Monitor Upgrade?

[Nevelicious]

I really feel it is time for an upgrade. I have been mixing on NS10's, Mackie 824's and JBL 8330's and it seems that I mess up low end ALL the time. And my ears seem always confused. Do you think that I will get a dramatic, in your face, mind blowing, eye popping difference if I bought....

Benchmark DAC1
DynAudio BM15A's

I am recording onto a Digi 001 and have a ton of outboard gear. My A/D conversion is lacking which I am also considering upgrading. I am running such preamps such as the Avalon 737, Focusrite 428, Great River MP2, Manley Voxbox, API 3124 through a Digimax for A/D conversion.

How would I monitor out on the Digi 001 through the DAC1? Would it run out the Spdif?

Thanks for answering to a newbe thread!

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by Nevelicious
I really feel it is time for an upgrade. I have been mixing on NS10's, Mackie 824's and JBL 8330's and it seems that I mess up low end ALL the time. And my ears seem always confused. Do you think that I will get a dramatic, in your face, mind blowing, eye popping difference if I bought....

This sounds like a room issue, more than a monitor issue.

The best monitors/converters in the world can't compensate for a badly designed room.

[Nevelicious]

No....the room is very well designed.....Umass acoustician

I just feel like the Mackies are leading me astray. The NS10s are good.....but my ears are bleeding after an hour. The 8330's are fine for what they give me....reality in a box.

[planet red]

Nevilicous.... completely off topic but how do you like your focusrite 428? I can pick one up for a steal, but have to decide soon. How would you compare it with say your 3124?

[Nevelicious]

I like the 428. It is useful. I would not say it is the same preamp as an ISA 110 or the 430 but it is close. I would grab the API between the two. The API I would use on everything besides vocals...

Is anyone going to tell me about my monitor issue????

[doug_hti]

You might find more "value" in getting a multi channel AD DA, rather than a DAC1, being that your AD is "arguably" bad as well. I am by no means de-valueing (probably not a word), the quality and value of a DAC-1, but something like a Rosetta 800 may serve you better for the price, being that you can pick them up for 2500...and then maybe get some Dyn BM6As if you are glued to that combined price range.

I personally have digi 192i/o converters and ADAM S2As (as well as some horrible Yamaha MSP5s and KRK V6s)...and I am very HAPPY!

But to answer your question. I believe that finding monitors that work for you can really give you a "dramatic, in your face, mind blowing, eye popping difference"

[davemc]

Can you see if you can borrow some monitors from a shop and see if it helps.. Personally I did not like the bottom end on the mackies.. Although its all personal choices..

What else can you get to check with but the dynaudios, not to say the BM15 is not good. Although if your thinking of upgrading try what ever you can find

The stock 001 convertors are not great as well. SO i do not know if you can borrow a convertor as well.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by Nevelicious
No....the room is very well designed.....Umass acoustician

I just feel like the Mackies are leading me astray. The NS10s are good.....but my ears are bleeding after an hour. The 8330's are fine for what they give me....reality in a box.

Even though the rooms might be designed by top guys(and I've mixed in some of the best), it doesn't mean that they all work for certain genres of music(they are more like beautiful workrooms than mix rooms).

The Mackies need to be on stand at leat 5' from the listener for the bass to work right(more of a midfield than a near field).

If you are looking to the NS10 to tell you what's happening in the bass region than you are in for a long day(you can learn more by looking at the action and feel of the woofers than the sound).