Near Field Monitors

anti-banausic · Post by **anti-banausic** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 8:56 pm

Just wondering what people use for near field monitors? Just saw a set of Alesis powered for $199. Just wondering whether anyone has used Alesis, or what is best in the $2-300 range?

Thanks!

Moody · Post by **Moody** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 9:18 pm

Active Tannoys here. Add the sub and you can't go wrong.

dirtystudios · Post by **dirtystudios** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 9:45 pm

yamaha ns10m's here. scored mine for fifteen bucks at a thrift store, but they usually go for around $400 used. just about every studio has a pair, (which is handy if your music ever plans to go to a studio for mixing or whatnot) the logic being that if it sounds good on these, it'll sound good on anything. highly recommended.

k

tjwett · Post by **tjwett** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 9:59 pm

Blueroom Minipods. not a conventional choice i know, but they have an amazingly flat response and don't tire my ears at all. plus, they look like the Michelin Man's leg.

anti-banausic · Post by **anti-banausic** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:14 pm

So, these are the Alesis M1 Active Mk2. Review says they have a very flat response. $399 at Samash. But I can get them for $199. Sound good?

tjwett · Post by **tjwett** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:37 pm

personally i would stay away from the M1 Actives. i had them a while back and quickly returned them. they sounded obnoxious to me. not enough internal power either. everything was just saturated and nasty. and made my ears tired very quickly. thats just my experience with them.

Nick Maxwell · Post by **Nick Maxwell** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:01 pm

I swear by my Yamaha MSP-5 actives. I don't use a sub and they still put out great bass. The mixes I have made on them have translated nearly perfectly (to my admittedly novice ears) outside of the studio onto many different stereo systems. They sound great over long periods of time, too. Lastly, they are small and quite portable, not like a lot of the nearfields that are coming out now that are just insanely bulky.

- Nick

rajcoont · Post by **rajcoont** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 1:50 am

i use m1 actives, and swear by them. for that price you shouldnt hesitate whatsoever. monitors are very subjective, but i tested all the low=mid priced active monitors on the market with my reference cd (rhythm and sound boyeeeeee!) and the M1's were head and shoulders over everything else. I would buy them again if a had to spend under 400 US on powered monitors. You won't regret it at 200 guaranteed

Moonburnt · Post by **Moonburnt** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 3:36 am

Mmm, ns10s for 15 bucks? Nice one dirtystudios! That's the great thing about those sorta shops, things are often either ridiculously over- or under-priced cos they aren't that clued up about what they're selling.

I got a pair of Event 2020bas, i've found them to be excellent, very clear, not overly bright, plenty of power and reasonably priced. They now sell a "v2" of these speakers, haven't heard them, but *presumably* they're better in some way. Generally though, it appears as if Event are now focusing more on introducing cheaper rather than better models which is a bit of a shame.

anti-banausic · Post by **anti-banausic** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 4:25 am

Ok, so it seems that this is a very subjective subject (ah, sound, as with choice of laptops and OS, seems to always be!).

I may give them a shot, so long as I can return them for refund or store credit.

Another, obviously subjective question, my old Senn HD265 linears have faulty wiring now, and am trying to get new cord for them, but in the mean time I need new relatively inexpensive phones for playing out. Was looking at the the Sony's MXR700s (I think), but I kind of like the circumaural headphones (hence the Senns). I was thinking maybe the Senn HD280s? Relatively inexpensive and articulated and circumaural. Was wondering if anyone tried them, liked them? I could also go with Grado's the SR65 or whatever the lowend model is, but am concerned about their ability out.

Thanks again for all the responses and help!

raapie · Post by **raapie** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 9:17 am

Pyramid Triple-P all the way!

mthomashow · Post by **mthomashow** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:39 am

I run a Yamaha S90, Korg Karma, Planet Earth, and a Parker fly deluxe through Alesis Active M1's. I have them set up in a very small room. Sometimes I think they sound terrific....othertimes not so sure....they always sound better at night.....what I'm getting at is how subjective it all is.....I bought them because they sounded pretty good and were inexpensive.....Whatever you do, try out (if possible) several different options (knowing they will sound different in your studio than at the store) and find something you are happy with. For that price, you are getting a reasonably good pair of reliable monitors.....

minimal · Post by **minimal** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 11:14 am

Nick Maxwell wrote:I swear by my Yamaha MSP-5 actives. I don't use a sub and they still put out great bass. The mixes I have made on them have translated nearly perfectly (to my admittedly novice ears) outside of the studio onto many different stereo systems. They sound great over long periods of time, too. Lastly, they are small and quite portable, not like a lot of the nearfields that are coming out now that are just insanely bulky.

- Nick

I use MSP-5 as well toghether with NS10m Studio, unbeatable couple of monitors.
I love yamaha!

Winterpark · Post by **Winterpark** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 11:52 am

i got the alesis m1's also.

I actually reckon they are alright for the price range... with monitors it's what you get used to... i mean, you've got to learn the sound of them with different tracks you like the production of, so you can compare your own track's production.

regards,
-am

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 11:57 am

I've got ADAM P11 active monitors and am very pleased so far!