Active Monitors

[Aratron]

right i really really need some active monitors. smallish, cheapish, that i can just plug straight into my mixer. so i can put the speakers on some brackets near my head level.

any ideas?

[TechMouse]

What's your budget?

A mate of mine had Genelecs which were very nice and certainly did the job, but they had a harshness to them over time.

As usual it's one of those things that you can sink massive amounts of cash into if you want.

I hear lots of good things about Adam monitors.

[rhythmtech]

depends on what you mean by cheapish..

but for good quality at a reasonable price id check out

Adam A7
http://www.adam-audio.de/studio/nearfield/popup/A7.jpg

[rhythmtech]

or

Mackie HR624 MK2
http://www.mackie.com/products/hrmk2/photos/624_front.jpg

[Aratron]

What's your budget?

A mate of mine had Genelecs which were very nice and certainly did the job, but they had a harshness to them over time.

As usual it's one of those things that you can sink massive amounts of cash into if you want.

I hear lots of good things about Adam monitors.

well i just want something that does the job isnt too big and doesnt look camp.
maybe 100 pound mark of just over


not like im dave the drummer or anything.
im just running things through my technics midi, speakers on the floor , complete waste of time

[Aratron]

@rhythmtech and i can just put those into back of my mixer with leads or summat?

[rhythmtech]

you wont get much for 100 to be perfectly honest

probably

[rhythmtech]

you wont get much for 100 to be perfectly honest

probably better off getting some good stereo speakers for that money if you're only using for technics

[rhythmtech]

@rhythmtech and i can just put those into back of my mixer with leads or summat?

you can.. but you're looking about 500/600

[Aratron]

you can.. but you're looking about 500/600

right so the lower end active monitors cant do that?

btw im after self power speakers that are small enough to put on a wall mounted bracket near my head level near the decks that i can output through my mixer.
not have to use my technics midi at all. does that make sense?

[rhythmtech]

lower end can plug straight in - have a look at yamaha.

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/List/ModelSeriesList/0,,CTID%25253D560744%252526CNTYP%25253DPRODUCT,00. html

still a little above your price.. but like i said you wont getting anything for 100 in the active ranges (and if you do they'll last you about a week before you throw them out the window as the sound will just be so shit)

[rhythmtech]

or m-audio

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=studiomonitors

[Aratron]

@baz

i've seen some at hard to find records but the site is down.

i'll try and put a link later to them let me know what you think.

[Aratron]

http://www.htfr.com/more-info/MR218849


No amplifier required plugs directly from the back of your mixer

any good?

[rhythmtech]

being honest i dont know. but stanton arent a big name in studio monitors and, although they used KRK technology, i'd still be inclined to go with a company that have a track record.

try KRK themselves, m-audio, alesis, yamaha etc

check out the future music monitor showdown.. its on the web somewhere

also while i think of it, check out samson rubicons.. they're meant to be quite good.

[TechMouse]

You can certainly get Active monitors around the £100 mark (each - so £200 for the pair).

Alesis, Yamaha, KRK etc.

They'll certainly be above and beyond most good hi-fi speakers.

But bear in mind that you get what you pay for, and the difference between £200 monitors and £600 monitors is massive.

[rhythmtech]

You can certainly get Active monitors around the £100 mark (each - so £200 for the pair).

.

certainly.. but thats double his original budget!

[Aratron]

You can certainly get Active monitors around the £100 mark (each - so £200 for the pair).

Alesis, Yamaha, KRK etc.

They'll certainly be above and beyond most good hi-fi speakers.

But bear in mind that you get what you pay for, and the difference between £200 monitors and £600 monitors is massive.

dude will any acitve monitor just plug straight into my mixer?
some of the blurb says it can be plugged into a mixer and for other speakers it doeant say that?
can you help me out?

im willing to pay up to 250 maybe. its my wife who will make me pay.

[rhythmtech]

active means that it amplification and so will plug directly in.. it it says active then it will.

[Jay Pace]

Just buy them second hand.

Alesis M1 Actives are big boomy and bassy, quite fun to listen to if a bit frustrating to produce with.

