Near Field Monitor recommendations: Basic needs

I

Inprogress

Well-known member
I've been editing using Sennheiser HD202's headphones, and I am really getting tired of using them, both from an actual use point of view, and since they just don't give me the response I need, my mixes sound muddy and voice is not clear, requiring me to run back and forth between headphones, and an amp with HIFI speakers. Which also means rendering or exporting audio before the fact.

Firstly I have to state, my mix needs are basic: Premixed licensed or royalty free music, with dialogue overlay at times from the video recording. I have also recently read a great article explaining the various audio frequency ranges, which also explained ways of achieving better vocal throughput (is that a term???) when mixing with music - a way of creating a space in the music frequency range in order to allow the vocal overlay to come through clearly. One can always buy better and better so you "only buy once" but ultimately, there has to be a limit based on the intended audience and profession. I'm not rubbing shoulders with Sharlto Copley or Tom Hanks....yet :thumbsup: And I'm no audio engineer nor do I want to be, not my strong suit.

My needs are basic, but not trivial. Unfortunately, I'm not in the position to try before I buy. What do you recommend from personal experience or just good old knowledge?

A list of monitors in my price range that are available to me without the need to import (all pairs except C5A):
- JB AM-50
- M-Audio Studiophile BX5a Deluxe
- Akai RPM3 Studio Monitors
- Presonus Eris E4.5 Active Monitor Speakers
- Samson GT4 Studio Monitors
- Alesis Elevate 5
- Behringer MS40 (and the MS20)
- Fostex PM04
- Alesis 1M MKII
- M-Audio AV40 MKII
- Akai RPM3
- Samson RESOLV SE5
- Samson Media One 5A BT 5
- Reloop ADM5
- Edirol MA-15D
- Behringer Behritone C5A (mono "grotbox" that seems to be better than they appear, comparable to the Auratones of the 70's, obviously paired with NF's)

EDIT:
My budget is R4000 (about $400US). Finding used equipment in South Africa is a process I don't even want to start investigating. Plus, I'd rather purchase this item locally in case I want to send them back which is a lot cheaper than sending back an imported item or trying to sell a used pair again. Unless there are some South African members on the forum who can point me to some place.

In addition (thanks Josh) my room isn't really the best setup, rather open and large. I was thinking of making some sound absorption panels, about 6 feet high which I can place behind me and cordon off an area for editing and light mixing. I need the panels anyway since I want to do some vocal work as well (not singing).
 
Last edited:
Don't know what price range you're looking at, but long ago someone recommended Behringer Truth 2031a monitors as a fairly cheap but decent set of near field monitors. That's what I've been using, no complaints. Don't know if they still make 'em, got mine off ebay for $300. Keep in mind the audio interface you're using (plugging speakers into the line out on your computer vs a proper audio interface) as well as the actual quality of the room you're in (there are certain ways to treat rooms to make them "mix-friendly", and certain ways to place your mixing desk, monitors, etc.) will affect your results with mixing/the usefulness of any monitors.
 
@ Josh Bass. Damn, forgot to add my budget. Thanks for the reply. Yes I better ad my setup situation. BTW, I was thinking of either getting speakers that allows for USB interface (USB DAC) or getting a USB DAC. There is a very basic one available, and for the life of me I can't remember the name now that goes for $40. My laptop soundcard is very erm....stupid.
 
The top of my list of affordable and trustworthy nearfield monitors is the Equator D5 - at $399.99 it is within your stated budget.

The Sound On Sound review is HERE.

They are co-axial monitors and this design tends to give an excellent stereo image and depth (I use co-axial monitors myself, albeit more expensive ones).

The conclusion of the review is:-

It's been a long time since I've listened to a loudspeaker at this price that has impressed me this much. The precise, uncoloured reproduction is impressive enough, but it was the D5s' mid-range clarity and detail — especially in the area around the crossover point — that really grabbed me. The DSP process, which works, according to Equator's white paper, by taking out anomalous peaks in a given unit's frequency response and then filling any troughs therein (as well as taking care of time- and phase-alignment and other bits and pieces) has no detectable deleterious effects on the programme material and is, I have no doubt, the major reason that the D5s work so well.
Given its affordability and level of absolute performance, the Equator D5 is a quite remarkable loudspeaker that will doubtless find its way into a very large number of home and project studios.
Click to expand...
 

Attachments

  • Equator-D5-Angle-pairblog.jpg
    Equator-D5-Angle-pairblog.jpg
    53 KB · Views: 0
Well, there you go.

As for room, read up on room treatment, even if you plan to make your own panels. GIK Acoustics has some diagrams/illustrations on their site of sample room treatment setups. It's not like you think (or like I thought)-- you don't just want to cover the walls and ceiling with absorbent material or make a "booth" like you mentioned around your workstation; there' a science to it: where the panels go, how big they should be, etc. If you're handy (I'm not) you can research how to make your own panels (what materials, assembly, thickness, etc.).
 
Josh, I thank you yet again. I am rather handy I'd say, maybe to my detriment. I'm sure I saw those Equator speakers locally somewhere....

Best wishes mate.
 
If you can't get the Equator's that far south of the equator, take a listen to the JBL 3 series. I have a pair on my desk and like them very much.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top