Passive Monitor reccomendations?

[fucanay]

For cost savings, I've decided to go the passive route on monitors. I just purchased an Adcom 535 amp for pretty cheap. I'd been considering getting the dynaudio BM5A monitors and figured this amp would be fine with the passive BM5 monitors for $600.

But now that I've got the amp on the way, I wanted to see what else is out there either used and a little older or new. I don't want to go with NS-10s as they seem to require a lot of learning. So what else is out there for $600 and less that would be a good option? I'm not in a big rush so I could wait for a good deal to come up, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of passives out there anymore.

I should mention that I've been using M-Audio SP-5Bs for a few years and I HATE them. Even with the short periods that I listen to them at a time, they kill my ears.

Thanks in advance

Matt

[Eric Greedy]

http://www.proac-loudspeakers.com/studio100.php

[Sonicvalley]

check out the KRK ST series, particularly the ST8.

[Drumsound]

I've been quite happy with my Truth Audio TA-1P.

[Jim vanBergen]

Originally Posted by fucanay

For cost savings, I've decided to go the passive route on monitors. I just purchased an Adcom 535 amp for pretty cheap. I'd been considering getting the dynaudio BM5A monitors and figured this amp would be fine with the passive BM5 monitors for $600. Thanks in advance

Matt

Personally, I ADORE my BM5A's. They are the least expensive of three sets of monitors I currently use and they are very accurate and easy to work long hours with.

[fucanay]

Thanks for the opinions.

So far I've found:

1. Proac doesn't have any dealers in the US. At least none that I can find. So I have no idea how much these cost or where to even get them without huge shipping costs from europe. I'm in California BTW.

2. Truth Audio's website requires a password? I can't seem to find any place to buy these either. Is Truth still in business?

3. Both good and bad reviews on the KRK ST8's. I expect to see that though. Nobody likes the same things all the time. The price is good.

Keep em coming and thanks.

Matt

[T.RayBullard]

truth audio ta-1ps or a blue sky media desk system.

[Drumsound]

Originally Posted by fucanay

Thanks for the opinions.


2. Truth Audio's website requires a password? I can't seem to find any place to buy these either. Is Truth still in business?

Matt

I hope so! try Shannon@truthaudio.com

I know Katrina posed some major problems for them. They were down to just passives when I got mine. PM for a phone number.

[Bounce]

Originally Posted by Drumsound

I've been quite happy with my Truth Audio TA-1P.

LOOOVE mine. Translate really well :-)

[Bob Ross]

Another happy Truth Audio TA-1P user here.

[chetatkinsdiet]

My JBL 44 and 43 series monitors were good enough for folks in the 70s and 80s and they're still good enough for me. Matched with a nice Urei amp and eq and they work swell. I use the 4310 for loud stuff and a little pair of the 4408 as my primary near-fields.

m

[Jim Williams]

Another vote for the JBL 44's. I use the 4408A'a in the studio with a 15" sub powered by a modified Adcom GFA545. The crossovers were replaced.

The living room and family/TV room I have a pair of 4408's with rebuilt crossovers. I use an Adcom 535 to power those.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[TragikRemix]

check ebay for a pair of ns10m's. (?)
i have a pair and i absolutley love them. some people have a lot of bad things to say about them, but i dont know why. i think they just never used them..

[u b k]

another HUGE thumbsup for the truth audio passives, i use them in conjunction with ns-10's and there are absolutely no surprises when a mix leaves my room.

you'll have to get 'em used, which is what i did, and it's insane that i got such accurate and enjoyable monitors for $400.


gregoire
del
ubk

[vixapphire]

had a pair of 4311 JBL's for years and got some of the best sounding mixes of my life out of those things. perfect mid-fields.

somewhat less successful because of their quirkiness (that awful rear-porting idiocy) but also ultimately well-loved for their sound once i got used to them were a pair of jbl 4206's that i flogged for about a decade. they were pot-bellied and way bigger than they looked, but delivered pretty clean and honest sound. currently valued at less than zero, i'm sure.

[chetatkinsdiet]

I've said it many times here, but guys rave on and on about vintage this and vintage that and looking for gear to help them get "that vintage sound". We all agree that monitor systems are at the top of the list of getting any sound, right? Well...why not use the monitor systems that guys used back in the day? Urei, JBL, etc.....

I mean, there have been TONS of advancements in electronic gear in the past 30-40 years, but speaker construction is primarily the same. Nothing's changed. Yeah, they can probably get more efficient speakers in smaller packages, but that's not what we're talking about here. ...don't get me started on all the scooped mid sounds that all the modern speaker companies tweak their systems to sound like (i.e. Bose, etc)...they're just terrible.

m

[Bounce]

Originally Posted by u b i k

another HUGE thumbsup for the truth audio passives, i use them in conjunction with ns-10's and there are absolutely no surprises when a mix leaves my room.

you'll have to get 'em used, which is what i did, and it's insane that i got such accurate and enjoyable monitors for $400.


gregoire
del
ubk

Yeah, I paid $500 for mine used. Still in shock what they did for my mixes for that price. Maybe that's why my car just got stolen, to even out my good fortune on the truth monitors (this is the SECOND car I've had stolen in California!! Once here in L.A. and once now in San Diego. Ugh.).

