Recording Forum

[FastRedPonyCar]

I'm wanting to upgrade from my M-Audio BX8a's to something with just a better quality sound. I think the main beef I have with them is that the highs are too rolled off. My guitars will sound awesome in the mix at my desk but when I play the mix through any other speakers in my house/car, the highs are much brighter.

I record heavy rock music guitar tracks at home that I mix in with backing tracks so I need something that is primarily voiced for mixing heavy rock music (which I'm not sure what speakers would be better voiced for certain genres or what?)

I'm wanting to keep the budget at around $1000~$1200 and I would prefer them to be active. (unless I can get a good sounding passive speaker and you guys have amplifier recommendations)

Based on some preliminary pricing (not taking into consideration how these are voiced) here are some choices I've found.

Adam A7's

Dynaudio BM5a

Mackie HR624mk2

Tannoy Reveal 6a

Alternatively, I know that going passive with a decent power amp could also be an option. I haven't gotten too deep into researching this stuff but with a $1000 or so budget, it seems like I could get a better passive speaker with maybe an ok but not great power amp for the time being and then later upgrade to a better amp.

something like the samson Servo 200

Sending power to something like these

Adam ANF-10's

Tannoy Precision 8's



I know that no mention of a sub has been made yet and for now (and I know it's ghetto as hell) I'm using an infinity kappa 12" car sub being powered by an AMC 2100, which is surprisingly pretty good for the money.

I'd of course eventually want to step up to a dedicated audio recording sub like a Dynaudio or Tannoy but for now, I'm focusing on monitors and will eventually find my way into sub shopping.


Sorry for the long drawn out post but I searched and really couldn't find many concrete reviews or comparisons with these monitors and it seems that everyone's ears prefer something different and I know that a lot of it boils down to room acoustics, sound treatment, all the mic eq'ing and preamps and all that ultimately affect what comes out of the speakers but I know that in the end, some speakers are just flat out better at certain things than others so if you guys have any experience with any of the mentioned speakers or know of other choices to fit my budget, by all means, I'd like to know what your thoughts or opinions on any of this might be.

Chances are I'm going to try and make a purchase near the end of the year so I'm not in a hurry to get this done.

Thanks guys!


Oh BTW, this is how the BX8a's sit in relationship to my ears and the room (which is roughly 15X12 feet)

[Majoria]

I'd go with the Adam A7's and some more space between your monitors and the wall. I changed my monitors from a 3' triangle to a 5-6' triangle and found a great improvement and moved them a foot further away from the wall. Still too close to a wall but way better.

[WrdsNmuzik]

Adam A7s. :thu:

I recently plunked down the green for these, and couldn't be happier. The flat clear sound is simply wonderful.

[danbronson]

I'd go with the Adam A7's and some more space between your monitors and the wall.

+1 Experiment with different distances. It's not always a more = better thing. It's a matter of finding the place that produces the least peaks and nulls at the listening position. Adam A7s are great monitors. I upgraded from M-Audio BX8a's to these and was amazed at the difference. Much deeper/fuller/clearer low end, great midrange, crystal clear, non-fatiguing high end. They really expose bad mixes well too. Comparatively I felt like the M-Audios made everything sound the same and they were thin and fatiguing. For rock I doubt you will need a sub. I'm fine without one.

[Kyle DiSanto]

ADAM A7s hands down. BEST 1,000 You'll spend~!

[FastRedPonyCar]

+1

Experiment with different distances. It's not always a more = better thing. It's a matter of finding the place that produces the least peaks and nulls at the listening position.

Adam A7s are great monitors. I upgraded from M-Audio BX8a's to these and was amazed at the difference. Much deeper/fuller/clearer low end, great midrange, crystal clear, non-fatiguing high end. They really expose bad mixes well too. Comparatively I felt like the M-Audios made everything sound the same and they were thin and fatiguing.

For rock I doubt you will need a sub. I'm fine without one.

That's the post I was waiting for

[barneyc4]

I bought the 624MK2

[Synonym Music]

That's the post I was waiting for

Cool.

Now to make things even simpler, throw out the Tannoys... Unless you want hyped upper midrange and poor low frequency response.

[danbronson]

That's the post I was waiting for

Just keep in mind that A7s are not designed to make music sound 'better'. They're designed to expose your mix. It makes mixing easier but doesn't necessarily 'impress the client'. If that's what you're going for, the Dynaudio BM5a is probably your best bet from what I've read (I have yet to hear a pair in action so take that with a grain of salt).

That said, casual listening is much more enjoyable on my Adams than it ever was with my M-Audios. Especially when you're listening to good mixes. These speakers and my Beyerdynamic MC930s are the best $s I've spent on audio yet.

[Richard King]

I have no connection with these and don't know the seller, but I would certainly explore these and give them some very serious consideration: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2107438

[FastRedPonyCar]

Dan, the only client is myself and I'm not only using these for mixing my guitars in backing tracks but also, as you mention, casual listening, PC gaming, every day computing, etc... The M-Audios were most definately a huge step forward from my klipsche 5.1 pro media PC speakers but now that my use for PC speakers is going more and more into recording and less and less from the over hyped explosions and gun fire of games and party music (back when I was in college and used my PC for the music), I'm want a more "real" sound.

[Custom_Band_Me…]

I'd have to agree with the A7's. I don't know that distance from the wall will matter, but definitely play around with it. 

Jim
www.custombandmerchshop.com

[Snaporaz]

I do not see any setup problems with your present monitors, except that maybe the tweeter is to near to your ear, respectively the low driver is a an inch or two two further away from your ear, but that does not explain why your mixes sounds good on the M-Audio, but then the upper spectra is to loud on other speakers, maybe you can adjust the setup by matching distance of the two drivers to your ear -  eventually you can adjust the audio crossover by conduction a test with some well balanced mixes

or give us a minute of one of your songs with that error, and I listen to it on our high resolution speakers, and tell you what is wrong with the upper frequencies relation to the mid/low

[CME]

Fwiw moving your monitors even slightly can make a difference in sound. So definitely play around with placement.

I've heard great things about the a7's and will probably be my next monitor. I have event 20/20bas right now.

Also I've recently added a jbl mcs1 and a sub to my monitoring chain. Moved the desk out a foot or so to accommodate the sub and now everything works much better.

I also have a moderately treated room. If you haven't done some treatment to your room I'd start there. That will bring more improvements than any monitors. At least IMO.

[Snaporaz]

the problem of monitor hobby music producers can buy is that those speaker are basically a wooden banana box with speaker cabinets

no loudspeaker of this quality will ever help you to make a great mix

some mixer get pretty close to great mixes thru experience and  balancing the weaknesses such banana boxes have