Small reference speakers representing average listening conditions

ISedlacek · 2nd September 2006

I use B&W Matrix 801S3 as my main monitors (with Lavry DA) - also for mastering purpose. Great sound, but I would need also some speakers that would show how the recording will sound in a kind of average consumer listening conditions.
Do you have a good experience with some simple small speakers which could be very good and rather universal for the purpose ? Not necessarily bass-less, since many small home hifi show rather a bass excess ...

T.RayBullard · 4th September 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

I use B&W Matrix 801S3 as my main monitors (with Lavry DA) - also for mastering purpose. Great sound, but I would need also some speakers that would show how the recording will sound in a kind of average consumer listening conditions.
Do you have a good experience with some simple small speakers which could be very good and rather universal for the purpose ? Not necessarily bass-less, since many small home hifi show rather a bass excess ...

Blue Sky Media Desk system. OR

Avantone Group Buy, anyone?

rufus13 · 4th September 2006

The speakers are the easiest part. The hard part is "what is a Standard Living Room?".

I like my AlNiCo Foster 10F3 speakers in small sealed plywood cabinets (with some fiberglas). They aren't loud and don't thump, but they have a nice mid-range without a bad passive crossover. They were pretty cheap, in 1970.

I think that the EBU has a "standard domestic listening room" specified somewhere. The reality is that a wood-framed house in Portland Oregon is going to be very different sounding from a 20th century steel/concrete NYC building of the same dimensions, or a European half-stone house.

Mix for an un-hyped environement. Let consumers do whatever they want. No worries. The program will carry the fun, or it won't.

neilwight · 5th September 2006

i used to always double check everything on a pair of ns10s, which i recently replaced with peavey impulse 652s. they sound almost identical. ie no bass, nasty upper mid hump etc and generally horrible.

i find that these really show up if things arent right. often the problem with great mastering speakers is that its easy to get used to the added range and quality.

i find a quick switch to these really sorts the men from the boys. i get tracks all the time that sound great on the big speakers and not a lot different from the final mastered version, sometimes they even seem identical but a quick move over to the 652s and all is revealed. the proper mastered doesnt change while big holes appear all over the place with the other versions.

on the odd occasion, using these has pointed out something i missed but most generally it just confirms what ive done as being correct and to the benefit of the audio.
peace of mind i guess you could call it but nothing leaves here without being played on both

ISedlacek · 9th September 2006

I think I will go for this: http://www.paramountzone.com/minipod-speakers.htm

MASSIVE Master · 10th September 2006

Well, they do say "undeniable quality" - You can hardly deny that.

I used to use Wharfedale 8.2 Diamonds (originals - Not the "pro"

version) and B&W DM602S3's. Ended up doing a lot of mixing through both also - Excellent translation.

Fluky · 4th June 2011

What about in 2011?

What are the trends in consumer speakers and headphones currently? What do you think of as an "average" setup or popular speaker/headphone models or is it all just too scattered? What do you use as a reference?

Radiance · 4th June 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fluky

.....headphones currently?

Ipod ear buds?

inlinenl · 5th June 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

I think I will go for this: Minipod quality speakers uk - Only £289.99 - Free Delivery!

Ivo, I have those speakers up in my masteringroom ( it's like my two BIG 800N's have mated and given birth to 2 babys ) , IMHO they lack a bit a low-end/sub to cover an "average" system .... most average system tend to be more on the bass side then this speaker ...

maybe they aim more for laptop/tv reference ... more mid focussed ..
once in a SOS they were tested as studio monitors ...

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec0...s/minipods.asp

Lagerfeldt · 5th June 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

I think I will go for this: Minipod quality speakers uk - Only £289.99 - Free Delivery!

Quote:

Originally Posted by inlinenl

Ivo, I have those speakers up in my masteringroom ( it's like my two BIG 800N's have mated and given birth to 2 babys ) , IMHO they lack a bit a low-end/sub to cover an "average" system .... most average system tend to be more on the bass side then this speaker ...

I have them in my studio for the same purpose as Sedlacek. They need to be thoroughly exercised first for the woofer to move freely.

Plenty of bass with the Minipods in my studio, but that's probably because they're quite close to the wall.

At home I have them in a surround setup, but they definitely need a sub at home (I use the BassStation), and I agree they're a little bass shy in most setups.

Masterer · 5th June 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

I use B&W Matrix 801S3 as my main monitors (with Lavry DA) - also for mastering purpose. Great sound, but I would need also some speakers that would show how the recording will sound in a kind of average consumer listening conditions.
Do you have a good experience with some simple small speakers which could be very good and rather universal for the purpose ? Not necessarily bass-less, since many small home hifi show rather a bass excess ...

I think the closest thing to real world listening situations might be laptop speakers, earbuds, and maybe a boom box.

Other than a car those have to be the most common by far, no?

