KRK V8's (Series II): Where is the bass?

[nerogtr]

I have a set of KRK V8's (Series II) and find it extrememly hard to mix on them. I ALWAYS end up over-mixing the bass. You would think that after owning them for almost a year I would have gotten the hang of how they sound, but inevitably i over-mix the bass on every project. Even when I think I've mixed the bass low enough (sounds like there is no bass output at all on the v8's), i'll throw it in the car or another stereo system to be blown away by how disgustingly boomy the mix is. Has anyone else encountered a similar dilema with these monitors?

-Brian

[Audioholic]

We had a pair of E8's at the studio I use to work at, and we had to deal with bass issues a little as well, but once we added a sub in, it was all good. I have the V6's, and surpirsingly I can mix better on those, after getting use to how they translate and knowing where the bass level is sitting. Even on the Genelec's at my other work, had no bass at all, so you sometimes just have to really know how it will translate into other systems.

[nerogtr]

Maybe I should look into investing in the sub that KRK makes for the v8's...i didn't think I'd need it since the speakers are pretty powerful (i also figured the 8'' woofer would have some decent output). Has anyone had any experience with other powered monitors in this price range that they enjoyed ($1000 / pair)

[Audioholic]

I personally like the dynaudio, but they have as much bass (maybe a little more) then my KRK v6's, so it might not be too much of a difference for ya. I think you can make the krk V8's work, I like them, but then again, you may find another monitor easier to mix on for ya.

[nerogtr]

I've heard a set of Dynaudio monitors (forget which model, but they had a much smaller woofer) and I recall them having a suprising amount of bass output. I think the V8's sound great in every area minus the low end. I also think that the type of music is being mixed makes a difference. When I'm mixing folk and acoustic type stuff I have very little problem, but my real troubles with the low end come out when I'm mixing hard rock (which is most of the time). I think I may need to go monitor shopping again....or revisit my mixing techniques. The annoying part is that I listen to all my music on the v8's so I am familiar with their sound. I feel like all of the hard rock records I buy have a tastefully audible amount of bass on my v8's, and when I mix to what sounds right it is really way too boomy (as demonstrated when i play the mix on other speakers). When I find a level that sounds right on every other speaker it sounds thin as hell on the v8s :confused: .

[michaelhoddy]

Room acoustics, room acoustics, room acoustics.

Is your room acoustically treated, and if so, how? What are the physical dimensions of the room (HxWxD) ?

Admittedly, the V8's don't do things below 50 Hz that well, but I can usually mix on them without huge problems. If you're having extreme issues with bass translation, it leads me to believe that it's not the monitors, it's more likely the room itself.

[nerogtr]

I mix in two different rooms (neither of which have acoustic treatment). The first is my project studio in the basement of my home, and the other is my dorm room. Neither rooms seems better than the other as far as the bass goes, but it is very possible that both rooms are victim to the same problem. My friend who lives in the dorm next door has Dynaudio's and they sound fine in his dorm.... :( so many variables...

[nerogtr]

Another note: I was just on KRK's site looking at their sub and noticed its frequency responce: 29-50 Hz to 130 Hz Variable.

Is it odd that the sub doesn't reach a bit closer to 20Hz? The V8's (the high end of the series) drops off at around 50, and the optional sub only goes down to about 30? :confused:

[xstatic]

It is important to remember that the speaker may be rated down to 50hz, but the really usable stuff probably starts dropping more at around 80 hz. Thats why the sub will still be useful. Also, if you have stuff below 30 hz it is probably a problem. There are very few things that really go down that low.

[michaelhoddy]

I did a techno project on V8's and did indeed have all sorts of problems in the sub-50Hz range, since there's a LOT of stuff that lives there in that style of music.

However, for normal "band" music where the dominant LF instruments are kick drum and bass guitar, I've never had huge problems adapting, because you can usually get a good feel for the fundamental frequencies based on the first and second harmonic frequencies.

I hope I didn't come across as implying that all should be well with these speakers in the LF region, but I do become a little wary when the first solution to bass management becomes slapping a sub inline with the monitors.

I would venture that most bass management issues in project studios have more to do with room design, specifically room modes due to near-square dimensions on at least two axes, and lack of proper treatment in general and bass trapping in particular.

A sub can somewhat compensate for these, but it won't correct it or overcome it.

[nerogtr]

So instead of compensating for the problem with a sub, what are some ways that I could fix it with room treatment? I know this is a sticky subject in itself with an infinite number of variables, but are there any easy quick fixes anyone can recomend? Both rooms have parallel walls (both dimensions) and a flat ceiling.

[djui5]

Put some 4" thick mineral wool or Owens Corning 703 in the corners, wrapped with acousticaly transparent fabric like the Guilford of Maine stuff...

check out this site for more info

http://www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

[nerogtr]

thanks!