What to look for in a cheap pair of monitors?

[RottenToTheGore]

in the meantime .. enjoy making music !

Yep, seems like that's the plan.

Maybe some cheap regular speakers so I can at least have the headphones off, but just concentrate on making until I save up enough. Seems like it's the right way to go even when I don't want to spend that much.

I'll check out those headphones too. Thanks for the advice everyone!

[matthews]

For $150 you'll never get decent monitors. Even at $300 you'll have to look around a bit to find a decent used pair (KRK Rokits/HS50Ms). Yes, some companies put out monitors that are in your price range, but the reality is they're quite inferior to the entry level products from the big boys. Monitors are one of those pieces of equipment where you need to do research and spend some coin, because if you don't, you'll realize the limitations quickly and need to upgrade. That's not saying you need to break the bank and buy Genelecs or VXTs or any other high end brand, but doing your research and buying something cost effective that will last and not limit you in 6 months is the way to go.

I second good headphones as the way to start. Anything with a good freq spectrum and flat sound will point you in the right direction. I`d recommend the TMA-1`s or HD-25`s, but their really are a ton of great headphones out their these days. Good luck.

[evon]

my advice...
get a home-stereo amp with a pair of good speakers
(ones that let you enjoy listening to music)..
I personally prefer old amps and cabinets..they're mostly on the cheap side TOO..
(..and you'd have some $ left for decent studio-headphones..
which will give you the neutrality and precision you seek..
my recommendation : AudioTechnica ATH-M50...great value cans that you can also take to gigs)

and when you're ready to put the cash down..
or feel it's necessary...
then get precision monitors...
in the meantime .. enjoy making music !

+1

[doghouse]

You might want to look into Focusrite's VRM box. It emulates different speakers in different rooms over phones. It's $100.

[matthews]

^^^
That sounds pretty interesting, never heard of it before. Could be worth its weight in gold actually...

[memes_33]

^ that product is a bit flawed IMHO. sure, you can model all of those listening environments, but your still dealing with the frequency response of your headphones. they need to add in a function that lets you input your headphone model (out of the most commonly used cans) and it adjusts its response for your particular pair of cans.

[Anubis]

^^
they used Sennheisers.

[H20nly]

^^^ check and mate.

i was totally in agreement with memes, but knowing what cans they used makes it more... usable... if you pick up a set of those cans.

it's an interesting concept none the less.

[RottenToTheGore]

Wow, suggestions keep on coming

I ended up ordering a pair of ATH-M50's, and I found some old computer speakers I may be able to use to reference it to something when not wearing the headphones. Speaking of which, is there an adaptor that takes an RCA plug and makes it a TRS plug? And would I need a specific kind?

[twisted-space]

Try the demo of TB Isone. It's a little like a software VRM box. You need to spend some time getting it set up, but once you have it working correctly it really helps remove the "in the head" feeling you get from monitoring with headphones.

Alternatively there is Headfit, which is free and works quite well, but is a bit less effective than Isone IMO.

Also, when you're using headphones it's really important to KEEP THE VOLUME DOWN. turn it up 'till you think it's ok (as in, it's not very loud), then turn it down 20-30%, and take plenty of rest brakes, like 10 min in every 30. It's very easy to do permanent damage to your hearing without realising you're doing it.

[deutero]

my advice...
get a home-stereo amp with a pair of good speakers
(ones that let you enjoy listening to music)..
I personally prefer old amps and cabinets..they're mostly on the cheap side TOO..
(..and you'd have some $ left for decent studio-headphones..
which will give you the neutrality and precision you seek..
my recommendation : AudioTechnica ATH-M50...great value cans that you can also take to gigs)

and when you're ready to put the cash down..
or feel it's necessary...
then get precision monitors...
in the meantime .. enjoy making music !

+1

+1

I know you've already decided, but for what it's worth (from my far less than pro self), the mixes I did quickly, when I really had no idea what I was doing, using an inexpensive dedicated amp and speakers still sound much better on a variety of systems than mixes I did later with much more time and know-how on a quality pair of headphones.

Whatever you use, get really familiar with how music you love sounds on your mixing setup--that'll go a long way to getting good results from your mixes.

And while it's good to check the sound on crApple earbuds (and car stereos, internal computer speakers, and every other good and bad system people are likely to subject your music to) AFTER mixing, I can't imagine it's ever a good idea to use them DURING mixing.

[wreckcode]

I've been using a pair of Fostex PM-1 MK-II for 2 years and a half now, and they are great.

[salatspinatra]

Maybe a pair of car speakers deliberately chosen with cardboard cones? If I was going to take the cheap approach, I might at least try to emulate some low end output where you can anticipate your listeners. Rather than go the honest, flat-response route, I'd take it with a grain of salt, and get some cruddy speakers, smaller the better, with a a peak on the highs and lows. Just be sure to have some spectral analysis and equing going on so you don't miss a world of rumble under your mix. Then when you can afford real speakers, your initial investment wouldn't be extraneous.

[RottenToTheGore]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I've got alot of ideas now.

The old computer speakers I have are these http://cgi.ebay.com/Boston-Acoustics-Ga ... 3a68056c4c . However the back two speaker connectors no longer work (I may have to go into the sub and solder the connectors back, I think they just got unplugged or bumped around too much) but I'd at least have Left, Right and a sub.

But that should be a good start for just a beginner right? Make something using the old speakers, and when I've gotten enough done, throw on the headphones to see how it sounds there and start to tinker with it?

Thanks again!

[pepezabala]

with a budget as small as your's you probably get the best when buying 2nd hand hifi amp and loudspeakers.

test it before you buy. Tak a CD that you like into the shop and listen to it over the system you want to buy. Compare the speakers, might be that one is blown already.

you should also ask yourslf: what kind of music do you produce, what kind of audio system will your listeners use? If they mainly will listen to it on earbuds, then make it sound right on earbuds. If the music is produced to be played on mega soundsystems with lots of bass, get a subwoofer. If it's for the radio the a home stereo will be good to check your mix.