Anyone here use studio monitors for a 2.1 multi-purpose setup?

[moonboy403]

A pair of Adam A5 goes for around $500 at the moment while a pair of A7s go for around $800.

However, the A7's replacement (A7x) is said to be a lot nicer than the A7s. But of course, you have to shell out another $400 for them as they cost around $1200 a pair just like when the A7s came out years ago.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I know I need to audition these things locally before making any decision...

That said, how (in your own words) would the A7s compare to something like the B&W 685?

 

[sdifox]

I know I need to audition these things locally before making any decision...

That said, how (in your own words) would the A7s compare to something like the B&W 685?

B&W 685s are not studio monitors...

 

[GTaudiophile]

B&W 685s are not studio monitors...

I know that. But I am just wondering how one would subjectively compare the sound.

 

[sdifox]

I know that. But I am just wondering how one would subjectively compare the sound.

No one else but you can decide that. Other people can at most steer you away from crap, but what I prefer may vary greatly from what you like.


I am not a big fan of B&W sound.

 

[Anubis]

in my 10 min spent goggling people really like them GT.

but as sid said only your ears can tell you what they like the best

 

[sdifox]

in my 10 min spent goggling people really like them GT.

but as sid said only your ears can tell you what they like the best

I ain't sid

 

[Anubis]

I ain't sid

disagrees with you

 

[Chronoshock]

I think a deaf man would be happy going from Promedia to Adam A5

However, I consider A7 and up as Adam speakers :biggrin:

I was strongly considering getting A7s but then I snapped to my senses and realized I had set a budget of 500 max for speakers and the nearly 100% increase wouldn't be worth it. There are a few reviews out there, mainly on forums like head-fi and avsforums, where people have compared A5 vs A7. I found the differences acceptable (especially in terms of bass extension which would be rectified by a separate sub).

I have Salk Songtowers downstairs for heavy listening anyways, I improved my computer setup so that I wouldn't spend all my time on my HT system.

 

[sdifox]

I was strongly considering getting A7s but then I snapped to my senses and realized I had set a budget of 500 max for speakers and the nearly 100% increase wouldn't be worth it. There are a few reviews out there, mainly on forums like head-fi and avsforums, where people have compared A5 vs A7. I found the differences acceptable (especially in terms of bass extension which would be rectified by a separate sub).

I have Salk Songtowers downstairs for heavy listening anyways, I improved my computer setup so that I wouldn't spend all my time on my HT system.

My computer is at my HT :biggrin:

Running eleven year old Definitive Technologys.

 

[GTaudiophile]

So I live in the DC Metro area. Can anyone recommend locations where one can audition a lot of high end equipment at once? Best Buy, etc. not included.

 

[Anubis]

So I live in the DC Metro area. Can anyone recommend locations where one can audition a lot of high end equipment at once? Best Buy, etc. not included.

your best bet at that is to find out what you want to audition and then go to the manufactures website and use the dealer locater, most high end ones have them. should come up with things in your area.

 

[alcoholbob]

I wish I could afford the B&W 805 Diamonds, but I can't...so what is the consensus on the B&W 685s?

The 7 series isn't too far off from the 8 series. They measure pretty similarly, of course the materials are not as exotic. I think 6 series is at a much lower tier though.

I like my bass strong but with a nice smooth roll off. Nothing terribly boomy and plasticy and no port noise.

Sounds like you could use a sealed/servo subwoofer. I would check out the Rythmik F12 at rythmikaudio.com. The entry-level Finish and amp can be had for $700.

 

[moonboy403]

So I live in the DC Metro area. Can anyone recommend locations where one can audition a lot of high end equipment at once? Best Buy, etc. not included.

For the lower level studio monitors, you can audition them at your local Guitar Center if there's one.

 

[0roo0roo]

Are you saying that sitting close means your speakers will sound harsh??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_monitor
real studio monitors are for engineers to tweak the sound, they are not designed to give you pleasant sound, don't confuse neutral with sounding good.
near field is another factor as said, you don't like the sound of harsh highs and such as well.

 

[moonboy403]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_monitor
real studio monitors are for engineers to tweak the sound, they are not designed to give you pleasant sound, don't confuse neutral with sounding good.
near field is another factor as said, you don't like the sound of harsh highs and such as well.

Yes, a studio monitor is unforgiving, but a recording that's well mastered and mixed wouldn't and shouldn't sound harsh. In fact, they sound really pleasant to my ears. Another reason you might get harsh highs is because of reflections in room.

Which studio monitors gave you harsh highs?

 

[alkemyst]

If you are buying them it'd do you more service to pick up some book shelf speakers from a lineup you'd like to use the rest of in a more rounded HT later.

Studio monitors seem a buzzword lately.

 

[vi edit]

I use Studio Monitors for my 2.0 set up. Retarded levels of bass kills music. Say no to subwoofers.

Whatever. I've got tower speakers that roll off pretty sharp from 60hz on down and there's still a lot of legitimate music in that 35-50hz range that a quality subwoofer can reproduce with ease. I've got a Dayton reference 12" in a sealed cabinet and it adds a very nice warmth to the music by filling in the midbass that my towers (or bookshelfs) can't do as well. I've barley got the gain bumped on the sub, it's just enough to blend in seamlessly with the mains.

 

[Howard]

Don't forget, some studio monitors were intentionally designed to sound bad, to reflect the speaker system used by the average customer. Yamaha NS10, anyone?

 

[alcoholbob]

And over the last 25 years, the NS10 was used to mix music more than any other studio monitor. The frequency response is attrocious.

 

[joetekubi]

Gosh folks, there is really a number of mis-conceptions in this thread.
First, my (minor) claim to fame in this regard - I did actually work as a recording engineer in a professional music recording studio.

For "studio" monitors, you usually have a pair of "mains" - big speakers capable of very high output without distortion, carefully engineered for flat frequency reponse and phase matching between woofer - mid - tweeter. Typically the mains are 10-12 feet from the engineer's chair behind the mixing console.
You also (almost always) have a pair (or two) of near-field monitors, typically placed on top of the mixing console, and about 3-4 feet from the engineers chair. The near-field monitors may or may not have a flat frequency reponse. For a small home studio, near-field monitors will probably be the only monitors, so it's more important that they have a flat frequency reponse. For my previous professional experience, our near-field monitors were Yamaha NS-100 (I think), not because they were great, but because they represented a kind of "normal" bookshelf speaker that people might use.

When performing a final mix of the tracks, it's critical to check the sound quality on several different speakers and in mono as well.

I've heard that a lot of people use (and like) Genelec monitors, and I looked at the Adam 7 link, and those look real good also.

I'm into DIY speaks, so I'd advise this for near-field:
http://www.audioheuristics.org/projects_gallery/ER18DXT/ER18DXT.htm

And something like this for big mains:
http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=26309