I haven't been in a recording studio since 2000, and it's hard to believe that was 16 years ago now. I imagine a lot has changed in those years.
-Chris
-Chris
I work in advertising so I've seen a lot of studios...Genalec is everywhere. Probably 99% of the studios I have seen.
Some of the more "music" oriented studios have more esoteric gear. Like McIntosh amps or bryston. Some have had diy-ish speakers for playback.
The studios geared toward voice work like radio commercials, tv overdubs etc. tend to have exclusively active monitors. The music focused studios tend to have active monitors for mixing and a listening setup for the band with a big amp and towers.
Since Iam interested in this stuff I often talk about it with the engineers. Most of the time, they are more interested in mics and mic preamps and don't know anything about monitors....
Some of the more "music" oriented studios have more esoteric gear. Like McIntosh amps or bryston. Some have had diy-ish speakers for playback.
The studios geared toward voice work like radio commercials, tv overdubs etc. tend to have exclusively active monitors. The music focused studios tend to have active monitors for mixing and a listening setup for the band with a big amp and towers.
Since Iam interested in this stuff I often talk about it with the engineers. Most of the time, they are more interested in mics and mic preamps and don't know anything about monitors....
I remember the name Genalec, but can't remember where from. They weren't in the studios I was working in. Maybe in the jingle studios.
So here's a further challenge.. A guy at work just asked me "what's the best amp" - only needs 20W/channel, but budget is £100!! Hmm....
As far as i know unless he wants to build one or go the Class D route ( Smsl , Topping etc ) theres only one contender at that price new in the uk , the Cambridge Audio Topaz AM 1 from RS @ 80 quid .
Actually not too bad for the money . The next one up adds tone controls and a few more watts but last time i looked it was over budget by 20 quid .
Actually not too bad for the money . The next one up adds tone controls and a few more watts but last time i looked it was over budget by 20 quid .
A gainclone in a cheap box could easily be done for £100. I can't think of anything commercial worth listening to at that price. Not even second hand. If he's not too fussy maybe a cheap digital amp would do.
The Smsl SA 50 provides about 20 " real " watts @ 8 ohm , about 50 quid from Amazon and sounds pretty good , depends how hi - fi he wants his hi - fi i guess.
Cambridge audio is a good idea... smsl looks useful too!
He wants reasonable fi, just hasn't got much money and his old amp decided to convert itself to mono!
Thanks for the ideas!
He wants reasonable fi, just hasn't got much money and his old amp decided to convert itself to mono!
Thanks for the ideas!
Genelec is everywhere, for sure. They are becoming the default monitor.
FWIW, the last time I was at the NAB show in Vegas, I was listening to the Genelec monitor line and liked then well enough, but then stumbled across the Focal booth not far away. I did not know they made studio monitors.
What a difference! Went from a sort of dull grey small speaker sound to beautiful music. Maybe Focal had just done a better setup, but their monitors were a delight to listen to. No contest. I wanted them. 🙂
FWIW, the last time I was at the NAB show in Vegas, I was listening to the Genelec monitor line and liked then well enough, but then stumbled across the Focal booth not far away. I did not know they made studio monitors.
What a difference! Went from a sort of dull grey small speaker sound to beautiful music. Maybe Focal had just done a better setup, but their monitors were a delight to listen to. No contest. I wanted them. 🙂
I'll offer another option to tcpip, if it hasn't been offered already. I live about three hours away from Portland. I'd be happy to build a kit, such as the LX521 for your friend. Same goes for amplifiers. I've built several speakers and amps before. You can find my threads on diyaudio. I'm not a super-fine woodworker, but I can get the job done. There are others in the Portland area as well. Sending your friend to an audio salon should be the last option, IMO.
No, I don't have the LX521. I mentioned those because you said you were a fan of SL's designs. I experimented with OBs for a while, then moved to horns and now I have a line array. You can check that thread here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/284371-corner-floor-ceiling-line-array-using-vifa-tc9.html
Ask SL if he knows any owners of the LX521s in Portland. I bet there are a few. There are other boxed diy designs too. Simple and cheap two-ways, etc., such as the Continuums (I do have those, btw). Aany competent diy design will beat or match most commercial offerings.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/284371-corner-floor-ceiling-line-array-using-vifa-tc9.html
Ask SL if he knows any owners of the LX521s in Portland. I bet there are a few. There are other boxed diy designs too. Simple and cheap two-ways, etc., such as the Continuums (I do have those, btw). Aany competent diy design will beat or match most commercial offerings.
