Monitors recommendation for small home studio?

[pedrocosta]

Hi All,

My monitors may have kicked the bucket. They did serve me well for 12 years.
I will try a repair but if that is unsuccessful I was hoping for some recommendations from you all.
I'd like something that will give me professional performance on a budget in the $500-$750 range.
HELP!

[mojobone]

Mackie MR8 Mk II, unless you meant $500-750 each; in that case I'd save up for Event Opals or the dual-woofer Focal monitors. You'll find my review posted here and in the Tech forum.

[BruceBrown]

M audio BX5 DA $400.00 for the pair.

[pedrocosta]

Do you guys have any experience with Yamaha hs80m?

One of the issues is I live is a small northern Ontario town, so selection is slim.
But I think a local store may have the Mackies.

[dschreiberjr]

HS80s are awesome. I love my pair. If you are in a bedroom studio (I sleep in the same room as my setup), they might be a little too big. At my other place, I had converted a bedroom to a studio room. They were perfect for a 10' x 12' dedicated room; possibly slightly too big. Right now, space is way more confined and I wish I had the HS50s (little brother to the HS80s). Actually been thinking about getting the Mackie HR624. I use the 824's at work, and they are great there. A smaller pair at home would definitely be more practical.

I would say, go for the slightly smaller HS50s, and even check out the HR624.

[pedrocosta]

I do have a dedicated room that I have been treating with bass traps.
I'm guessing the 80s would be considered overkill for the size of room but likely would give more clarity with the extra headroom? I called a local store this morning that can order them in.

[kclements]

I like my Adam A5's. I think they are definitely worth checking out.

I think the next set of monitors for me will be a toss up between the Focal and the DynAudio. Everyone I know that has either of them absolutely love them. I have also heard really great things about the new SE Eggs. In fact, you can do a home demo for free - they will ship them to you and pay to ship them back if you don't like them. However, they are not in the $500 range.

kc

[mazz]

Personally I'd stay away from M-Audio. I got my wife a pair of the BX5s and one of them started to crap out pretty soon afterwards. I just think they are cheaply made.

I like 8 inch woofers but they can overpower a small room. My current Dynaudios have 7 inch woofers and they sound great to my ears, although I've found that they are a tiny bit "scooped" in the upper midrange. But they are probably out of your price range.

In my opinion, it's best to listen before you buy, but if not, then my second opinion (I'm full of it...uh...them ) is that you'll learn to mix on any speaker you get eventually, it's just that some may make you work a bit harder to learn them than others.

All the suggestions in your price range such as the Mackies and Yamahas would work just fine, you'll just need to get comfy with them. That would be the same with any speaker you get.

Mazz

[pedrocosta]

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

Just got back from the two stores we have in town.
Was able to listen to the Mackie MR8 and KRK Rokit 6.
Between the two the KRK in my ear seemed more detailed. The Mackie seemed muddy in the low-mids.
On the other hand the KRK didn't sound natural and almost felt like it was hurting my ears.
At the other store they had the Yamaha HS50s which sounded quite natural but missing the low end.
They are ordering in a pair of 80s for me. Should be in this week. I'll then be able to listen to those.
Hopefully I will love them and buy them. 12 hours without monitors and I'm already suffering from withdrawal LOL.

I'll keep you posted!
And will check out some of the other mentioned in the meantime. Thanks again!

[kclements]

Don't forget:

1) Monitors will sound different in your room than they do in the store.

2) Monitors need a break in period before they really start to sound like they will ultimately sound.

Like Mazz said - you can mix on just about anything - it's just a matter of getting used to the way they sound in your room, and the way that translates to other systems. Either way, it's a learning curve. Some monitors make it easier than others, but you still have to get used to new monitors in your space.

hth

cheers
kc