cheap nearfields on a student budget

[lehmanjc]

I know you guys are tired of discussing what the "best" monitors are, but I thought I'd bring the topic up one more time. sorry ;)

I need to buy a pair in very inexpensive near monitors ($350 or [hopefully] less for the pair) that are active and are physically on the smaller side. It would also be nice if they are shielded.

I will be using them in different locations so I can't give a description of the room.

As for their application, I will be using them for the occasional "hobby" recording session with friends, family, etc. Music styles vary from jazz to rock.

I understand that I am not going to get a great pair of monitors for such a LOW price, however I am on a student budget and EVERY penny counts! I need something that will get the job done with the best bang for the buck.

I have enjoyed reading about how great the $4000 Genelecs sound, now lets hear some reviews for us poor people!

Thanks for your great help!
Joel

[Jayfior]

Yamaha NS10m. No doubt about it. If you can find em. I just bought some JBL 4412a monitors because I wanted low end. ($1500) I still like the Yamaha NS10 monitors because they're smaller for close in monitoring and for $1500 I spent on the JBLs, I didn't get much more for the money. Also I've never been in a studio that DIDN'T have Yamaha NS10s.

[BradLyons]

I would suggest looking into the Event PS5 or Alesis M1 Actives... both in the $500 range. You're really not going to find anything active in the $350 price point. Even if it means you have to wait longer, I think you'll find the extra $$ spent on the above mentioned models to be worth it.

[lehmanjc]

what about the Roland DS-50A's? The digital input is appealing because I will be working with PC based editing, however am I loosing speaker quality because of this added feature?

Also, how much better are the PS6 over the PS5's?

Thanks again,
Joel

[DEXTERITY]

NS10's are definitely worth their money.. just pute fuses in them so they don't blow..but they are good monitors.. you still are going to need something bigger to "bang" your final mixes through.

[Music4everybody]

I was at that same level a year ago(I'm currently uprgrading my gear) I went to the store to test monitors and they had a pair of Alesis M1's on sale for 250! Sweet! but they were sold, of course. Then the sales guy took me over to these little computer lookin speaker things. He turned them on and the first thing I noticed were how loud they were with out clipping. They're made my Fostex they're the Fostex 2.1?

It's two shielded speakers and an outboard subwoofer, All powered of the subwoofer. Not Genelec's but I only paid 180 and have done many projects in cluding 23 piece jazz bands and 60 piece orchestra mixes on them, and the clients were all happy. They don't sound like 824's or Genelec's but they also don't cost as much. Hope this helps!
Rob

[SteveR]

Tannoy Reveal 'Active'. I did a comparison and they were the best I heard. Didn't check the price though...!


Steve...R

[cadesignr]

Hi, I have a small home studio, and run Spirit Absolute Zero's. Sound great. Paid $350. But I have a little advice for you. Ever seen studio monitors in someones home for listening. Thats why all the people I know listen to thier final mix through a home or auto system. Thats where the final product is Real. If it works there, wala.
I have a pair of those small Jensen 6x9 auto boxs that look like stage wedge monitors. Cost me $10 at a yard sale. I power these with a $5 harmon kardon 35w tube amp(reciever). Since it has 12ax7 pre's in it, I decided to try my strat through a art SGX LT in to it. Wow! Even tried my bass. What a sound. And the mix's. Sound exactly the same in the car or home. Not so with the spirits. Advice-monitors sound great, in the studio. But who am I. Try it. Experiment. You'll only lose a few bucks if your not happy. Besides, your supposed to be having fun, otherwise get a job at a studio that has all the monitors and go to work.
Ultimately, someone listens to the final product through a consumer system. I am really not a know-it-all. Just a believer in common sence and pockets that are limited. And I have fun!
Rick Fitzpatrick

[Brooks]

any opinions on alesis point seven monitors? i just bought a pair w/ an alesis ra-100 amp, all for $200.