Pano and ra7, this is getting curiouser and curiouser. 😀
I'd still want my friend to go listen to boxed speakers first, in a dealer's listening room, to get some idea of the price-performance of commercial systems. If she can then listen to good DIY systems, and her ears pop out, we can really rub hands with glee. 😀
I also intend to tap the OB groups on SL's site to locate some OB owners in Portland. Let her check them out, then decide.
I'd still want my friend to go listen to boxed speakers first, in a dealer's listening room, to get some idea of the price-performance of commercial systems. If she can then listen to good DIY systems, and her ears pop out, we can really rub hands with glee. 😀
I also intend to tap the OB groups on SL's site to locate some OB owners in Portland. Let her check them out, then decide.
I used to have some rather good OBees while I lives in Portland. Alas, no more.
I did meet someone there who has some SL speakers. Alfred, I think his name is. I could make enquirers, if you wish.
I did meet someone there who has some SL speakers. Alfred, I think his name is. I could make enquirers, if you wish.
I had lived in Portland from a little tyke up until 2005 when I moved to South America....I saw the DIY & technical side of everything fade into obscurity, AKA, Radio Shack disappearing...Hawthorne Stereo was the preeminent retail for the good stuff...then there was the place on Union, renamed MLK Blvd.....the place that had the old EV 30" driver, in a cab, , on display up high, so the curious couldn't mess with it.
Hawthorne moved to Seattle, now closed...
Things have changed immensely since...Amazon, Ebay....etc.
That said...Get a vintage Marantz 2285B off Ebay..that's been reworked, restored for $800. like money in the bank, will go for 20+ more years or so...
Then, buy a pair of JBL LSR-6332 studio quality monitors...at $1500 each....set up on stands three feet off the floor, spaced 10 Ft apart...and then, a "big box" store bought five CD platter, maybe the likes of a Denon if they still bother to make them.....count on the CD machine developing a fault or failure within four years....then just buy another ($300). Then pick up the appropriate patch-cords for your computer/iphone/tablet/(everything else).
The Marantz will still be plugging along while everything around will be failing right & left, or being "replaced" with the newest & greatist.....iphone 9?
Keep care of the JBL monitors,,,they are right at the end of the consumer able flexibility generation....get em' now before JBL locks in the built-in amp concept.....effectively locking out the retail consumer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------Rick...............
Hawthorne moved to Seattle, now closed...
Things have changed immensely since...Amazon, Ebay....etc.
That said...Get a vintage Marantz 2285B off Ebay..that's been reworked, restored for $800. like money in the bank, will go for 20+ more years or so...
Then, buy a pair of JBL LSR-6332 studio quality monitors...at $1500 each....set up on stands three feet off the floor, spaced 10 Ft apart...and then, a "big box" store bought five CD platter, maybe the likes of a Denon if they still bother to make them.....count on the CD machine developing a fault or failure within four years....then just buy another ($300). Then pick up the appropriate patch-cords for your computer/iphone/tablet/(everything else).
The Marantz will still be plugging along while everything around will be failing right & left, or being "replaced" with the newest & greatist.....iphone 9?
Keep care of the JBL monitors,,,they are right at the end of the consumer able flexibility generation....get em' now before JBL locks in the built-in amp concept.....effectively locking out the retail consumer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------Rick...............
Hawthorne stereo in Seattle is still open! They post all their used gear here:
Hawthorne Stereo - Used Stereo Equipment
It's a fun place to look and they are nice people.
A pair of used powered studio monitor bookshelves perhaps _ if she is going to listen from 6 ft away ?
Larger more hi-fi speaker designs might not be intended for near field listening
Another option would be a decent mid Fi headphone and a respectable tube / hybrid headphone amp -like schiit and a USB dac
Larger more hi-fi speaker designs might not be intended for near field listening
Another option would be a decent mid Fi headphone and a respectable tube / hybrid headphone amp -like schiit and a USB dac
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