Need Help With 5.1 Monitor Controller/Speakers

[meathman]

Hi- Im upgrading to 5.1, and I have a few questions.

1. Im eyeing a blue sky system one 5.1 . Does anyone know these monitors, and If so, how do they sound? I have a pair of dynaudio 6a now, and was looking at getting 3 12a's as my LCR and using my existing 6a's as LS RS... How do you think this will do in comparison to the Blue sky ? Are the dynaudios a better choice?

2. I need a 5.1 monitor controller, but it dosen't seem like there are many out there. Can anyone recommend one in the 1,000 - 1,700 $ range... I know tascam discontinued theirs... Hows the spl ? Its only 700$ and the Dangerous music?

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks

[Jay M]

Blue sky makes, or at least made a 5.1 controller with bass management. I was using that until recently. I had to replace it because it only has 1 input. I have 2 DAWs in my studio now so I upgraded to the Dangerous unit. But it is very expensive! I has 4 inputs and I think up to 3 outputs. Most importantly it looks super cool on the desk! Oh yeah, it sounds good too.

The thing I don't like about the SPL is the fact that all the cables needs to plug directly into it. The is too messy for most desktops.

For monitors you really need to listen for yourslf. Be sure to bring material you are familiar with.

My opinion is that Genelecs sound too good, Tannoy's sweet spot is too narrow, Mackie's are a a good bang for the buck, and Westlakes are too expensive. I have also listened to Adam and Blue Sky in a less than ideal environment. I really didn't care for Bluesky, and the Adams didn't stand out.

I use NHTpro A-20 for L,R, LS, RS, and a C-20 for Center. I use their B-20 subs. They sound great for the money, but they are very unreliable. I can't tell you how many time I have sent the amps in for repair. But NHT has been outstanding in how they stand behind their product. I don't think that system is available anymore, but if their quality has improved then their new models may be a good choice.

My next system will likely be some mid to low level Westlakes with a Bryston amp. We have a set of Westlake's smallest and cheapest speakers and they sound amazing!

But as I said you really need to hear for yourself. They all claim to be "transparent" yet they all sound different.

~Jay

[philper]

Originally Posted by meathman

Hi- Im upgrading to 5.1, and I have a few questions.

1. Im eyeing a blue sky system one 5.1 . Does anyone know these monitors, and If so, how do they sound? I have a pair of dynaudio 6a now, and was looking at getting 3 12a's as my LCR and using my existing 6a's as LS RS... How do you think this will do in comparison to the Blue sky ? Are the dynaudios a better choice?

2. I need a 5.1 monitor controller, but it dosen't seem like there are many out there. Can anyone recommend one in the 1,000 - 1,700 $ range... I know tascam discontinued theirs... Hows the spl ? Its only 700$ and the Dangerous music?

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks

In my little room I have Dyn 6As as the stereo mains and a smaller Blue Sky system for 5.1. The Blue Sky gear is an amazing bang for buck up and down their range, but they don't have the same balance and sense of the speaker disappearing into the sound that the Dyns do for me. This is all very subjective however, and probably relates to issues in my room acoustics as well. Try the gear out--speakers are like mics, you really don't know what's up until you hear them yourself "in situ". One thing the BS systems do very well is take care of control and setup business. To really get the same kind if integration w/ Dynaudio 6As you'd have to go up to one of the "Air" systems @ well over $14k.

Philip Perkins

[meathman]

Thanks guys- I know that the L C and R speakers should all be matched, but could I get away with using say dynaudio bm12 for the L C R and using smaller speakers (my old bm6a's) for my Ls and Rs..... Should all 5 speakers be matched?

Also- How much is the dangerous music controller (surround version)

[Jay M]

Movie theaters, and even dubbing stages don't use matched surrounds.

For 5.1 music I think all 5 are supposed to be matched.

But I have never been to any house, home theater store, or studio (other than mine) that has matched surrounds.

~Jay

[Legacy]

Hi meathman,

I wouldn't be too worried about the SL and SR being smaller since they are the same brand and model line. It is better if they are the same but not mandatory. One issue that comes up is that with bass management the rears would need a higher crossover (and couldn't have it). It will pamek your life much easier if they are all active (or all passive) in terms on tonality and matching loudness.

Studio Technologies makes a number of reasonably priced surround controllers that are quiet and reasonably neutral. Not on par with a Grace or Avocet but a decent substitute and well built. Look for their Studio Comm Line. They also have a seperate bass manager box.

[Eric L]

Originally Posted by Jay M

For monitors you really need to listen for yourslf. Be sure to bring material you are familiar with.

My opinion is that Genelecs sound too good, Tannoy's sweet spot is too narrow, Mackie's are a a good bang for the buck, and Westlakes are too expensive. I have also listened to Adam and Blue Sky in a less than ideal environment. I really didn't care for Bluesky, and the Adams didn't stand out.

I totally agree with your first statement. So much so, that I totally disagree with your second!

I guess it shows how subjective monitor choices can be. My tastes would be exactly reversed of yours.

[Jay M]

Originally Posted by Eric L

I totally agree with your first statement. So much so, that I totally disagree with your second!

