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Post by skav on Sept 30, 2024 14:04:22 GMT -6
My previous speakers were the Yahama HS8, which in time started to sound muddy to me. Now I want to try something different. Lately I've mixed on Sony MDR 7507 headphones, which I like, but is fatiguing in the long run.
I will be moving and switching to another room, which is not ideal in size or form, but with absorbtion and low level listening I aim to be able to make mixes translate. I also look at it as an investment for when I'm able to use another room.
Preferably something that goes to around 40hz or lower.
Lately I've been looking a these options below, and as usual internet-comments are making my brain invert itself several times a day.
Focal Shape 65
Focal Shape Twin
Kali Audio IP-8 V2
Adam Audio A7X
Neumann KH 120 II
Neumann KH 150
Neumann KH 310
Dynaudio LYD 48
Yes, prices are all over the place.
Any thoughts, experiences or tips? Any other monitors I should add to my list? Preferably something that can be both close to wall and listened to close (1m).
Thank you!
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Post by tonycamphd on Sept 30, 2024 14:19:42 GMT -6
If it was me i'd try out the dynaudio's, they are usually high sensitivity which i like(i didn't check those specs thought)
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Post by Dan on Sept 30, 2024 14:21:37 GMT -6
JBL LSR 305 mk II
Fostex 6301
KRK V6S4
Focal Shapes and the new Solo ST6
Dynaudio BM6A
ATC SCM12 and SCM20
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Post by svart on Sept 30, 2024 14:21:57 GMT -6
I have the KH310D's and I love them. I couldn't recommend them enough. If the price is too high, I'd go for the KH150. I haven't heard them, but since the KH310 is so great I can't imagine the KH150 to be a slouch.
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Post by doubledog on Sept 30, 2024 14:30:27 GMT -6
I have the Dynaudio BM6A mkII. Been using them for the past almost 10 years and I know them pretty well. Never heard the new BM 6A (I think there was another BM 6A years ago...) but they are not the same as the mkII for sure (and those are discontinued but you can find them used) - anyway no idea how they compare but I like Dynaudio. Thought about the Lyd 48's myself and the new price for a pair is not much more than the 6A even though they are 3-way.
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Post by RealNoob on Sept 30, 2024 18:03:20 GMT -6
I have the LYD48's, Shape 65s and Gen 8330As. I feel the Shapes are better than both with a more natural sound. The Gens are WAY mid forward with a nasty 2-3K bump that I haven't solved. The LYDs have a high mid spike - not so much a bump. They can be harsh with it. The Focals sound more natural. Even my daughter could hear it.
The shapes CAN be brighter but are very adjustable and I turn the highs down a bit.
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Post by kbsmoove on Sept 30, 2024 18:06:08 GMT -6
are these actually good? I am a fan of the big LSR32s and the LSR6328Ps. looking for a decent low cost pair for a small writing/overdub room. worth considering? guess i need to hear a pair. |
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Post by nick8801 on Sept 30, 2024 18:22:22 GMT -6
are these actually good? I am a fan of the big LSR32s and the LSR6328Ps. looking for a decent low cost pair for a small writing/overdub room. worth considering? guess i need to hear a pair. I use them at my school where I teach music production. Got them because they were cheap. Kept them because they’re really good! |
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Post by nnajar on Sept 30, 2024 18:26:36 GMT -6
Kh80. I have the 310 in my mix room at work (since 2019) and the 80s on my wife’s demo desk at home. I previously had the Klein and Hummel 110 for years before the 310s. I can’t believe how good the 80s are. For the specific case the OP suggests I’d really recommend them.
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Post by bluesholyman on Sept 30, 2024 19:17:39 GMT -6
My previous speakers were the Yahama HS8, which in time started to sound muddy to me. Now I want to try something different. Lately I've mixed on Sony MDR 7507 headphones, which I like, but is fatiguing in the long run. I will be moving and switching to another room, which is not ideal in size or form, but with absorbtion and low level listening I aim to be able to make mixes translate. I also look at it as an investment for when I'm able to use another room. Preferably something that goes to around 40hz or lower. Lately I've been looking a these options below, and as usual internet-comments are making my brain invert itself several times a day. Focal Shape 65 Focal Shape Twin Kali Audio IP-8 V2 Adam Audio A7X Neumann KH 120 II Neumann KH 150 Dynaudio LYD 48 Yes, prices are all over the place. Any thoughts, experiences or tips? Any other monitors I should add to my list? Preferably something that can be both close to wall and listened to close (1m). Thank you! I have the Focal Shape Twins - great monitors. Can't really say how they'd compare to others but I use them in a small room and they work well. |
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Post by Tbone81 on Sept 30, 2024 19:57:11 GMT -6
Having been through a major monitor auditioning process just this last year, I’d recommend first decide what type of tweeters you like. Ribbon vs dome tweeters = a big difference in perception.
