Monitors vs Loudspeakers

[Steve221221]

I'm not sure of the difference between standard 'loudspeakers' and 'monitors'.

I'm looking for higher quality speakers (<$500 pair) to connect to my computer sound card or Mackie mixer.

I have an in-home music studio using Cakewalk's SONAR3. About 40% MIDI and 60% Audio (voice/guitar/brass) in my mixes. I also want to use the same speakers for general listening via my computer (ie. CD playback, internet radio, etc.) at moderately loud volumes. I'm not real concerned about 'extremely flat response' etc. that professional sound engineers would be concerned with in fine tuning their mixes.

I was/am considering ALESIS M1 active monitors but after reading about near field monitors in general I'm not sure they are appropriate for general listening (for non-mixing purposes).

Would standard active loudspeaker be more appropriate?
Recommedations?

Thanks from a first time poster....


Steve

[kneadle]

Hi Steve,

Similar situation here.

There are two things to keep in mind.

1) The key thing to remember about "monitors" is the descriptor that precedes it in its semantic field, namely "reference." Mixing your music is all about referencing it to the real world. Therefore, you should seek to build an environment which allows you to reference your music mixes such that they translate easily (and well) into as many other listening environments as possible.

2) You must be self-critical about your own listening environment, which means that you have to learn how your environment contrasts and compares with other environments. In other words, take a well-produced music recording and listen to it studiously in other environments. Make notes about what you hear and don't hear in each environment. Then you will begin to understand your own room.

Note well that I used the term "environment." Your loudspeakers are only one component. If you had the flattest, most awesome mixing monitors in an untreated room, your mixes will likely not be in reference to a flat monitor system at all.

Oh, and one other practical consideration. Reference monitors for home studios are often termed "nearfield," meaning that you'll be sitting relatively close to them. They are loudspeakers designed for that purpose, while other loudspeakers are designed for mid- or farfield listening.

That's all I know. There's more and I've probably been a tad simplistic.

Dave

[pinkmouse]

Hi Steve, and welcome to diyAudio

Well, in general, the definition of "Monitor" has become so distorted by the Hi-Fi corporate marketing types that I can understand your confusion. However, in your case, the simple answer is not to worry about it too much, just go for the Alesis monitors if they sound good to you for your recording work, and from what I remember, they should go plenty loud enough for your other needs.

If you want to go into this in depth, try searching for papers on near and far field optimised systems.

[BillFitzmaurice]

There is one huge difference between monitors and speakers, That difference is that when you sell speakers to pros for thier studios you call them monitors.

'Monitors' and 'Speakers' share the same drivers and components; there are many cases where the same box is sold as both a speaker and a monitor and the only difference is the outer finish. Many studios use 'speakers' for monitoring because they like the sound. That's all that matters.

If it sounds good it is good. Unless you plan on listening at distances of twenty feet or more monitors will work fine, and the Alesis are a good choice, on sale now at AMS for $399 pair. You will still need a powered sub, the same as with any system using 6 1/2 inch woofers.

[mhelin]

Nearfield monitors are OK as general loudspeakers as long as you take account the listening distance. If you're distance to them is a little bit more than usual then just adjust the tweeter level (you know the air in between you and the speakers works as kind of low pass filter).

Anyway, Alesis is fine but Event TR8 might be a better choice in the same price range ($499 http://www.zzounds.com/item--EVETR8 ) , also the Fostex PM-1 is worth listening. Alesis ProLinear 720 is $314 at Zzounds but you get $100 cash back for a pair. That is a NEW DSP technology loudspeaker (phase linear DSP filters etc. fine stuff), I would go with them if I lived in America (they are pretty expensive in Europe).

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ALEPL720

[purplepeople]

I find www.proaudioreview.com to very informative.

The monitors I've listened to in your price range are Behringer, Event, KRK, M-Audio, Near, Tannoy, Yorkville.

I didn't like the Behringer or Near. M-Audio BX-5 and BX-8 are a little too edgy. The Tannoy Reveal Actives are a bit thin on the high end. The KRKV4 is not worth your money. Both the Events and the Tannoy Reveal passive are good, but Yorkville is smoother and cost less. As much as they are touted, NS-10s are horrible for the amount you must pay for used gear. It would be cheaper to install a car stereo and boombox in your studio and get the same "reference" for typical consumer equipment.

I have bought and continue to enjoy the Tannoy Proto-J passive and the Yorkville YSM1p active. The next level up would be Mackies, et al.

:)ensen.

[usekgb]

I have mixed on many of these monitors, and from experience I don't like most of them. Personally, I have never liked mixing on Alesis monitors. They just don't translate to the real world. Some monitors that I have found to be very good in your price range are the Tannoy Reveals, the NHT M-00's (small but accurate......these are my main mixing monitors), Tapco S-5's (avoid the SS-8's.....very boomy), Wharfdale Diamond Pro 8.2's, and Yamaha MSP5A's. I also like the Events, but haven't used them much.

Cheers,
Zach

[purplepeople]

I read somewhere that Tapco is Mackie's "budget" brand.

:)ensen.

[HeatMiser]

Originally posted by purplepeople
I read somewhere that Tapco is Mackie's "budget" brand.

:)ensen.

That's basically true, although the more complete story is that Tapco is the company that Greg Mackie started before Mackie Designs. This was back in the early 70s (I think) and they made mixers. It was not a large company, but their stuff was absolutely built like tanks, they last forever. Apparently somebody thought the name was worth reviving, so now we have a small line of budget mackie-likes.