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Post by thecolourfulway on Dec 14, 2023 23:59:49 GMT -6
For mains - what are favorites in this price range? Save me days of reading reviews on every product in this category please! I’ve been happily using a pair of old hifi speakers and a pair of tiny powered Yamahas (msp5) for years, but, the mixes could be better couldn’t they
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Post by mcirish on Dec 15, 2023 1:08:36 GMT -6
I'm sure you will get a lot of recommendations and everyone has their favorites. For me, I like the Dynaudio LYD48. I've always liked the sound of Dynaudio speakers and these are the ones I use now.
But...
I would invest in room treatment and something like Sonarworks. No matter how good my speakers were, they could never solve the issues my room has, even after a lot of broadband treatment. Sonarworks can be finicky sometimes but my mixes went from good to great once I could finally hear what was really happening. Like most rooms, I had a monstrous dip at 80hz and a big bump around 30hz. Sonarworks solved that and I no longer need to run to a car to check my mixes.
Anyway... I like the LYD48 plus Sonarworks.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2023 1:21:16 GMT -6
Quested H108 and S7
Dynaudio BM6A
KRK V6S4
Yamaha HS8
Fostex 6301
Auratone 5C
JBL LSR 305 mk II
NHT
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Post by drumsound on Dec 15, 2023 1:27:03 GMT -6
For me, when I started to think about new monitors what I realized was imperative were 3 way monitors. I ended up with some custom dipole designs that are triamped with DSP correction system. I can hook you up with my builder if you'd like.
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Dec 15, 2023 4:53:32 GMT -6
My search for the same landed me with Neumann KH-310. They work nicely for my ears.
Agree about 3 ways. Pretty big difference.
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Post by jeremygillespie on Dec 15, 2023 6:35:14 GMT -6
What type of music do you mainly work with? I feel like this is an under asked question but that might just be me.
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Post by svart on Dec 15, 2023 7:17:58 GMT -6
KH310d's. Great monitors. Can't imagine anything better for mini-mains.
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Post by sean on Dec 15, 2023 7:59:39 GMT -6
KH310’s are what I settled on for “nearfields” in the studio…convenient size and nice sound stage. Not an “exciting” speaker but I feel like they have the detail I need and I don’t leave the studio feeling ear fatigue.
I’m probably going to upgrade the KH80’s I use at home (which I love) for KH150’s. The MA1 alignment definitely helps but I’d like a bit more low end extension and my experiments with subwoofers weren’t great (my basement space at home is weird)
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Dec 15, 2023 9:21:41 GMT -6
Not to push the KH310's too hard but Sweetwater has a pair of demo models available for $1,995 each. That's a really great price for what these go for nowadays.
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Post by Quint on Dec 15, 2023 9:21:47 GMT -6
Not an “exciting” speaker but I feel like they have the detail I need and I don’t leave the studio feeling ear fatigue. Those are all good things. I have the 310s myself, and think they're great. |
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 15, 2023 10:03:55 GMT -6
There’s a very clean looking used pair up here ( Kijiji montreal) for $3500 cdn or about $2600 usd.
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Post by drumsound on Dec 15, 2023 10:41:27 GMT -6
Not to push the KH310's too hard but Sweetwater has a pair of demo models available for $1,995 each. That's a really great price for what these go for nowadays. Often times demo gear from Sweetwater is used very minimally for demos/training type situations. They can't call them new, but they aren't really "used" if you know what I mean. I got a really killer deal on a Gretsch bell brass snare that way. |
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Post by ericn on Dec 15, 2023 10:58:36 GMT -6
Mains is a pretty wide generic term, what is the listening distance? What are your priorities? How low can you go? Do you like horns, nothing like the authority of some big TADS? Coax, always some Tannoys out there. 2 or 3 way, if your patient Quesred H208’s pop up at reasonable prices, and you can point to the mastering pair on Reverb and say “ I have $12K speakers.
If you have the room a pair of B&W 808’s are fun.
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Post by Darren Boling on Dec 15, 2023 11:17:00 GMT -6
Not to push the KH310's too hard but Sweetwater has a pair of demo models available for $1,995 each. That's a really great price for what these go for nowadays. Often times demo gear from Sweetwater is used very minimally for demos/training type situations. They can't call them new, but they aren't really "used" if you know what I mean. I got a really killer deal on a Gretsch bell brass snare that way. I can vouch for SW's demo items, I got my ATC 20a's from them this way. That one tiny scratch saved me a lot and they've been going strong for 7+ years. |
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Post by jono3 on Dec 15, 2023 12:33:17 GMT -6
I love my KH310s (with the 750 sub and M1 calibration).
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Post by andersmv on Dec 15, 2023 13:00:21 GMT -6
Your money will go a lot further if you consider some used options. $5k is a weird cutoff point where it’s the very top of the “mid priced” selection from companies. The top of the line options start kicking in around $6-$7k. Case in point, I loved my Barefoot Footprint 01’s. Amazing choice in that price range, especially if low end is important to you. I would recommend those as a consideration. Last year the Footprints were really hard to find, not in stock anywhere. They went way up on the used market for a while. I was able to sell my Footprints and buy a used pair of MM45’s about a $100 difference or so.