Also, are these going to be your only set of monitors? If you were looking for a 2nd reference set of speakers I’d say Dans recommendation of the Fostex 6301 to be great. I’d also throw in the NHT SuperOne and SuperZero speakers. And of course many guys like the auratones.
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Post by bluesholyman on Oct 1, 2024 6:18:40 GMT -6
As a note on the Focal Shape Twins, while they are rated down to 40hz I've noticed that the low end is a bit under-represented compared to how it sounds on my car or another set of cheaper monitors I have to check things on. I have had Mackie HR824s (1st gen) and JBL LSR4328p's in the past and both of those provide considerably more low end.
Just something to know about these, if they interest you.
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Post by skav on Oct 1, 2024 6:59:54 GMT -6
As a note on the Focal Shape Twins, while they are rated down to 40hz I've noticed that the low end is a bit under-represented compared to how it sounds on my car or another set of cheaper monitors I have to check things on. I have had Mackie HR824s (1st gen) and JBL LSR4328p's in the past and both of those provide considerably more low end. Just something to know about these, if they interest you. Thanks! How do you deal with that? |
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Post by bluesholyman on Oct 1, 2024 7:51:34 GMT -6
As a note on the Focal Shape Twins, while they are rated down to 40hz I've noticed that the low end is a bit under-represented compared to how it sounds on my car or another set of cheaper monitors I have to check things on. I have had Mackie HR824s (1st gen) and JBL LSR4328p's in the past and both of those provide considerably more low end. Just something to know about these, if they interest you. Thanks! How do you deal with that? Just learning how they translate I think. Whats nice is that the low-end doesn't over take the room - there is actually more there than I may be hearing, but I still hear it - its not absent, necessarily, just not as prominent, depending where your listening position is. For small rooms, it might be a blessing in disguise.... If doing genres that require hearing all that low end, a subwoofer may be needed, along with a proper room. My experience is limited but these may not be a first choice for doing EDM without the sub. To be fair, I can hear all the low end in something like Dua Lipa's "New Rules" on these - its just not chest thumping. Her vocals and all the details of everything going on is there. The vocal image is great which is what I love about them. |
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Post by svart on Oct 1, 2024 8:25:31 GMT -6
Having been through a major monitor auditioning process just this last year, I’d recommend first decide what type of tweeters you like. Ribbon vs dome tweeters = a big difference in perception. Also, are these going to be your only set of monitors? If you were looking for a 2nd reference set of speakers I’d say Dans recommendation of the Fostex 6301 to be great. I’d also throw in the NHT SuperOne and SuperZero speakers. And of course many guys like the auratones. Tweeter type is absolutely a huge thing. I've found that I can't listen to metal-dome tweeters at all, no matter how well designed the crossover is. I also can't stand ring-radiators and their beaming pattern. Fabric domes in waveguides is all I'll accept these days. |
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Post by sean on Oct 1, 2024 9:25:25 GMT -6
Being that close I'd recommend the KH 120's, that's what I'm using at home. I had KH 80's, which I liked, but didn't go low enough and I couldn't get a subwoofer to work with them (wood panel walls would rattle). Got some KH150 and they were a little too large for sitting that close, so grabbed some KH 120 II and they are prefect.
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Post by FM77 on Oct 1, 2024 9:45:49 GMT -6
Thanks! How do you deal with that? Just learning how they translate I think. Whats nice is that the low-end doesn't over take the room - there is actually more there than I may be hearing, but I still hear it - its not absent, necessarily, just not as prominent, depending where your listening position is. For small rooms, it might be a blessing in disguise.... If doing genres that require hearing all that low end, a subwoofer may be needed, along with a proper room. My experience is limited but these may not be a first choice for doing EDM without the sub. To be fair, I can hear all the low end in something like Dua Lipa's "New Rules" on these - its just not chest thumping. Her vocals and all the details of everything going on is there. The vocal image is great which is what I love about them. The Shape Twins have tone controls on the back to work with the room, if needed. I find the passive radiators just sublime and well suited for smaller rooms for that very reason. And it goes without saying the Mackies you mentioned you used to use were notoriously bass hyped. I recently sold my Focal Trios to go back to the shape Twins. I find them a generous enjoyable compliment to the ATC SMC25s here. They may be in my top 3 monitor sets of all time for non fatiguing listening. |
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Post by mcirish on Oct 1, 2024 9:57:18 GMT -6
I had the lyd48 monitors and loved them. I had the space so I upgraded to the Core 59 monitors but I would definitely get LYD48 again if I had to downsize my room. I'm a huge dynaudio fan .
