What monitors do you use?

McQ714 · Post by **McQ714** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:24 pm

Currently I have two sets of monitors in a small 10' x 10' room... and even smaller if you include the empty boxes from gear i haven't taken to storage yet. I use the Alesis ProLinear 820s and M-Audio BX5As. If i use them together, they sound great for a mix. But if i only use one or the other, i'm not happy with those same mixes. I've been looking at the JBL 4326s as i want something that's kind of in the middle size-wise of what i have now. I would definitely get the 4312 to go with them because i "try" to make electronic music and really need to hear the lows. Has anyone used the JBLs? They sound great at Guitar Center so I wonder how they would translate to my room. What other monitors does everyone use or recommend?

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:27 pm

GENELEC 8030.

and unless i can afford PMC, never anything else but genelec as nearfileds.

unless it is wallmount monitoring, then again nothing else but genelec.

McQ714 · Post by **McQ714** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:37 pm

well ok... work for Genelec? what makes a 5" monitor good for electronic music? any other suggestions? possibly a little less expensive. still have to buy a sub too.

dj_huck · Post by **dj_huck** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:40 pm

i use mackie hr824 and also have behringer b2031
love the mackies and get along with the 2031

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:41 pm

McQ714 wrote:well ok... work for Genelec? what makes a 5" monitor good for electronic music? any other suggestions? possibly a little less expensive. still have to buy a sub too.

well, they are expensive... but worth it.

sub, hmmm... yes it can be great... really necessary? to make a good bass booty mix...? i say work on your skills, FIRST!

but whatever, i am tired of that kind of discussion... sorry.

McQ714 · Post by **McQ714** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:45 pm

i've looked at the mackie mk2s before and they sound good but didn't like the sound as much as the JBLs in side by side comparison... but i again i don't know what they would sound like in my room and if i'd still like them as much. and not to sound like a snob, but i've managed to avoid Behringer this point and i think i'll continue to do so. to give any of you an idea of my budget, i'd say i don't really want to spend more than $2K on a 2.1 system

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:50 pm

McQ714 wrote:i've looked at the mackie mk2s before and they sound good but didn't like the sound as much as the JBLs in side by side comparison... but i again i don't know what they would sound like in my room and if i'd still like them as much. and not to sound like a snob, but i've managed to avoid Behringer this point and i think i'll continue to do so. to give any of you an idea of my budget, i'd say i don't really want to spend more than $2K on a 2.1 system

2k to spend? genies 8030 / 8040 plus sub 7060B, IF your neighbors can take it!

side note: i used to have a genelec sub, got rid of it, cause i tend to mix way better without it. but this you have to figure out yourself.
also at home you can't really run an evil sub like a genie... always trouble with the neighbors

McQ714 · Post by **McQ714** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:53 pm

2K US?? Sweetwater has the 8030s priced at $750 each and the 8040s at $1300 each. the 7060B alone is $2300. out of my price range.

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:55 pm

McQ714 wrote:2K US?? Sweetwater has the 8030s priced at $750 each and the 8040s at $1300 each. the 7060B alone is $2300. out of my price range.

what are those prices?

in germany a pair of 8030s is just under 1k euros.

McQ714 · Post by **McQ714** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:58 pm

i'm in California. and i really don't know how euros translate to dollars.

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:03 pm

McQ714 wrote:i'm in California. and i really don't know how euros translate to dollars.

not sure about the current exchange rate myself, but it feels brutally expensive.

McQ714 · Post by **McQ714** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:11 pm

well apparently there's a huge markup on Genelecs in the States. on DV247.com, a pair of 8030s is only 950 us dollars and 730 euros. but in the states a single 8030 is $750 us dollars. what the hell is VAT?

anamexis · Post by **anamexis** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:15 pm

VAT is Value Added Tax and it is your enemy.

McQ714 · Post by **McQ714** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:32 pm

i'm glad i'm in the States. we only have sales tax to pay here and that's only if you buy something from a company or website that has locations based in your state. and sales tax isn't nearly as expensive as VAT. where i live, it's only 7.75% of the purchase price.

JRoyer · Post by **JRoyer** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:41 pm

it all depends on the studio and the person or person's that are operating in the studio. I had to focus on price, then decide on the type of monitors that fit my budget and studio. I think some of the most important questions one should ask when it comes to buying monitors are:

1) Am I tracking, mixing, or mastering audio?
2) Do I require a near-field monitor setup, far-field monitor setup, or both?
3) If a near-field and far-field monitor setup are required, does my budget allow
for both?
4) What monitors are the studios, engineers or artists using when it comes to songs
that I like the SOUND of?

Asking myself these questions along with my experiences with many different types of monitors and monitor applications. The Yamaha HS80M near-field monitor was my final decision. Because they fit my budget, they sound good, and their interpretation of my mixes are very accurate. I do not get the "big" low-end Bass power or pristine hi's, but I do get accuracy for a very low price.

What monitors do you use?

What monitors do you use?

There is never a "right" answer...