MM45’s are a much better speaker, I was able to do my job better with them. The Footprints were still amazing, and the low end was much more impressive on them than the MM45’s. But all that to say, I was able to buy a $7k pair of speakers for well under $5k. Definitely worth considering.
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Post by jmoose on Dec 15, 2023 16:34:50 GMT -6
Mains is a pretty wide generic term, what is the listening distance? What are your priorities? How low can you go? Do you like horns, nothing like the authority of some big TADS? Coax, always some Tannoys out there. Yeah what are we calling mains here because a lot of the speakers I've seen mentioned so far would be considered nearfields? Even something like my Dyn BM15's or the KH310 could be called a true mid-field or, in a larger room people would put them on the console meter bridge and use them as nearfields. I'd consider mains to be larger speakers like Genelec 1038 or old skool Urei 813... either free standing or soffit mounted. Years ago Sonic Youth bought a pair of 813's for $500 and hauled 'em back to their Murray St studio on the NYC subway. They wanted 'em to cut super loud guitar overdubs in the control room. Cheap and effective. Fun? Yup! Accurate? Highly debatable! |
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Post by ericn on Dec 15, 2023 17:14:13 GMT -6
Mains is a pretty wide generic term, what is the listening distance? What are your priorities? How low can you go? Do you like horns, nothing like the authority of some big TADS? Coax, always some Tannoys out there. Yeah what are we calling mains here because a lot of the speakers I've seen mentioned so far would be considered nearfields? Even something like my Dyn BM15's or the KH310 could be called a true mid-field or, in a larger room people would put them on the console meter bridge and use them as nearfields. I'd consider mains to be larger speakers like Genelec 1038 or old skool Urei 813... either free standing or soffit mounted. Years ago Sonic Youth bought a pair of 813's for $500 and hauled 'em back to their Murray St studio on the NYC subway. They wanted 'em to cut super loud guitar overdubs in the control room. Cheap and effective. Fun? Yup! Accurate? Highly debatable! Moose your post had me thinking one could build some pretty impressive modern 813 influenced mains for $5K, clamped DSP might even be able to swing Be diaphragms for Radians. |
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Post by thecolourfulway on Dec 15, 2023 18:21:16 GMT -6
Good point about the loose definition of “mains”, I’m mixing in a small room, I don’t need to make radio hits, mostly rock and jazz, lately some electronic, none of it of the “bombastic” sort. I’ve gotten quite used to my speakers (though changed rooms 2 years ago), and I don’t feel like I have a chronic mix problem - not like I’m always overdoing 10k or getting muddy low mids, but there is inconsistency among my mixes, some are brilliant some are like “what was I doing?”. Naturally that’s somewhat par for the course, but just starting to look at future options. Thanks for all the suggestions so far, boy people do love those Neumanns!
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Post by ericn on Dec 15, 2023 18:52:27 GMT -6
Good point about the loose definition of “mains”, I’m mixing in a small room, I don’t need to make radio hits, mostly rock and jazz, lately some electronic, none of it of the “bombastic” sort. I’ve gotten quite used to my speakers (though changed rooms 2 years ago), and I don’t feel like I have a chronic mix problem - not like I’m always overdoing 10k or getting muddy low mids, but there is inconsistency among my mixes, some are brilliant some are like “what was I doing?”. Naturally that’s somewhat par for the course, but just starting to look at future options. Thanks for all the suggestions so far, boy people do love those Neumanns! There is a used pair of ATC SCM 20’s on reverb for just under $5K it would blow the budget but add a pair of SVS 3000 micro subs and you have a very tasty compact little monitor system, at some point some room correction and you could spend a lot more and not be as happy. |
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Post by stratboy on Dec 15, 2023 19:54:38 GMT -6
Yeah what are we calling mains here because a lot of the speakers I've seen mentioned so far would be considered nearfields? Even something like my Dyn BM15's or the KH310 could be called a true mid-field or, in a larger room people would put them on the console meter bridge and use them as nearfields. I'd consider mains to be larger speakers like Genelec 1038 or old skool Urei 813... either free standing or soffit mounted. Years ago Sonic Youth bought a pair of 813's for $500 and hauled 'em back to their Murray St studio on the NYC subway. They wanted 'em to cut super loud guitar overdubs in the control room. Cheap and effective. Fun? Yup! Accurate? Highly debatable! Moose your post had me thinking one could build some pretty impressive modern 813 influenced mains for $5K, clamped DSP might even be able to swing Be diaphragms for Radians. I loved 813s. When the bulbs started glowing, you knew you were rockin’ |
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Post by svart on Dec 16, 2023 10:43:31 GMT -6
Your money will go a lot further if you consider some used options. $5k is a weird cutoff point where it’s the very top of the “mid priced” selection from companies. The top of the line options start kicking in around $6-$7k. Case in point, I loved my Barefoot Footprint 01’s. Amazing choice in that price range, especially if low end is important to you. I would recommend those as a consideration. Last year the Footprints were really hard to find, not in stock anywhere. They went way up on the used market for a while. I was able to sell my Footprints and buy a used pair of MM45’s about a $100 difference or so. MM45’s are a much better speaker, I was able to do my job better with them. The Footprints were still amazing, and the low end was much more impressive on them than the MM45’s. But all that to say, I was able to buy a $7k pair of speakers for well under $5k. Definitely worth considering. I couldn't stand the footprints. Very beamy, weirdly detached low end. Didn't sound refined at all. |
