Speakers for the computer
- Thread starter macgregor
- Start date
Do you need accurate, or just palpable? And what budget range are we talking about?
If you aren't doing much (any) audio post work and only need to be able to hear well, then the M-Audio AV30 and AV40 sets are fantastic for the money. They are end-user listening systems, meaning that they aren't anywhere close to accurate for making critical sound decisions. But they're just fine for listening to music while you work, and for hearing well enough to edit.
There are some mid-priced systems that are respectable, though not ideal, if you want something with a sub-woofer. Look at the Yamaha HS50M and HS80M, and the HS10W. Or look at the M-Audio BX5 D2 or BX8 D2, and the SBX10 sub.
However, if you're doing anything involving critical judgment of your audio, then you need something accurate. Genelecs, Mackie HR824mkII, and the like. These are the top end.
Of course, accuracy in monitoring also depends greatly on treatment of the room. An untreated room (no diffusion/absorption treatments) will skew what you hear and not even the best monitors money can buy will compensate for that.
If you aren't doing much (any) audio post work and only need to be able to hear well, then the M-Audio AV30 and AV40 sets are fantastic for the money. They are end-user listening systems, meaning that they aren't anywhere close to accurate for making critical sound decisions. But they're just fine for listening to music while you work, and for hearing well enough to edit.
There are some mid-priced systems that are respectable, though not ideal, if you want something with a sub-woofer. Look at the Yamaha HS50M and HS80M, and the HS10W. Or look at the M-Audio BX5 D2 or BX8 D2, and the SBX10 sub.
However, if you're doing anything involving critical judgment of your audio, then you need something accurate. Genelecs, Mackie HR824mkII, and the like. These are the top end.
Of course, accuracy in monitoring also depends greatly on treatment of the room. An untreated room (no diffusion/absorption treatments) will skew what you hear and not even the best monitors money can buy will compensate for that.
I use Genelecs with my ProTools suite, but I use the AV40s at home for FCP (and for listening to iTunes, YouTube, Vimeo). I have the AV30s at my office. Both are great for the money.
For anyone else reading this: these are multimedia speakers. They're high-end for computer speakers, but no suitable for "professional" applications beyond simply being able to hear.
For anyone else reading this: these are multimedia speakers. They're high-end for computer speakers, but no suitable for "professional" applications beyond simply being able to hear.
Richard Crowley
Veteran
There are NO decent "computer speakers". Nothing made by "Creative" or any of those computer companies is even marginally decent for doing even semi-serious audio work. They have horrible frequency response that will lie to you when you need the truth. Don't even consider anything that calls itself a "computer speaker" or a "multi-media speaker".
The minimum speakers acceptable for even semi-serious audio work are the little home recording monitor speakers. These are NOT sold as "computer speakers".
The minimum speakers acceptable for even semi-serious audio work are the little home recording monitor speakers. These are NOT sold as "computer speakers".
vincent thomas
Well-known member
Genelec monitor audio speakers...
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Vincent Thomas
Artist for Film / Photograph & Creative Director
http://www.stranger-than-paradise.book.fr/
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Vincent Thomas
Artist for Film / Photograph & Creative Director
http://www.stranger-than-paradise.book.fr/
__________________________________________
The thing about the AV30 and AV40 is that they're labeled as monitors for home recording, but they are not accurate by any means... but they have the best value for anything in their class and are perfectly suitable for listening where critical audio judgment is not a concern. However, we've established that macgregor is not in a treated room and simply needs to hear to edit video. So again, these fit the bill, and much better than anything that would be in the "computer speaker" aisle at Best Buy.
j1clark@ucsd.edu
Veteran
What do you use to drive these speakers... or is it direct from the 'computer'...
The Genelecs? My ProTools interface, via a monitor management hub in a treated room where I do critical audio work. The AV40s are also connected here, since the new ProTools 10 is hardware-independent and the internal audio settings for my Mac are routed to the interface already.