IIIrd · 5th June 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masterer

I think the closest thing to real world listening situations might be laptop speakers, earbuds, and maybe a boom box.

Other than a car those have to be the most common by far, no?

Absolutley, and increasingly more these days it's the mobile phone...certainly kids over here are listening to tunes in the playgrounds on their cell phones.

The car used to be the no.1 place/ enviroent, but I think now, that the ipod or the laptop is the more likely place.

kosmokrator · 5th June 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masterer

I think the closest thing to real world listening situations might be laptop speakers, earbuds, and maybe a boom box.

Other than a car those have to be the most common by far, no?

yep. I just use my macbook pro for that.
With this: LineIn for Mac - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Downloads

Bob Olhsson · 5th June 2011

The problem is the utterly wild differences between different "ordinary" speakers.

Masterer · 5th June 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosmokrator

yep. I just use my macbook pro for that.
With this: LineIn for Mac - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Downloads

Great. I need that and keep forgetting to search for it.

Thanks.

kosmokrator · 5th June 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masterer

Great. I need that and keep forgetting to search for it.

Thanks.

you're welcome.
But you should thank the author of that great little tool.
He'd surely want to know that such a well-known engineer is using his software.

Masterer · 6th June 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosmokrator

you're welcome.
But you should thank the author of that great little tool.
He'd surely want to know that such a well-known engineer is using his software.

I've been using Audio Hijack Pro for years. Those Rogue Amoeba folks make incredibly useful things.

C.

2nd September 2006	#1
ISedlacek Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2003 Location: Czech mountains and forests Posts: 3,858 Thread Starter	Small reference speakers representing average listening conditions I use B&W Matrix 801S3 as my main monitors (with Lavry DA) - also for mastering purpose. Great sound, but I would need also some speakers that would show how the recording will sound in a kind of average consumer listening conditions. Do you have a good experience with some simple small speakers which could be very good and rather universal for the purpose ? Not necessarily bass-less, since many small home hifi show rather a bass excess ... __________________ Ivo Sedlacek Savita Music Velvet Mastering Velvet Sound

5th September 2006	#4
neilwight Gear maniac Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 162	i used to always double check everything on a pair of ns10s, which i recently replaced with peavey impulse 652s. they sound almost identical. ie no bass, nasty upper mid hump etc and generally horrible. i find that these really show up if things arent right. often the problem with great mastering speakers is that its easy to get used to the added range and quality. i find a quick switch to these really sorts the men from the boys. i get tracks all the time that sound great on the big speakers and not a lot different from the final mastered version, sometimes they even seem identical but a quick move over to the 652s and all is revealed. the proper mastered doesnt change while big holes appear all over the place with the other versions. on the odd occasion, using these has pointed out something i missed but most generally it just confirms what ive done as being correct and to the benefit of the audio. peace of mind i guess you could call it but nothing leaves here without being played on both __________________ point one mastering

10th September 2006	#6
MASSIVE Master Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago (Schaumburg / Hoffman Est.) IL Posts: 2,709 Verified Member	Well, they do say "undeniable quality" - You can hardly deny that. I used to use Wharfedale 8.2 Diamonds (originals - Not the "pro" version) and B&W DM602S3's. Ended up doing a lot of mixing through both also - Excellent translation. __________________ John Scrip - Massive Mastering, LLC - www.massivemastering.com Spoon-feed a newb some answer and he'll mix for a day - Get him to think about it and figure it out for himself and he'll mix for a lifetime --- JS

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4th September 2006	#3
rufus13 Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Interstate-5, North of Grant's Pass Posts: 700	The speakers are the easiest part. The hard part is "what is a Standard Living Room?". I like my AlNiCo Foster 10F3 speakers in small sealed plywood cabinets (with some fiberglas). They aren't loud and don't thump, but they have a nice mid-range without a bad passive crossover. They were pretty cheap, in 1970. I think that the EBU has a "standard domestic listening room" specified somewhere. The reality is that a wood-framed house in Portland Oregon is going to be very different sounding from a 20th century steel/concrete NYC building of the same dimensions, or a European half-stone house. Mix for an un-hyped environement. Let consumers do whatever they want. No worries. The program will carry the fun, or it won't.

9th September 2006	#5
ISedlacek Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2003 Location: Czech mountains and forests Posts: 3,858 Thread Starter	I think I will go for this: http://www.paramountzone.com/minipod-speakers.htm

4th June 2011	#7
Fluky Gear nut Joined: Mar 2010 Location: Finland Posts: 82	What about in 2011? What are the trends in consumer speakers and headphones currently? What do you think of as an "average" setup or popular speaker/headphone models or is it all just too scattered? What do you use as a reference?

5th June 2011	#14
Bob Olhsson Motown legend Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Songwriter Gulch, Nashville TN Posts: 10,878 Verified Member	The problem is the utterly wild differences between different "ordinary" speakers.