Barefoot Micromain 27's- my new monitors

[barefoot]

You may have already done this, but one thing you might check is that the SEL switch is in the OUT position. OUT is the normal flat response. IN is very slightly scooped (-1db max) in the 3kHz to 9kHz region and slightly lifted below 100Hz (+0.5dB). This yields a more forgiving, somewhat Hi-Fi-ish sound. When switching the SEL you have to cycle the main power switch in the rear, otherwise, the new crossover settings won't engage.

Thomas

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by MixedBy4056

I currently own a pair of K&H O300D's which I also love, but I am definitely thinking of trading them in for these!!!!!

Any further feedback or insite would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

I have owned Genelec, S3A, O300D and now MM27.

I had both the S3A and O300D monitors at the same time for a while, then sold the S3A's.

I really liked the mid information I got from the S3A's...........but I just never really adapted to them overall. Along with the the O300D's, I could switch back and forth and get tons of info. But keeping both pairs was nonsense........the O300D's worked better for me overall.

The O300D's are great monitors, I could have been happy with them from now on.

But.................then I tried the MM27's.
They really give me everything I need.
They provide the detail I was getting from the S3A's............but not just in the mids. You can hear reliable detail throughout the full frequency range..........and a longer range than the O300D's. This is nowhere more obvious than in the bottom.

Superb "engineering monitors"...............but without the quirkiness of the S3A's (my term..........I know some guys love these...........sorry).

The MM27's are flat, no hype.
There is nothing intentionally pretty here................just detailed information all the way up and down.

I have made two purchases this year that moved from "great" gear to "magical" gear, and this is one of them.

Is it economically justified?
I guess it depends on the alternate disposition of the funds: vacation to Hawaii, another piece of gear, sugar and flour for the table.

Again, the O300D's are great, they are hard to beat.
They give a prettier mix, not as much detailed information.

On the other hand, the MM27's, as engineering monitors for mixing, are at another level IMHO.
The bottom line is I hear more detail, and thus the mixes translate better.

You are using them, so I assume nothing I've said surprises you.

Regarding the high end and bottom (and everywhere else), what you hear is what you get. If your customers don't like it, then you need a "pretty" pair sitting around that they can listen to. But that is a completely separate issue IMHO, and I don't believe it should cloud your decision on which monitors best translate your mixes.

Just consider yourself extremely fortunate to be able to choose between two great monitors.

[lucey]

The Barefoot sound is flat and relaxed, not flat and dry or overly detailed in the tweeter. So the MM27s high end is like the whole range; natural. If you want a more detailed and more pushed top the other speakers mentioned would be better, but you will lose some things in that trade off. Everything in speaker design is a trade off and the Barefoot mindset is to balance the extremes. I master on the MM12s everyday, and if I hear a shiny bright top or a boom anywhere on the bottom or a bump anywhere in the mids, then it's too much. Flat and natural is the key. Most people are used to some kind of push, and I understand that need, yet you wont get that ... so they may be a little weird at first. The same can be said for some other respected brands of 'flat' monitors in a good room, they take a little getting used to. The only thing the Barefoots lack is the super details, and to my ear those details are a distraction and a compromise to a cohesive sound and a useful work tool, not needed in the degree that some tweeters deliver. I suggest a hyped headphone to check for clipping details and the like.

I agree that the Barefoots open up a little at volume, and I can't explain that one, maybe it's distortion? I work at 90+dbA for short bursts to final check lows and highs, and 75 to 85 for roughing it in. The K+Hs are nice at lower levels, for a counter example, but I'd rather mix on Avantones. I've not heard the Twin6 Focals that are all the rage right now, but I have a hard time with the principle of AD/EQ/DA in each speaker, hated the midrange and image smear from conversion in their small two ways, and have gone on about that at length before.

The EMES Owl ($1400) and Mini-Owl ($3000) are very interesting designs that I've not heard, as a more full range Avantone and a more phase accurate tool than most 2 ways. I have to plug them so someone will please try them out!

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by lucey

The only thing the Barefoots lack is the super details, and to my ear those details are a distraction and a compromise to a cohesive sound and a useful work tool, not needed in the degree that some tweeters deliver.

You are certainly much more accurate and eloquent at describing this than I am, Brian.

When I say I hear "detail", what I mean is there is no smear anywhere, and I feel like I really hear what is going on inside the mix................ nothing important seems to be covered up.

