Speakers - what are you using for home studio?

Gypsyblue · #1 04-03-2011, 08:53 AM

I don't want to spend much. I've always liked older Boston Acoustics for my home stereo and was thinking of getting some used BA bookshelf speakers for the little home studio I'm putting together. But I haven't made a move yet and I'm looking for recommendations. Thanks!

sdelsolray · #2 04-03-2011, 09:22 AM

You probably don't want to hear this, but studio monitoring is one of those things that the professionals say, "Don't scrimp on your monitoring." Still, there are dozens and dozens of studio nearfield monitors that are inexpensive and seem to get good reviews from users.

Most studio cats use monitors to listen to full mixes, including bass, keyboards, vocals, drums, etc. Not surprisingly, most home studio user and pro reviews are from this perspective. Some of us are only interested in acoustic guitar, which does not reach into the low frequencies like a bass guitar or keyboard does. If you are in this camp, then you don't need flat bass response down into the bass range. A monitor that provides -3dB at 60 Hz is quite adequate for acoustic guitar and vocal recording.

As to brands and models, I don't have much experience with that many different monitors in my own space - only 6 different pairs over the years - so I can't help much there. I currently use Quested monitors.

Gypsyblue · #3 04-03-2011, 09:42 AM

Thanks! This is just a little Zoom H4 based home studio for recording my acoustic guitar compositions. I'll also sometimes record some vocals and sometimes a little percussion. I might invest in some nicer mics than what are built into the Zoom H4 at some point.

rmyAddison · #4 04-03-2011, 09:42 AM

I agree with sdelsolray, you get what you pay for. I use Adam Audio reference monitors and sub, love the ribbon tweeters.

ferg · #5 04-03-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goldenbird

I don't want to spend much. I've always liked older Boston Acoustics for my home stereo and was thinking of getting some used BA bookshelf speakers for the little home studio I'm putting together. But I haven't made a move yet and I'm looking for recommendations. Thanks!

In my personal experience (and also from those of more knowledgeable folks that I've read), home stereo speakers are not best suited for studio applications. Typically, these speakers tend to color the sound somewhat, which makes them great for listening, but not necessarily for mixing. If you mix on a pair of speakers like that, then you'll likely get stuff that sounds good on those speakers, but may not translate as well to other systems. Good studio monitors are designed to give an uncolored sound, so you can mix based on the true sound of the material, and you should be able to achieve a mix that translates better from one system to the next.

That said, I often do a lot of my mixing using headphones, which, I know is far from ideal. The headphones I use (Sennheiser HD280) are pretty true, but it's just not the best way to mix. Unfortunately, with a houseful of people, it's often my only option.

I do agree, though, with sdelsolray - if you're doing just acoustic guitar or acoustic guitar/vox, it's not as critical as if you were mixing a full band.

Gypsyblue · #6 04-03-2011, 10:41 AM

Well I made up my mind fast on this one and found some almost new JBL LSR2325P speakers for under $200. shipped. I read a bunch of reviews and all raved about these little guys. These seem like a good deal and they're within my price range for the very modest home studio I'm putting together. Thanks for steering me away from a set of home stereo speakers.

fitness1 · #7 04-03-2011, 11:11 AM

I have my recording deck patched into my main audiophile system in my listening room......speakers are Athena ASF1.2's. I do close field listening so it works out well, it's all setup already

alohachris · #8 04-03-2011, 11:49 AM

Aloha Goldenboid,

I totally agree wtih Sdelsolray regarding monitors. I'm using Adam A7 monitors (near-fields), Daedalus 803's (mid-fields), AKG K-240 mkII Studio headphones & my car stereo speakers for mastering.

The key to near-field monitors for recording is accuracy. You want them as un-colored sounding & flat as possible - which are not necessarily what you want in stereo speakers, for example. You also want speakers that don't give you ear fatigue & which are room adjustable.

You move fast, dude. JBL's on the way.

Write a review when they arrive.

Happy Sunday.

alohachris

Gypsyblue · #9 04-03-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alohachris

Aloha Goldenboid,

You move fast, dude. JBL's on the way.

Write a review when they arrive.

Happy Sunday.

alohachris

Aloha Chris! It's a beautiful Sunday in the mountains where we live but we're expecting snow.

Even after having my ear drums lanced and drained on Friday, I still can't hear a lick, but I want to think positively and continue composing. It's interesting how the isolation of being deaf makes composing easier - I'm hearing more music in my head than usual. Lyrics too.

Putting this little studio of mine together cheers me up. Here's just some of the reviews I read of the JBL's: http://www.google.com/products/catal...681&os=reviews

7thbassbA · #10 04-04-2011, 09:24 AM

I found a pair of Eden EM5's for around 120.00 on Ebay. They don't make them anymore and I think folks were dumping their inventory. Sound great. Handles electric bass well, as it should coming from Eden.

KevWind · #11 04-04-2011, 11:12 AM

I currently use a pair KRK V8s At some point I would like to move up to
either PCM K&H or Focal but that's a bit into the future

K-vegas · #12 04-04-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goldenbird

Well I made up my mind fast on this one and found some almost new JBL LSR2325P speakers...

I think you'll like these. I have similar jbl's, 4326's, and they are very musical and revealing. Not bass heavy for sure but they work well for most acoustic mixes.

My problem with selecting monitors was there is no place left around my area that carries pro audio any more. GC has a small selection to hear, but finding a time to audition monitors there w/o heavy background noise is impossible.

Good luck with your selection and post back how they work for you.

PorkPieGuy · #13 04-04-2011, 03:04 PM

I mix everything at home through a pair of AKG K240 headphones. Love them.

fitness1 · #14 04-04-2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PorkPieGuy

I mix everything at home through a pair of AKG K240 headphones. Love them.

yes, I forgot, I use my AT M50's for the initial mix, then the system for the second "opinion"

Pete on guitar · #15 04-05-2011, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alohachris

...& my car stereo speakers for mastering.

You know, that is a really good point alohachris. When I'm done tweaking the very last bit of fine-tuning of the level of the backing vocals... the granularity of the reverb... when I've twice removed and re-instated that annoying - or maybe sublime - finger-squeak in the intro... THEN I listen to it in the car, and then I REALLY know what it sounds like. My car stereo is no great shakes, but it's the system I listen to the most, and I know what a good mix sounds like on it. If I've got a cluttered and muddy bass-end, the dashboard rattles, etc...

Beep
Pete