The AV30s at my office are fed by the computer's output. Of course, that's an office that is completely untreated and acoustically flawed and in which I do no critical audio work of any kind. I listen to iTunes, Vimeo, etc. there, and that's about it.
The AV30s at my office are fed by the computer's output. Of course, that's an office that is completely untreated and acoustically flawed and in which I do no critical audio work of any kind. I listen to iTunes, Vimeo, etc. there, and that's about it.
Allan Black
Veteran
So you want to edit and mix on them?
Whatever you select, for mixing you'll have to learn exactly what you're hearing over a period of time. Depends on a lot of factors and it could take a few months before you can pull off a satisfactory mix .. first time every time.
I've seen new speakers give their owners a dreadful fright when they hear their first mixes on other systems.
Takes time, don't go back to your trusty headphones, you'll just confuse the issue. Adam A7s for me, and I'm looking to upgrade to the A7X version.
Cheers.
Allan Black
Veteran
Doh! it's just that I was one of the new owners who got a fright.
Cheers Alex.
Cheers Alex.
ben_r_
Well-known member
Related to this thread:
Ive got a pair of Yamaha HS80Ms on the way and I have the ASUS Xonar Essence XT sound card that has unbalanced 1/4" outs that I was planning on feeding into the HS80Ms. Will noise be an issue and if so what USB external sound card should I look at that will give me balanced XLR outputs, keeping in mind that I dont really need the inputs most have.
Ive got a pair of Yamaha HS80Ms on the way and I have the ASUS Xonar Essence XT sound card that has unbalanced 1/4" outs that I was planning on feeding into the HS80Ms. Will noise be an issue and if so what USB external sound card should I look at that will give me balanced XLR outputs, keeping in mind that I dont really need the inputs most have.
jerzythepeddler
Member
If it was me I would just ebay or craigslist some old M-Audio bx8a. I have some and they rock. They're actually pretty accurate and have the volume when you need it. Mark isham (Crash, The Mist, etc) used some in his studio. I just found some on ebay for $100 buy it now and free shipping.
djmfoxtrot
Well-known member
Thanks to this thread, I have just purchased (from eBay at half the retail cost) and installed, a pair of Yamaha HS50M speakers. I am blown away by the dramatic improvement they make.
Frankly, I feel foolish for putting off the purchase for so long.
Frankly, I feel foolish for putting off the purchase for so long.
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
If you are wanting to do post, where the listening aspect is crucial, then expect to drop some money. Because you will need a decent audio interface to run them as well.
The Auratones were designed specifically for that, back in the day. Sure, systems have gotten a lot better than the old AM radio and tape decks of yesteryear, but with the advent of MP3 players with music and other things being so compressed, the need for those same types of crappy speakers is still there. And there are a couple of companies still emulating those valuable tools. One of them is the company I used to work for.
You always want to mix to the lowest common denominator. Make it sound good on crappy speakers and you will have a really good starting mix. Old engineer's trick :thumbsup:.
Yeah, a little off topic, but that info needs to be re-inforced every now and then.
But Richard, I would point out that a pair of crappy speakers is exactly what is needed to complement any high end monitors.
The Auratones were designed specifically for that, back in the day. Sure, systems have gotten a lot better than the old AM radio and tape decks of yesteryear, but with the advent of MP3 players with music and other things being so compressed, the need for those same types of crappy speakers is still there. And there are a couple of companies still emulating those valuable tools. One of them is the company I used to work for.
You always want to mix to the lowest common denominator. Make it sound good on crappy speakers and you will have a really good starting mix. Old engineer's trick :thumbsup:.
Yeah, a little off topic, but that info needs to be re-inforced every now and then.
Alpha Beta Omega
Veteran
I got a pair of Genelec 8030 two years ago and have been happy with their sound since then.
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
Unless you are running long runs to your speakers or you have some electrical spaghetti and a lot of transformers behind your desk, 1/4 unbalanced should be fine. Balanced lines really shine when there is a lot of interference or the runs are long.
But keep in mind, with unbalanced lines, you may find you are picking up more noise from electronic devices........smartphones are notorious for this.