Hi all.  Tax return season is upon us, and I think it's time for me to upgrade my studio monitors.  I'm currently using Alesis M1 Active MKII monitors, and while they're nice as a "starter" pair of monitors, I do find myself fighting with them a bit.  I have the ARC 2 system to compensate for the cheap monitors and a poor room, but that can only take me so far and I think upgrading my nearfield monitors should be my next step.
 
The room itself is less-than-ideal...pretty much the worst environment possible: a small, 10x10 bedroom with 8 foot ceilings.  I do have two GIK Acoustic bass traps in the front corners, and homemade acoustic panels on the side reflection points, as well as a cloud above my mixing position, so I've done what I can to treat the room.  I also have a pair of the Primacoustic isolation pads, which are sadly sitting on my desk because I don't have room for stands. :(
 
Given the limitations of my room, I don't think it makes a lot of sense to drop a few thousand bucks on a new pair of monitors, but I gotta think I can do better than what I've already got.
 
I'm intrigued by the Focal Alpha 50 monitors.  There aren't a ton of official reviews out there, but user reviews from Sweetwater, etc. have generally given high praise and the consensus seems to be that nothing else compares to these monitors in the $600/pair price range. 
 
I know Focal is a well-respected and popular manufacturer, so although the Alpha series is fairly new, I'm still a bit surprised that there doesn't seem to be an awful lot of info out there about them.
 
Any chance anyone here has the Alpha 50s and can offer their two cents?

at the $600 for a pair price point I'm not sure, but I would suggest taking a listen to the JBL LSR305 if you can. I have them sitting next to a pair of Presonus Sceptre S6's, and frankly they do a better job than the price point would suggest (the Sceptre S6 run around $600 each last I looked).

For reference - I was using Yorkville YSM-something or other, a passive 2-way I've used for eons, and Urei 809s, a coaxial design that's even older<G>! It was time for an upgrade!

I like coaxial loudspeakers in smaller spaces, I think they behave better, a gross generalization that I am sure others will contest. But given that I tried the S6s first. It took me a couple of weeks to figure out what they were telling me, and the low end is not quite what I would like, but it is impressive for a 6" driver. I may yet try the S8s, but frankly they are a bit too large for my current set up, so I might look at a subwoofer when the time comes.

So after about a month living with the S6s I was pretty darned happy. Then a friend loaned me a pair of the LSR305s. I was instantly comfortable with them - and I don't think that has ever happened before. But, after a week or so I'm discovering that they are not quite as honest as the Sceptres. I can't really put my finger on it, but I am hearing details with the Sceptres that I don't hear with the JBLs.

The difference is not huge.

Now I've used a number of different Focal monitors in other studios. I've always been struck by the detail, and for the most part I've been able to adapt to them quite quickly. Not instantly, but not days if that makes sense. The ones I remember by name were CMS, with a 6 inch driver, a quick search suggests that they are about double your budget. But they are good monitors!

About the only 'advice' I'd offer is to maybe bump up to the 6" model if you can, it's a little more money, but I'd expect the lower couple octaves to behave better.

Again just as a point of reference, another favorite of mine is the Adam (and Eve) ribbon based monitors, but they are out of my price range, so I'll just mention them<G>!

Lots of opinions on monitors of course, and I have no opinion on that particular new model.

I want to suggest one thing that has been very satisfactory for me in my choice of monitors and headphones. If you select one that is really established and well -regarded you will find that set of monitors showing up as presets in other products which is really convenient.

So first, if it is a well regarded product the monitors probably sound absolutely great.

Second, products like Arc or Sonarworks Reference 3 (for headphones or monitors) will have them as a preset.

Third, products like Focusrite VRM Box will have them as an available selection

Combined, this allows you and your ear to reference and compare in many satisfactory ways - even if you're in a 10 x 10 room.

I have had the Focal CMS65's for three years, and I can tell you that they're awesome in quality and sound. I would think that the Alpha's would be quality units.

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback.
 
I know asking about recommended studio monitors is a lot like asking which guitar to buy.  You'll hear "Strat for sure!" and "Nothing but a Les Paul will do!" followed by "PRS all the way!" so I do understand that in some ways you can't go wrong and it's all a matter of preference.  What's tricky in my situation is that I'm stuck with a bad room, and even if I could afford a pair of high end monitors, I really don't think they'd do much good in this environment.  From what I've read, it seems that monitors with larger drivers/more bass output will actually create more problems in a small room than going with smaller nearfields.
 
I guess the problem with the Alphas is that they haven't been out long enough.  (ARC 2 came out before these monitors did, so that and other room correction utilities probably won't have them listed as options.)  I mean, I believe it's been over a year, but for whatever reason they just aren't getting a ton of press.  There again, all news I have found has been good news, so I suppose that's worth something.
 
I would definitely go with the CMS (or better yet the Solo6!) line if I had the cash and the space for it, but I won't be moving to another home anytime soon so I guess right now I'm okay with setting my sights a little lower.  Not that my current monitors are absolute crap, but I think it's safe to say than any of the monitors already mentioned would be a big step up.
 
When I was talking to GIK Acoustic about treating my room they recommended the KRK VXT6 monitors, but again, that was before the Alphas came out.  And they're $900 for the pair, in which case I might as well be considering the Alpha 65s then.  All of which might be too much oomph for my small room. :)  Arrggg!
 
I dunno.  I suppose I'll end up getting the Alpha 50s since I'm a cheapskate then end up getting a "real" set of monitors once I have a new house/better room.  I was just hoping someone had experience with them in a similar setup.
 
I tried uploading a picture of my room to give an idea of what I have to work with, but it asks me for a URL and I apparently can't upload a pic?
 
 

I very much doubt the alpha 65's would have too much oomph for your room, but it's your money.

Yeah, maybe not.  I'm not concerned about volume, and obviously better/tighter bass response is desirable, which is what the larger driver would offer.  I just know that really small rooms are going to have a lot of bass issues, even with treatment and trapping, and that kicking out more 300Hz-and-below frequencies will only add to the problem.  
 
Then again, my Alesis monitors have 6.5" woofers too, so at the very least I'd have the same problems I do now, but with improved tightness and clarity across the entire spectrum.
 
I'm looking into Alpha 65 reviews now...there seem to be more of them out there.

  Last year or so I purchased the Focal Alpha 80's to replace my old JBL Control 5 monitors.  I was seeking a clearer bottom end for my studio plus having powered speakers.  I like them a great deal.  I got them from Sweetwater and yes, they were at the edge of my budget.  They have one feature that may please or annoy you- they will go into power save mode ( 1 watt each) if not being used for 15-20 minutes.  They will quickly come back on duty with the reception of a signal.  I am very absent minded these days, so for me this is a good thing.  To come back to the point, I am a fan of the brand now.  I also work in a smallish, odd shaped room and have found that ARC2 helps me too.

I upgraded from Samson Resolv 6.5a speakers to JBL LSR308's a year ago.  I always had problems with the bass mix and the reason I selected the 8" over 5" speaker model.  Since getting the LSR308's I haven't had one issue with the bass mix. 

I recently bought a pair of LSR308's as well, and have a pair of Tannoy reveal 8D and m-audio bx-5's  . The 308's are very good bang for the buck. Their quality of cabinet materials aren't the highest order, but they're  nicely engineered, in my opinion. They sound very good.