Studio Monitors

Yea this thread has gone all over the place. Just to be clear, all Im really after is input from people who own monitors in that price range. I don't expect a pair of monitors to improve any music I work on, and I don't need a lesson in frequency response or debates on whether a pair of monitors is any better than pc speakers, etc. I just already own an assortment of sound systems and felt that a pair of monitors might be a nice addition, especially if the overall sound is more even. My PC Speakers have no bass, my other systems have nothing but. Between these I already get a nice idea of how things sound all around but at the moment I don't have the space to keep multiple systems hooked up.

More than anything, I don't want to buy a pair of monitors that have major defects I could have been made aware of beforehand and consequently, I don't want to overlook a pair I would automatically skip because of preconceived bias (Like Behringer). Monitor discussions are hilarious though, after a couple days of scouring the web I've discovered that you generally have two types: Those who are audiophiles who piss all over anything but the best, and those who zealously believe monitors are a waste of time. Mix the two and add water and you have yourself a party!

Thanks for the input BCM and Diao!

Again, *sorry!* Internet! Best of luck to you, good sir.

  Drahken said:

More than anything, I don't want to buy a pair of monitors that have major defects I could have been made aware of beforehand and consequently, I don't want to overlook a pair I would automatically skip because of preconceived bias (Like Behringer). Monitor discussions are hilarious though, after a couple days of scouring the web I've discovered that you generally have two types: Those who are audiophiles who piss all over anything but the best, and those who zealously believe monitors are a waste of time. Mix the two and add water and you have yourself a party!

you started a discussion - exchange of opinions will follow.

having said that, you live in the united states, so it stands to reason you're within range of a guitar center or something similar. internet discussions about this kind of thing will be invariably tainted with bias, opinion, fanboyism, theology, and various other factors that are completely useless when determining concrete results. i've been to more guitar centers than i care to admit, and pretty much all of them have a monitor test room (generally in their "pro" department) where they have low-end through high-end monitors set up to listen to.

failing that, there are absolutely always cheaper monitors hooked up in the keyboard and software departments for demoing keyboards, DAWS and the like. this is the perfect opportunity to crank the hell out of them, and also see the result of wear and tear (guitar center is like a gear abuse gauntlet - people smack, prod, abuse, lick, or otherwise violate the gear in every way possible).

KRKs are a staple in southern cali music stores. they're hooked up to just about everything in every department where speakers are needed - and there's a reason for that. what sort of monitor do you think music stores want to hook up to demo machines? the cheapest, yet most robust available, but also those that won't compromise too much on sounding good.

good luck.

c

i own m-audio bx8. i won't bother with any technical details you can find on the internet. they sound big, are cheap and i've own them since 2004 without any troubles. i'm not very anal about making the perfect mixes so i would be wasting my money by upgrading to a more expensive model that would perhaps give me more accurate mixes but not necessarily sound as good. i use it mainly for listening to music on my record player or computer and they're really awesome for that. but the mixes i've done sound pretty good also.

m-audio lx4 here, 2.1 system. not bad for $250-300, kind of trebly, w/uneven bass response. better than pc speakers, worse than expensive monitors.

saving up for the adams.