|
Post by ragan on Jul 1, 2017 11:29:52 GMT -6
New monitors.
Hey dudes. I'm dipping my toe into the idea of getting some new monitors. Been on my trusty Dynaudio BM5a (MKII) forever. I know they're not the highest end boxes out there by a long shot, but I have loved them.
I'd like to hear 'deeper' into the sound though and I know that that exists out there in higher end monitors.
If I do it, I'd be comfortable spending a couple grand, but I can't get way up there, budget wise.
One thing, my ears are sensitive from years of stage and rehearsal and studio. I can't hack the clarity-through-brightness thing that some speakers seem to employ. I need it to not be fatiguing.
I'm in a small treated room. I wish I could just go demo a bunch of them in a good room but all I've got around here (Seattle) is Guitar Center, as far as listening rooms.
I'd also like to buy somewhere that will let me return them and/or swap them if it's not a love match. Thinking Sweetwater for ease of transaction (and the 36 mo financing right now doesn't hurt).
I know ATCs are well regarded. The SCM12 Pro 6" speakers are $2k but I'd need an amp. I'm not gonna pony up for the ATC $3500 P1 that they suggest.
It's been a long time since I was monitor shopping.
You guys got any advice??? Some of you guys love the Amphion stuff, yeah?
|
|
|
Post by ChaseUTB on Jul 1, 2017 12:04:27 GMT -6
Budget and preferred size monitor / woofer ? ( 6"/ 6.5" 7"/ 8" ) Are you looking for an all in one or a mixing tool? Active vs Passive? Preference? Soft Dome/ Ring Radiator/ Silk / Ribbon Tweeter? Some of these answers could help us help you narrow your criteria! There are some new DynAudio bm6mk3 that have class AB Amps and a 6.5" driver, you know this sound already and if you are looking for more this may not be it. Have heard PSI are analytical but not harsh or bright, maybe look into the a17. $3200 a pair .... pricy compared to my Foot Prints at $3500 I had focal solo6 and they made everything so mound to good and were missing everything under 55hz. My stock Yamaha hs8 blew them out of the water translation and accuracy wise.. The zen pro modded HS8 are $1000. punch way above their price point. Link below www.zenproaudio.com/yamaha-hs8-zenpro-modI just upgraded to Barefoot FootPrint 01... will be breaking them in soon..
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,928
|
Post by ericn on Jul 1, 2017 12:53:28 GMT -6
For amps, on a budget a Jim Williams Modded Adcom GFA 535/545/555 series 1 will hang with just about anything. The Hypex class D amps are well liked but different. I have yet to hear it but the new Audiophile budget fave is the Optima STA200. ATC is ATC but you get the ATC built tweet if and a better low mid if you jump to the 20. Take a look at the passive Questeds h108 and what ever the V series 2 way is called these days for more lowend. All the Quested 2 way actives as well if budget permits! The Amphions are not my personal taste but they do work very well in small rooms. I do have a love for the little Equators but they do have lowend limitations.
The Focal Be have TT hat lovely BE tweeter, but I can't handle how in consistent it is top to bottom, the CMS sounds great, till you hear the BE Tweet! Normally I'm not a fan of Room correction or KRK but a couple of years ago on my trek to Nashville I was impressed by Jerome Masons 3 way KRK with room correction in his well treated room. The problem with Dynaudio BM series is the Actives has been the amps, Always thought the Passive was the bright spot! Got table saw and router ? Check out the HSM kit Solen.ca has think Quested H108 with an upgrade of the laid back Morrel Tweet with a Brighter higher power Skan Speak!
|
|
|
Post by ragan on Jul 1, 2017 13:21:45 GMT -6
Thanks for the input, both of you.
I am not a speaker tech dude at all. I have no idea what my underlying preference as far as the basic nuts and bolts design techniques are. And I don't think I have the energy or motivation to get into it, frankly. I'd just need to listen and figure out what I like, which is the rub as I don't have that option.
I'm probably not willing to spend more than somewhere in the $2-3k range on this, and if I'd just be throwing money around in the dark, maybe I'll just stick with the Dyns.
Monitors are so personal, seems pretty much impossible to form an opinion without listening.
