CJaysMusic


I swear by JBL's. There great fro recording and mixing. I use the LSR 4326's with a sub for mixing and i wouldn't change it for anything.

CJ

even if i send you  pair of Sm9 or s3xh or atc 25 ?

to the op : wait , by yourself a beyerdynalics dt 990 pro until you have money for : Good monitors and room treatment ...

the best bang for the buck are the event 20/30 actually

Kev999

DPTrainor

I imagine this is subjective...

You need to spend as much time as possible listening before buying and eventually choose something that you believe you can live with.  Sometimes a particular speaker (Tannoy) sounds impressive initially but becomes tiresome after a while.  Sometimes you check out a particular model that lots of people have recommended (Yamaha) and find that it sounds awful to you, even with some of your favourite music playing through it.  Personal preference plays a large part.

Best advice ever.

Speakers have to be listened too before one can decide. Its best to bring your own music to audition with. Listen to as many speakers as you can. If you find a set you like see if you can take them home and listen to them in the room you will be using. 


The reason there so many brands and types is they all sound different even with similar specs.  

I have decided to work on the room first. Acoustic treatment.  Try to reduce any problems with room.  Then select top 3 choices of small 4/5" studio monitors in my price range.  Bring them into this room.  Evaluate them for a good long time and (somehow) return the other 2.  I think it would be the best/most accurate way.  Or alternatively, just pick 1 and screw it - then accept using ears for compensation and accept longer mixing hours. Either way, not ideal.  But, what is and  maybe I will be lucky! :)

Thanks everyone for guidance and advise.  Each suggestion had value to me.

Peace Out.

Hang around this acoustics forum a bit and you'll learn a lot about how to set up you 'room'.

And I know that Sweetwater has a very good return policy.
Not sure if the other stores match it but SW gives you 30 days hassle free and even pays shipping.

Mike

Don't leave out headphones. You might find you're better off with a great pair of cans in a smaller space. I love my Mackie HR824 originals a LOT, but a pair of AT-M40 headphones work better for me unless I'm demo-ing a mix to a client. 

Lots of good info here. The only thing I would add is monitor placement after you treat your room. I wouldn't place them on a book shelf. Away from the wall and on a stands, even concrete blocks on the cheap, will yield better results. IK Multimedia ARC room correction is also very helpful even in a treated room. I love my Dynaudio BM5A's on concrete blocks, 3 feet off the back wall, towed in about 30 degrees towards the sweet spot in my somewhat treated room with ARC running on the mix buss. That and a pair of Beyerdynamic DT770 pro's through a Focusrite VRM box keep me honest.

Rocky

After a couple years, still happy with my KRK VXT4's.  Small but amaizing.  Should come in right at $500.

DP Trainor,

I upgraded to Focal CMS 65 several months ago. I haven't heard the CMS 40's, but, the build quality of the Focals is top-notch. My CMS 65's sound amazingly detailed, with decent low-end.

I have several pairs of old monitors, including a pair of pristine M- Audio Bx5a's. They were included with a bulk purchase I made a few years ago. They are inexpensive monitors, but sound OK. They are cosmetically perfect, and work perfectly. They are packed away in their original carton with manual and power cords. If you want them, they are yours. Just pay the shipping. PM me if interested.

One more vote for the Equator D5's here, a lot of detail. Need's a bit a sub, if you want.

Amazing things for what they cost.