Good active bookshelf / monitor speakers...

Hey all,

Can anyone recommend some nice active speakers for Dj'ing and general listening for about $500 to $1000?

I wouldn't mind a nice set of studio monitors but I don't produce anything at thise stage and I know these are often heavily towards production and not so great for general listening.

Regardless I just want something with a good frequency range that I can practice my mixing on. A bit of extra kick in the low end would be a nice too.

Due to living arrangements it doesn't look like I'm going to have any use for big loud speakers for a while.

Cheers,

Rips.

What sort of sound do you like?

More musical and warm, more clinical and cold?

Are you going to be mixing right next to them, i.e. nearfield?

Do you have a preference for active or passive?

I.e. amps built in, or seperate amp and speakers?

Musical and warm.

Nearfield.

Active preferred so I can move them about easily.

Models I've looked at but not herd so far are...

Behringer Truth Powered Studio Monitors B2031A $469

Yamaha HS80M $849

Mackie MR8 $995

I'm living in Melbourne now so its all Aus dollards.

Thanks.

I've narrowed it down to 3 options I think...

KRK RP8G2



Mackie MR8



Yamaha HS80M



The KRK's look awesome, have RCA inputs and are reasonably priced so if they sound right I may well go for them.

The Yamaha's get awesome reviews all over the place but no RCA inputs and a few people have found them a little too bright in the high end...depends on just how bright they are this could get get kinda annoying for general listening. Great for production tho I'm sure.

And the Mackies well I don't know about them, apparently they have really good bass, possibly too good if you mount them in the wrong place but they are also a couple of hundred dollars dearer that the other two.

Would basically agree on your summary.

I havnt heard those particular models - but the KRK I have heard are characteristically 'warm and musical', where the Yamaha's are clinical, and more revealing in the top end.

I preferred to 'listen' to music on the KRK's, but produce on the Yamaha's.

...and Mackie has a great marketing dept.

Cool yeah that's good to know...I think I'll go have a listen somewhere and then pick myself up a pair.

That's basically it.

Ask them to set them up identically.

Remember placement effects things too...

Hey Rips, hows it man?
I use these at home

M-Audio BX8a Deluxe Studio Reference Monitor Speakers

Placement is pretty important for these, but I really like them. Compared them to a few dif speakers and these were mint.

I little older now, not sure if they've been updated or what.

Hey mate! I'll check them M-Audio's out if I get the chance...

Would you guys mind giving your opinion's on the Alesis M1 Active 520's?

I've listened to them in DMC and they sound pretty good. My mate's studio monitors are VERY flat and these sounded much warmer.

If someone could tell me how these fit on the warmness/musicalness scale compared to other speakers of similar price range ($800) that would be helpful. Unfortunately DMC Wellington doesn't have much of a range to listen to.

PS: I'm not going to be using them for producing at all, only mixing.

I cant believe I didnt notice this thread 4 months ago! Rips, I also narrowed down my choices to the same Yamahas and the KRKs you posted. I went along to Soundcorp in South Melbourne where they have a purpose built area to test various speakers.

I preferred the KRKs over the Yamahas ultimately as they were warmer with a bit more kick in the low end.

All of which Proof said 4 months ago

What did you decide on?

Are the new Yamaha's a replacement for the old NS10M's? the ones prod's used to use for highlighting yukky mids and highs?

go for the krk 8's.

i got mine at the start of the year, and give them two thumbs up!

Well, I am sure they would like to utilise how well known they are?

But no, they are completely different beasts.

Not better or worse, but no comparison.

The White Cones do sound shit, btw...

I have the M1 520's. not bad. I'd go the KRK's for the price (I got a good deal on mine).

go the genelec 8020A's or similar... very nice for a little bookshelf sized active monitor.

I bought the Behringer Truth 2031As. Sound is pretty good for the price (500 AUD), but they are fucking massive (8'' woofer) and 12kg each. Will be a prob if space is an issue (luckily it wasn't for me)

Oops, 500 AUD for a pair, and 14kg each

how do the KRKs compare to the m-audio's that Definite Pitch mentioned?

I also have the Truths and they have been great workhorses. Sound pretty good for the price and have a good low end if ur doing dance music ...rather have Genelecs if I could justify the extra loot.