I'm still eager to hear any and all advice though and I appreciate your guys' feedback.
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Jul 1, 2017 13:43:41 GMT -6
Thanks for the input, both of you. I am not a speaker tech dude at all. I have no idea what my underlying preference as far as the basic nuts and bolts design techniques are. And I don't think I have the energy or motivation to get into it, frankly. I'd just need to listen and figure out what I like, which is the rub as I don't have that option. I'm probably not willing to spend more than somewhere in the $2-3k range on this, and if I'd just be throwing money around in the dark, maybe I'll just stick with the Dyns. Monitors are so personal, seems pretty much impossible to form an opinion without listening. I'm still eager to hear any and all advice though and I appreciate your guys' feedback. Keep your eyes peeled for a smoking deal on a non-fashionable set of speakers. If you get them in and don't like them, you won't end up taking a hit when you flip.
|
|
|
Post by ChaseUTB on Jul 1, 2017 13:59:11 GMT -6
Thanks for the input, both of you. I am not a speaker tech dude at all. I have no idea what my underlying preference as far as the basic nuts and bolts design techniques are. And I don't think I have the energy or motivation to get into it, frankly. I'd just need to listen and figure out what I like, which is the rub as I don't have that option. I'm probably not willing to spend more than somewhere in the $2-3k range on this, and if I'd just be throwing money around in the dark, maybe I'll just stick with the Dyns. Monitors are so personal, seems pretty much impossible to form an opinion without listening. I'm still eager to hear any and all advice though and I appreciate your guys' feedback. Keep your eyes peeled for a smoking deal on a non-fashionable set of speakers. If you get them in and don't like them, you won't end up taking a hit when you flip. I know someone else who keeps avoiding that advice 😂😂😂
|
|
|
Post by swurveman on Jul 1, 2017 14:42:39 GMT -6
Thanks for the input, both of you. I am not a speaker tech dude at all. I have no idea what my underlying preference as far as the basic nuts and bolts design techniques are. And I don't think I have the energy or motivation to get into it, frankly. I'd just need to listen and figure out what I like, which is the rub as I don't have that option. I'm probably not willing to spend more than somewhere in the $2-3k range on this, and if I'd just be throwing money around in the dark, maybe I'll just stick with the Dyns. Monitors are so personal, seems pretty much impossible to form an opinion without listening. I'm still eager to hear any and all advice though and I appreciate your guys' feedback. I think monitors are personal - and if you know yours and adapt instinctively by now to what you knows translates well - why change? I know you want to hear "deeper into the sound" - not sure what you mean by that. So, I guess you have to identify what you mean by that and why your monitors aren't giving you that, and if it's really impacting the quality of your mixes. Or, identify if there is something you can do by changing the positioning of your monitors to hear more depth. For example, when I widened my speakers and got rid of my monitor screen in front of me the phantom image got deeper.
|
|
|
Post by kcatthedog on Jul 1, 2017 15:07:30 GMT -6
I'd certainly recommend you audition some amphion (one 15 and one 18), but you will need an amp.
do you know anybody, with the avontone abbey, you could audition, as Martin is selling his at an attactive price.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 1, 2017 15:12:19 GMT -6
One 15s and a lexicon amp
|
|
|
Post by Martin John Butler on Jul 1, 2017 15:20:25 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by svart on Jul 1, 2017 15:24:25 GMT -6
JBL lsr monitors are great deals these days.
|
|
|
Post by nick8801 on Jul 1, 2017 16:18:51 GMT -6
If you dig Dynaudio (I do too) maybe look into the new lyd 48 3 ways? They look pretty awesome on paper and they fit right in your budget. They are on my short list at the moment. I'm also interested in the APS Klasiks. People seem to dig the low end and depth on those as well, although there aren't many dealers around. Good luck on your search. I'm in the middle of one myself!