I guess it shows how subjective monitor choices can be. My tastes would be exactly reversed of yours.

I was very hesitant to post that second statement. It sort under minds my first point. It's really fun to read speaker reviews in hi-fi magazines where they try to define the sound. Something even more interseting than that was a fun speaker cable review I saw.
anjou


~Jay

[Geert van den Berg]

Personally I'd choose Dynaudio's over the Blue Sky monitors, but that would set you back a bit more money as well.

Another option, slightly smaller than those 12's is to buy one extra BM6a and then a set of BM5a's + subwoofer (around here I have seen these sold as a set for nice prices, the BM5a's do have a slightly different crossover frequency and sound a bit clearer, but still the sound is quite the same).

The surround monitor controller from Dangerous is rated above the budget you stated.

I personally like the SPL controller, but as been said if on a desktop the cables at the back can look a bit messy.

Another option would be from Coleman. This will fit your price range, has good quality and if you build it into your desk somehow it will look neat too.
Welcome to colemanaudio.com
Coleman Audio | Monitor Controllers

Keep in mind you'd still have to do your bass management from within your DAW, but that's not such a problem as it seems to me. You can route and filter in your session templates and be fully flexible.

[Kalara]

I have been using the SPL for about 3 years now and I love it. My only complaint would be only one balanced input.

I have to agree that monitors are a very personal thing. Some guys make great stuff on NS10M's, I can't stand them. Some peeps like Blue Sky, I'm not a big fan. I'm sure there are some gear dealers in your neigborhoods that would be willing to let you check out a few setups.

I'm also an advocate of keeping all of your monitors the same. Welcome to the 5.1 world!

[meathman]

looks like the dynaudio air series is a good choice... it includes a monitor controller, and would solved the matching issue... I wonder how the air 6 5.1 would stack up to a more modular dynaudio system... (3 bm12a 2 bm 6a, and a sub, with a seperate monitor controller) they cost about the same... but with the 12a's ill be getting more power.... any thoughts?

[Legacy]

Hi meathman,

I only heard the Air series once but wasn't very impressed. I like the BM active series much better. The Air's had a very different tonal presentation than the BM series - not as natural to my ear.

Just one man's opinion,
Silas

[Geert van den Berg]

I find the AIR series quite good, work with those nearly every week. (AIR 15 systems).

However they do sound different from the regular BM's. They lack a bit of punch. Sounds like there is a blanket over the sound. BUT as I've found out listening to some CD's that I thought I new very well, I do hear details I have not heard before. So they do reveal other things and like all Dynaudio's have the benefit of not causing a lot of ear fatigue for long mixing sessions. The AIR series monitor controller is easy and works great. But keep in mind that for the parametric EQ software you'd have to pay extra. (the software included is limited to shelving I believe, check the details for purchase!). And then again it's worthwhile to ask yourself if the software does add anything which you'd better solve acoustically anyway. Offcourse bass management is a plus, but you could deal with that in the DAW as well.

Also the price of a 5.1 set of AIR speakers costs more than the other options you've mentioned before... except if you'd buy an expensive monitor controller, but at least you got more speakers to choose from if you go that route.

I am glad to have the AIR's at the company I work for, but, to see things in perspective, I don't think I would buy speakers myself with digital stuff inside... the converters are really good, TC quality, but you know the deal with digital, tomorrow all could be different.

[meathman]

Has anyone had a chance yet to AB a pair of dynaudio 6a mk 2 and 6a mk1 .... Im thinking about buying these for my surround rig, and keep hearing that the newer mk2's do not sound as good as the mk1's .... Has anyone heard these, or anything about it..?

Also i wonder how the new bm12a's stack up. Seems like the same specs as the 6a mk2, just with more low freq. power.

[seriousfun]

Originally Posted by meathman

Hi- Im upgrading to 5.1, and I have a few questions.

...

2. I need a 5.1 monitor controller, but it dosen't seem like there are many out there. Can anyone recommend one in the 1,000 - 1,700 $ range... I know tascam discontinued theirs... Hows the spl ? Its only 700$ and the Dangerous music?

...

There are more Martinsound MultiMAXs in-use as surround monitor controllers than all the other units combined - it's above your price range, but it should be considered. The other units mentioned are all fine, as long as their features match your needs.

Originally Posted by meathman

...
1. Im eyeing a blue sky system one 5.1 . Does anyone know these monitors, and If so, how do they sound? I have a pair of dynaudio 6a now, and was looking at getting 3 12a's as my LCR and using my existing 6a's as LS RS... How do you think this will do in comparison to the Blue sky ? Are the dynaudios a better choice?

...

Use five identical main monitors - don't compromise on this. Theaters and dub stages use arrays of speakers for the surround channels, since they are doing a very different task than your surround speakers will need to do. Multipole speakers are often used in home theaters as a compromise between an array of speakers or discrete speakers identical to your fronts - you shouldn't use this as a reference for your speaker configuration.

Subwoofer integration should be done with Bass Management right before the power amplifiers (or digitally as with the Dynaudio Air system).