Choosing monitors for bedroom studio.

[MrCravon]

I am buying new studio monitors. So far I am looking at the KRK Rokit 8 and the Yamaha HS8. My budget is about 600USD. I am leaning towards the Yamaha HS8 because I live in Tokyo and can probably get a good deal on those. Problem is that my desk is most likely going to be up against a wall and I am worried the rear porting of the Yamaha HS8 will be a problem. How much distance do I need to the wall?

Previously I had a pair of KRK Rokit 5 and I was quite pleased with those and because of the front porting it was no problem having them just 4-5cm from the wall.

Any recommendations?

[Tarekith]

I've been hearing good things about the JBLs in that price range.

[MrCravon]

Yes, I have been looking a bit at those JBL LSR308's as well. I guess my question is the same as with the Yamaha HS8's, how close to the wall can I put them with a rear port? Should I go for front ported ones in stead?

[MrCravon]

How about the ADAM audio F7? It's front ported as well.

[ejlif]

I would go with the ADAM over anything else mentioned. Dynaudio also makes some good speakers too.

[teomor]

I recently bought a Yamaha HS7 pair, coz I wanted something not too big for my small desk.. but large enough so I wouldn't need a sub. I went to a local DJ store and had a listen to all the bigger models they had (>5") including the HS8 and I though the 7's sounded the best. I actually didn't need a second listen for any of the models. I knew right away these were the ones I wanted.
My desk is also in my bedroom and close to a wall but that doesn't really affect the monitors... I tried various distances (from 10cm to 50cm) and didn't really see any change, but maybe I just didn't push the volume enough. What did affect them was my actual wall, because I had some really nasty standing waves and couldn't hear most of the low end when sitting in the mix position.. until I stuck an old foam mattress on the wall right behind the monitors.. Now I have about 20cm between the mattress and the monitors and they sound AWESOME!
The manual for my HS7 says to leave 1.5m on each of the sides, but if your room is 4m x 4m, how are you gonna do that?
When I did my research, before I bought these monitors (my first pair of studio monitors ever) everyone recommended 20-30cm and it turns out they were right..

[Tarekith]

I 100% agree that when it comes to monitors, gut checks are the best option. If you can go and listen to some of the ones you're thinking about, definitely just go with the ones that speak to you. Even if you were to spend 10x your budget on speakers, there's so many factors that play into how we hear things (and thus we have to mentally compensate for), ultimately it's better to go with what makes you feel comfortable.

Try and buy from a place with a good return policy too. Speakers take a coupple weeks of use to really embed themselves in your mind, be honest with how you like the way things sound after that period and return for something else if you're REALLY not feeling it. The best speakers I've used over the years were always the ones that I felt a connection to right away.

[sana48]

I'm happy with my HS8's...

bought em used from guitar center;)

[jlgrimes]

I am buying new studio monitors. So far I am looking at the KRK Rokit 8 and the Yamaha HS8. My budget is about 600USD. I am leaning towards the Yamaha HS8 because I live in Tokyo and can probably get a good deal on those. Problem is that my desk is most likely going to be up against a wall and I am worried the rear porting of the Yamaha HS8 will be a problem. How much distance do I need to the wall?

Previously I had a pair of KRK Rokit 5 and I was quite pleased with those and because of the front porting it was no problem having them just 4-5cm from the wall.

Any recommendations?

I have the KRK VXT 8's and they are great monitors. I worked at a friend's bedroom and he uses the Rokit 8's. They have nice low end. I would think they should be fine. Are they perfect, probably not. But alot comes down to learning your monitors (and bedroom). The only way to learn your monitoring environment is to do projects with them and listen to alot of good mixes on them.

[Vroxyle]

I got the Yamaha HS8 and they are very good in my opinion. Just make sure you place them at your head level. Makes a big difference.

Vroxyle
https://m.soundcloud.com/vroxyle

[sana48]

Warning: what you are about to read is baised due to my lack of trying out Rockits.

From my recollection all the research I did prior to purchasing my HS8'S lead me to the assumption that the Yamahas were simply a step above the rockits in every aspect. I was fixated on the Rockits until I spoke with other producers and conducted some research. My biased advice is if you can get the Yamahas for 600$ new then you would be foolish to not go that route. It is very possible that Rockits have made progress since my research though and inevitably even the Yamahas are not considered high end.

Fortunately there is a TON of comparison information on the Web concerning these brands and the major differences between rear ports and front ports (there is a big difference), so it should be quite easy to read some reviews and make your own decision with confidence. I only have my HS8'S about 5 inches from the wall. Another thing to think of, if youre like me, then your monitors will not be flush with the wall, each one will be angled at your seat, this immediately makes room for the rear port to breathe.

All in all...

GO with the Yamahas




Muahahhahababababbabababajahahahaj

[H20nly]

How about the ADAM audio F7? It's front ported as well.

These.

Or Adam F5

[beats me]

General question. I know it’s all about the bass and therefor the assumption is to get the monitor with the biggest woofer you can afford, but if you are on a limited budget wouldn’t it be better to get the best overall monitor at the sacrifice of the biggest woofer within that budget?

[Tarekith]

Woofer size is not everything, not by a long shot. I'd definitely take a monitor with better imaging and accurate mids and highs over something that went just a few Hz lower.

[beats me]

That’s what I thought. And of course room size and treatment and monitor position also make a difference. I think some new producers shoot for the large woofer size and then figure out what they can afford based on that prerequisite.