[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by Bounce

Yeah, I paid $500 for mine used. Still in shock what they did for my mixes for that price. Maybe that's why my car just got stolen, to even out my good fortune on the truth monitors (this is the SECOND car I've had stolen in California!! Once here in L.A. and once now in San Diego. Ugh.).

Question: what make/model car was stolen? Did you get it back? Did it go to Mexico? Certain cars are way up on the "to steal" list due the interchangability of the parts.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[Bounce]

Well, it was a Nissan '94 Pathfinder SE which I just had painted fire engine red. I also just put in 4 new speakers and new shocks. I was fully restoring the thing and loved my truck! It was stolen at 2 in the afternoon 20 feet away from where I was doing a rehearsal in a residential neighborhood. The thief had 30 seconds to get in and rip the wires before the alarm would go off so they definitely had skills. Too bad they couldn't use that capacity for something useful in society. It was just stolen Sunday July 9. It's probably over the border by now. It was basically out of gas so I was hoping they'd have to ditch it but no luck there so far. This is only the second car I've ever had painted and both were stolen shortly thereafter. I usually spend my money on gear :-) That'll teach me. The other car was also a Nissan (300 ZX) and I got that one back after it was pretty messed up. I just gave that one to my brother in law when it was found.
I've been making jokes that maybe they'll try to disguise my truck by installing a GPS, subwoofer, Satellite radio, and a DVD player before I get it back with a full tank of gas. Ya think?
The bad part is that I got such a steal (er, uh) of a deal on it and it was an older vehicle that I didn't justify paying for 60 bucks a month more for theft insurance for it. I mean, I'd ALREADY had a car stolen. What are the odds lightning would strike twice?! So there ya go. If anybody's looking for free power, you may wanna build your studio near me. Evidently I'm a power plant at this point.
So, back on topic. I'm in L.A. with no car but I've got cool passive monitors :-)

[Jim Williams]

I've heard that a trip across the border to the Tijuana police station is the best place to look for your car, it's probably being driven by a TJ cop by now. Seriously!

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[PhilE]

Anyone want to recomend anything else? You cant seem to get Truth at the moment here at least.

[T.RayBullard]

Originally Posted by PhilE

Anyone want to recomend anything else? You cant seem to get Truth at the moment here at least.

if you cant get the truths, then the 2nd choice for me would be the blue sky media desk system. Raves about them everywhere.

Truths if at all possible though...

[Bounce]

Ya know, we've got a Blue Sky Media desk 2.1 here as well (at least I think it's the Media Desk. Maybe it's the Pro Desk. This one has a Blue Sky 12 inch beast subwoofer, though) that another engineer brought in and they ended up as live room speakers. I've never tried to mix on them but after comparing, we went straight for the Truths in the CR. They seemed a bit strident for me and my friend says he keeps blowing the woofers on the satellites (even at lower volumes). Something fruity going on with his. Maybe you'll have better luck. They sure look cool, though.

I should put 'em in the CR and try a mix on them but there are plenty of other things to do (like look for a car). Maybe I'll suddenly love them. Should give 'em another chance.

[fucanay]

Well, I got the adcom amp and was pleasantly surprised to find that it has A and B channels. So I picked up some Alesis Monitor One MkIIs for cheap. I'll be looking for something else to put on the second channel eventually, but these will get me out of M-Audio land.

Hopefully Truth Audio will get their site and distribution back together and I'll try to get those later.

Thanks for all of the advise.

Matt

[Dean Landon]

Originally Posted by fucanay

For cost savings, I've decided to go the passive route on monitors. I just purchased an Adcom 535 amp for pretty cheap. I'd been considering getting the dynaudio BM5A monitors and figured this amp would be fine with the passive BM5 monitors for $600.

But now that I've got the amp on the way, I wanted to see what else is out there either used and a little older or new. I don't want to go with NS-10s as they seem to require a lot of learning. So what else is out there for $600 and less that would be a good option? I'm not in a big rush so I could wait for a good deal to come up, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of passives out there anymore.

I should mention that I've been using M-Audio SP-5Bs for a few years and I HATE them. Even with the short periods that I listen to them at a time, they kill my ears.

Thanks in advance

Matt

I have both the Adcom GFA 545 and 585. I've never had the opportunity to test the 535, but I stand firmly behind the Adam ANF-10. I had a pair of BM5A, and compared to the ANF, they have a lack of mids. Adcom and Adam, great combo!

[dubrichie]

harbeth uk have a reputation for being extremely natural / accurate; respectable pedigree.

quested do the S6; small, sealed box design (like the ns-10), i have not heard them though.

all of the adam S series are available as passive as well as active afaik.

passive pmc are also available.

regards,

richie.

[jacko]

Truth Audio TA-1P are great. I'm the only person I know that uses them in Europe

[dubrichie]

could anyone tell me how much a brand new pair of proac 100 are going for these days?

and would anyone recommend any of the other models in the proac line for studio monitoring purposes?

thanks,

regards,

richie.

[max cooper]

You could look into some second-hand ATC 20's or even 50's. They're hungry, though.