You could pick up a pair 2nd hand pretty easy for around the £100 mark

I wouldn't bother buy anything new for £100

http://search.ebay.co.uk/alesis-m1-active_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQdfspZ2QQfromZR40QQfsooZ2QQ fsopZ32QQlredZalesisQ20m1Q20active

[Aratron]

Just buy them second hand.

Alesis M1 Actives are big boomy and bassy, quite fun to listen to if a bit frustrating to produce with.

You could pick up a pair 2nd hand pretty easy for around the £100 mark

I wouldn't bother buy anything new for £100

http://search.ebay.co.uk/alesis-m1-active_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQdfspZ2QQfromZR40QQfsooZ2QQ fsopZ32QQlredZalesisQ20m1Q20active

i dont want anything to big, i want to put them on the wall.

[BloodStar]

i dont want anything to big, i want to put them on the wall.

putting speakers on the wall is the worst thing you can do, imo. personally, i would put them as far from wall as possible,.

[Jay Pace]

Good advice, putting speakers on walls does funny things to sound but its not always practical to put them anywhere else.


dont want anything to big, i want to put them on the wall.

Alesis M1s are much too big then.

Problem is that active speakers are always going to weigh a fair bit, as the amps are contained in the cabinets. Putting them on a wall might be tricky unless you're handy with a drill and you've got solid walls and have strong secure brackets.

Tapco might be ok... not a bad brand (mackie) and small enough to be practical, but still pokey enough to get a good sound

http://www.turnkey.co.uk/product/tapco-s8-active-studio-monitors/

[TechMouse]

dude will any acitve monitor just plug straight into my mixer?
some of the blurb says it can be plugged into a mixer and for other speakers it doeant say that?
can you help me out?
If they're active then it means they have amplification built in.

So yes, they should do what you want.

[Aratron]

Tapco might be ok... not a bad brand (mackie) and small enough to be practical, but still pokey enough to get a good sound

http://www.turnkey.co.uk/product/tapco-s8-active-studio-monitors/

they look ideal, and they would be okay to plug into my ecler mixer?

[Jay Pace]

They will work with any mixer.

You just plug the outputs of your mixer into the inputs of the speaker and you're away.

You might need to get adapters of special leads depending on what the inputs are on the speakers and what the outputs are on your ecler - nothing too complicated though. Easy enough to get the right leads, or buy adapters for existing leads.

[Aratron]

They will work with any mixer.

You just plug the outputs of your mixer into the inputs of the speaker and you're away.

You might need to get adapters of special leads depending on what the inputs are on the speakers and what the outputs are on your ecler - nothing too complicated though. Easy enough to get the right leads, or buy adapters for existing leads.

thanks a lot for that. i should know these things but i get anxious and procrastinate anyway.

[Aratron]

They will work with any mixer.

You just plug the outputs of your mixer into the inputs of the speaker and you're away.

You might need to get adapters of special leads depending on what the inputs are on the speakers and what the outputs are on your ecler - nothing too complicated though. Easy enough to get the right leads, or buy adapters for existing leads.

another stupid question. it looks like it only has bass and hi output on the speakers will it monitor mid range sounds aswell?

[TechMouse]

another stupid question. it looks like it only has bass and hi output on the speakers will it monitor mid range sounds aswell?
The driver will handle bass and midrange, the tweeter will handle higher frequencies.

[Aratron]

The driver will handle bass and midrange, the tweeter will handle higher frequencies.

cool.

those speakers are designed by Mackie, am i right in thinking they probably represent best quality for that price range?

btw what size bracket would i need to mount them on the wall (well get my wife to put them on the wall to be more precise)

[TechMouse]

those speakers are designed by Mackie, am i right in thinking they probably represent best quality for that price range?
They would probably be OK.

The thing to remember is that monitors in that price range are bound to colour the sound to a greater or lesser degree.

The critical thing will be to get some speakers that work for you.

I'd recommend going to a pro-audio store and comparing some side by side.

Most places (e.g. DV, Millennium) have this sort of thing set up.


btw what size bracket would i need to mount them on the wall (well get my wife to put them on the wall to be more precise)
Totally depends on the size of the speaker.

Though as has been said previously, if you're going to mount them on a wall you may just want to go for some high end hi-fi speakers anyway.

