Small Active Monitors for classical location recordings

[vinzp]

Hello dear forumers,

I often work for classical location recordings, and I would like to find a decent pair of active monitors for this purpose.

I look for active monitors because they are quite easy to transport.
I have noticed references like : Yamaha HS50M or Genelec 8020A.

I don't know if you have ever used these monitors, or if you have tried other models.
I'm opened to any suggestion.

My goal is to find one of the best ratio between small/light monitors and quality, even if I know that is quite dificult to have flat monitors with correct dynamic in small boxes ;-)

To give you an idea, I use Bowers & Wilkins 705 in my room for tracking and mixing, and I find them great for the scoring mixing / classical recording and mixing I do.

Thank you very much for your answers.
Have a good day.

Vincent

[d_fu]

Ive used the Fostex 6301. There's a digital version also.
They are not all that great soundwise, but certainly good enough to play back music to the musicians for control purposes. And they are very small...
Daniel

[liuto]

I have only used Genelec 1029 (normally at my workstation), they are a bit bigger (and heavier) than 8020 but fine. For portable monitors the 8020s seem to be great, they are lightweight and small (important, if you have no assistent ), and if they sound as good as 1029 they are totally ok for the purpose. The most important argument is that their speakers are covered with a sturdy grid. You don't want to unpack and handle your monitors and destroy the membranes by an accidental movement. I had an M-Audio Studiophile for a while, the handling was a nightmare (the sound not so much )!
The weak bass of these small enclosures is no problem if you have headphones to control the amount of bass.
Best regards
Hermann

PS.: I bought a pair of JBL LSR25 for my mobile setup, but they turned out to be too heavy (7,5Kg apiece) for my liking so I am looking very strongly at the 8020 too now!

[dave-G]

K+H O110s or ME-Geithain RL906

Both small enough to travel with, and both good enough to do the whole record on.

-dave

[liuto]

dave, do you also know the Geithein MO-1, those are even smaller two way monitors (3,3kg). They look very interesting but with 750€/piece - ouch.
Best regards
Hermann

[dave-G]

Originally Posted by liuto

dave, do you also know the Geithein MO-1, those are even smaller two way monitors (3,3kg). They look very interesting.
Best regards
Hermann

I own the big 901Ks, and have only heard the smaller ones (the MO-1 also) briefly, but they did impress.

-dave

[fifthcircle]

The Quested F11 is a pretty small and very good sounding speaker. Probably a touch larger than the Genelec 1029, but has better imaging and low end.

I use Genelec 1031's in the field as I got a great deal on them ($500 for the pair!), but they are a bit large in their cases for easy transport.

--Ben

[edwinhurwitz]

For location, I use the JBL LSR25ps. I found a pair on ebay for $200 and they have been not only indestructible, but the sound quality is quite good for their size, etc. They have something 150 watts in them, so they don't run out of juice like most smaller powered monitors. I haven't used them for classical music, although for jazz they've worked out quite well. I'll have to play some Bach or something, from my iPod next time I have them set up to see how they like that.

They are not super light, but you can get a rolling luggage cart made specifically for them.

HTH
Edwin

[macleod]

+1 for the genelec 1029a really nice speakers and you can get a carry bag that looks like an 1980's food cooler bag.

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by fifthcircle

...I use Genelec 1031's in the field as I got a great deal on them ($500 for the pair!), but they are a bit large in their cases for easy transport.

--Ben

Damn, that's an awesome deal. How did you pull that off. Did someone not know what they had? Crazy stuff my man, just crazy.

[Adebar]

KS digital
Coax Tiny - really good sound on a small footprint.

http://www.ksdigital.de/english/index.html

[roonsbane]

Dynaudio Air 6's. They seem pretty small.

I have the air15 and they certainly blow away my old genelec 1031's. Although they are pretty new to me. I have not done nearly as much mixing on them so translation still may be an issue. The imaging is pretty incredible. They are extremely detailed but certainly not harsh. I heard things in my favorite recordings in one pass that I had never heard in thousands of listens on other systems. They make for a very flexible system with AES and Analog inputs along with a nice remote for the system stereo to 7.1. I understand that my friends at WGBH are replacing their Questeds for Dynaudio Air's in the new facility.

Cameron

[siegfried]

Adam A7... enough bass, awesome midrange and marvelous tweeter. What else to say...

[David Rick]

I'm still carrying around a pair of Tannoy System 8 NFM II's. They're bigger than I'd really like, but what I really love about them is that I don't hear comb filtering when I move my head. So often in location work, we end up sitting right up close to the monitor speakers, and staying equi-distant from the woofer and tweeter is often impossible.

David L. Rick
Seventh String Recording

[sonare]

I love my Tannoy 800A-- great imaging thanks to concentric tweeter, and solid bass to 30Hz.

