I have the Alesis M1 active monitors which I've always been pretty happy with, but having comparatively little experience of such things and nothing else to compare them with it's hard to say if they're better than this or that make. I did a fair bit of research of what was within my budget when I bought them and the guy at my local store was happy for me to buy them....I know that sounds a bit silly, but they supply all makes and he would have told me if he thought I should have been buying something else. They were on backorder from the factory at the time and he couldn't get them, so I ended up buying them elsewhere. He could have easily talked me into another brand, as he is a good guy whose advice I have learned to trust, but what he in fact did was tell me of a rival store who he knew had some in stock. It was that more than anything that made me decide that they really were the ones I should be getting and he even gave me a lower price quote that I could take to them as they had a price matching policy, so I got them cheaper than I would have if I had been able to buy them from him. So, I guess although he was losing a potential sale, he managed to screw them a bit too. ;)
 
 

Looking into these other brands/models mentioned in thread too...  The research is fun!  :)   Thanks everyone for great advise.  Fun to bounce (no pun) ideas off you, particularly for mixing with Sonar X2 in a very confined space!

<old fart mode>

In the old days decisions like this were somewhat easier because you could visit other studios, and you could even borrow monitors from the local music store and audition them in your studio - by far and away the best test.

So you can't do that anymore, or rather it is a lot more difficult anyway.

I think the best bet these days is to listen to demos and find people who produce music that is similar to what you want to produce. Then ask them what they use. It'll give you a starting point.

</old fart mode>

There are probably some choices that are categorically bad, but it has been my experience that it is far more important that you learn what your monitors do, and learn to work with them.

There are also, most likely, some choices that are better. But the only way to figure this out is to audition different monitors in your space. And the old fart above explained why that has become more difficult<G>. The final choice is dependent on your room and the music you produce... it's just a big fat messy questions<G>!

Some random thoughts...

I would not choose anything with a driver smaller than 6.5 inches, and probably 8 inches. You can get low end from the smaller drivers, but it requires some voodoo, and frankly, no one does that stuff really well yet, you will hear artifacts.

Stay away from anything that claims to magically correct for room problems. Basic physics rules are pretty strict, and you can not solve time domain problems in the frequency domain. Put another way, you can't equalize reflections!

Powered monitors offer a LOT of advantages - the amplifier and driver are well matched, the connection between the amplifier and driver is as short as possible, and you don't need an external amplifier. But there are a couple of disadvantages - if you lose an amplifier channel you lose a monitor. If a more suitable amplifier appears on the market you can't just swap them out.

FWIW, and that's almost nothing, I use a pair of Yorkville YSMs driven by a Crown PS-400 as my near field monitors, and a pair of UREI 809s, driven by a variety of amplifiers, including an old Heathkit stereo tube amp, as mid-field monitors. When the new control room is built these will be built into the walls, and act as mains. As of yet I have not found a sub-woofer that I like.


Believe it or not, these two very different loudspeakers are similar enough, and different enough, to be very helpful. 


I also have a pair of Polk Model 5s, and Toa cubes (similar to the old Auratones) that I'll plug in from time to time.

If I didn't have other priorities I'd add a pair of Haffler TRM-8s to the collection, but for now I'm pretty happy with what I have.

The music I record ranges from simple solo guitar to singer/songwriter to horn based pop to orchestral.

Buying monitors is one of the most difficult tasks when building a studio... good luck, and sorry I didn't have a pat answer!

Given your very tight quarters, the only thing you could attain acoustic treatment wise is damping of fairly high frequencies.

Might help clarity but your frequency response is going to be all over the place no matter what you do.

Is this literally a closet or just an area of a more open space ?

You should try and face one narrow end, then put as much absorption as you can on either side at the "first reflection points" on the walls and, if possible, hanging from the ceiling. Search for "bass traps" which, when just a panel on a wall, is more for mid to highs than bass.

You'll have problems with bass and there's nothing you can do about it.

Paul, 5x9 foot space, with 4 ft of this length (opposite of built-in desk) in open area leading to entry way/door to outside.  So, when I open my front door, I am literally in my small office space which is now my "mini-studio". ceilings 10 ft high.   

Focal has a pretty good rep and the size seems appropriate for your room.
If you are putting them into a bookshelf it may help to apply sound dampening on all 5 sides of the shelf.
Just to cut down on the shelf from adding any weird anomalies that playing them in a 'box' may cause.

I had the Alesis M1 Active's, one of them started to randomly stop working.
It was a common problem according to the internet searches for the fix. 
I sold them and bought The Yamaha HS80M's.
Love them. Big improvement over the M1 Active's to my ears.

I've also added ARC and that helped in tightening up the bottom end 

Mike

Thats GREAT, you have the right outlook on it.  It is what it is and work with it.

I know we can waste a lot of money playing trying to find what works and thats why I brought up the room and area thing.

I think you will find a much better response from the pros in here as to your particular needs.

Wish you the best in getting it set up.  Im slowly getting my head around all the room stuff myself. You can get the greatest equipment but if the room isnt right it doesnt do any good.  Your on the right track now  

DPTrainor


Yes, I am in a "closet" so to speak.  It is what it is.  But, it has a nice built-in desk space where I have two LCD displays.  And built-in shelves above to place studio monitors.  Yes, I can add sound damping material on walls as needed.  This is the situation / compromise that I have to deal with.   I have been searching web and found this one possible choice:  Focal CMS40 small near-field monitor, that seems to have got plenty of good reviews on Web. Given tight space, this may be one good choice?  Little bit more than what I wanted to spend, but, given small space, may be appropriate?

 http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CMS40/

And also use headphones as well when mixing down to evaluate low end frequencies?

Yes, the focals do look like a good bet for the space you have got, and you could always add a sub later if required.  It is shame you can't audition some monitors, it is quite an eye (or maybe ear) opener comparing all these supposedly flat frequency response speakers and hearing how different they all sound!

A milion ideas out there, but I have been very happy with KRK Rokit 6s.  About $200 each ($400/pair) at Sweetwater and other places.  I think I bought mine at Guitar Center.  This would be right in your price range and are plenty loud enough for nearfields. 

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Rokit6G2

HS80M