Monitors for $600 or under [Archive]

kasper_flip

19-Jul-09, 07:05pm

So with my tax return i've decided to finally finish off my setup with some monitors for mixing and future production work. I wish to spend 600 or under, and would like some advice/feedback on these various ones that ive looked at based on price. I do plan to visit a few stores to listen to them but if i can kinda trim down the list as much as possible it would be great.

Behringer Truth B3030A $520
http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/cat/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=22640&product_id=1222272

Behringer Truth B3031A $585
http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/cat/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=22640&product_id=1222273

Behringer Truth B2030A $440
http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/cat/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=22640&product_id=206919

Behringer Truth B2031A $490
http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/cat/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=22640&product_id=206918

M-Audio BX5a $459
http://www.storedj.com.au/products/product.php?id=2382

KRK Rokit RP5 $579
http://www.storedj.com.au/products/product.php?id=671

KRK Rokit RP5 G2 $ 590.00
http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/cat/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=15670&product_id=1124575

Samson ResolvA5 $479
http://www.storedj.com.au/products/product.php?id=1930

ESI nEar05 eXperience $500.00
http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/cat/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=15670&product_id=684248

So basically I want some advice based on people's experiences with these monitors and what they think will be the best value.

gee-renk

19-Jul-09, 07:41pm

i managed to pick a pair of krk 5" rokits from the storedj opening sale.
im very impressed. especially considerin i picked em up for $400.

mcdoofus

19-Jul-09, 07:43pm

Behringer Truth B2031A $490
http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/cat/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=22640&product_id=206918

KRK Rokit RP5 $579
http://www.storedj.com.au/products/product.php?id=671

Samson ResolvA5 $479
http://www.storedj.com.au/products/product.php?id=1930

That's how I would trim it - the rest comes down to personal preference. Head into a store that stocks the speakers and take in a CD with tracks you know super-well to help you decide. Try them out at different volumes, you're not always going to want to crank them.

macc4

19-Jul-09, 07:47pm

http://www.alesis.com/m1active620 imo

Lloyd C

19-Jul-09, 08:47pm

in my limited experience, i found that the ESI monitors sounded better than any of the truths, m-audio and KRK, so i ended up buying a pair of the ESI nEAR08 and I am more than happy with them.

Anyway, test out which ever monitors are in your budget and see which sound best to you.

My advice is to take a cd with a song you know extremely well and use it to audition various monitors.

loopi

19-Jul-09, 10:36pm

i love my samson's kasp, they've served me extremely well from my every day mixing at home (within sound restrictions), to being used at the GHFBBBBQ as monitors. they provide clear, equalised sound <3

divid3d

19-Jul-09, 10:39pm

i got the m-audio bx5a's from storedj for less than $500. i'm very satisfied with them :)

ferretrock

19-Jul-09, 10:56pm

I don't like the M-Audios or Tapcos (which you didn't list) at all... scooped midrange. The Truths havea similar sort of sound, but at least go down nice and low. That said - everyone hears differently.

What size speaker do you want? How low do you want to be able to hear? Why do you need powered 'monitors'? What are you monitoring on at the moment?
I ask these questions because $600 just aint alot of money to try and produce two flat-response speakers and amplifiers to go with.

Pro Tool

19-Jul-09, 11:27pm

This is a world of subjective pain - the only way you'll make a good decision is take all that good research you've done and go and listen to them all. Buy what you like and ignore everything everyone else says, with a particular focus on ignoring those on the internet and those trying to sell you the speakers. Make sure you take your own music which you're intimately familiar with cos chances are you won't know how the shop dude's Meshuggah CD is supposed to sound accross 20 speakers!

Let me prove my point.

http://www.alesis.com/m1active620 imo

Blergh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For what it's worth - those are considered way inferior to the legacy M1's, and for all they were a popular monitor, they're fuckin bass overload. Doesn't say much for the new edition, and I've never met someone who owns a pair. Hell, I think only a few stores even sell them, like Allans.

in my limited experience, i found that the ESI monitors sounded better than any of the truths, m-audio and KRK, so i ended up buying a pair of the ESI nEAR08 and I am more than happy with them.

Holy shit! See in my opinion, and anectdotally for a few other people I know, ESI speakers are as bad as you can get without delving into serious no-name territory. Like, whoah you gotta be joking kinda bad. But that's for my tastes - they are nice'n'cheap! To one-up them on class leaders like KRK and M-Audio either means you're hearing something nobody else ever has, or speaker decisions really are that personal.

Bracko

19-Jul-09, 11:38pm

there's a pair of tascam monitors on special at storeDJ, might want to give them a shot.

else the alesis M1 mk2 activies are what i use (but like PT says, they're bass heavy, i plug both holes with a light foam to balance them out)

pEAkeR_hAT

20-Jul-09, 12:44am

Take a few records and have a listen, I mix alot of dnb so I went for the 8inch Behringers. Definetly worth it !

Fledz

20-Jul-09, 01:54am

Honestly man, I would spend more on monitors. They are usually the focal point of your studio and saving up that little bit more to get infinitely better monitors is well worth it.

