Yet another monitor thread

So I'm about to shell out for some nearfield monitors, I'm thinking I'll go with active ones just for less clutter.

None of my local shops have anything at all, so listening to them is out of the question, unfortunately. These will serve rather like a home PA actually, because I don't record much at all, I'm always composing and arranging on electribes- so it will be probably 80% practice and composition, and 20% actual recording, if that.

Apart from the electribes I expect I'll run electric guitar through them as well, and maybe a vocal mic. It is possible that I'll run some cd or wav audio as well.

My main concern is to limit ear fatigue, and I'm hoping good clear sound will sort me out. Currently I'm running through a frankenstein system of a junk BOCA woofer and 2 home stereo AIWAS just for listening, but when I'm actually doing detail work I'm using AKG K66 headphones.

I've not had good experiences with Behringer, but many here like the Truth series monitors. I've never been able to escape hiss and distortion when using behringer products... but I'm wondering what you all might recommend.

So what are the features, the hz-kHz range, the woofer size, ferrofluid blah blah that actually make for a good speaker, etc.? How do I know how to find what's best for my use? Another question is this- given my use- which is much more like a DJ than a recording engineer- are nearfield monitors the best purchase to make? Anyone ever use those things LIVE before?

I'd like to keep the price around $500 USD or less for the pair if possible, but if it's REALLY worth it, I'm willing to pay more.

And what's up with using woofers for monitoring?

Cheers.

I've been using Behringer Truth B2030A's for about 3 years. They're great. The frequency response is very flat. No hiss at all, even with the volume set to jet-engine levels (they reach 113dB). At their price range, they probably can't be beat.

  chaosmachine said:

I've been using Behringer Truth B2030A's for about 3 years. They're great. The frequency response is very flat. No hiss at all, even with the volume set to jet-engine levels (they reach 113dB). At their price range, they probably can't be beat.

3 years is a pretty good long run. I'm amazed, it seems like the truth monitors stand out totally from other behringer products...

So how does the sound modeling work with those- they have different settings depending on room size and placement, right?

EDIT: There may be a substantial distinction between these an the 2031A's (with the bigger woofer)- I've read a lot of negative reviews on the bigger ones, that are more typical of my past experience with behringer. Any thoughts on the distinction between the two sets?

Not to be a hippy or anything, but I think as long as you get a somewhat decent pair of monitors around the price range you are looking for, you are sure to have success. You typically get used to them and recognize their strengths and weaknesses over time, and you compensate for this almost subconsciously over time.

Prolly not the answer your looking for.

  acid1 said:

Not to be a hippy or anything, but I think as long as you get a somewhat decent pair of monitors around the price range you are looking for, you are sure to have success. You typically get used to them and recognize their strengths and weaknesses over time, and you compensate for this almost subconsciously over time.

 

Prolly not the answer your looking for.

Well, good to know really. But I guess it all centers around sound and fatigue. Ever since I got my ears blown out at a Parliament show, I'm taking sound quality MUCH more seriously- so I want to be able to work for more than twenty minutes without excessive fatigue, having to turn the volume up progressively, etc.

I have 2031a's, I can't compare them to 2030's, but they sound great to me and made an immediate difference I think. For the money I can't imagine anything better

Any of you guys have those speakers shipped to you? I wonder if that's what has killed my previous behringer amps and etc...

I use Event TR-8 monitors.

Cost me $500 for the pair.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec03/articles/eventtr.htm

I love em!

  Kcinsu said:

I use Event TR-8 monitors.

 

Cost me $500 for the pair.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec03/articles/eventtr.htm

 

I love em!

I've heard quite good things about them- thanks for the review link.

One of my buddies has a pair of Event TR-8's and they sound fantastic. Out of all my friends who make music, his ends up the cleanest (that could either be because of the monitors or the producer or a mix of both).

On the subject of ear fatigue, I really think the best solution is to take breaks. Usually when it gets around the 1 hour mark with me, I'll just go outside on my balcony and have a smoke or a beer. However I live in an apartment complex and tend to play my stuff just loud enough so that I don't annoy my neighbors that live all around me separated by paper thin walls.

When I work on tunes I also tend to not keep everything looping non stop. I will press the stop button and only play the needed channels when and if I do something. I also go back and forth between headphones and monitors a lot.

Last time I did a collaboration with someone, he had the track looping for an hour as he set up reason, constructed a lead sound, and drew in a melody with a piano roll. After about 20 minutes I had to just leave and go into another room until he finished otherwise my mind and ears were gonna get sick of the track.

I use Fostex. They sound fine. Less than $500. Can't remember exact price.

  acid1 said:

...

When I work on tunes I also tend to not keep everything looping non stop. I will press the stop button and only play the needed channels when and if I do something. I also go back and forth between headphones and monitors a lot.

 

Last time I did a collaboration with someone, he had the track looping for an hour as he set up reason, constructed a lead sound, and drew in a melody with a piano roll. After about 20 minutes I had to just leave and go into another room until he finished otherwise my mind and ears were gonna get sick of the track.

Yeah, it really comes back down to working reasonably and not overdoing it. VERY GOOD POINT about the looping though, you're really right. I've been guilty of leaving things running as well, whilst working other parts out. Nothing like a constant kick drum to blow your ears out.

  LJG said:

So how does the sound modeling work with those- they have different settings depending on room size and placement, right?

Yeah, there are 3 different adjusters for low frequency, high frequency, and room compensation. Comes in handy.

here you go

FM_155___Winter_2004___The_Ultimate_Monitor_Showdown.pdfFetching info...

i would also add the Tannoy reveal. hope it helps