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Auditioning Monitors plus a few other questions
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| Fledz |
So I'm planning to go and listen to some monitors in the next few weeks. After extensive research and many reviews, plus forums, I've pretty much narrowed my choice down to 3 monitors. Well 2, but read on.
Dynaudio BM5a
Mackie HR824
Adam A7
I'm pretty keen on the Dynaudio's. I've read the best reviews about them and they are also on special now which ing rocks.
The Mackie's I've heard are also great but are just too expensive for me. The 624's don't compare to the others so I've left them out.
As for the Adam's, I've heard good things about them, but I haven't been able to find too much info about them. I guess I will just have to listen to them and see what they are like.
Ok, so when I'm auditioning them, what am I listening for specifically. Obviously I will take some of my favourite music and tracks that I know back to front on many systems, but is there a technique to listening to them?
A certain sweet spot?
Different levels?
etc?
..........
I'm also planning on getting the Presonus Firebox as my audio interface. I've heard only positive things about it and the price range is great, plus I don't have any external synths (and won't for at least a few years).
Also, it seems to be one of a select few that doesn't have any issues with Dell laptops and their firewire. Read through a 40 page discussion on that and they seem to be the best choice. This is also on sale! :D
Ok, now assume I get the Dynaudio BM5a's and the Presonus Firebox. I hook the firebox up to my laptop through 4-pin firewire, then connect it to the power. That's that sorted.
The Main Outs on the firebox are 1/4" but the Dynaudio's are female XLR. So I would need to buy a separate cable (two) which goes from 1/4" to female XLR?
Cheers :) |
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| flutlicht junky |
Well I've heard some good thing about the HR624 and bear in mind the flatter the monitors the more important room acoustics will play in helping you get the best out of the monitors.
The HR824 can be too big for some rooms so bear that in mind. The Adam A7 have a good reputation for vocals and guitars which is obviously different from dance music so listen carefully to those. |
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| echosystm |
Adam A7 and the BM5As are both great monitors. They're both in the same sort of range so you can expect them to behave similarly (in terms of flatness, stereo etc.). The biggest thing for you to look for is whether or not you like the Adam ribbon tweeters or the domes on the BM5A - listen to the high frequencies. Ribbon tweeters do have a particular sound, so they may pose an issue in translation to normal speakers. However, ribbons are often considered a better technology if done properly.
HR824s are in their own league really. I didn't like them at all to be honest. Not just because I couldn't afford them, but because they don't sound as good as they should for the price. It is difficult to match an 8" woofer to a single tweeter, since the optimum frequency ranges for the two wil be further apart. In an ideal world, Mackie would go with a 3-way design, but that obviously costs alot and has it's own downfalls as well. Hence, you're more likely to get more over all accuracy from a 6" two way than 8". BUT, you obviously won't get as much bass on a 6". You have to decide if you can live without 10-20hz of bass extension extra or not. Another consideration is that HR824s are "pretty much" an industry standard. You won't find them in EVERY studio, but you will find them in more than the A7s. If you move between recording studios etc. it could pay off to learn HR824s inside out.
This isn't ideal... But, if you're really not sure and dont know what to do, get them to bust out the most expensive monitors they have, and compare the sound to that. Also, compare the sound to average and cheap monitors so you get an idea for how they will translate.
I could be wrong on some of that, anyone please correct me if so! :) |
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| echosystm |
Also...like fj was saying... listening environment is really important. The speakers will sound alot different in your house than they do on the shelf. If you're anal enough, you might like to read up on accoustics a bit, so you can get an idea for what changes to expect. Similarly, you need to work out if you can actually put hr824s in your room; for most untreated rooms they will cause all kinds of problems.
Make sure you listen to every set at the sweet spot - form an equilateral triangle with the two speakers and your head. |
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| Fledz |
Ok, I'm going in on thursday to listen to them. The BM5a's and the A7's will be there. I think he's also setting up the HR824's and maybe some Genelecs.
I've been listening to Anjunabeats Volume 1 just to get even more used to some of the tracks. I know it quite well so should be able to hear the differences on the monitors.
Should I make my own CD aswell, consisting of sounds in certain frequencies?