Unfortunately, none of the ones you have posted really stand out. Some decent ones but you'd best be served to push your budget a bit more. These things last years so don't be afraid of making a bad investment :)

Lloyd C

20-Jul-09, 10:00am

Holy shit! See in my opinion, and anectdotally for a few other people I know, ESI speakers are as bad as you can get without delving into serious no-name territory. Like, whoah you gotta be joking kinda bad. But that's for my tastes - they are nice'n'cheap! To one-up them on class leaders like KRK and M-Audio either means you're hearing something nobody else ever has, or speaker decisions really are that personal.

I shit you not, I prefered the sound of the ESI over the equivilent models made by other brands. To be honest, I had every intention of buying either KRK's or truths when I went monitor shopping, because I had preconceived ideas based on reviews and what people had said on forums such as this.

I was lucky enough to find a pair that were a few months old and still under warranty from a member of these forums. The person selling them also said that he liked the sound of the ESI's over the truths and the KRK's, so I guess i'm not alone.

That said, these were not my first choice. The fostex monitors were much better, and had the ESI's not been for sale at the time I would now be listening to my music through some sexy black fostex monitors.

Anyway, to each their own. I have absolutely no regrets in the choice i've made.

/$0.02 AUD

shunji

20-Jul-09, 12:36pm

it's a more than $600, but you should hold onto your money until you've had a listen to the new JBL LSR 5 inch monitors.

Funkedub

20-Jul-09, 01:12pm

else the alesis M1 mk2 activies are what i use (but like PT says, they're bass heavy, i plug both holes with a light foam to balance them out)

Funny enough this has popped up today (and PT's thoughts on the matter). This weekend i was tweaking some old productions i'd previously done on my HiFi speakers. Out of curiosity i actually stuffed a sock in the ports to see (well hear) what the effect may be. My conclusion was that they'd warrant a post socking when at higher volumes, but were better without them at the lower volumes.

As for the OP ... i stumbled upon a pair of Yamaha HS50s in Cash Convertors for $500. I almost wet myself when i initially thought the $250 on each on was actually for the pair ... it would've been the bargain of the decade!

The most important tip is to take music you know intimately when testing speakers .. and take your time.

Spectrum

20-Jul-09, 03:10pm

i stumbled upon a pair of Yamaha HS50s in Cash Convertors for $500. I almost wet myself when i initially thought the $250 on each on was actually for the pair ... it would've been the bargain of the decade!

A local Cashies here (Armadale, Perth - for those playing at home) has a pair of Truths for $499.

Even as a pair, it's a rort.

Stoopid Cashies.

Fledz

20-Jul-09, 06:31pm

kasper_flip

20-Jul-09, 08:45pm

thanks for everyones advice, i will be heading down to store dj and dj warehouse tomorrow/wednesday with a cd to test a few out. the tascam monitors on special look delicious, will definitely have a listen to them

Oooops, my bad. Thought I was in the Music Studio forum and you needed these for mixdowns, not for DJing.

yep mainly for DJing atm, will be setting my sights on production next but being a student i am taking things one at a time, got a regular gig at a club and will be saving for production gear starting soon.

johnjay

20-Jul-09, 11:49pm

q's, for production if you are using one of the above monitors, what sound card price range is required to be spent to get the best sound these budget monitors can produce?

By this I mean its sort of like buying a really good digital camera but having a shitty black and white printer, in the end the photos wont come out good. So what sound cards are sufficent to get the exact sound from monitors in this price range? What are you guys looking into?

Fledz

21-Jul-09, 12:11am

You can't fix a bad monitor with a good soundcard. The monitor is the final source. If you're serious about production then none of the above listed monitors will cut it, but if you're just DJing then these are fine.

Best practice to keep production and DJ monitors separate anyway.

johnjay

21-Jul-09, 12:36am

yeh but you cant get good sound with a shitty soundcard either no matter how good your monitors are

Chillin

21-Jul-09, 01:37am

I'm in a similar position but I require budget range monitors for production, can I just apply what has been said so far or is it quite a different ball game when monitor hunting?

Had been thinking of getting KRK RP5's and running it through
http://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/shop/view/1862/digidesign-m-box-2-mini/

Thoughts?

synick

21-Jul-09, 11:53am

I am also looking at buying some monitors, migrating from my Logitech's finally!! I have given it so much thought and research and have come to the conclusion that I will probably not be able to judge good from bad monitors as they are my first. Surely taking a CD into the shop with a song that I know inside and out will not prove as effective because I am either used to hearing it on my logitech's, HD-25's headphones or CX-300 Earphones...they will all produce a different sound.

I think its just a matter of suck and see...Its only until you buy some and get used to them you will know their limitations and know what to look out for later on...I am getting JBL LSR 2325P's for $850 @ DJ Warehouse. I will probably upgrade later on, but at least I will be able to use them for now.

Luke.

avatar_karma

21-Jul-09, 12:26pm

Save another $250 up and get Yamaha HS80s

Lloyd C

21-Jul-09, 12:38pm

Surely taking a CD into the shop with a song that I know inside and out will not prove as effective because I am either used to hearing it on my logitech's, HD-25's headphones or CX-300 Earphones...they will all produce a different sound.

