Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
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  4. Which Active Speakers?

  • Which Active Speakers?

    K
    K
    I’d like to buy new studio reference speakers. However I can not afford to but Mackie’s. In that point, I’d like to ask you, what is your suggestion about it. I’m thinking to buy M-Audio BX8 but if there is a better choice for that price, I want to know. Also is anybody says their experiences I’d be appreciated.
    Thanks in advance.
    Koray
  • F
    F
    I've used active Tannoy Reveals for the last 3 years and I'm happy with them, nice tight sound. Not the best bass in the world, but for the money you can't go wrong!!

    Hope this helps

    Joe Fox
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD
    It all depends on how much money you want to spend. My favorite active nearfields are the legendary [URL=http://www.meyersound.com/products/studioseries/hd-1/index.htm]Meyer HD-1[/URL] - they are my homebase, so to say. Dry, direct, extremely accurate, big sound, and I can work for 16 hours on them without any listening fatigue syndrom. And - they are expensive 8-].

    Recently, I worked on [URL=http://www.adam-audio.de/frameset/start.htm]Adam Audio's S2A[/URL] studio monitors. Actually, the Beethoven-excerpt in our demo-section was mixed on them. A very open, pleasing, yet detailed sound. Good price, considering the results.

    A safe bet are always Genelecs. Not many people love them, but there are also not many people saying that they are bad. The [URL=http://www.genelec.com/products/1030a/1030a.php]1030A[/URL] or the 1031A are very wide-spread products, with a smooth, a little bit "HiFi"-like sound, yet powerfull and straight enough for serious studio-work.

    A completely different beast, especially for work in a completely digital environment, is [URL=http://www.dynaudioacoustics.com/Default.asp?Id=319]Dynaudio's Air System[/URL], as they have digital (!) inputs and a built-in DSP. We installed a pair of Air15 in our Symphonic Booth, which was on display at the NAMM during the last week. Dynaudio-speakers have a certain sound you either like or not - very analytic mids, clear but "un-charming" (is this a word?) highs, and precise, but slim bass (this is why we added two subs for a little "boom-factor" in the Symphonic Booth. Not a cheap solution, though.

    At the end, all these may be too expensive for you. The small Tannoy seem to be a good deal, and they sound pretty decent. I can't say anything about the M-Audios as I haven't heard them. Another company with respectable bang-for-the-buck is Behringer. The [URL=http://www.behringer.com/02_products/prodindex.cfm?id=B2031&lang=ENG&CFID=394820&CFTOKEN=38326625]Truth monitor series[/URL] are certainly an interesting product.

    HTH,

    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • C
    C
    Ive been considering the BX5... the smaller model of the one you mention. Im also interested in any info.. what about yourself? do you have any?
  • F
    F
    I recently added a pair of the BX5's to my home composing setup. My mixes seem to hold up pretty well between home and studio, although I wouldn't try to play them very loud...and I do find myself checking the low end with a pair of Sony 7506 headphones periodically.

    Fred Story
    Concentrix Music and Sound Design
    www.concentrixmusic.com
  • C
    C
    yeah, I also got the impression that they were weak on the low end... it seems your supposed to boost it with a subwoofer. How bout the BX8.. would they be better for this?
  • P
    P
    [quote=korayus]I’d like to buy new studio reference speakers.

    I just sold some Dynaudio BM10's. Not active, I know. I now use Genelec 1029A's. I think they are very good. If you check these out, make sure you test them with the 1091A sub-woofer. Big difference. If you go to surround sound, 5 of these (1029A's) would be great within most recording conditions. Of course, a lot depends on the size of room etc you are recording in.

    Paul
  • K
    K
    Thank you very much all!
    Now I'm more confused [[:)]] I found Meyer HD-1 at $3200 price tag. WOW. I wish I could afford them [[:)]] I asked same question to other forms aswell and lots of people said that, I should save little bit mre money to by Mackie's 824.
    I'll be sounds-expo at London on 11 th of Feb. I wish I can see these speakers at there. As far as I know, VSL team will be there. Are you going to use same speaker system at London sounds-expo, which you used at Namm?

