Good, Affordable Studio Monitors...

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

Having crappy cpu speakers and not being able to tell how bass is supposed to sound when making beats is driving me crazy. What are some good monitors(preferably powered) for under $150? I'm looking for something with a 5-6" mid, but anything is acceptable so long as is can reproduce bass to the point where I can tell what's a higher or lower frequency between two different notes.

What have guys used in the past for your music creating/mixing/editing needs? Best bang for buck in your opinion?

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[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

My friend bought some Swans monitors from Partsexpress.com and got them yesterday. From what I heard they sound great. The only bad thing is the frequency response is 60hz-20,000hz, I believe. That may lead you to want a powered woofer. They cost ~$100. They don't look bad, and played songs (rock and country) clear without any distortion. The volume wasn't too high up, so I can give a great recommendation for them, but when listening to them, they did sound great. I'm still rocking an old Sony book shelf system, with 2 shelf speakers and an 8" sub. I have had no reason to change them, as I'm not an audiophile worried about how great they sound. They're just for listening to music, and making some beats.

EDIT : http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=310-450 Those are the ones my friend just got.

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, I think with a 4" monitor I'd have to use a sub. My friend has a pair of M-Audio BX5's, and they have surprisingly good low-end for a 5" mid.

I'm really tempted to get this, but it's out of my price range //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/msg/1085922056.html

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

I was going to say, from reading reviews Swans and M-Audio seem to always get good ratings.

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

I was going to say, from reading reviews Swans and M-Audio seem to always get good ratings.

There's a pair of those M-Audio BX5's locally for $175...you can get them used on ebay all day long in the mid to upper 100's.

 

[Scoobydoo 5,000+ posts]

Audioengine

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

For a $150 price point, you're asking a lot...

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

For a $150 price point, you're asking a lot...

I figured as much...I can get some new m-audio BX8's for $300 locally, good deal? If I could up my budget to 250-300, what would you suggest?

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

http://zaphaudio.com/BAMTM.html

Plus a vintage Marantz/Yamaha/Kenwood/Pioneer integrated amp...

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Just DIY.

I made a set of bookshelves with AA Poly Mids and Tang Band tweets for ~$150, and they sound *****in.

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

Your not going to get powered "studio monitors" that can play bass for that price. You won't be happy with what a cheap 5" speaker will do for you.

Get a cheap stereo reciever ($70) and the best 10"-12" two way speakers you can find/afford. I would avoid component sub setups. You will not be able to calibrate the balance between the sub and the L/R speakers, and your mixes will be "wrong". Either too much or too little bass depending on how you set it up. It will make your mixes sound like shit.

You want basic old fashion; big speakers and an amp. Avoid the "white van" specials. Either that, or just use decent headphones.

Don't you have a home stereo?

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

Just DIY.
I made a set of bookshelves with AA Poly Mids and Tang Band tweets for ~$150, and they sound *****in.

I do have some RS-180's and TB tweets laying right next to me. Did you do everything yourself, of did you grab some cabinets and crossovers from some place like PE? I really don't want to build my own crossovers...

Your not going to get powered "studio monitors" that can play bass for that price. You won't be happy with what a cheap 5" speaker will do for you.Get a cheap stereo reciever ($70) and the best 10"-12" two way speakers you can find/afford. I would avoid component sub setups. You will not be able to calibrate the balance between the sub and the L/R speakers, and your mixes will be "wrong". Either too much or too little bass depending on how you set it up. It will make your mixes sound like shit.

You want basic old fashion; big speakers and an amp. Avoid the "white van" specials. Either that, or just use decent headphones.

Don't you have a home stereo?

I live in an apartment, so any decent home stereo is out of the question. I just have some Yamaha 8" 3-way towers and a h/k 6 channel receiver that I've had for a few years.

About some passive speakers, I was considering these: http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/msg/1063675535.html

I also have a couple sets of these that I got for $50 at Fry's laying around:http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2980540w345.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.radioshack.com/pwr/product-reviews/Home-Entertainment/Speakers/Yamaha/p/2367742-Yamaha-NS-6490-3-Way-Bookshelf-Speakers-Pair.html&usg=__O4KPKAABNYx2S8wpxqlVa4fa2kc=&h=235&w=345&sz=9&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=6YjlpORl_oEXyM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=120&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyamaha%2Bbookshelf%2Bspeakers%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

The 8" driver is pretty pathetic though...

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

Why not use the Yamaha speakers?

What kind of music are you mixing? I got the feeling it was bass/rap/dance.

Those alesis are fine, (if it all works it's a great deal) but not for bass. Like I said, you're not going to be happy with the bass output of any 6" speaker.

You have an amp, then just get the best 10"-12" passive speakers you can afford. $300 will get you something decent.

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

HEADPHONES!!!!!! A decent set of cans will perform as well or better than speakers 10x the price.

 

[blazeplacid 10+ year member]

man do I love a good set of monitor speakers

anytime I get a chance to listen to a pair I dont wanna leave