Argh, I hate trying to decide on monitors. Since emigrating and leaving my old Absolute 2's behind, I have had a my ATH050 and some Vietnamese 6" powered monitors to use. The cone went on one, luckily the one that doesn't hold the internal amp, and the amp has 2 inputs for both channels so was easy to set up as a a mono speaker.
 
I'm kind of unemployed at the moment and I have some savings, but I can't really blow it, being 10,000 Km from my Native home. But I also now have time on my hands, something I've not felt for the past year or so. Like many I listen to a wide range of music, Jazz, acoustic folk, through to Hip Hop and Drum and Bass. I'm not even sure where I am headed myself musically nowadays. So I'm looking for a new speaker, and putting my thoughts out there, in the hope it helps clear things a liittle, but I'm also stubborn and terrible at taking advice.
 
Why Thomann, because in Vietnam, there is no choice, and what there is is out dated and still at the retail price of that time. It's cheaper to import, and Thomann were happy to do so with my bass last year, so they have my confidence.
 
What am I looking for from a studio speaker:
Clear enough to mix on.
lively enough to inspire writing on.
Enjoyable enough to listen to general music on.
Deep enough to play bass on (Via Overlouds Mark Bass) so really at least 6"cones.
Nice enough to look at (This is shear Vanity, but when stuff is in my studio (as in bed is in the living room, not room full on music gear, though it is) room, I want to like it.
 
I was thinking, just go with the KRK Rokit6 G3's, I know I loose some clarity, but I'd enjoy general listening, probaly playing bass, may help inspire when writtng and I think they look cool. But before pressed submit on the order, the breaks went on. 
 
I'm not keen on the white cone of the Yamahas, and the look as bland as they are meant to sound. Seems they only really tick one box for me, that's clarity.
 
I noticed that the JBL LSR308 were a little more. I'm kind of not happy about getting cabinet that looks as big as my old Absolute 2's, but the 8" cone should help with playing the bass, and enjoying general listening, and they appear to be considered clear. Confused by these 2 reviews (The first being interesting as he DIY hacks it in the same way that I'd probably think off, but not to much success):
This seems to say (if I'm reading correctly) the sweet spot is really narrow http://noaudiophile.com/JBL_LSR308/
Where as this seems to say it's wide http://www.emusician.com/gear/1332/review-jbl-lsr308-active-monitors/46579
 
Jeff seems keen on the Yamaha's http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3057773
 
The Thomann page of choices
http://www.thomann.de/int...s.html?pg=4&oa=pra
 
 
 EDIT: Thread title changed
 

Found the JBL dealer in Vietnam, they told me they don't have the LSR 308's, but showed me a different speaker entirely and tried to convince me they are just the same.
 
Also found the Yamaha dealer, and that the HS7 was a little cheaper, then realised that was for one, ansd they were almost twice the cost of importing.
 
When I was in HCMC last autumn, they had ROkits, but G2, and still more than new G3 by a long way.
 
I guess I want a combination of all three in one really.
 

Any experiences anyone, links to anything that can help me decide. I even started looking at HS8 but at 334 mm deep, I think it's just a bit big, and being rear ported would end up really close to the wall.

No experience with either, but have seen them commented on here. You might want to consider changing the thread title to reflect your contenders so folks can easily see you want a comparison of X vs. Y.

Just realised that the HS8 are really close to both my HiFi speakers stacked together when placed on their side, with the tops facing me. Ives me an idea of the size, Petty big, but I seem to be talking myself into it.
Being I'm also looking to get stands with them and the stands are part of an offer for the HS8s, this is how they compare.
 
Yamaha HS8  - 495 Euros (250 x 390 x 334 mm)

JBL LSR8 - 407 Euros (254 x 419 x 308 mm)
 
So 92 euros more for the HS8s. I wish I hadn't read that article showing how poorly built the LSR8s are.
 

mettelus
No experience with either, but have seen them commented on here. You might want to consider changing the thread title to reflect your contenders so folks can easily see you want a comparison of X vs. Y.

Part of my Dilema is that when I started the thread, I didn't want to go as big as the speakers I'm now looking at, maybe If I just use the manufactures

LOL... You might want to revamp the title Scott, that last part made me burst out laughing to what you changed it to... maybe "do I really need 8" cones?" and leave it at that.

I don't normally endorse this acronym, but LMAO. That was unintentional, in fact I originally wrote as you suggested, but changed before committing the Edit. I may leave it a bit and see if it helps draw some attention.
 

I have a feeling it will, but is all good. I did alter the title in my reply above so it shows up in the "recent posts" portion.

Ah, nearly missed these. Being I search thomann in price order and the others are sold as singles and the ERIS 8 as pairs, I never got to these before.
 
So are the Eris 8s the balance of all the choices I'm looking for
With stands
 
Presonus Eris E8 - 459 Euros (250 x 384 x 299)
Yamaha HS8  - 495 Euros (250 x 390 x 334 mm)
JBL LSR8 - 407 Euros (254 x 419 x 308 mm)
 
The most compact of the 3, priced in the middle, the most compact, clear (Unlike the KRKs), nice for listening (Unlike the Yamahas), Good build (unlike the JBLs) 8" (Like the rest) so good for my bass playing. The fact they are the most compact appeals to me, and the look ok, I probably wouldn't question it with different colored cones. SOS review looks positive. I kind of don't have much weight with SOS reveiws (I subscribed for about 3 years in the 90's), but of all the review Paul White did on the speakers I've mentioned, this one seemed more positive by far
www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct13/articles/presonus-eris.htm
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Yamaha HS8  - 495 Euros (250 x 390 x 334 mm)

JBL LSR8 - 407 Euros (254 x 419 x 308 mm)