Big Cheap Speakers for Tracking

[firby]

Hi guys,

I run a not-so-slutty project studio in my living room consiting of a Tascam M2600, 3 X Motu 1224 and a bunch of old outboard paired up with some Event 20/20s. I am looking for some big or big sounding yet cheap speakers for tracking synths, Using a Turntable setup with and general (ab)use. I have some PA speakers that I was using but they don't have enough fidelity for me.

I thought about just getting some Cerwin Vegas and cheaping it out all of the way and what not but I wanted to get some slutz advice first. I have a Hafler DH-500 to power whatever I get so that is taken care of. I am looking for speakers with a vibe or a sound to them that will sound good and be somewhat tough or just cheap and replaceable I am not a irresponsible tracker but I want a little more guts than the Events.

Any suggestions ?

[Bob Ross]

You don't want "cheap" (read: low resolution) speakers for tracking any more than you would want low resolution speakers for mixing. Tracking is when you're need to be able to identify errors, anomalies, or problems that should be fixed during tracking, not later on. You need a revealing speaker for that.

There are generally only two times when a "big cheap" speaker is useful: When you want to blow the client's hair back after a killer take, and when you want to blow the client's hair back after you've wrapped up the final mix. At any other time a low resolution speaker is a liability.

[tINY]

Get a sub-woofer.

Or get a keyboard amp.



-tINY

[blackcatdigi]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

There are generally only two times when a "big cheap" speaker is useful:

Respectfully Mr. Ross (and specifically with regards to tracking musicians in the control room), I can appreciate the need for a louder, more 'hi-fi,' or 'consumer' type monitoring system. Particularly for a higher dB level than near/mid fields can comfortably reproduce.

In addition to considering the garden variety hi-fi stereo speakers, I'd suggest looking around for some of the older 3-way JBL studio monitors, or perhaps some old Urei 809/813s. They do seem rather affordable these days. Even a pair of Alesis Monitor 2s could work well for you.

[firby]

Yeah by cheap I am looking at something for a grand or less.

Cheap is probably the wrong word to use on gearslutz.

[tINY]

This ought to do it for ya:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...air?sku=600348


-tINY

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by blackcatdigi

Respectfully Mr. Ross (and specifically with regards to tracking musicians in the control room), I can appreciate the need for a louder, more 'hi-fi,' or 'consumer' type monitoring system.

Excellent point (vis a vis tracking in the control room)...though a louder, more 'hi-fi,' or 'consumer' type monitoring system is not necessarily the same as a Big Cheap Speaker!

[blackcatdigi]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Excellent point (vis a vis tracking in the control room)...though a louder, more 'hi-fi,' or 'consumer' type monitoring system is not necessarily the same as a Big Cheap Speaker!

Agreed. No, it is not necessarily!

[firby]

I have a pair of JBL 4311s coming. I will keep you posted on the results. Thanks to all the slutz that helped!

[GearHunter]

Originally Posted by firby

I have a pair of JBL 4311s coming. I will keep you posted on the results. Thanks to all the slutz that helped!

A potentially good call!

I was going to suggest a used pair of Tannoys, like DMT12's or SRM10's because they're loud and have enough low-end to use as tracking mains. In the right room they can sound surprisingly good.

[firby]

Allright.

So I got the 4311s and an extra pair of crossovers and some new tweeters from ebay. I tore them apart and got the fiberglass insulation all over myself and put them back together. I stuck them on my ghetto homemade meter bridge and plugged em into the good ole hafler DH500. These speakers are not half bad !

I have done some mixes on them last night but I have not listened to them in the car or anywhere else yet. By and large I really like them for tracking and could probably get mixes out of them as well. I have the presense and brilliance controls set to 3 and 9 and I get a good sound out of them.


The best thing is they are louder than heck, have a pretty big sweet spot and thump out the room pretty authoritatively. They have a party speaker vibe.

Thanks for the reccomends fellow gear slutz.

[GearHunter]

Party-speaker vibe, I love that! Hey man, JBL4311s were an industry standard studio monitor up until the mid '80s or so; even late '80s.

Are they flat? No way.

Do they go "boom boom sizzle sizzle", yes they do!

Are they loud party speakers? You bet!

People made good mixes on them back in the day, so I'll bet you can too!

I wish I had a pair in my den, to go with my Marantz 2230!

1976 USA Bi-Centennial sound quality. Sweet! Gotta love that all-American gear!

[firby]

Still loving the goodness of the JBL 4311s. They are just a great utilitarian speaker and the sound is certainly charming. These are probably in my top 3 gearslutz recommended buys if not the one.

Thanks slutz.

Oh I got replacement tweeters for these and hooked them up and they sound really fantastic now. Also now they are powered with a Adcom GFA 545. It really is an amazing monitoring chain for less than a grand. Mixes translate good to my car too.

I have looked around and read alot and it looks like JBL L100s are the same speaker basically. If you are looking for a good value in used speakers they are all over out there but these are especially nice.

Regards.

[Thrice_Removed]

Originally Posted by tINY

This ought to do it for ya:

Buy JBL JRX125 Dual 15' 2-Way Speaker Cabinet Pair online at Musician's Friend


-tINY

Egh - those speakers are pretty gross soundwise - even for a PA, but they might do the whole "big cheap speaker" thing alright. Personally I would get a pair of powered Yorkville monitors for much cheaper (and you obviously wouldn't have to get a poweramp like for those JRX's) and call it day. Heck I might even do that.

Edit: Oops I see you already got a pair.

[tINY]

Yeah, the JBL 15" 2-ways have always been a bit honky and scooped. But they always played loud.....

The 8" or 10" JBL always made a better pairing with the JBL horns: Anything that let you cross-over above about 2.5kHz.



-tINY

[lampmeister]

Another nod to the Alesis Monitor 2's.
I had a pair 'till I upgraded to PMC LB1's and they were really good. 3-way, big, easy low end, cheap, can do loud ok.

[StefanColson]

Revel F12s. You have NEVER heard a speaker sound like that for the price (around$1k a pair). Bear in mind that the Revels are BIG, and need to stand on the floor. You will not be disappointed.