[dan the acid man]

putting speakers on the wall is the worst thing you can do, imo. personally, i would put them as far from wall as possible,.

yep, but if you have to, then go for front ported ones like the alesis or fostex pm's.

if i was going for a budget active monitor for mixing i'd go for fostex pm1's or pm0.5's.

You'd probably have to pick the pm1's up secondhand to reach your budget.

[dan the acid man]

They would probably be OK.



Though as has been said previously, if you're going to mount them on a wall you may just want to go for some high end hi-fi speakers anyway.

high end hi-fi speakers? you're talking well over £1,000 for high end hi-fi speakers:smile: and they'd hate being mounted as much as studio monitors

[Aratron]

high end hi-fi speakers? you're talking well over £1,000 for high end hi-fi speakers:smile: and they'd hate being mounted as much as studio monitors

what do you suggest?

[stjohn]

check these out..£170ish

http://www.thomann.de/gb/esi_near05_experience_aktive_studio_nahfeldmonitor e.htm

i have an ESI soundcard and its a beast for the price i paid. these lads get a nice write up on sound on sound

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/articles/esipronear.htm

theres a even more budget pair for 30 quid less too.
http://www.thomann.de/gb/esi_near05_aktive_nahfeldmonitore.htm

and yes they would connect to ur mixer (with the right cable).

[Aratron]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STANTON-ATM-6-100-WATT-ACTIVE-MONITOR_W0QQitemZ150213294546QQihZ005QQcategoryZ69 967QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

only 50 quid usually 250 quid for the pair.
might be bidding on this. that way i go under budget get a half decent monitor.

thought i could use my existing set-up and link up one monitor at head height on an exisiting bookshelf.

and maybe when i ve got more cash get another active monitor.

[Aratron]

shit i dont know what to do now.

i have this hifi

http://www.gumtree.com/london/28/19098528.html

it has a bult in amp.

i oculd run normal speakers through it?

im confused now.

[Aratron]

yep, but if you have to, then go for front ported ones like the alesis or fostex pm's.

if i was going for a budget active monitor for mixing i'd go for fostex pm1's or pm0.5's.

You'd probably have to pick the pm1's up secondhand to reach your budget.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fostex-PM0-4-Active-Studio-Monitors-Pair_W0QQitemZ300196983207QQihZ020QQcategoryZ23786 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

what about these Fostex 0.4's?

[TechMouse]

high end hi-fi speakers? you're talking well over £1,000 for high end hi-fi speakers:smile: and they'd hate being mounted as much as studio monitors
True enough...

I was thinking more along the lines of hi-fi speakers in the stated budget, which will be pretty good.

[ampassasinbirmingham]

anyone know whether these are any good...

http://www.turnkey.co.uk/product/tannoy-reveal-66d-single?campaign=307&userid=billygriffin99@hotmail.com&c=track

[dan the acid man]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fostex-PM0-4-Active-Studio-Monitors-Pair_W0QQitemZ300196983207QQihZ020QQcategoryZ23786 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

what about these Fostex 0.4's?

they're fine but only go down to 60Hz, i'd personally go for the pm05's instead, or like techmouse said, get some hifi speakers instead, tannoy and wharfedale make some nice budget hifi speakers that will work well, just as long as you can wire them upto your hifi, just needs a + and - connection.


anyone know whether these are any good...

http://www.turnkey.co.uk/product/tannoy-reveal-66d-single?campaign=307&userid=billygriffin99@hotmail.com&c=track

never been a fan of tannoy monitors, they colour the sound too much

[eyeswithoutaface]

i'd personally get some really nice hifi speakers if it's just for djing, some nice bookshelf speakers. I have some wharfedale's just for that, although they are just being used on my hifi seperates system right now, until i get some high end floor standers asap.

[TechMouse]

If it's just for DJing then you want volume and comfort (i.e. not fatiguing your ear after hours on end) so good Hi Fi speakers will be fine.

You only really need monitors if you're producing.

[Aratron]

i'd personally get some really nice hifi speakers if it's just for djing, some nice bookshelf speakers. I have some wharfedale's just for that, although they are just being used on my hifi seperates system right now, until i get some high end floor standers asap.

yes what i want is some small speakers that have good clarity of sound

[Aratron]

True enough...

