First Monitors/Interface Question

[Sonika]

Hey, I want to apologize in advance for yet another question about buying monitors/monitors in general. It's just that this question is more specific to me, so it would help me out a lot to get some good advice from people on here.

I'm thinking about getting my first monitors when I save up a bit more money - I want to get good quality ones that will last me a while, but i don't want to blow out my bank. I was thinking the RP8 Rokit's, no sub?

Seems like a decent deal: http://www.amazon.com/KRK-Powered-Monit ... B001DIUOCW

I really want a good (and fairly cheap) setup, so I want to hear the low end of my mixes decently. A lot of people are talking about using subs as well - the reason that this is an unattractive option to me is because it costs extra money and I would much rather just consolidate my setup to some nearfield monitors rather than have to rather than think about the extra factor of a sub.

Is this a bad thinking process? Should I really look at some subs?
Are the RP8 Rokits good? Are there other monitors that I should consider? I heard the Yamaha HS50s are pretty good for that price too, would those work without a sub? Are they decent monitors?

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-HS50M-5-Mo ... B000QPH1CO


Right now I have around $600 overall, which should just cover some basic monitors (I'd hope), and I'd also really like to get a Saffire 6 interface: http://www.focusrite.com/products/audio ... ire_6_usb/

So I'll need to save up a bit more - anyways, I'm pretty sure I NEED some sort of interface to plug in my monitors, correct? (yup, I'm a newb at this, haven't had much experience with monitors, but they'll improve my mixes immensely, make it easier to work with friends, and be better just for listening pleasure in my room).

So yeah, ideally some active nearfield monitors that do the job/aren't shit, and yet are a decent price, allowing me a little money left over so I can start thinking about getting an interface (it probably won't allow me to both of them at once, but it would preferably leave me some money to save up for an interface, i.e. not completely bankrupt me).

I want a decent setup. Can anyone knowledgeable help me out?

Anyways, any help is much appreciated Thanks DSF

[Anne Droid]

i Have an M-Audio FastrackPro and the same KRK RP8's

I have no complaints, the speakers are incredible. I highly reccomend them. warning though they are pretty huge and heavy, so I hope you have space

[blinx]

No nearfield monitor will replace using a sub. Some may respond lower than others but you WILL never beable to beat having a true SUB in your setup. You could use headphones to check the low end of your mixes instead of purchasing a subwooofer though.

[Samuel_L_Damnson]

I have the Rokit RP5 g2 with the alesis mixer thing as an interface, and i am chuffed to bits with them, I noticed my mixes improving a fair bit. the only issue I have with them is that there isn't a huge amount of low end (but there is enough to get by) and they seem to give a sort of "hyped up" sound, but once you get to know your monitors and compare your mixes to some professional ones this is ok.I got the 5 inch ones because im a cheap ass and my room is small and untreated. Apparently big speakers in an untreated room can emphasise bass frequencies or something a google search or one of the more knowledgeable DSFers could tell you about that.

[Sonika]

No nearfield monitor will replace using a sub. Some may respond lower than others but you WILL never beable to beat having a true SUB in your setup. You could use headphones to check the low end of your mixes instead of purchasing a subwooofer though.

I have shit consumer headphones, but they can go as low as 20hz, so if I have those + RP8s, would that be a decent setup?

[drake89]

I bought behringer truth's, 8", used for somewhere between $300-400. I love them, but having listened to them for 4 years now I'm ready to upgrade whenever I come across a grand I guess. Got the saffire for xmas and love it it's solid. So yeah, buying used can save you some serious $$$. Just cruising craigslist I found the M-audio 8"s for $250 http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ele/2886026962.html, A7s for $700!, paradigm 20s for $350, though you'd need an amp and http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/msg/2888714406.html!

[Sonika]

I bought behringer truth's, 8", used for somewhere between $300-400. I love them, but having listened to them for 4 years now I'm ready to upgrade whenever I come across a grand I guess. Got the saffire for xmas and love it it's solid. So yeah, buying used can save you some serious $$$. Just cruising craigslist I found the M-audio 8"s for $250 http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ele/2886026962.html, A7s for $700!, paradigm 20s for $350, though you'd need an amp and http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/msg/2888714406.html!

Yeah thanks I'd probably go used for whatever I get

[blinx]

consumer heaphones wont be flat but its better than nothing.
Rp8s should get pretty low but still not a replacement for a sub being added to your monitoring system.

[Sonika]

consumer heaphones wont be flat but its better than nothing.
Rp8s should get pretty low but still not a replacement for a sub being added to your monitoring system.

My thoughts exactly ^ of course they won't be flat, but I'd rather have nice monitors + no subs/checking my low end on an enriched-response pair of headphones that just using my horrible headphones that I have now.

[lowpass]

Used to work in a music shop and for that budget that is a combo we recommended a lot. (Rokit 8's + saffire6)

One other thing to consider if your room isn't treated is having some nice headphones (sennheiser HD600's) instead and then you could possibly budget for a better sound card or even start treating the room.

If I could go back I would have rather done that than got the alexis MK1's (that I had at the time)

[Sonika]

Used to work in a music shop and for that budget that is a combo we recommended a lot. (Rokit 8's + saffire6)

One other thing to consider if your room isn't treated is having some nice headphones (sennheiser HD600's) instead and then you could possibly budget for a better sound card or even start treating the room.

If I could go back I would have rather done that than got the alexis MK1's (that I had at the time)

Yeah thanks - that IS an option. I would either get the Sony MDR-7506 or the seen srh940. Headphones do have their advantages, and they're generally cheaper too.