Which speakers to buy?
January 10, 2012 1:28 PM Subscribe
For studio monitors/speakers for my son, should I buy these?
www.guitarcenter.com/M-Audio-Studiophile-BX5a-Deluxe-Active-Monitors-104837133-i1406020.gc
They represent how much money I want to spend and they seem to be getting good reviews (but who is doing the reviewing?) I don't want to spend more money than this. He would plug his guitar (or a keyboard) into his interface (the DUET) (he has a Mac laptop) and listen through these speakers. The goal is to record multitracks - he has Reason and Record.
Should we be looking at other speakers too? Is there any retail store in New York City where he can listen to lots of speakers?
Best answer: If you're looking to spend $300, I would take a good look at these KRK speakers. Very well built.
posted by phaedon at 1:47 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by phaedon at 1:47 PM on January 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: As an aside, I will never again buy any audio gear from Guitar Center. The mixer I bought from them turned out to be used, despite being sold as new, and their markup on everything is ridiculous. Wherever you get your gear, I'd recommend staying far away from GC.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:48 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:48 PM on January 10, 2012
Best answer: Retail in NYC? You could start at Manny's at 48th Street (between 6th & 7th Avenues). I think there is a big Sam Ash store right near there, too.
posted by thelonius at 1:54 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by thelonius at 1:54 PM on January 10, 2012
i second the KRK speakers. You can also check them out at sam ash on 48th.
posted by thatgirld at 1:55 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by thatgirld at 1:55 PM on January 10, 2012
Response by poster: oh I always forget about 47th street when thinking about audio equipment! (I think of it in terms of musical instruments, but of course, these days, is there a difference??)
THANKS!
posted by DMelanogaster at 1:56 PM on January 10, 2012
THANKS!
posted by DMelanogaster at 1:56 PM on January 10, 2012
Response by poster: Hey, can we talk about the difference between "monitors" and "speakers"? My son wants to listen to music (as in YouTube videos, CDs, etc.) as well as listen to what he produces.
What IS the difference between "studio monitors" and "speakers"?
posted by DMelanogaster at 1:57 PM on January 10, 2012
What IS the difference between "studio monitors" and "speakers"?
posted by DMelanogaster at 1:57 PM on January 10, 2012
I believe the "studio monitor" is a speaker enclosure that is designed to give a very accurate, "flat" (no alteration of audio characteristics like bass and treble) reproduction of sound. I'm sure there are people here more knowledgable than me about this, though.
posted by thelonius at 2:00 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by thelonius at 2:00 PM on January 10, 2012
Wikipedia on Monitors
Among audio engineers, the term monitor usually implies that the speaker is designed to produce relatively flat (linear) phase and frequency responses. In other words, it exhibits minimal emphasis or de-emphasis of particular frequencies and the loudspeaker gives an accurate reproduction of the tonal qualities of the source audio ("uncolored" or "transparent" are synonyms), and there will be no relative phase shift of particular frequencies meaning no distortion in sound stage perspective for stereo recordings.
posted by mcstayinskool at 2:01 PM on January 10, 2012
Among audio engineers, the term monitor usually implies that the speaker is designed to produce relatively flat (linear) phase and frequency responses. In other words, it exhibits minimal emphasis or de-emphasis of particular frequencies and the loudspeaker gives an accurate reproduction of the tonal qualities of the source audio ("uncolored" or "transparent" are synonyms), and there will be no relative phase shift of particular frequencies meaning no distortion in sound stage perspective for stereo recordings.
posted by mcstayinskool at 2:01 PM on January 10, 2012
I third the KRKs. I have two pairs and I love 'em. They are the best quality you can get for the price.
posted by Mars Saxman at 2:14 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by Mars Saxman at 2:14 PM on January 10, 2012
I third the KRK Rokit 5's. I use them as normal listening speakers coming from a receiver with my computer as input. They sound phenomenal to me. My friend is in audio engineering/music tech and he's deciding to get a pair for his mixing endeavors.
Before going with the KRK's, I was looking at those M-Audio's. The KRK's are $150 each, while it's $150 for the pair of M-Audio's.
posted by jwmollman at 2:16 PM on January 10, 2012
Before going with the KRK's, I was looking at those M-Audio's. The KRK's are $150 each, while it's $150 for the pair of M-Audio's.
posted by jwmollman at 2:16 PM on January 10, 2012
I have those monitors! They're perfectly fine. I like them. But the gushing about the KRKs is Internet-wide and unanimous, so you should probably get those instead.
posted by chrchr at 2:21 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by chrchr at 2:21 PM on January 10, 2012
The KRK's are used by a lot of dance producers. If you want to compare different monitors in NYC, try the Guitar Center on 14th st. - they have a room downstairs with a bunch all hooked up.
