaps a pair of JLM Audio BAM-1 Big Active Monitors for under $4000 US? I haven't heard them, but they appear to be highly praised by those who have.

[surflounge]

If you are in the Los Angeles area, Vintage King has selected the Barefoot MicroMain27, the Klein + Hummel 0 300 Active Studio Monitor and the Focal Twin6 BE for their speaker shootout on Friday, June 26th at Infrasonic Sound.

Speaker Shootout! | VintageKing.com

[Andy Krehm]

Lipinski 505s with stereo Velodyne D-10 subs. Could work with one sub. should be within your budget. Works great for all kinds of music.

[Hybrid]

Originally Posted by Synthnerd

Any other suggestions?

What about the Griffin Audio Design G2's?

H

[cemski]

if you work on bass heavy dance music, you need to be able to hear below 30hz. otherwise you might end up with boomy masters.

[IIIrd]

PMC TB1's are quite nice, with a bryston amp. good honest speaker, no colouration. raw really...you can have active in this range or passive as mine are.

[lowland]

I'll put in a vote for PMC AML1s which I've been using for a few years - possibly somewhat above your budget (don't know what they sell for in the States, but in the UK they're about £5000 new) but second-hand is always a possibility. I personally am still taken by what these can do, and 30Hz-ish bass is within their remit - also, they're actives so no separate amp budget required.

Like any other monitor they'll need you to audition them and determine if they will do what you want, they're not to everyone's taste: some have commented on them being over-bright but not for me once the inbuilt EQ is set appropriately. They're also two-ways so you may have thoughts on that, my personal upgrade path over the next 6 months to a year will probably involve three-ways, for example. The AMLs are one of the smallest loudspeakers you could properly master on, IMO, on grounds of resolution, bandwith, linearity and power handling and I've not been sorry I made that choice. Clients have liked them too, and have felt that what they heard at my place bore some resemblance to what they heard elsewhere and that they didn't have to 'learn' what the AMLs were telling them.

[edham]

Barefoots work extremely well nearfield.
The drivers congeal beautifully - bass is very linear and tight.
I prefer working with them nearfield these days.

[Lukas Lipinski]

Andy, in regard to the L-505's and the Velodine, you may want to consider our sub combo, the L-150 subwoofer with the new L-300 subamp.

The L-300 delivers 150A of current and can work with loads as low as .5 Ohm.

We have a few b-stock items here in Washington DC

Cheers,

Lukas Lipinski
Lipinski Sound - HD Surround