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Post by jeremygillespie on Dec 16, 2023 15:33:01 GMT -6
Your money will go a lot further if you consider some used options. $5k is a weird cutoff point where it’s the very top of the “mid priced” selection from companies. The top of the line options start kicking in around $6-$7k. Case in point, I loved my Barefoot Footprint 01’s. Amazing choice in that price range, especially if low end is important to you. I would recommend those as a consideration. Last year the Footprints were really hard to find, not in stock anywhere. They went way up on the used market for a while. I was able to sell my Footprints and buy a used pair of MM45’s about a $100 difference or so. MM45’s are a much better speaker, I was able to do my job better with them. The Footprints were still amazing, and the low end was much more impressive on them than the MM45’s. But all that to say, I was able to buy a $7k pair of speakers for well under $5k. Definitely worth considering. I couldn't stand the footprints. Very beamy, weirdly detached low end. Didn't sound refined at all. I know you’ve felt like that since you tried them, but my experience was totally different. On the other hand, I’d never use them for hard rock music. The mid range is just too much. Other than that I love mine. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2023 15:56:13 GMT -6
Good point about the loose definition of “mains”, I’m mixing in a small room, I don’t need to make radio hits, mostly rock and jazz, lately some electronic, none of it of the “bombastic” sort. I’ve gotten quite used to my speakers (though changed rooms 2 years ago), and I don’t feel like I have a chronic mix problem - not like I’m always overdoing 10k or getting muddy low mids, but there is inconsistency among my mixes, some are brilliant some are like “what was I doing?”. Naturally that’s somewhat par for the course, but just starting to look at future options. Thanks for all the suggestions so far, boy people do love those Neumanns! Well, it does depend on what your definition of a "small room" is. Then on top of that where is the dividing line? I tried Genelec the "one's" aka 8341's, the Neumann KH310's and something else. They varied in terms of performance but I preferred them all to what I had at the time (LYD 48's), however some were IMO better than others and none of them sounded the same. Then I tried the Dynaudio Core 59's (which are of course more expensive), then, afterwards I tried the PSI-A25M's and ATC SC110's.
So, let's consider a few factors. To start one has to question the meaning of "better" in your relative circumstance. The latter monitors I mentioned were impractical in terms of size, some really needed DSP or software correction and most importantly they are different designs FOR different rooms. Surprisingly it's rear ported that my room disliked so that's most Genelec's out, I couldn't get the best out of the ATC's because they're certainly not nearfields and they worked in my larger room but that needs more treatment which costs more $$$'s on top of an already expensive set. I did try them in a big ol' demo room and sad face they were amazing but again impractical for me.
Then, some goodies that certain monitors come with make them an enticing prospect. The Neumann's have DSP correction via a sub + software, the Genelec's have GLM and having inbuilt correction is not something to sniff at IMO. GLM is fantastic by the way, the Core 59's have DSP which did improve things over bog standard ATC at times but they are nearly just as room dependant even if they do seem to phase correlate without much bother. Although let's talk about that, in a 3-way design with a speaker that weigh's about 50 lb's you're not going to be right up on them and you should always reference the manufacturers listening distance. Do you see my point yet?
It really comes down to your room, preference and goal so I'd recommend that you try at least three pairs. Try two within your range and one above what you can afford right now, I was looking for a clear cut upgrade over the LYD's. Just to reiterate each one of the monitors I tried were "better" but it wasn't a clean sweep and I did question could I just do without? The Dyn's were better in every test hence the reason I chose them, however if money wasn't a factor then I'd have gone ATC 110's with Trinnov. Unfortunately it is but there's one last thing to consider, I'd have been perfectly fine with the KH310's. I don't see a reason why they'd stop someone doing a good mix, that being said I do get a big kick out of these super detailed bone shaking monsters like the Core 59's, bigger PSI's and ATC's. I guess there's an enjoyment factor somewhere in there as well..
Also last in Jerry's Q&A, I'd test the cheaper pairs first. Do some work on them and see how they translate, I won't deny it the Core 59's showed up issues that I didn't even know I had. It's like fixing a problem that never really existed in the first place and you can't unhear it either. Once I started getting into the lah dee dah world of monitors the LYD 48's were doomed, so were the KH310's but practically speaking they're absolutely fine..!!!
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Dec 17, 2023 19:24:41 GMT -6
One clarification, the KH 310s do not have DSP or digital anything. That's how they ended up on my short list of
1) three ways
2) sealed
3) under $6k
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