[jpleong]

I just happened to be browsing the Nearfields when I noticed the new comers by Samson. They are the Resolv 65a. At $289, I don't know of any monitor that can beat that price. Problem is, I have not a clue as to how they sound (maybe someone from Sweetwater can give their two cents).

I agree with the previous post about the Reveals, they are great monitors. Maybe (hopefully) these Samsons can be great monitors too...

JP

[SteveR]

I used a Samson mixer once and it was a real hummer... not to be recommended but that was just the model I tried....

SteveR

[xeetstreet]

Don't buy that Fostex stuff, get some real monitors. Fostex was successful with the low-end multi-tracker market, but monitors?

[treidm]

$550-$600, and some luck and good haggling, will get you Tannoy Reveal actives, Event PS8's should be somewhere in that range. Raise the cash level, you won't be dissapointed!
:) Reid

[PatrickNWI]

I had just purchased a pair of the Event 20/20 Monitors 149.00 each, it was a debate between these and the Alesis MK2's $199.00 pair. I am replacing a pair of old JBL's with an 8inch woofers in them so I went with the Event's because they also had an 8inch woofer. They were a little more expensive but the specks seem to be about the same for both monitors.

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this? I can still return them.

[michaelhoddy]

The Event 20/20's sound nice, but are difficult to mix on because of a hyped HF response and indistinct mid-bass. However, they're worth every bit of $150.00. Any monitor in this price range is going to have compromises.

I use a pair for MIDI in my studio. They work great. I don't mix audio on them though, saving that for my ADAMs.

[MorturaryMan]

Just buy NS-10m and forget about it. 80% of all studios use NS-10ms
and you'll have some sort of compatability with these studios. Later
on you can pick up some "bigger" or "better" speakers.....but for the
price you cant go wrong with the Yamahas.

[michaelhoddy]

Problem. NS10m's are no longer made. But if you can find a pair, it is something of a standard, although a ubiquitous one.

[mixer]

go and listen..bring a cd you really love and know . find the monitors that bring out all the things you don't like about the recording...the ones that really show off the flaws...remember that monitors are not ment to enjoy the music on . they are the source used to build the recording and mix from....i love the jbl lsr 25s. but i have the luxury of lots of sources. alos audex makes some really cheap but fairly good solutions...but really it is up to you...no ones ears are the same..

[EjbsMusicRoom]

Great Monitors for a Hundred Bucks FLAT

1 Go to RadioShack and Purchase the Following:

RCA/Optimus 40s ($30/pr.)

RCA SA-155 Integrated Stereo Amplifier ($60)

Necessary cables ($10)

2 Go home and Assemble

3 Press Play and Mix

4 Listen to Final Mix

5 Sit back with big smile on face

6 Take a loved one out to dinner with the $$$ you saved

7 Tell another musician friend and spread the wealth.

HAVE A NICE DAY,
Ernest

[freedy]

(oops, posted this then forgot about your $350 ceiling. sorry. it's still useful advice though, so I'll let it stand. you might be better off with a $100 pair of sony 7506 headphones and the radio shack solution given above for the time being. we gear heads sure do love to pontificate, don't we?)

Here's my two cents. If your music involves vocals and guitars, my experience has been that the NS10's and the Events (both with a similar midrange inaccuracy) are the only way to reliably gauge relative levels. Contrary to what you always always hear, the NS10's are not used because they mimic the sound of typical home speakers. It is because of this very useful (to some vital) midrange frequency hump. The Events are (to my ears and those of Rock n Roll Jack) an updated version of this version of reality. If you can get those guys sounding good, it will translate well to your home system. Also, don't pay attention to Power Ratings and get a 100 watt (or more) adcom or NAD power amp on audiogon.com. You'll marvel at the clarity more headroom provides. The other trick with NS10's is to get an inexpensive powered subwoofer (probably a Yamaha) and turn it up just ever so slightly. This is some of the wisdom that has been passed down to me from the Elders. (this is probably an $800 solution to a $350 problem. sorry for my bad accounting)
.

[jdomini00]

try the yamaha ms3/msp5