So, my use of "detail" maybe is the wrong term.............I like your description as "natural", no hype. I fully agree you can easily hear any bump that shouldn't be there.

I think we are saying the same thing...............I just don't know how to say it very well.

Once you use them, this all becomes clear.

Thanks for the description. thumbsup

[lucey]

Semantics Mike, I like your description too. Bottom line there's a lack of smear or push anywhere in the range that's even and revealing. If we want that top end sizzle, or the loudness effect of a port, or a tweeter you can hear as distinct from the rest of the sound then look elsewhere. These sound like one thing. Like an Auratone gone Barry Bonds.

[C.Judd Karn]

The mm27's just simply blew everything out of the water, period.

I was mixing better in less than 1/2 the time..

= more time for other things like family and friends.

Happily waiting for mine to be delivered

C

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by lucey

...............even and revealing.

Most accurate and succinct description yet. thumbsup

Originally Posted by C.Judd Karn

............just simply blew everything out of the water, period.

Course, this wins for emotional impact.

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by Gravity8058

I think the high end on the Barefoots is just right, those monitors that give you more high end will steer you into a dark mix. Regarding the K&H 0300D, it's an elegant speaker that sounds beautiful -- but again, it's not the truth. They hype the low and high -- to my ear in a similar but nicer way to Genelec 1031a's.

I'll second that.they sound perfect to me.
the highs and lower mids on my s3a's sound kinda hyped/artificial after using the MM's

[3rd world order]

Originally Posted by lucey

Like an Auratone gone Barry Bonds.

OK, now i'm interested.

i love that shitty horrortone speaker. more than should be legal. i literally spend about 75% of my time listening to one mono auratone when mixing. not afraid to admit it.

i also like dynaudio/quested monitors

[MixedBy4056]

Today I took the speakers to the studio and they are really amazing. I really am thinking of buying a pair. I have heard things on some of my reference cd's that I have never heard before!!!!! On amy monitor, even my K&H's. My last thing is if I buy them I need a reasonable way to move them, as I work out of many studios, and I need to transport them. Any plans on making a grill or something so I wouldn't need the boxes everytime I wanted to move them around. I don't (Really Care) about scratching them, just a way to protect the speakers. Anyone have any experience with this or ideas?? Thanks.

By the way these speakers ROCK!!!!!!!!

[lucey]

Originally Posted by 3rd world order

OK, now i'm interested.

i love that shitty horrortone speaker. more than should be legal. i literally spend about 75% of my time listening to one mono auratone when mixing. not afraid to admit it.

And I bet the mixes sound great.

i also like dynaudio/quested monitors

You like a natural tone with 'real' low mids. You'll love the MM27s.

[Rep]

Anyone want to trade a Pair of S3A's + the cash difference,
for the MM27's ?

[mixerguy]

anyone else using the mm27's?

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by Rep

Anyone want to trade a Pair of S3A's + the cash difference,
for the MM27's ?

Keep Dreamin' the Dream buddy

[Reptil]

Haven't heard the Barefoots, as they are unavailable here, but I'd like to mention that most nearfields that try to sound big are using a ported design. IME a closed design is preferrable because the distortion of the port obscures low mids and some low freq, the response is different from a lineair design. The graph may or may not tell you this, but that some freqs get emphasis is clear to me.. IMVHO (just noticed I refer to speakers as active persons bwroalff ) Seperate subs can work, but they have to be powerful, to remain cohesive and not introduce a delay in the low end. (which is pretty important for electronic music) And set up properly to work at all.

I like a firm but volumptious low end.
(who doesn't)

Basically one shouldn't be able to hear them (subs) as a seperate soundsource. Depending on the setup in the room (mixing desk, workspace) that might be impossible sometimes. Those Barefoots might be easier to set up. (Your ideas about this?)

uhmm
Anyway, I'd never say any speaker is suited for anyone, it's like girlfriends. All different.
I wonder if any of your experiences with other monitor systems can be related to the design of ports, or the absence threreof?

One more question please? Did anyone compare the Barefoots (feet) with ATCs?

[philosi]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

anyone else using the mm27's?

Yes. I believe they are #13 and 14, so we've had them for a while... It's so great not to have to search for "monitors" on ebay anymore!

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by Bryan Talbot

And the real bonus is, they're even better late at night with my favorite CD's.

Interesting you mention that.

The first time I listened to a commercial CD with the MM27's, I got a pleasant surprise...................it is much easier to discern what the engineer was doing when mixing.

