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Hi all,

Considering getting a pair of budget monitors / speakers so I can compare mixes on something other than my main monitors. I figured being able to see what mixes sound like on the sort of speakers that most people will have in their homes is useful.

Any recommendations??

If you're gonna be a/b'ing, I would get something like the Equator D-5 or other quality 5 inch studio speakers.

Or a pair of hi-fi speakers, cuz they actually represent what people listen to music with. Or good PC speakers.

"Shitty budget monitors" aren't monitors, they're bad active hi-fi speakers sold as monitors, which marks up their price.

Genevieve wrote:If you're gonna be a/b'ing, I would get something like the Equator D-5 or other quality 5 inch studio speakers.

Or a pair of hi-fi speakers, cuz they actually represent what people listen to music with. Or good PC speakers.

"Shitty budget monitors" aren't monitors, they're bad active hi-fi speakers sold as monitors, which marks up their price.

Exactly.

Also, huge +1 for Equator D5s. They are the most unforgiving monitors I've ever worked on. They are my primary monitors. Then I use headphones, my Bose hi fi, and 14 y/o stock care stereo (that's the ultimate test!).

You could get budget monitors, but you'll be over paying (as stated). I recently invested in a pair of Numark DJ monitors for listening to music on the porch and in the garage. They'll come in this winter and my B pair in the studio. 99USD. Not too shabby.

Yeah I never WORKED with D-5's, but at their price they're prob's the best ACTUAL 'second set' you could buy if you're going the monitor route, tho I'm not knocking them as primary monitors.

If you need to a/b and don't have studio headphones yet, then get that. They're not only good for a/b'ing, but details. If you still need more to compare your mixes with, THEN get hi-fi speakers. But if there's other gear you still need, invest in that first

Genevieve wrote:Yeah I never WORKED with D-5's, but at their price they're prob's the best ACTUAL 'second set' you could buy if you're going the monitor route, tho I'm not knocking them as primary monitors.

If you need to a/b and don't have studio headphones yet, then get that. They're not only good for a/b'ing, but details. If you still need more to compare your mixes with, THEN get hi-fi speakers. But if there's other gear you still need, invest in that first

Oh yea. I get that! No worries. I think they'd make fantastic 2nd monitors. They are a little iffy for bass music if they are your only monitors w/o a sub. I think they hit around 53hz. So you are missing out a little on the sub. But since I work in an untreated environment I feel like that's to m advantage.

Also. I'll +1 your headphone suggestion as well!

Thanks for the replies guys, funnily enough I have literally just invested on a pair of studio headphones (ATH-M50's) and they're sat on my desk as we speak with music playing through them to burn them in a bit!

As you can probably tell, I've turned my attention to monitoring at the moment

I'm probably going to look at hifi speakers and a cheapish amp, as well as source some of the crap apple ipod earphones as I really want to compare 'commercial' tracks vs mine on budget systems. Obviously I already A/B reference tracks vs mine on my monitors (VXT4's), but I'm guessing further lessons will be learnt when referencing on cheap gear.

thanks guys

Mr 50 wrote:Thanks for the replies guys, funnily enough I have literally just invested on a pair of studio headphones (ATH-M50's) and they're sat on my desk as we speak with music playing through them to burn them in a bit!

As you can probably tell, I've turned my attention to monitoring at the moment

I'm probably going to look at hifi speakers and a cheapish amp, as well as source some of the crap apple ipod earphones as I really want to compare 'commercial' tracks vs mine on budget systems. Obviously I already A/B reference tracks vs mine on my monitors (VXT4's), but I'm guessing further lessons will be learnt when referencing on cheap gear.

thanks guys

If you are going that route, you might consider listening to MP3s over those portable/desktop bluetooth speaker systems as well. I'd wager something similar is going to ingrain itself into home/portable stereo equipment more and more.

Mr 50 wrote:Thanks for the replies guys, funnily enough I have literally just invested on a pair of studio headphones (ATH-M50's) and they're sat on my desk as we speak with music playing through them to burn them in a bit!

As you can probably tell, I've turned my attention to monitoring at the moment

I'm probably going to look at hifi speakers and a cheapish amp, as well as source some of the crap apple ipod earphones as I really want to compare 'commercial' tracks vs mine on budget systems. Obviously I already A/B reference tracks vs mine on my monitors (VXT4's), but I'm guessing further lessons will be learnt when referencing on cheap gear.

thanks guys

Yeah nice one!

I forgot to mention.. and this is just a general piece of advice for ANYONE reading this. I've used shit monitors for years and they didn't actually 'help' me with monitoring, they made it worse. There's brutally honest speakers like Yamaha N10s or Equator D-5's that reveal problems. But budget monitors mask the good stuff and create problems. Like make your bass boomier than it should be or mask high-end. So then you might try to 'fix' it on them, but they'll sound worse on an honest setup.

Genevieve wrote:

Mr 50 wrote:Thanks for the replies guys, funnily enough I have literally just invested on a pair of studio headphones (ATH-M50's) and they're sat on my desk as we speak with music playing through them to burn them in a bit!

As you can probably tell, I've turned my attention to monitoring at the moment

I'm probably going to look at hifi speakers and a cheapish amp, as well as source some of the crap apple ipod earphones as I really want to compare 'commercial' tracks vs mine on budget systems. Obviously I already A/B reference tracks vs mine on my monitors (VXT4's), but I'm guessing further lessons will be learnt when referencing on cheap gear.

thanks guys

Yeah nice one!