The difference is that you'll be using a song you know well as a bench mark. It doesn't really matter what you're used to hearing it through, but I can almost guarantee that if you listen to what ever is playing in the shop you will confuse yourself after a while because you would have listened to so many different speakers and possibly with different songs.

PS. how good are CX-300 earphones!

synick

21-Jul-09, 02:09pm

Just bought the JBL's, will give em a go tonight and let ya know...

Lloyd C, love the CX-300's, waiting for Senn to release the ear phones for the new iPhone 3GS with volume controls...

I would recommend listening to all the speakers at the store and compare with the same song...for example, I was just listening to the JBL's 5" vs the Fostex PM2 8"...there is a massive difference especially when the volume is lower. Due to where I am living and where I will be moving to in the next couple months, I am not really able to turn it up full.

Thats some other things to consider aswell...But as previously stated it really does come down to personal preference.

acoustinaut

21-Jul-09, 05:59pm

this thread rocks*

*about as much as this guy :P
http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr263/Davebill89/AttackAttack1244788769269.gif

RohanP

21-Jul-09, 06:17pm

^^crabcore!!!!

Tripura

21-Jul-09, 06:38pm

Slightly over the $600 mark, but DJ Warehouse have a sale on Fostex PM2s and various KRK's at the moment.

http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/cat/index.cgi/shopfront/view_by_category?category_id=9458

xic8520

22-Jul-09, 02:52pm

I looked around for ages until I found the Yamaha HS 50Ms. Can't remember off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure I picked up a pair for $580 at Allan's on sale. Also had a listen to the HS80Ms but didn't find them nearly as tight as the 50s. Turramusic also had them on special around the same price.

Personally, I found them way better than any of the ones you listed, and I listened to pretty much all of them. Great mids and highs, a little lacking in bass, but adjust them to suit your studio and they sound very true.

Dr Bones

22-Jul-09, 03:20pm

this thread rocks*

*about as much as this guy :P
http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr263/Davebill89/AttackAttack1244788769269.gif

and on that note, we cue another post about how studio monitors aren't worth dog shit.

it'll be just like old times!

Random_Kiwi

02-Oct-09, 03:13pm

I R SEARCHED! Proud people? :lol:

So anyways, I'm in the monitor speaker market...primarily for DJing...decks are living in spare room, on wheels to be taken into lounge and hooked to main stereo for parties, but I want some speakers for twittering around in the room...and I want self powered as I don't want more amps/floor standing speakers...some small self powered ones on stands will do the job nicely.

So...original poster...what'd you end up going with? I've just started testing the waters on this front, checked out some Alesis at JB hi Fi which were $500, seem alright for the price, but I'm sure they're not the best, and probably not worth $500 if there's all these other options for >$600.

All those prices above are for pairs, right, not just single monitors?

Cheers

Pro Tool

02-Oct-09, 03:23pm

All prices are pairs! Check out the behringer truths. They're cheap as fuck and as good as anything in the cheap cheap range I reakon. Expecially for DJing.

Random_Kiwi

02-Oct-09, 04:39pm

Shot...will pop my head into Store DJ or DJ Warehouse sometime and have a squizz...quite a range at around the $500-$600 price mark!

Matty_neal

02-Oct-09, 05:05pm

I've got B2031a's. They're great if you never plan to sell them, resale isn't worth it.

Aside from that, I got mine for $400 brand new, couldn't be happier! A slight crackle is evident every now and then but it's very feint. Lots of bass, lots of punch, lots of high end. I don't think it's worth spending the money on anything else until you get into the $1000+ end of the KRK's. THEY pack an awesome punch and are crystal clear.

The Truths take up a lot of desk space too....

DJBT

02-Oct-09, 05:09pm

o went and had a listen to some moniters the other day and i havent purchased them yet, but after listening to them im sold on the JBL LSR series speakers. crystal clear the KRK's sound muddyish in comparison, and for the extra $100 or what ever it is against the KRK's they sound way way better in my oppinion loss of a little lower end as they are the 5's (i only compared them to the KRK 6's) but still not to bad

edit : talking about These (http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/cat/index.cgi/shopfront/view_product_details?category_id=15670&product_id=1375962) by the way. sound so good

toilet trained

02-Oct-09, 08:55pm

i have Tapco S5, i got them for 150 quid, i think they retail for 200 quid though,

i like them, not very warm sounding, but certainly show up defects in your sound...so they do their job i guess.

also have base/top boosts if you want a coloured sound

http://www.westenddj.co.uk/Product/TAPCO/Sound/S-5/GoogleBase/

kasper_flip

02-Oct-09, 10:21pm

holy thread revival batman!
I ended up going with the Truth B2031As for about 440 i think it was, plus another 100 for stands. they are excellent, extremely happy with em. Clear sound, great price. Haven't pumped em really as they are purely for bedroom banging.

ratticus

03-Oct-09, 12:01pm