Rich

[mosrite]

Well I just ordered a pair of PMC DB1sa's and hope that they will work in a remote situation too. I havn't heard them yet but have heard that they are seriously natural. The ridicolous thing (and the selling point for me) is that they weigh 5kg each and are 15cm wide and 28cm high!!

[Andrew B.]

ATC SCM10-2

Not cheap... but very very good.

http://www.lasvegasproaudio.com/atcsgotrhythm.html

Excellent translation to larger monitors. You could get the ATC SCM20-2 if you are strong.

Andrew

[Adebar]

Originally Posted by mosrite

Well I just ordered a pair of PMC DB1sa's and hope that they will work in a remote situation too. I havn't heard them yet but have heard that they are seriously natural. The ridicolous thing (and the selling point for me) is that they weigh 5kg each and are 15cm wide and 28cm high!!

The KS digital Coax Tiny are even smaller and do not have the little resonance problem at about 150 Hz. Because of the coaxial drivers they work perfectly in very small environments.
I´m also a big fan of PMC monitors and could work with the DB1 - but i think the Coax Tiny are a little better.

[mosrite]

do not have the little resonance problem at about 150 Hz

Adebar, this is new to me. Can you explain this problem with the PMC's? I have certainly never heard of a resonance problem with them.

I did a lot of research on these monitors before taking the plunge and the general concensus seemed to be that they were substantially flat to 50hz, extremely natural sounding, detailed and a bit laid back. There were few, if any, negative comments that I've found about them.

I am coming from small ATC's and have to admit to still being a bit concerned that I am downgrading substantially so would like to know about this alleged 'resonance problem' that you refer to.

[audiothings]

just another couple of options...

psi audio active 14-2... the carrying/positioning handle looks pretty nifty

krk v4 ver2

theres plenty of great passive options in the hi-fi market... you could get a pair of passives and one of those ultra light but well reviewed chip amps... it'd probably be the lightest option.


respect,

[Foghole]

Hi,

I'm in the market for some compact location monitors up to £400, and am looking at the Genelec 8020A or Adam A5. It's for fairly informal replays to classical musicians, but at the moment I'm finding that they all want to listen on my headphones as the speakers I'm borrowing sound so dramatically different (muddy and HF-light).

In the 2 years since the last post in this thread, has anything else arrived at that price point that is recommended?

P.S. I wasn't sure of the policy here on necroposting. So I guessed. If I guessed wrong, sorry

[Agreed]

Check out the KRK VXT 4, incredibly good sounding full-range monitors and an extremely low profile. Like, smaller than many computer speakers. I don't know how in the world they did it. They're on sale at Guitar Center right now for $199 a piece, too. I'm thinking about buying some just for a "second opinion."

[Foghole]

Cheers, I'll have a look.

As usual, the US<>UK ripoff continues over here - cheapest price for a pair is £400. But at least that's in the budget :-)

[sonare]

Originally Posted by Foghole

Hi,

I'm in the market for some compact location monitors up to £400, and am looking at the Genelec 8020A or Adam A5. It's for fairly informal replays to classical musicians, but at the moment I'm finding that they all want to listen on my headphones as the speakers I'm borrowing sound so dramatically different (muddy and HF-light).

In the 2 years since the last post in this thread, has anything else arrived at that price point that is recommended?

Nothing new but the same thing I've used for years-- Tannoy 800A actives. Very accurate and neutral, adjustable HF lift/cut, balanced, -10 and +4-- a solid piece of kit that when set on top of my B&W 801M3 are close til the bottom 2 octaves. And cheap-- current used US price is around $600-800.

I feel no need to keep looking, and having had to mix on Genelecs before I would no go down that path, although Ive never tried the ribbon tweets.

Rich

[audio ergo sum]

ME-Geithain MO-2
for me the perfect small size classical music location recording speaker.
A pair shouldn't cost you more than 2.500 € + VAT

[mixedupsteve]

I just bought a couple HS50ms on sale in case anyone is interested. in these.
Buy Yamaha HS50M 5" Powered Studio Monitor Factory B-Stock | Powered Monitors | Musician's Friend

They have the KRK 5in actives for $99.00 too.

[John Willett]

I use the K+H O110D for this and carry them around in a padded bag made by KTS (easier and lighter than the K+H flight case if it's just you).

My set-up (before I upgraded the recorder to the Nagra VI) in The Menuhin Hall for a piano session:-

[Petrus]

Another vote for ADAM A7. Great imaging and top end, tight bass. Fit in a midsize Samsonite suitcase with fleece jackets used for padding.

[audio ergo sum]

Originally Posted by John Willett

I use the K+H O110D for this and carry them around in a padded bag made by KTS (easier and lighter than the K+H flight case if it's just you).

My set-up (before I upgraded the recorder to the Nagra VI) in The Menuhin Hall for a piano session:-

What is that talkback box on the right. Custom made? I'm looking for one of those...

[d_fu]

If small is the word (in terms of budget and/or size) consider the Audioengine 2
Soundwise, I'd rate them higher than the Fostex speakers I mentioned above.