best recommended studio monitors?

[Susanstunes]

Hey everyone,
I'm coming along with my studio using Studio One Professional and have been using strictly headphones but feel I should purchase a pair of monitors that will help me hear properly and also, not squoosh my head for hours (!)
I purchased the book "Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio" and the author writes about a couple of options but I wanted to hear from you all too.... Also, is it going to be sufficient for me to mount the monitors on stands versus more stable cabinets?
I would appreciate any feedback!

Susan
http://www.taxi.com/susanhillman

[Lipskimusic]

Hi there!

I've used quite a number of different monitors and headphones over the last couple of years. Here are a couple of monitors that I am particularly fond of (these are all within the rather affordable range - in ascending order):-

- Adam F5 (https://www.thomann.de/gb/adam_f5.htm)
- Focal Alpha 65 (https://www.thomann.de/gb/focal_alpha_6 ... l_337430_9)
- Neumann KH 120 A (https://www.thomann.de/gb/neumann_kh_12 ... arch_prv_7)
- Genelec 8040 BPM (https://www.thomann.de/gb/genelec_8040_ ... arch_prv_7)

A lot of books (you mentioned the Mixing Secrets) recommend a second pair of monitors:-

This is an Auratone clone which is quite popular: https://www.thomann.de/gb/avantone_mixc ... _black.htm
They are active but there are also reissued passive Auratones available: https://www.thomann.de/gb/auratone_5c_s ... d_cube.htm
You can also find NS10s on Ebay but again they are passive so you need a 'flat' amp to drive them.

BTW - Marc Mozart (http://www.mixedbymarcmozart.com/buy-mi ... tutorials/) recommends the Tivoli Radio One which I own. They are around 100 EUR - maybe even cheaper if you buy a used one on Ebay.

When it comes to headphones I cannot praise these enough and the more professionals I talk to I am surprised how many of them use them as their secret weapon
https://www.thomann.de/gb/sennheiser_hd ... arch_prv_7

Apart from the tech specs this is still a subjective thing as you will spend quite some time with your monitors and headphones and YOU need to like the sound (that is why using different sources for monitoring is the way forward). I hope that helps.

Cheers,
Matt

[Susanstunes]

Thanks Matt - that's great info and much appreciated! Susan

[Len911]

http://vintageking.com/blog/2017/01/war ... t-monitor/

here's maybe an interesting video??

[Sonora]

I love my Focal CMC65, I also have a matching sub which I added later.
Very transparent and good for many genres.

[ernstinen]

I bought my Yamaha NS-10 M's in 1986, new. I've used them ever since! Yes, they need a good power amp to drive them (I use a QSC), and yes, there's no way they go down to 50 Hz like Yamaha says they do... The reason that they're used in almost every studio in the world is summed up in one word: Midrange. You can fine-tune the mids and upper mids on NS-10's so well.

The old adage that "NS-10's sound like shit!" isn't exactly true. It's your mix that sounds like shit! The other adage: "If you can make a mix sound good on NS-10's, it'll sound good on any other stereo system" IS true --- up to a point. Today's mixes have a lot more super low-end than the days of vinyl records (which were usually rolled off below 60 Hz). So you can either use NS-10's with a sub, or A/B them with other speakers. I've got a Monster speaker switcher in my studio, and listen to speakers that go down to 22 Hz (Definitive Technology). They aren't technically "monitor speakers," but they sound like what most people have in their homes. And I listen on different headphones, and something I find especially important: Your car stereo. That's where I (and most people) listen to music the most! Ironically, my stock Toyota speakers (with an upgraded CD/receiver) sound remarkably like NS-10's, with a bit more low end. When a mix sounds good on all those systems and speakers, I take a CD home. If the mix ALSO sounds good on my home Polk speakers and the amazing little Harman/Kardon Onyx bluetooth speaker, it's time to say "close enough for rock & roll."

Hope this helps,

Ern

[mojobone]

You can learn to mix on almost anything, but ideally you want a full range nearfield system with good low end extension and clear, solid mids. If you stick to 8 in or bigger woofers, you shouldn't need a sub, and if you're in a very small space, you may not need the whole eight inches. Possibly the cheapest thing you can get real work done on is the Mackie MR8III; a pair streets for under $500USD. Soundwise, they're in the Genelec family. Presonus also makes some great bang per buck monitors in the same price range; for a few dollars more you can get ribbon tweeters or a coaxial design. ATCs and Focals are great if you can afford 'em; Focal's Alpha series is their budget line and an excellent value. Ported speaker designs have their issues, but you can work around them, considering that the cheapest no-compromise speakers start at around $4k each.