I just spent a quite a bit of time and effort in researching active monitors for a recent purchase. I guess I fell for the "buy the best you can afford reasoning." How was I supposed to know that cheaper speakers were better?

Anyway, my budget was $2k, and I was replacing Event TR8s. At the time I thought they were decent speakers, and good in their price range, but I had heard more expensive speakers that I knew were better, and couldn't justify the expense at the time.

I ended up buying Focal CMS 50s. They are nearfields, and work nicely in my smallish room. Lots of clarity and transparency, with a decent low end and crisp highs. I actually think a subwoofer might help with the lows, but I know it won't fix the low end. All a subwoofer can do is make the low end, and any problems it might contain, more audible.

For anyone considering a subwoofer to complement their studio monitors, keep in mind that acoustic treatment will do more for your ability to properly mix the low end than a subwoofer. Spend the money on bass traps, absorption, and diffusion (as required) before doling out for a subwoofer. Also, remember that subwoofers are nondirectional, and that placement is not as much of a factor as it is with directional speakers.

I did comparisons with JBL LSR4328, Genelec 8030A, Dynaudio BM6A mkII, Adam A7X, and Mackie HR824 mkII. The funny thing is that they were all good speakers, different in character, but I could see myself mixing on any one of these sets of speakers. It was almost as though I couldn't go wrong in this price range.

The Focal speakers did stand out in terms of clarity and transparency with my demo CD. I always use Donald Fagen's The Nightfly for these kinds of tests. I know it very well, and believe it to be one of the best mixed and mastered CDs of all time. I could really hear the elements of the mix, the stereo field, and the nuances of the sonics through these speakers. The best part was that they ended up being the least expensive of the group. A very good value in my estimation, FWIW.

Paul

I ended up buying Focal CMS 50s.

Yes. We have a winner. This person understands speakers.

People who KNOW about speakers will know that 'paper' cones are the best. 5" is extremely accurate. And they will know the name 'Focal' (as I do).

I disagree with the sub and agree. I use my sub to reveal problems, not because 'i like the sound of it'. I put it near my feet. It creates a blanket bass range underneath my highs.

The bass from the 5" driver is like a magnet and will pull the bass up to it's level and create perfection. Especially if his room is treated. He only needs the sub to be on low volume and there will be a huge difference. Also he can hear the lows of the kick drum. Often I will turn up the sub when working with the kick drum so I can see how far the bass 'trails off'. Often I need to shorten my kick drums because bass trails off extra long in club environments if it's too deep. The sub will tell you the story.

Just spend $99 and get the Sony sub at Best buy IMO.

This guy obviously knows his stuff if he go the Focals at 5" which is the right thing to do as my video points out.

Crush

When I think the mix is right then I use the JBLs to "master" the mix.

Bad Idea.

You should use the car, as well as some bookshelf speakers or home theater setup. Whatever you can get. That should be your final mix (in my opinion of course).

Like I went to your soundclick and listened to "Mixed Up Me". That doesn't sound mastered optimally. Anyone care to chime in?

I consider mastering to basically consist of bass, mud, scratch, and highs. Cheap speakers will blow up mud and scratch (with lots of exceptions of course.. I'm just being general). You have a bit too much 'scratch' in that mix it sounds like. Likely it's because of your MONITORS and mixing practices of only checking on the JBL's.

 
LOL, thanks for the listen and the "advice", but WTF is "scratch"?
 
Is that a technical term?

rscain

 

 
LOL, thanks for the listen and the "advice", but WTF is "scratch"?
 
Is that a technical term?

Moolah, Geetus, Pocket Change, Semolians, Cheddar, Dough, Roll, Benjamins...and, no, I am not "The Saver".

@ Yoropal   rofl

I Just noticed you said you have the KRK Rokit 5s I tryed them and the 6s I didnt like the 6s they were a bit boxy much like the 5s in my opinion

Try the 8s they blow the 5s away

I just thought by myself: why advise and argue at all?

The best punishment someone can get from following Crash, is to go and get one pair of all those monitors which are guaranteed not to do a proper nearfield job, mix all that nice sparkle, do some ear-scratching mastering (not to miss the scratch), and then be forced to listen to the result on a big set of disco speakers at 120db (we don't want to kill the poor guy or girl).

That's probably better than telling someone not to confuse others with loads of nonsense from a high IQ, errh EQ tweeter.

jimknopf


I just thought by myself: why advise and argue at all?

The best punishment someone can get from following Crash, is to go and get one pair of all those monitors which are guaranteed not to do a proper nearfield job, mix all that nice sparkle, do some ear-scratching mastering (not to miss the scratch), and then be forced to listen to the result on a big set of disco speakers at 120db (we don't want to kill the poor guy or girl).

That's probably better than telling someone not to confuse others with loads of nonsense from a high IQ, errh EQ tweeter.

So everyone just produces compressed stuff?


No one wants Dynamics anymore?


I do not produce my music just for the dance floor...and those huge disco speakers...can we haz some dynamix here?      

"So everyone just produces compressed stuff?
No one wants Dynamics anymore? "
 
Dynamics went out the door with Fidelity.   Get with it man.
 
Do what I do.
1. Normalize every track
2. Set all tracks to 0db
3. Compress with high gain and a hard knee or limit if you want.
4. Create mp3s at 96 bit rate.
5. Run the mp3 through some underpowered Peavey amps into some Peavey speakers. 
6. Pour a glass of cheap Merlot
7. Sit back and enjoy your aural masterpiece (while wearing ear protection)
8. Now you "haz some dynamix "
 
 

 
 
Works every time.  I personally will not listen to it, but it works.

That's a good point Jim.

For example; I can't tell what's going on here:



Is that a fake embossed fiber weave genuine paper cone?

jimknopf


@trimph1: you completely missed my point, but don't mind...

@mike
should we perhaps have our IQs measured as well, just to be sure we still get what's going on here? 

I know..I'm just joking here...


@mike...polycarbonate? Or was it Nylon?   

man my Post got hijacked like there is no tomorrow LOL

gt2004


man my Post got hijacked like there is no tomorrow LOL

hopefully it helped.. in some part...

e.g. don't buy an expensive set of monitors and use em for gaming being 1..

although I'm sure that plenty who do the same

Cultural bias.  The great unwashed masses, as it were, have grown accustomed to hearing those differing genres utilizing different eq curves and differing amounts of compression.  Really, it's our (those in the professional audio community) own fault for fostering these parochial anomalies for lo these many years.  It's akin...but not the same...as the "loudness wars".  I could go into more detail if I wasn't so tired...and blase'.

That, in essence, is the "loudness wars" to which I was refering.