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Jul 1, 2017 16:40:57 GMT -6
One 15s and a lexicon amp Did you end up swapping out for the 15's?
|
|
|
Post by kcatthedog on Jul 1, 2017 17:26:22 GMT -6
he got one 18's.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 1, 2017 17:48:41 GMT -6
One 15s and a lexicon amp Did you end up swapping out for the 15's? No...kept the one 18s
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 1, 2017 17:49:17 GMT -6
One 15s and a lexicon amp Did you end up swapping out for the 15's? Remind me - did you go from the 18 to 15s? It's still intriguing to me.
|
|
|
Post by Tbone81 on Jul 1, 2017 18:10:00 GMT -6
JBL lsr monitors are great deals these days. I 2nd that. A used pair of jbl 28p's would be a great deal if you found a pair in good condition
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Jul 1, 2017 22:02:29 GMT -6
Did you end up swapping out for the 15's? Remind me - did you go from the 18 to 15s? It's still intriguing to me. I did. They worked better for me.
|
|
|
Post by ragan on Jul 1, 2017 23:25:00 GMT -6
Thanks guys. Looking into all these options.
I guess I'm just looking for more detail/accuracy.
It's perhaps dumb but I'm assuming since the my Dyn BM5a MKIIs aren't that expensive or noteworthy that there are gains to be had by dropping more coin.
Thing is I don't really want to spend $4-5k so I'm not sure if I can make a definite improvement in the $2-3k range or if it'll mostly be lateral movement.
|
|
|
Post by guitfiddler on Jul 2, 2017 5:51:05 GMT -6
I've been pondering this as well...Still using my old Genelec's I bought back in 1995, used Focal Alpha 80's. I started seeing guys using those 3 way KRK's and Other cheap Krk speakers that can afford anything, I s there something going on with cheap krk monitors that I'm missing? I haven't even listened to any newer krk monitors since they started, not sure what year that was... I am working on my room to see what happens to my monitors and how they change in sound, should be interesting. Focals seem to be hit or miss with people describing them, but I always wanted to demo a pair of solo 6Be's. Now Focal has a new shape range. Has anyone heard them?
|
|
|
Post by stratboy on Jul 2, 2017 7:08:22 GMT -6
Genelec just came out with some new coax 3-ways. I haven't heard them, but I think coax lets you hear things in a way you cannot with anything else. I have KEFs and Pelonis coax. And then at the risk of sounding like a hypocrite, I really love my Tyler DMx3s driven by a Yamaha M-40. Those are in your budget and sound fantastic, IMO.
|
|
|
Post by ragan on Jul 2, 2017 8:20:16 GMT -6
How do people feel about 2-way vs 3-way monitors in general? I've never used 3-ways before.
Looking at those Lyd 48's Nick suggested, since I donlike the Dynauduo sound.
|
|
|
Post by Martin John Butler on Jul 2, 2017 8:24:45 GMT -6
Oh man, I auditioned every single popular 2 way monitor, including the $2,600 Focals Solo6be, and when I heard my Avantone pro Abbey 3 ways, there was no comparison. I could now hear the mix, and not the speakers. The speakers vanished, and there was depth I'd never heard previously. Too bad you're not on the east coast so you could come and hear for yourself. I'm selling mine to pay medical bills. I absolutely love them, and the only speaker I've heard I preferred were the 8k ATC's.
|
|
|
Post by ragan on Jul 2, 2017 8:30:47 GMT -6
Oh man, I auditioned every single popular 2 way monitor, including the $2,600 Focals Solo6be, and when I heard my Avantone pro Abbey 3 ways, there was no comparison. I could now hear the mix, and not the speakers. The speakers vanished, and there was depth I'd never heard previously. Too bad you're not on the east coast so you could come and hear for yourself. I'm selling mine to pay medical bills. I absolutely love them, and the only speaker I've heard I preferred were the 8k ATC's. Strong testimony indeed, Martin. And I'm giving your pair thought too. I just lean towards new because I could send them back and try something else if I want (whichever I end up trying). I can also finance them.
|
|
|
Post by Martin John Butler on Jul 2, 2017 8:36:34 GMT -6
Of course, I understand. That's why it's too bad you're not in my general area. One thing's for sure, to me, they're way better than anything else out there with the possible exception of the new Barefoots which I haven't heard yet and the uber bucks ATC. They're quite similar to Barefoots in design, but with a better fit and finish. I listened to the Amphions and was unimpressed. I know some of the guys here like them, but for me, given the choice without considering cost, I'd take the Abbey.
|
|