Thinking about picking up some KRK V4's for mobile monitors - thoughts?

[Corran]

So some B-stock KRK V4 monitors have come up for about $260, free shipping, which is really cheap, and I was thinking about going ahead and picking them up to use as a mobile monitor pair.

I've read some of the monitor threads around the remote forum and have seen these mentioned but not much, and so I'm wondering if anyone had any opinions on them who've actually used them "in the field" for classical and jazz stuff.

The biggest issue I've had with some clients is the lack of monitoring other than headphones. But I can't lug around big speakers with the best freq response, nor can I begin to afford some K&H monitors (yet?).

Anyway, anyone have any opinions on these monitors for remote work??

[Dave Ferris]

I have the newer (?) VXT4s sitting on my desk for the computer. They sound great, compact with very good bass response. I'm mainly a jazz guy but they sound great for Classical and really anything. In fact I find myself listening to music more at the computer than on my old KEF 104/2s--one has a blown tweeter. I actually enjoy the sound more on these KRKs. You would have to have some kind of case for the field has the cones and tweeters are very exposed.

[Corran]

Thanks for your thoughts. I went ahead and picked them up - I imagine the resale value is about what I payed anyway. I will try them out and report back.

I am already looking for a case to easily port them around. I have a nice locking case from Office Max for papers that I use for mics already, I might get another if they fit to use for the KRKs.

[jnorman]

bryan - let us know how they sound. i am using a pair of roland MA-12c's that IMO are fantastic for the money - i paid $40 for the pair off ebay...

[Corran]

That's really cheap, wow. I have seen a few deals like that but I've never known anything about the quality so I haven't bitten.

I have used KRK for years now (V8's, RP8's) and have generally liked them, despite the negative feedback I've read here. I'm excited to get back on the V-series, the old V8's were my schools and one blew up (from user error [not me though!]) and I haven't used anything but my RP8's for a while. I like them but I of course would love really nice monitors. But first things first (mics, pres, recorder...). Anyway, I love the ultra-compactness of the V4's, so hopefully they sound good.

[Dan Steinberg]

My main pair of studio monitors for many years were a pair of V8s (the originals, not the newer mKII versions) and they were wonderful. If the V4s have anything resembling the same engineering and tuning I bet they'd sound as good as anything with a 4" woofer could.

One other choice, which you'd have to find used, was a small format powered monitor that JBL made about 10 years ago.

I don't remember the name and am not having luck with google at the moment, but they were around the size of the V4s or a bit smaller, self powered, and were made out of silver colored solid aluminum enclosures. The enclosure was so heavy and rigid that they got amazing bass response for their size and had a very accurate sound for their size.

Thanks!

[Corran]

Interesting, I've never heard of monitors smaller even than the V4's. Sounds promising, do you know what they go for used?

[Dan Steinberg]

I'm not sure what they go for used, because I am having trouble remembering the model names.

I do know they were made by JBL around 10 years ago, that they were small, self powered, and the casing was silver colored and seemed to be carved out of solid metal (and that they sounded very nice, especially for their size).

[Corran]

I'll have to look around about them.

[mixedupsteve]

So, did you get the V4s yet? What do you think about them?

[Corran]

Should be coming Tuesday!

[audiothings]

Originally Posted by Dan Steinberg

I'm not sure what they go for used, because I am having trouble remembering the model names.

I do know they were made by JBL around 10 years ago, that they were small, self powered, and the casing was silver colored and seemed to be carved out of solid metal (and that they sounded very nice, especially for their size).

do you mean the lsr 25p?

[Corran]

Just got them in the mail!

Not related to the speakers themselves, but UPS continues to suck hard and damaged one of the speakers in shipping, but only cosmetically it seems. Partial fault goes to KRK or MusiciansFriend, whoever shipped them, as they were just shipped in the actual boxes they are packaged in, no cardboard outer shell for more protection tutt. I guess that's what I get for a B-stock speaker with free shipping, but it still pisses me off (UPS really sucks! At least they weren't non-functioning like the last piece of gear UPS delivered...).

Anyway, I set up the speakers both with and without my subwoofer. I immediately noticed that these little guys do have quite a decent bass response! In fact, compared directly with the Rokit8's I have, they push the bass almost as well as those 8" speakers do! Furthermore, the high-end response is a lot more linear compared to the Rokits, which I at first thought was a "hyped" response, but it's just more accurate.

Even more important, I immediately heard a vast improvement in stereo spread with these over the Rokits. I have always had some trouble with locating instruments in the stereo field, which I thought was an issue with my recordings, but apparently it was actually the monitors. So these are a definite improvement over the RP8's.

Another interesting thing is that these speakers respond a lot quicker, and as a result I could hear a lot more ambient noise (coughs, scraping, keys) in my location recordings than I did before.

On the negative side...well I'm having to think! Of course this is just with about an hour with them so it's not a lot of time. I will say they don't look that impressive, which is something of a consideration I guess. Okay seriously though, it seems like somewhere in the upper mids they are just a tad harsh and I can feel my ears getting a tad fatigued already, but again maybe I'm just not used to the accurate high-end.

As an anecdotal observation, it started raining a few minutes ago and I thought the speakers were distorting. Mistaking real-life sounds with sounds coming from a speaker has never happened to me before - so I guess they are doing a good job of pulling me in to the sound. However, the lightening that started just now is audibly clicking in the speakers, so they must not be terribly well shielded.

With the sub, the entire frequency range is well produced and full, and sounds very good. Without investing thousands of dollars in monitors I don't think it could be much better.

Overall, I must say I am pretty happy. So much so that I really might consider selling my pair of Rokit8's and buying another pair of V4's (one for the road, one for the studio). Of course they are so small it wouldn't be that hard to pull them down and put them back up when needed.

For $258 to my door these are definitely quite worth it!

[edwinhurwitz]

I've checked out the V4s before and I liked them. However, I didn't like the fact that the drivers were so exposed so I ended up with a pair of JBL LSRp 25s for $200 off ebay. They are a lot heavier, but a lot more robust and have served me well.

Enjoy the V4s, you got a great price!
Edwin

[Jimbo]

I heard the older v4 monitors at GC a few years ago, and was really surprised how much bass they put out. I have considered them, since, for the very reason you purchased your set -- mobile work. Let us know if they continue to work out for you.

Yes, UPS and FedEx can blow me. USPS is, surprisingly, better at shipping things w/o breaking them than the two giants of shipping.

[Corran]

Yeah they both suck, too bad most online retailers use UPS! My dad works for USPS and I know how well they take care of the mail.

I hopefully will be having a remote session soon (it's slow in the summer) and I'll report in with the results.