You can totally listen to regular music through monitors, but don't "blast" them because they are not intended for rocking a house party, they are supposed to be set up near you for detailed listening.
When you get your monitors, watch this series on YouTube about how to set up your recording environment to maximize the sound. You don't need expensive acoustic treatment like they're using in the video - you can use packing foam etc.
posted by Spacelegoman at 2:22 PM on January 10, 2012
You can totally listen to regular music through monitors, but don't "blast" them because they are not intended for rocking a house party, they are supposed to be set up near you for detailed listening.
When you get your monitors, watch this series on YouTube about how to set up your recording environment to maximize the sound. You don't need expensive acoustic treatment like they're using in the video - you can use packing foam etc.
posted by Spacelegoman at 2:22 PM on January 10, 2012
BE CAREFUL IF YOU BUY STUDIO MONITORS! They're often sold INDIVIDUALLY rather than in pairs, which explains why they're $300 in some places and $150 elsewhere. The $150 is for one.
posted by 2oh1 at 2:54 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by 2oh1 at 2:54 PM on January 10, 2012
Those are fine monitors, by the way. As others have said, studio monitors are designed to sound "flat", meaning they go out of their way to NOT change the sound of your music for the sake of improving it. Many speakers emphasize bass, for example. Studio monitors try to present the music the way it was recorded, which is essential when you're the one recording it.
I happen to be a fan of Tannoy Reveals, and I'm seeing them pop up in more and more studios ranging from home recording all the way up to some really serious pros, but truthfully, as long as you stick with a major brand, you should be fine. (Tannoy Reveal 501A and 601A are excellent)
Avoid bargain oriented brands like Behringer.
On the affordable end... I owned Alesis Monitor Ones for years and was quite pleased with them. If you go that route, buy the actives rather than the passives. Active means the monitor has an amp built in. Passive means it needs an amp. I'm a huge fan of passive monitors, but for starting out, actives are great.
One last thought: look for front ported monitors. The ports are the holes where the lowest bass comes out. Often, monitors are rear-ported. They do this in order to use the wall behind the speaker to reflect bass forward (and also because it's an easier design). The problem with rear-ported monitors is that they can be a pain to position, and they may sound great in one studio but awful in another. Front-ported monitors, on the other hand, are easier to own because they rely less on the shape and size of the room they're in.
posted by 2oh1 at 3:15 PM on January 10, 2012
I happen to be a fan of Tannoy Reveals, and I'm seeing them pop up in more and more studios ranging from home recording all the way up to some really serious pros, but truthfully, as long as you stick with a major brand, you should be fine. (Tannoy Reveal 501A and 601A are excellent)
Avoid bargain oriented brands like Behringer.
On the affordable end... I owned Alesis Monitor Ones for years and was quite pleased with them. If you go that route, buy the actives rather than the passives. Active means the monitor has an amp built in. Passive means it needs an amp. I'm a huge fan of passive monitors, but for starting out, actives are great.
One last thought: look for front ported monitors. The ports are the holes where the lowest bass comes out. Often, monitors are rear-ported. They do this in order to use the wall behind the speaker to reflect bass forward (and also because it's an easier design). The problem with rear-ported monitors is that they can be a pain to position, and they may sound great in one studio but awful in another. Front-ported monitors, on the other hand, are easier to own because they rely less on the shape and size of the room they're in.
posted by 2oh1 at 3:15 PM on January 10, 2012
I have the M-Audio StudioPro 3 speakers and am very happy with them. I use them as computer desktop speakers and they're great for that purpose. Significantly better quality than the usual plastic junk, mostly because they have a solid MDF enclosure. The amp is decent.
posted by Nelson at 3:25 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by Nelson at 3:25 PM on January 10, 2012
Nthing the KRKs. Just note that KRK has been bought by Gibson as part of Gibson trying to turn themselves into a "lifestyle company." It's entirely possible that Gibson will keep up the high quality, but it's also possible that they'll be "improving" the KRK line at some point in the future.
posted by DaveP at 3:55 PM on January 10, 2012
posted by DaveP at 3:55 PM on January 10, 2012
Response by poster: Well I ordered those KRKs. Through Amazon. Two of them, $150 each.
Thank you for all the GREAT information.
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:02 PM on January 10, 2012
Thank you for all the GREAT information.
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:02 PM on January 10, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Amazon rates it at 4/5 stars, but I generally like to read the 1-star reviews to find out the less-happy experiences with something, as well as look at the general distribution of ratings.
If the 1-star reviews are outliers — there are lots of high reviews and just a few 1-stars — then I give them less weight. Especially if the bad reviews are complaints about getting the wrong item, or getting a broken item, which can be resolved by replacement. If the 1-star reviews are numerous enough to offset the high reviews, and they contain reviews about the product or warranty, then I am less confident about buying the item.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:38 PM on January 10, 2012