    Thanks to all
    Koray Ustuner
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD
    Just to relieve your confusion ... I can't afford the HD-1 either, but I talked almost every studio I work in into buying a pair of them! :-]

    /Dietz
    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • C
    C
    Just bought Yamaha MSP5... And got a really lovely price.. almost 40% on sale [:D]

    Anyway.. it seems very good for the price...
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD
    What about [URL=http://www.event1.com/Products/Products.html]Event[/URL], BTW?

    /Dietz
    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • P
    P
    last edited
    last edited

    @Dietz said:

    What about [URL=http://www.event1.com/Products/Products.html]Event[/URL], BTW?

    /Dietz


    I have the Event Project Studio 8 active monitors, but unfortunately I've never been able to compare them with other brands. I purchased them solely on reviews and my budget limits, from a foreign store.

    Sometimes I really like them, sometimes I don't. Maybe it's the accuracy of studio monitors that do not have the coloring of home speakers making them sometimes "too" honest.
    I also believe my studio room needs a bit more furniture to suppress some resonances in the mid and bass areas (although my room does have large bass traps...).

    Anyway, completely useless post [:D] I just think they are quite OK for their price.

    If I play them loud (my room size is about 90 m3) I get occasional clipping lights (that is, the lights go out), so that's my limit. However, sometimes I would like to playback even a little bit louder.

    Peter
    www.PeterRoos.com
  • A
    A
    Hey...
    Is FONIX(fonic) a brand?
    Is it good?

    My music dealer is getting me one.
  • L
    L
    Hey Dietz,

    can I just add one very impressive monitor to your already very good list, well except the Truth may be [[;)]]

    Personally I found the AML1 http://www.pmcloudspeaker.com/aml1.html">http://www.pmcloudspeaker.com/aml1.html to outperform all fo the listed....

    Seriously, I mean, of course all subject to personal taste... but if you never heard them...you could just give yourself a treat and chek them out... they are stunning masterpieces....
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD
    Thanks for the hint, Loughingbear!

    PMC's are my favorite main monitors, especially the MB-1/MB-2 series. You will find them in mastering facilities all over the world, Metropolis / London for example. They are _so_ expensive that I didn't even dare to suggest them in my small, very subjectively biased list above.

    As a matter of fact, almost all of our "official" demos were mixed and finialized in Vienna's top mastering facility, the Swoon Factory, using a pair of active MB-2S XBD's in an incredible acoustic environment.

    The AML-1 you mention come from the same tradition and are a lot "cheaper" than these huge tri-amped models. Yet, in this range, the Meyer HD-1 are still hard to beat for my ears. :-]

    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • G
    G
    I have a pair of Dynaudio BM6A and yes like Dietz said, Dyns are a bit analytic but the relationship/balance of frenquencies is always consistent at low level as at high ones. My AD-DA for monitoring is a Universal Audio 2192. I have hours of great pleasures working with this set-up.

    Ultimately, if it is your first pair of monitor don't hesitate, every one mentionned in this thread are worth checking. For my part I decided to stick with Dyns in my home studio because I've been using them in different incarnations for the last 10 years. (C3, M1, BM15A). I'm so acustomed to the sound it's extrremely difficult to change!!
  • N
    N
    These questions always draw lots of highly subjective answers, but I may as well add that I'm using Blue Sky's Sky System One system (2 sats + sub) and like it very much. Seamlessly integrated subwoofer, very good imaging, nice high end. The only flaw is a slight dip around the crossover at 1.5k, but it's nothing you can't work around.

    www.abluesky.com

    I should also add that I don't think any one set of monitors is enough.
  • L
    L
    Now ...WHO spilled Burgundy over my tiger eye polished Nautilus Speakers... eehhhh? ...Zzzzz. Zzzzz....... waking up.... WHAT a nightmare [:D]