I was thinking more along the lines of hi-fi speakers in the stated budget, which will be pretty good.

could you show me some examples please?

[Aratron]

If it's just for DJing then you want volume and comfort (i.e. not fatiguing your ear after hours on end) so good Hi Fi speakers will be fine.

You only really need monitors if you're producing.

http://www.richersounds.co.uk/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=JBL-CONTROL1-SIL?

[stjohn]

yes what i want is some small speakers that have good clarity of sound


check these out..£170ish

http://www.thomann.de/gb/esi_near05_experience_aktive_studio_nahfeldmonitor e.htm

i have an ESI soundcard and its a beast for the price i paid. these lads get a nice write up on sound on sound

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/articles/esipronear.htm

theres a even more budget pair for 30 quid less too.
http://www.thomann.de/gb/esi_near05_aktive_nahfeldmonitore.htm

and yes they would connect to ur mixer (with the right cable).
!!

[Aratron]

stil procrastinating
however my birthdya is coming up and i only need one active monitor really.

im thinking of getting this.

http://www.dv247.com/invt/27353/

your thoughts?

or this

http://www.dv247.com/invt/30743/

[Barely Human]

I love the write up for that yamaha -

The Yamaha HS50M monitor delivers performance you can bet your career on.

Lmao.

Anyway, i wouldnt go for the roland at all. The yamaha would be a better bet, but for your purposes i would check out Fostex or KRK. It would be wise stretching your budget a little to get the best you really can afford.

[RDR]

I love the write up for that yamaha -

The Yamaha HS50M monitor delivers performance you can bet your career on.

Lmao.

Anyway, i wouldnt go for the roland at all. The yamaha would be a better bet, but for your purposes i would check out Fostex or KRK. It would be wise stretching your budget a little to get the best you really can afford.

+1 dont go near roland with a shity stick.

for DJing dont use studio monitors. Get some small hi fi speakers with a high RMS figure.

[Aratron]

+1 dont go near roland with a shity stick.

for DJing dont use studio monitors. Get some small hi fi speakers with a high RMS figure.

i need one small monitor, for some djing im doing in a local pub, plus it will double as a small speaker for my home recordings. whats wrong with rowland?

[Aratron]

is htere not one person on boa who has an active monitor they do not need and want to sell it? ffs

[p_brane]

check with IQ, he has a post on here selling some adam a7's

[eyeswithoutaface]

if you bought his Adam's, it would be a sin to merely use them a few times a week to just DJ on

you will physically hear them crying all day and night long

if its solely for djing, get yourself some nice hifi speakers and amp

sorted

[Aratron]

if you bought his Adam's, it would be a sin to merely use them a few times a week to just DJ on

you will physically hear them crying all day and night long

if its solely for djing, get yourself some nice hifi speakers and amp

sorted

no dude.

i need one smallish active monitor for home use and to take with me to a dj gig.

i don't need a pair. just waiting for the right offer on ebay to come along.

[dirty_bass]

You want some pa monitors

Cheap, reasonable sound with punch and bass
and that don`t mind being carted around

http://www.studiospares.com/pd_276230_NUMARK%20M80%20DJ%20MONITORS%20PAIR.htm#

http://www.dv247.com/invt/25888/

http://www.millennium-music.co.uk/home/products.pl?ProductCode=BEHB212&mode=detail&subcategory_id=PA+SPEAKERS

you`ll find loads here

http://www.millennium-music.co.uk/home/products.pl?keys=!key!&subcategory_id=PA%20POWERED%20SPEAKERS&category_id=24&mode=list&Brand=&page=1&ppp=20

[Aratron]

You want some pa monitors

Cheap, reasonable sound with punch and bass
and that don`t mind being carted around

http://www.studiospares.com/pd_276230_NUMARK%20M80%20DJ%20MONITORS%20PAIR.htm#

http://www.dv247.com/invt/25888/

http://www.millennium-music.co.uk/home/products.pl?ProductCode=BEHB212&mode=detail&subcategory_id=PA+SPEAKERS

you`ll find loads here

http://www.millennium-music.co.uk/home/products.pl?keys=!key!&subcategory_id=PA%20POWERED%20SPEAKERS&category_id=24&mode=list&Brand=&page=1&ppp=20

thanks a lot there. Thankyou for stopping and acutally reading what i was saying.

so i need a pa, not really an active monitor.

