studio monitors for home use

[CatStrangler]

Hoping to get some opinions, I am looking for a pair of studio monitors to hook up to some modeling (Shhh, don't tell Les) amps (Kemper) for when use of the HXDA will get the cops called/me evicted. I have read some favorable reviews of the Yamaha HS series, but wondering what the gang's experience has been. The price seems right, but I am certainly open to other suggestions. Thanks, Phil

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Are you using these exclusively for guitar or do you plan on mixing music through them too?

 

[CatStrangler]

Are you using these exclusively for guitar or do you plan on mixing music through them too?

pretty much guitar and bass, but I presume I could listen to music through them as well?

 

[sergiodeblanc]

pretty much guitar and bass, but I presume I could listen to music through them as well?

Yeah, for sure!

The only reason I ask is that while the Yamaha's are nice, they're not the most fun speakers to listen to music through. Unless you need something with a flatter speaker response to create patches with (hoping that they'll translate to other systems) you could get away with some KRK's or Mackie's or something prosumer like that that are more fun to listen to.

 

[ozboy]

I use a large pair of Mackie monitors on stands. Can't remember the model number but they sound great. I have come to appreciate sound quality more and more particularly when you want to isolate one instrument in a mix or just to avoid ear fatigue good monitors pay off.

 

[László]

I say get any monitor that sounds good to you, and you can audition them with music you're familiar with and that you like.

As to Yamaha HS series monitors, I was recently at my friend Joel Martin's studio (he produced/published Eminem) and in addition to a set of Augspurger soffit-mount mains, he uses Yamaha HS nearfields.

So there's one knowledgeable pro I know who uses them.

 

[bodia]

I've got a pair of Behringer Truth B2031a's that I like. I mostly use them for music at this point.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Passive or actives? Some of the Kempers come with a class D amp...I would actually recommend active, since I like a 2.1 system. I'm definitely fond of the Krk VXT8s and one of their subs.

 

[CatStrangler]

Yeah, for sure!

The only reason I ask is that while the Yamaha's are nice, they're not the most fun speakers to listen to music through. Unless you need something with a flatter speaker response to create patches with (hoping that they'll translate to other systems) you could get away with some KRK's or Mackie's or something prosumer like that that are more fun to listen to.

So you bring up an interesting point Sergio. As I am sure you are aware, the ideas for me is to get flat response recommended by most in the modeling community as the Kemper really gives you the sound of a recorded guitar. That said I am sure different monitors will color the sound differently or I wouldn't be looking at the two dozens of different ones out there. I'll research the Mackies and KRKs. Thanks!

Passive or actives? Some of the Kempers come with a class D amp...I would actually recommend active, since I like a 2.1 system. I'm definitely fond of the Krk VXT8s and one of their subs.

I have the version without the internal amp, so I need active monitors

 

[musicmason]

I personally enjoy the Yamaha HS7. It has a "Room Control" switch that lets you reduce the low-mids for a slightly flatter response or leave it at 0db to summon the sound of the old NSF10s for mixing. There is also a three position high freq adjustment that helps if your space is a tad live, a tad dead or spot on like Goldilocks.

 

[geese_com]

I use a pair of Yamaha HS8s with my Kemper and they are great.

 

[MikeChandler]

I've had a pair of powered fostex monitors for going on 10 years now I think, without a singular issue. Great sounding monitors, mine are "Fostex PM0.5".

 

[CatStrangler]

Thanks guys, this is really useful input. I won't be using them in a "treated" room, so I do need something that sounds good out of the box, although I see a lot users use some form of isolation (foam pads, stands, etc).

 

[László]

Thanks guys, this is really useful input. I won't be using them in a "treated" room, so I do need something that sounds good out of the box, although I see a lot users use some form of isolation (foam pads, stands, etc).

Whether a monitor sounds good out of the box doesn't mean it'll sound good in a particular room. That's up to the room, and where you put the speakers.

 

[Tosca]

FWIW I use a set of KRK Rokit 8's or Blue MoFi headphones to set up all of the patches on my Kemper and have been very happy with how they translate when I use the Kemper live through our PA system(s) (have used several different QSC systems and Bose L1M2 and F1 systems). I have not had any "unpleasant surprises" with patches sounding different through the PA than I expected. I have some nicer studio monitors now...but started using the Rokits for mixing and still use them often for comparison and they sound excellent for casual listening to music as well.

 

[CatStrangler]

Whether a monitor sounds good out of the box doesn't mean it'll sound good in a particular room. That's up to the room, and where you put the speakers.

Fair enough, However if a monitor can be tweaked to sound pretty good in most rooms, I would see that as an advantage. I'm really a total Newb at this stuff, and am just really looking to make a modest investment in time and money to have a decent sounding modeling rig at home for guitar and bass.

 

[László]

Fair enough, However if a monitor can be tweaked to sound pretty good in most rooms, I would see that as an advantage. I'm really a total Newb at this stuff, and am just really looking to make a modest investment in time and money to have a decent sounding modeling rig at home for guitar and bass.

If your regular hi fi speakers sound good in the room, your monitors should, too. If not, tweaks to the room aren't difficult. Monitor stands, isolation platforms, and other tweaks can do a lot.

If you need advice, you're always welcome to PM me.

 

[CatStrangler]

If your regular hi fi speakers sound good in the room, your monitors should, too. If not, tweaks to the room aren't difficult. Monitor stands, isolation platforms, and other tweaks can do a lot.

If you need advice, you're always welcome to PM me.

Thanks Les!

 

[tabl10s]

If your regular hi fi speakers sound good in the room, your monitors should, too. If not, tweaks to the room aren't difficult. Monitor stands, isolation platforms, and other tweaks can do a lot.

If you need advice, you're always welcome to PM me.

95% of the time, home speakers are set-up poorly...If not plain crazy. Email the editors of High -End Audio mags/websites as many and the writers are musicians themselves. Here's a small list:

Stereophile(forum available)
The Absolute Sound(ditto).
PFO Online(forum).
Audio Asylum(forum)
Audiogon(forum).

 

[Deleted member 5962]

I quit reading Stereophile and The Absolute Sounds years ago. Didn't know they both had forums now. I picked up a copy of TAS at B&N a coupe months ago and saw a review of a "affordably priced, high end" speaker system. By affordably priced, they meant a cool $15,000. I quickly remember why I stopped when I did.