Need a speaker for 'true' mono checking

[TornadoTed]

Can anyone suggest a good mono active speaker for checking my mixes in mono. I currently unplug one of my nearfields for 'true' mono but it's a pain in the ass.

I thought about a Genelec 8020A as they are meant to be reasonably decent and they sell them individually. The best price I've found is about £185 ($322) I wouldn't want to spend much more than £200 ($349)

A good option???

[max cooper]

Fostex 6301B. It's like an Auratone but it's powered and they sell 'em one at a time. Cost ya less then 100 pounds.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FOS6301BEAV

make sure you get the BEAV version. No, it's not (you know what) it's shielded so you can put it next to your monitor.

Lots of people use Tivolis, and I've got all the Tivolis, but this thing mops the floor with 'em.

[SK1]

2nd the fostex

[Damian Taylor]

Auratone all the way - though you will have to buy an amp to go with it, not your original intention I know! Still, might check that fostex.....

D

__________________

www.damiantaylor.com

[squeegybug]

Originally Posted by max cooper

Fostex 6301B.

Yep, about any of those little "full range" Fostex are good for this. I use a passive 3", sounds excellent. Better than my Minimus 7 in many ways for this application.

Steve

[sh101]

I bought one Auratone and this amp:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tamp_pm...tufenmodul.htm

I attached it with Velcro on the back of the Auratone. Makes a nice little active monitor...

[joeq]

Originally Posted by TornadoTed

Can anyone suggest a good mono active speaker for checking my mixes in mono. I currently unplug one of my nearfields for 'true' mono but it's a pain in the ass.

Would a 3rd speaker identical to your current pair be out of the question?

[Ol' Betsey]

3rd the Fostex.

Great little speaker.

R.

[Ruudman]

4th the Fostex thumbsup

ruudman

[Jim Williams]

Question: Why mono? Even AM radio is stereo. TV is stereo, Ipods are stereo. The only thing I've seen lately in mono is a $59 13" TV.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[Ruudman]

Cause mono rocks

ruudman

[Fletcher]

In my room "Speaker Output 3" is dedicated to an Auratone 5C "Soundcube" which is used in mono in conjunction with our Crane Song LTD. "Avocet"... everything we've been doing lately has been hitting the street in pretty good shape before mastering.

Best of luck with your search.

[Ribbonmicguy]

I love Fostex 6301B. They sit next to my Focal SM11b :D

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Question: Why mono? Even AM radio is stereo. TV is stereo, Ipods are stereo. The only thing I've seen lately in mono is a $59 13" TV.

3 reasons:

- Phil Spector

-Nothing better to balance a mix than doing it in mono, I even do the PANNING in mono sometimes.

- Phase checking. Nothing worse than having an important element of the mix dissapear in mono. Radio stations are not true stereo all the time, it was very revealing to listen to the radio after I got a Tivoli Audio mono radio. A lot of music sounded totally wrong in mono and I wondered if there was phase inversion of whatever going on with some stations.

The Tivoli radio actually works really well as a mono reference, I just hook it up to my SPL 2381 with a mini-stereo jack to 2x XLR cable.

[seriousfun]

Great idea!

I even do surround panning in single-speaker mono.

I would get another speaker identical to your R and L.

Barring that, maybe the Auratone-equivalent for a real-world check.

Also, consider a monitor controller that would allow you to use your existing speakers without the hassle of rewiring each time you want to do this.

Also, many soundcards, like my RME Multiface, have a utility that will allow you to save a monitoring preset that would pan everything to one speaker, compensate gain for mono buildup, etc.

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by seriousfun

Also, consider a monitor controller that would allow you to use your existing speakers without the hassle of rewiring each time you want to do this.

Some good ideas, but I like the idea of checking mono with one speaker.

[lefthando]

The Neotek console I use sometimes, has a 'mono-left' switch that puts the summed signal into the left monitor only. It works the same no matter which monitor output is selected. I've grown to really like this feature.

Another vote here for an Auratone. Can't beat em for this purpose.

[Ruudman]

Originally Posted by max cooper

Some good ideas, but I like the idea of checking mono with one speaker.

ruudman

[seriousfun]

Originally Posted by max cooper

Some good ideas, but I like the idea of checking mono with one speaker.

Yes. Read my reply.

[TornadoTed]

Cheers for the suggestions guys. I've decided to try a Fostex 6301 BX. They are hard to get hold of over here, noone seems to stock them. I ended up getting one from River Pro Audio where I get all my media from. I figurded for the price it's worth checking out and I'm sure I could find another use for it if I don't get along with it!

[andychamp]

Originally Posted by doorknocker

- Phil Spector

Yep!
Whenever I'm sitting at a mix thinking "how am I gonna fit that in there?" I listen to some PS and come away relieved: "it can be done!"
Hasn't left my iPod since I got the box set a year ago.