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Post by Dan on Oct 1, 2024 12:02:38 GMT -6
are these actually good? I am a fan of the big LSR32s and the LSR6328Ps. looking for a decent low cost pair for a small writing/overdub room. worth considering? guess i need to hear a pair. I use them at my school where I teach music production. Got them because they were cheap. Kept them because they’re really good! Yeah they're great for dialogue. Mid balance is a little off and the low end is resonant but for under 200 bucks, you cannot beat them. |
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Post by Dan on Oct 1, 2024 12:06:06 GMT -6
Having been through a major monitor auditioning process just this last year, I’d recommend first decide what type of tweeters you like. Ribbon vs dome tweeters = a big difference in perception. Also, are these going to be your only set of monitors? If you were looking for a 2nd reference set of speakers I’d say Dans recommendation of the Fostex 6301 to be great. I’d also throw in the NHT SuperOne and SuperZero speakers. And of course many guys like the auratones. Tweeter type is absolutely a huge thing. I've found that I can't listen to metal-dome tweeters at all, no matter how well designed the crossover is. I also can't stand ring-radiators and their beaming pattern. Fabric domes in waveguides is all I'll accept these days. Your Neumann branded monitors have a metal dome. Sennheiser's driver OEM stuck a piece of fabric in front of it to try to damp the breakup but it's still a titanium dome with the low hard breakup causing IMD in the audible band. |
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Post by svart on Oct 1, 2024 12:15:55 GMT -6
Tweeter type is absolutely a huge thing. I've found that I can't listen to metal-dome tweeters at all, no matter how well designed the crossover is. I also can't stand ring-radiators and their beaming pattern. Fabric domes in waveguides is all I'll accept these days. Your Neumann branded monitors have a metal dome. Sennheiser's driver OEM stuck a piece of fabric in front of it to try to damp the breakup but it's still an aluminum dome with the low hard breakup causing IMD in the audible band. They call it an "alloy fabric dome" and it pushes in when I push on it, so I doubt it's just a "metal dome with fabric in front of it". Also there is zero audible IMD. I don't care what you've read, it's bullshit. |
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Post by nick8801 on Oct 1, 2024 12:26:51 GMT -6
I use them at my school where I teach music production. Got them because they were cheap. Kept them because they’re really good! Yeah they're great for dialogue. Mid balance is a little off and the low end is resonant but for under 200 bucks, you cannot beat them. Oh for sure....not perfect by any stretch, but you can make them work, and I actually enjoy listening to music on them. |
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Post by skav on Oct 1, 2024 12:34:44 GMT -6
Being that close I'd recommend the KH 120's, that's what I'm using at home. I had KH 80's, which I liked, but didn't go low enough and I couldn't get a subwoofer to work with them (wood panel walls would rattle). Got some KH150 and they were a little too large for sitting that close, so grabbed some KH 120 II and they are prefect. Thanks, that's actually what I'm leaning most towards right now. Are you able to make mixes translate even though they don't go veery deep? |
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,107 
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Post by ericn on Oct 1, 2024 12:54:14 GMT -6
If you’re really close to the speakers Dual Concentric/ Coax sure makes positioning and finding the sweet spot easier.
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Post by Dan on Oct 1, 2024 13:05:41 GMT -6
Your Neumann branded monitors have a metal dome. Sennheiser's driver OEM stuck a piece of fabric in front of it to try to damp the breakup but it's still an aluminum dome with the low hard breakup causing IMD in the audible band. They call it an "alloy fabric dome" and it pushes in when I push on it, so I doubt it's just a "metal dome with fabric in front of it". Also there is zero audible IMD. I don't care what you've read, it's bullshit. The post 20 kHz hard breakups will always have intermodulation distortion in the audible band. With the Neumann branded speakers, it is very audible when compared with a modern soft dome tweeter. Manufacturers can use lighter materials to push the breakup higher and push the imd higher but it’s still there and Sennheiser chose not to. Saying it’s bullshit won’t make the distortion go away. They damp the tweeter. Same with the Focal Aluminum-Magnesium alloy but the distortion is still there. |
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