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Suggested studio monitors....
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:11 pm
by brentmagstadt
Hey all audiophiles....
I've perused the forums a bit, gleaned and glommed some monitor info (including the NS-10 thread of course), and have my own ideas as well.
But I'm also curious, what do you use in your studio for referencing, and what are the strong points?
My use: new room being built out, throw is about 16-20 ft (16'w, 8' h with 10' vaulting), listening station pretty standard locale.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts..

Re: Suggested studio monitors....
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:44 pm
by mazz
I have a pair of Dynaudio BM 6.5s in a very small room, much smaller than yours. They sound great to me, which is why I bought them.
I would recommend at least a 6.5 to 7 inch woofer unless you're going to get a sub woofer. Be careful there as they can take some time and effort to set up correctly. If your sub is set up wrong, it will throw your mixes off for sure.
The new Focals with the sub (review in the new Sound on Sound) would be a nice way to go if you like the sound. The whole shebang will be well north of 2K but great instruments don't come cheap.
See if you can hear the speakers before you buy them.
And include in your budget several hundred or more dollars for room treatment. It is money well spent. Great speakers in an untreated room won't do your music proud.
my 2c
Mazz
Re: Suggested studio monitors....
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 4:52 pm
by brentmagstadt
Awesome Mazz - those Dynaudio's were recommended to me just yesterday at a local studio in Hilo. Funny, that...
Room treatment is a diff budget, and I completely agree. I'm not going for a sub system currently. Honestly, I'm not sure why (though some of what you say feels right - I don't want to mess with my ears AND and a new room...). Thanks!
Re: Suggested studio monitors....
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 8:05 pm
by mazz
Dynaudio makes great speakers and I like them, but you may not. Speakers are a matter of personal taste, IMO, and you really need to listen to them before you make a decision.
Re: Suggested studio monitors....
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 8:44 pm
by playagibson
I have to second Mazz's point about the room treatment. It's better to allow for room treatment with your current budget.
Personally, I would buy mid-line speakers with room treatment than top-line without.
I used arc with my studio and I only have Yorkville's and the difference is night and day to how they sounded before treatment.
Now when I pop a mix in my car it actually sounds balanced and true to the original mix.
Rich.
Re: Suggested studio monitors....
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 7:55 pm
by 88keys
"only Yorkvilles" ? I loved those YSM1's and the new YSM2 and YSM2P's are supposed to be even better....and for the price ? fergetaboutit !
Years ago, I had a pair of YSM1's beside the HR824's and I liked the YSM1's much better. Much clearer more defined bottom end.Silk dome tweeter (I seem to remember)...very, very smooth/easy to listen to with very ,very good balance.
Monitors are a matter of personal taste for sure. I personally don't like subs for example. The set-up, the crossover, and a mono sub with stereo satellite monitors ?...I know, I know, low frequencies are omnidirectional but still...
I agree with Mazz...get a pair of monitors with at least 7.5" LF-Driver and eliminate the need to go for a sub. I've used Yamaha HS80M's and liked them very much. Very forward mids....maybe a tad too much but you hear every little detail....BIG sound stage too. I listen to the HS80M's at B&H a while back and they pretty much kicked the butt of every other monitor I heard.
I think I'm going to go for the Yamaha MSP7.5's...they are supposed to be the "pro" line of the Yamahas.
Re: Suggested studio monitors....
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 10:57 am
by dschreiberjr
I have the Yamaha HS80s at home. They are definitely too big for my current space, but they still perform nicely. At my office I have the Mackie HR824 MKII. I cannot say enough good things about these monitors. They are dynamite. If you have a decent room, these things will definitely do the job.
With my setup at home I have been thinking about downsizing to something like the Yamaha HS50's, but I don't know. I might go with the Mackie 624s.
Re: Suggested studio monitors....
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 11:40 am
by brentmagstadt
Great info - thank you everyone! Jury is still out... :~)
Re: Suggested studio monitors....
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:28 pm
by cardell
dschreiberjr wrote:I have the Yamaha HS80s at home.
Me too...I love 'em!
Stuart
Re: Suggested studio monitors....
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 12:00 pm
by crazyhooks
Hi Brent,
For what I do , I love my Powered KRK Rockit 6 monitors:)
J.