I have now pulled out a lot of my favorite CD's and gone back through them. Like rediscovering the songs..........every listen is a study of the engineering. Some are even better than I thought.............and some don't stand the scrutiny very well. The good, the bad, and the ugly are right there for the listening.

[nomatic]

We have had the MM 27s at The Hideout in Austin for 6 months and I can echo
much of what others have said. I have learned much about the problems in my
mixing techniques and have become a better engineer as a result of the resolution
that the Barefoot's provide.

[Jack P]

I've been a Barefoot convert for about a year now.. Looked at the ATC monitors but they were out of my financial range.

Over the years have tried KRK E8t, Genelec, Proac, NS10's - with Brystons etc...

NS10's & Proac put me off making music - KRK's were distorted sounding in the high end & Genelec's were ok but un-realistic imo..

AS a last resort bought the Barefoots - i knew within a day they were a keeper and it's took my mixing to another planet...

[kbshearer]

I've been using them for almost a year and a half. I've got numbers 9 and 10. They are exactly what I was looking for. They took the stress out of placing the mid to highs properly. I'm very glad they exist because the alternatives are way out of my price range...

Kirt

[Tony"CD"Kelly]

Are they good for all genre of music? this thread is quite interesting, makes me wanna at least try them out. Bless thumbsup

[PapillonIrl]

Cheapest shipping option for a pair of MM27's w/stands from vintageking to Ireland is $2,593.02 !!

Cheers,

Nathan

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by Tony"CD"Kelly

Are they good for all genre of music? this thread is quite interesting, makes me wanna at least try them out. Bless thumbsup

Absolutely

[barefoot]

Originally Posted by PapillonIrl

Cheapest shipping option for a pair of MM27's w/stands from vintageking to Ireland is $2,593.02 !!

Shipping costs for a pair of MM27's to Ireland, U.K. and Europe is something like $400 or $500 (don't know the exact rates VK gets).

Sound Anchors builds and ships the stands you're referring to. We have nothing to with those other than specifying the custom mount design. The stands are very heavy and require special (expensive) shipping due to their size and shape. The fancy thing about these Sound Anchors stands we spec'd is you can flip the speaker either vertically or horizontally. Plus, they look cool the way they suspend the speakers from the size. But really, the inertia cancellation arrangement of the MM27 low frequency drivers works exceptionally well. The speaker isn't picky about stands at all. As long as the stands can comfortably and safely hold the 32 kg (71 lbs) cabinets, you can go with whatever ones you like. So, outside of North America, it probably makes more economic sense to buy stands locally.

Thomas

[PapillonIrl]

Originally Posted by barefoot

Shipping costs for pair of MM27's to Ireland, U.K. and Europe is something like $400 or $500 (don't know the exact rates VK gets).

....

As long as the stands can comfortably hold 32 kg (71 lbs), you can go with whatever ones you like. So, outside of North America, it probably makes more economic sense to buy stands locally.

Thomas

Thanks !

[edham]

I've had my 27's for a month now.
I got them right in the middle of a large jingle project.
My first mixes on them came out excellent and had a quality about them in the mids that I had never achieved before. The barefoot mixes were clearly better than the previous batch.

the only caveat about them is that you need to be aware when you are leaning on the subs too much. But finding that sweet spot balance wise is really easy.

It's a big check to write but worth it.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by edham

I've had my 27's for a month now.
I got them right in the middle of a large jingle project.
My first mixes on them came out excellent and had a quality about them in the mids that I had never achieved before. The barefoot mixes were clearly better than the previous batch.

the only caveat about them is that you need to be aware when you are leaning on the subs too much. But finding that sweet spot balance wise is really easy.

It's a big check to write but worth it.

you still loving the MM27s?

[RoundBadge]

We were tracking some stuff with the MM's tonight..pure joy.
Damnn.. they sound soo good

[edham]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

you still loving the MM27s?

Absolutely.
They are currently the only monitors I have up.

[krytikal1]

i just got back from mastering this weekend on a set of mm27's! what a revealing, and somewhat disapointing time. after working on the barefoots, i heard much more trouble with my mixes than i ever have at the other studios i master in. (thus the disapointing) all of them of course having hi end "mastering" monitors and excellently tuned rooms. even if the problems with the mixes were slight, they were dramatically revealed on the barefoots.

simple and small eq moves while monitoring on them and the master turned out amazing. now i just need someone to loan me $6500. anyone.......bueller?

for sure!

K