I forgot to mention.. and this is just a general piece of advice for ANYONE reading this. I've used shit monitors for years and they didn't actually 'help' me with monitoring, they made it worse. There's brutally honest speakers like Yamaha N10s or Equator D-5's that reveal problems. But budget monitors mask the good stuff and create problems. Like make your bass boomier than it should be or mask high-end. So then you might try to 'fix' it on them, but they'll sound worse on an honest setup.

For sure, but if you're always comparing them to reference tracks through that system then you're ok I would imagine.

Just a quick two cents: I was on KRKs for like...3 years...when I switched to the Equator D5s the improvement was drastic. That only means the D5s are better than the KRKs to my ear in my untreated room...but I have a suspicion it's fact they are better. Of course I knew my KRKs and was able to work on them, but the D5s were a huge upgrade quality wise.

Build some. I used to use some really shitty full range speakers stuck in a pot noodle container. Sounded suitably hideous. Surprisingly useful though in conjunction with main monitors and headphones.
I'm gonna build some Mixcube style speakers soon, should be useful.

I've heard the Auratone name get thrown around as a pair of full-range reference monitors by several of the guests on pensados place. I don't think it's coincidence when it gets mentioned by more than 2 reputable mixing engineers.

These are Avantone, but pretty much the same build... A little bit of reading up on gearslutz reveals that they might be a little more flattering in the lows than true vintage Auratones.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MixCubes/

The Auratones 5's still float around on ebay. Here's a (slightly broken in) pair for $300.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auratone-5PSC-S ... 3a825ff806

Triphosphate wrote:I've heard the Auratone name get thrown around as a pair of full-range reference monitors by several of the guests on pensados place. I don't think it's coincidence when it gets mentioned by more than 2 reputable mixing engineers.

These are Avantone, but pretty much the same build... A little bit of reading up on gearslutz reveals that they might be a little more flattering in the lows than true vintage Auratones.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MixCubes/

The Auratones 5's still float around on ebay. Here's a (slightly broken in) pair for $300.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auratone-5PSC-S ... 3a825ff806

oooh I'd be hesitant to use these when producing stuff like dubstep and drum and bass.

They're mainly used in studio production for referencing mixdowns in mono tbh.

I'd be hesitant of spending 100's on any speaker designed to be a bit shitty on purpose, but there's no difference between "studio production" and "stuff like dubstep and drum and bass".
A good mix is a good mix. I'm sure if Brian Eno or someone was trying to make Kromestar wobblers they'd be well-made Kromestar wobblers.

If you don't' have a lot of money just get something with a fairly large range (mainly low end) and reference the hell outta em with commercially released tracks.

Mixing with 5" woofers or below will fair enough get your mid range tight (as that's all you can hear) but you're shooting in the dark when it comes to the low end.

Save up, get some 2nd hand Rokit 8's and reference, reference, reference!

£10 Bag wrote:I'd be hesitant of spending 100's on any speaker designed to be a bit shitty on purpose, but there's no difference between "studio production" and "stuff like dubstep and drum and bass".
A good mix is a good mix. I'm sure if Brian Eno or someone was trying to make Kromestar wobblers they'd be well-made Kromestar wobblers.

I'm sorry mate but I'd have to disagree, there is a definite difference. I've done 12+ years in recording studio production and 7+ years in dubstep and drum and bass, and although there are many similarities in workflow and technique, they are distinctly different beasts.

But that wasn't really my point, I just used that as an example to try and help the dude. I wasn't expecting to be criticized for such a minor thing.

I'm sorry I fooking spoke

I was convinced by some heads on here and a 60 day trial to get the equator D5's, and they are the biscuits. Its kind of pointless for me to post because all I am really saying is that I am another person incredibly satisified with them, but its true.

They are way easier to fit on a desk and monkey around with, really easy to safely transport with the bag, and are fucking awesome for any midrange problems. Its really wierd because the midrange is kind of shoved up into the "front" of the mix per say, but it sounds natural and positively affects mixes as they translate onto other systems. I can't really explain it, its not some sort of midrange boost, you couldn't recreate it with an EQ.

I mean, its probably not any different than any other high end 5" monitors, but its the fact that these are only 400$/pair.

Get the mediums that people are listening to music in the most. Macbook speakers and the smaller beats headphones

3rdeye wrote:

£10 Bag wrote:I'd be hesitant of spending 100's on any speaker designed to be a bit shitty on purpose, but there's no difference between "studio production" and "stuff like dubstep and drum and bass".
A good mix is a good mix. I'm sure if Brian Eno or someone was trying to make Kromestar wobblers they'd be well-made Kromestar wobblers.

I'm sorry mate but I'd have to disagree, there is a definite difference. I've done 12+ years in recording studio production and 7+ years in dubstep and drum and bass, and although there are many similarities in workflow and technique, they are distinctly different beasts.

But that wasn't really my point, I just used that as an example to try and help the dude. I wasn't expecting to be criticized for such a minor thing.

I'm sorry I fooking spoke

How so? The laws of physics don't change between genres, sound is the same for all forms of music. What differences are there?

auratones/avantones and the like are great tools for seeing how your mix will translate to less-than-optimum conditions. I'm considering getting a pair of NOS auratones to replace the thoroughly-bullshit computer speakers i have, which are almost more harm than good.

with that said, i can't think of a more useless tool for seeing how your dance track will bang in a club. that's just not what they're meant for.

But, then again, if it sounds good on the auratones-- you're at least in the ballpark.