Good Monitors for drum and bass...?

[-rich-]

Drum and bass producers, what monitors are you using?


I am after some new ones and i've listened to loads of them. I need to get something small and obviously the bass responce on the smaller speakers cuts off earlier.


Does anyone using small speakers know from experience if the sub bass inthe mixes will be unbalanced or muddy if played on a bigger system withlower bass responce or will i be able to get away with it as i get used to them?

[Tobes]

ive got those hhb circle 3's they are tiny and althouth sound alright, i can never turn them up loud enough to hear heavy basslines, maybe look into getting a sub as well that will boost em. http://www.itstooloud.com/smileys/smiley10.gif


you not seen any good ones at your work mate?


oh and to answer your question, with luck you should get used to your speakers, its when you dont know a set of speakers you dont want them lying to you with sound thats not real, cos then you just cant get the sound right.


good luck man

[-rich-]

i heard lots of them, but they all seem to cut out at a similar frequency.

some of them have matching subs available but they are fairly pricey.
waiting to hear the new wharfedale sub when thats out, see what
speakers i can get the flattest responce from with it as it has
adjustable crossovers.

[FOKI26]

I use Spirit Absolute 2's, not sure if they're still available but they pretty good....





What you hear across the whole Hz range, is basically what it really sounds like (if you know what i mean).... No complaints....

[filter]

ie heard some good reports on m-audio http://www.itstooloud.com/smileys/smiley16.gifalso heard that the mackie speakers have a high mid range http://www.itstooloud.com/smileys/smiley5.gif


good luck http://www.itstooloud.com/smileys/smiley10.gif

[-rich-]

yeh they are but they are way too big and expensive!

decided to go for a pair of msp5's as they are tidy and sound great.

got to wait another month till i have the cash tho..http://www.itstooloud.com/smileys/smiley6.gif

[crazygit1]

Did you get any good monitors, im looking for some good ones now mine just aint for monitoring.. was looking at the yamaha ns10m says these are good but when they came out years ago, does anyone know if they still good or are there better ones for same amount

[crazygit1]

I think FOKI26 has convinced me about the ab 2's ive read alot of good reports as well i think im going down that road they gotta be better than the all bass nothing else jamos..

[mindgear]

I also use the absolute 2 monitors and they really sound good in my ears! Give them a try!
Edited by: mindgear

[-rich-]

the thing ive come to realise is that aslong as the monitors are fairly
flat you will get used to them and they will serve you well. I'd
recommend getting actives though more than anything if you can afford to

[crazygit1]

Ok what about amplifiers, any suggestions on any good ones.. ive got a standard sony hi-fi stereo which everything is plugged into but its not giving me true sound so need to upgrade, ive sorted the speaker the absolute 2's.. but what about the amp..... any suggestions???

[mindgear]

check the alesis ra300 amplifier http://www.alesis.com/products/ra300/



http://www.alesis.com/products/ra300/ra300.jpg

[FOKI26]

My amp is just a sony thing (£200 basic amp....), but like Rich said it's more about getting used to what you're hearing, and knowing how things should sound on your set up...


You should always try your mixes on hi-fi's, car stereo's walkmans etc anyway as that's what most people will be using to listen to your stuff on anyway. The aim being to get something to sound good on any system. Headphones are a really good way to get things like panning sorted etc, as the stereo image isover emphasised to the point where subtle panning can sound much wider than it really is.





Also, a good thing is when you get your monitors, and maybe an amp, play some 'real' tunes through it and use them as a reference to how your mixes should sound... If you can get them to sound the same then your more than half way there.

[FOKI26]

Just remember that it's not about what kit you've got, or how good it can do one thing or another, it's whatYOU do with it that counts....





Think Calibre, he apparently has the most basic of set-up, and in some ways it shows in his tunes.... but that's what gives them their vibe, not the fact that they're mixed down well, or super clean production....which a lot aren't....





I read a quote recently that i couldn't agree more with....'vibes first, quality second'....

[mindgear]

... but like Rich said it's more about getting used
to what you're hearing, and knowing how things should sound on your set
up...



thats right, but to hear something you need some speakers and an amp.

and the combination of abs2 and alesis ra300 is affordable. ra300 costs about $250.Edited by: mindgear

[FOKI26]

Well yeah....a cup and a length of string works tho.... what more do you want ?????:smiley2:

[mindgear]

http://www.itstooloud.com/smileys/smiley36.gif

[-rich-]

i reckon actives are the way to go, you dont need to have an amp at all obviously. The theoretical benefits of active monitors are plentiful. http://www.mackie.com/products/mackietechnology/Active_vs_Pa (http://www.mackie.com/products/mackietechnology/Active_vs_Passive.html) ssive.html