I could do that tomorrow with a few synths and then use that to test specific frequencies. Anyone got any tips or clips they are willing to upload which are good for test purposes? |
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| tranceinjection |
Take along a CD that you know well and see which monitors produce the most accurate and truthfull sound playback.
But also remember that certain monitors will be positioned perfectly so they sound the best.
I own the Mackie HR824's and you just add a sub to get the bottom end right.
The Mackie's to me tell me the truth about my mix but only after you get to know them, some peopel cannot get used to them so they get genlecs or dynaudio's etc.
They have the power and can pump out some serious bass, a monitor with a bad attitude.
Also remeber that if your room isan't sound treated then the best monitors in the world can make your music sound bad.
Bas traps and room acoustics all play a part in sound monitoring. |
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| RichieV |
i've said this before a million times
if you are new at buying speakers and dont' raelly have a developped ear which would include almost anyone who isn't a pro , buy things based on reviews preferably from someone that actually makes the type of music you do.
If your ear is not developped , you won't know what to look for. You aren't looking for the best sounding speakers , you are trying to find the truest speakers in respect to the type of music you make. Listening to your favorite cd and getting the speakers you think sound the best is not what you should be doing. You want monitors that are true and reveal flaws so in a way, you want monitors that make your music sound the worst.
Take the advice of people that know what they are talking about. Perhaps include in your post a clarification that you only want people that have professional experience to give you advice or you will end up with some info.
If you are going to be spending alot of quam, trust the pros that make the music you want to make.It drives me up the ing wall when i hear people tell absolute rookies to just get what sounds good. if you want something that sounds good , go buy a hifi system from FutureShop. If you want something to help you monitor your music , get something that is used and revered by the pros, not joe shmoe producing for 6 months.
What ever you end up getting , it will take you a considerable time to actually really know them and until you really know your speakers , they won't really be that usefull. Also let the people know how big your room is going to be so they can give you advice based on your setting. Also , if you are really serious about having great monitoring , you will want to save some of the money to treat your room. Great monitors in a ty space probably are about as usefull as mediocre monitors in a great space. |
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| richg101 |
| you should check out quested speakers. they are awsome. and try to stretch to the 8" versions. the bass is amazingly accurate. |
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| Fledz |
| quote: | Originally posted by RichieV
i've said this before a million times
if you are new at buying speakers and dont' raelly have a developped ear which would include almost anyone who isn't a pro , buy things based on reviews preferably from someone that actually makes the type of music you do.
If your ear is not developped , you won't know what to look for. You aren't looking for the best sounding speakers , you are trying to find the truest speakers in respect to the type of music you make. Listening to your favorite cd and getting the speakers you think sound the best is not what you should be doing. You want monitors that are true and reveal flaws so in a way, you want monitors that make your music sound the worst.
Take the advice of people that know what they are talking about. Perhaps include in your post a clarification that you only want people that have professional experience to give you advice or you will end up with some info.
If you are going to be spending alot of quam, trust the pros that make the music you want to make.It drives me up the ing wall when i hear people tell absolute rookies to just get what sounds good. if you want something that sounds good , go buy a hifi system from FutureShop. If you want something to help you monitor your music , get something that is used and revered by the pros, not joe shmoe producing for 6 months.
What ever you end up getting , it will take you a considerable time to actually really know them and until you really know your speakers , they won't really be that usefull. Also let the people know how big your room is going to be so they can give you advice based on your setting. Also , if you are really serious about having great monitoring , you will want to save some of the money to treat your room. Great monitors in a ty space probably are about as usefull as mediocre monitors in a great space. |
Actually I've spent a good year or more earching monitors and speaking with some pros and plenty of others too :)
I've got a good ear, it's just that I haven't actually gone to audition monitors properly in a showroom.
I know about the space aswell. It will be treated once I see how the monitors behave in it. No point treating a room and then finding out it doesn't suit your monitors. |
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| Fledz |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jmanch
event tr8 |
That doesn't really help me. I've already stated that it's down to the Mackie's, Dynaudio's and Adam's. Nothing else. I'm not just walking in there blind expecting to learn about monitors on the spot.
I wouldn't just blow $2000 on hearsay. |
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| JayseP |
| thanks for the tip on this thread fledz.. heaps of info :) |
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