[Aratron]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ACTIVE-10-150-watt-RMS-Loudspeaker-Monitor-or-PA_W0QQitemZ160210630621QQihZ006QQcategoryZ23786QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

this looks like what i need really.

just scared of buying it now. represents a lot of money for something potentially i might have little use for.
at the moment i just need it for a night, in which i am djing for free.
hardly a return on my investment.

[Aratron]

imy mate NRG Phil is lending me his Limited Edition KRK8S in yellow.

How cool is that?

[dirty_bass]

No, why not hire a couple of DJ monitors for the night from a local sound company
shouldn`t set you back more than 40 smacker

[Aratron]

No, why not hire a couple of DJ monitors for the night from a local sound company
shouldn`t set you back more than 40 smacker

yes i think i might do that in the future.
this gig is something i should be getting paid for, im doing it for nowt at present.

so no way im buying owt or renting owt yet. not unless my talent gets discovered and i get sponsered by some speaker company. which is not gonna ****ing happen is it.

[dan the acid man]

thanks a lot there. Thankyou for stopping and acutally reading what i was saying.

so i need a pa, not really an active monitor.

well you've only just stated you're going to be using them live, if you'd said that from the start we'd have all suggested a pair of pa monitors

[dirty_bass]

check with local sound hire, I`ll bet you can get a little 500W or less set up for about 34 quid or something.
Or just get the dweebs running the gig to sort it for you.

[Aratron]

well you've only just stated you're going to be using them live, if you'd said that from the start we'd have all suggested a pair of pa monitors

yes i only realised i needed one for that use until a week ago.

i did assume that the active monitors would double as a pa.

infact i am using a KRK8 as a PA on saturday.

[dirty_bass]

Nearfield monitors such as KRK8 are not only the wrong type of speaker for a pa in terms of the type of sound they produce, but you will also probably shred the **** out of them using them for this purpose.

Generally, PA speakers are what you need, when you want a PA.
They are hard wearing, more full range in sound, and can handle being lifted about.

[TechMouse]

my mate NRG Phil
Is that what Techno Phil is calling himself now?

What the hell happened?

[Aratron]

Is that what Techno Phil is calling himself now?

What the hell happened?

NRG Phil is a seperate entity.

NRG Phil met you at some after party at Robins, post-Filth. You were there with your partner, techno Phil made a fool of himself by exposing himself.
NRG Phil is tall and dark. He remembers you.

[Aratron]

Nearfield monitors such as KRK8 are not only the wrong type of speaker for a pa in terms of the type of sound they produce, but you will also probably shred the **** out of them using them for this purpose.

Generally, PA speakers are what you need, when you want a PA.
They are hard wearing, more full range in sound, and can handle being lifted about.

well they arent my speakers , so i will use the KRKs anyway, beta than nowt.

[rhythmtech]

well they arent my speakers , so i will use the KRKs anyway, beta than nowt.


not much better than owt when your m8 slaps you with a bill for a new set of krk's after they been destroyed at a party.

listen to DB'S advice.. there are reasons to his madness!!!

[TechMouse]

techno Phil made a fool of himself by exposing himself.
:lol: Kay was not at all impressed.


NRG Phil is tall and dark. He remembers you.
Does ring a bell now I think about it.

[Aratron]

:lol: Kay was not at all impressed.


Does ring a bell now I think about it.

That is the least of what that pervert has done, he has a poor rep, throughout the North Trent region for fondling and exposing himself.

NRG Phil is pretty cool. He told me you were making fun out of Techno phil that you called him Techno Filler. He He , nice one.

[Aratron]

not much better than owt when your m8 slaps you with a bill for a new set of krk's after they been destroyed at a party.

listen to DB'S advice.. there are reasons to his madness!!!

nah they will be taken care of, i'm not going to destroy them, if i can't use them safely, i wont use them at all.

[TechMouse]

NRG Phil is pretty cool. He told me you were making fun out of Techno phil that you called him Techno Filler. He He , nice one.
:lol:

I don't remember that bit.

Messy night.