cheap monitors

Koushirou · Post by **Koushirou** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 11:54 am

right now i am either mixing through a pair of akg k101 headphones or through a cheap pair of computer speakers. i mean, i can get by with that, but i definitely want something better.

on the other hand, i don't need pro-level flat frequency response or anything... i just want something more accurate than a pair of headphones or 20 dollar speakers.

i'm looking at the ones in the 100 dollar range.... like the behringer ms20, edirol ma7a, and the maudio studiopro3s.... just looking at the specs, it looks like in this range, the behringer is the best? then again i don't *really* know how to read specs so i'm just sort of guessing based on what little knowledge i have.

if you think that 100 dollar monitors are gonna be a real piece of shit, then i'm willing to spend more, but i'd really prefer not too. i just want a decent level of accuracy... but i mean, i'm not going to be in a treated room anyway, and these aren't gonna be released on a label or anything...

oh btw im a college student living on campus... so the smaller, the better, too....

p.s.! i don't know what the difference between active and passive is..... please enlighten?

bz£ · Post by **bz£** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:51 pm

Passive monitors are unpowered, you will also need to buy an amplifier to run them. Active monitors have that amp built-in.

Behringer tends to have the cheapest stuff (or, alternately, the "best" stuff for the money) but you get what you pay for. If you can scratch up a few extra bucks, either of these look like decent buys at $150 each. Monitors are a pretty subjective thing, though, your best bet is to go try a few and see if you can even tell the difference between them.

Koushirou · Post by **Koushirou** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 4:14 pm

i've noticed the krk rokit rp5s for 150....

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=602312

any opinions on this

i think im gonna get them...........

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:22 pm

I know this is heresy but I use a pair of Mission bookshelf speakers (I forget the exact model but they've been discontinued, but I'm a big fan of Mission and Athena) powered through a SonicImpact amp (which was briefly the darling of the audiophile world, so of course people started spending insane amounts of money on modding this little $20 amp).

Adam! · Post by **Adam!** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:29 pm

Koushirou wrote:i've noticed the krk rokit rp5s for 150....

I use their big-brother model. I like mine quite a bit for mixing rock; you'll lose the bottom 40hz (at least), which tends to make my kicks too loud. Otherwise, very good bass representation, given how small they are. Very honest high frequencies; you'll start hearing the clipping in a lot of commercial music. The mids are less honest. That's all assuming the ones you linked are anything like mine.

One thing that surprises me is that $300 before tax/shipping seems to be a fairly steep jump from your earlier $100 budget. But if you can afford them then I say go for it.

bz£ · Post by **bz£** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:58 pm

Koushirou wrote:i've noticed the krk rokit rp5s for 150....

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=602312

any opinions on this

Yeah, you may not realize, but it looks like that is one monitor for $150, not a pair. That is, you'd need to buy two of them, which is well out of your stated price range.

Koushirou · Post by **Koushirou** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:47 pm

hahaha i definitely did NOT realize that

i was like

wow 53hz - 20khz for only 150?

oh well

Koushirou · Post by **Koushirou** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 9:41 pm

ok so i ended up getting maudio studiophile dx4s...
because i saw them used on ebay for 50 bucks plus 20 shipping
i really hope i didnt get screwed....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1

fluffy · Post by **fluffy** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 10:18 pm

Good luck with those. I've never been particularly impressed with anything M-Audio's made, but YMMV.

HeuristicsInc · Post by **HeuristicsInc** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:27 pm

I like the M-Audio soundcard I use in my desktop...
-bill

Me$$iah · Post by **Me$$iah** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 5:45 pm

Ive not tried any of their monitors,
but I must agree that the soundcards made by M-Audio are of pretty good quality.

I used to use a Delta 1010 and Ive also previously owned a Delta 66, and both were of excellent quality. Esp. the external hardware. The I/O breakouts were really well constructed, so I assume the build quality will be there with their monitors. The cards sounded quite good also.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:39 pm

My Tapco S8's now live at the band's studio, where they'll be one of 3 pairs of reference monitors.

Monitors are not generally priced by the pair. Go ahead and pony up the extra $50 or $100 to get a reasonable pair. You'll be pissed off in six months when you have shitty monitors because you were too cheap to get a real set.

/snob