Which Studio Monitors Nightmare ????

[Matthew Seed]

Hi guys I am in line for buying a new pair of studio monitors for a home studio setup. I have £2500. To spend. The problem is of course trying them out, I live no where near any shops that have this calibre of speakers in stock or if they do they have one model. The idea of going to one shop one weekend and another the next makes it too hard for me to judge. I’m trying to read as many reviews in SOS as I can to try and make a balanced view and shortlist.

So, any advice guys on best pair for that price point.

I’m interested in the new PMC Result6 monitors, I imagine with being PMC they are going to be a good set. I wonder Hugh, are these getting a review anytime soon ?

So Amy advice or also anything to avoid etc would all be welcome.

Thankyou.
Matthew

[Hugh Robjohns]

To spend. The problem is of course trying them out, I live no where near any shops that have this calibre of speakers in stock or if they do they have one model. The idea of going to one shop one weekend and another the next makes it too hard for me to judge.

Spending that amount of money makes it worth the effort of visiting a decent dealer. I'd recommend booking an appointment and making a trip to KMR in London... although there are other dealers around the country that might be as helpful.

I’m interested in the new PMC Result6 monitors, I imagine with being PMC they are going to be a good set. I wonder Hugh, are these getting a review anytime soon ?

I have a set here awaiting review at the moment...

H

[Wonks]

It's probably worth finishing your acoustic treatment projects first and then trying to get some of the speakers to listen to in your own studio.

[Matthew Seed]

Thanks Hugh. The PMC Result 6 appeal to me and i dont even know why if im honest...i guess its that for 20 years or so ive always heard of the reputation and now for the first time....and indeed for me, just in time they bring out a pair i can afford. I'm looking to spend a good amount to get a pair of speakers that will last me a lifetime......or at least a very long time and i so want ti make the right choice. Any nuggets of info on the Result 6's you can leak yet Hugh ?

Thanks Wonks, ive spent the last year or so getting my studio ready for this, its been treated after a lot of research as best i can and I can really hear the difference as it is which is great. So, i'm ready for a set of speakers that will do the job now.

I will check out KMR Hugh, thanks for that.

What would anyone say is the best speakers in this price bracket ? I know there is a lot and a lot of it depends on variables....but just an overview top 5 from anyone who has heard them in person would be nice.
Matthew

[Hugh Robjohns]

Thanks Hugh. The PMC Result 6 appeal to me and i dont even know why if im honest...i guess its that for 20 years or so ive always heard of the reputation and now for the first time....and indeed for me, just in time they bring out a pair i can afford.

They are, in many ways, the modern replacement for the much-loved TB2s and bring many improvements including a front-venting ATL and real two-way active amplification (at last!), as well as new improved drivers and the benefit of a lot of experience and technology. And they look well-priced into the bargain....

I'm looking to spend a good amount to get a pair of speakers that will last me a lifetime......or at least a very long time and i so want ti make the right choice. Any nuggets of info on the Result 6's you can leak yet Hugh ?

To be honest, I've not had the chance to have a proper listen yet, but second hand reports from others I know who have heard tem are complimentary. However, the competition at this kind of price level is pretty fierce and there are many very good alternatives. Given your comments above I'd have to steer you to at least audition the Neumann KH310s. Yes, they push your budget a bit higher, but if his is a lifetime choice I think it can be justified... And an excellent three-way will always outperform an excellent two-way in my book!

If you can book an afternoon at KMR's demo room you'll be able to listen to both of these monitors and several more besides -- just remember that you're looking for a speaker that reveals flaws, not one that flatters or sounds 'impressive'!

H

[ReedySteadyGo]

... you're looking for a speaker that reveals flaws, not one that flatters or sounds 'impressive'!

H

What does that mean in practice? A particularly flat frequency response, without any warmth in the bass for example, or is it more than that?

Ian.

[James Perrett]

... you're looking for a speaker that reveals flaws, not one that flatters or sounds 'impressive'!

What does that mean in practice? A particularly flat frequency response, without any warmth in the bass for example, or is it more than that?

A flat frequency response is part of it but a good time domain response is also important - the speaker should stop making sound when told to. Distortion is also important - a little distortion can add euphonic colouration which might be good in a home speaker but isn't what you want in a monitor.

Take a look at some of Phil Ward's speaker reviews in the magazine as he often talks knowledgeably about some of the design decisions behind the speakers he's reviewing.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/kii-audio-three
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/geithain-rl944k

[ReedySteadyGo]

Take a look at some of Phil Ward's speaker reviews in the magazine as he often talks knowledgeably about some of the design decisions behind the speakers he's reviewing.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/kii-audio-three
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/geithain-rl944k

Interesting. It seems as though about 90% of the cost and effort of studio monitor design is about removing the effects of the room. Why not take that to its logical conclusion and, at least for the purpose of revealing flaws, remove the room entirely by using headphones?

(I suspect the pros and cons of headphones Vs speakers have been covered before on the forum).

Ian

[Zukan]

That's a decent budget Matt. Had you thrown £1500-1800 at us then I would have felt for you.

At this level, as mentioned, finish your acoustic treatment then take your time in auditioning speakers and make sure they are done in a treated room or, better still, in your own room.

The PMCs, IMO, are unforgiving, so best to nail the room first.

[Wonks]

Unity Audio The Rock Mk2's are around £2.2k a pair and worth auditioning. Sealed cabs so they have a very accurate bass end as a result with no port smearing of the time domain. Supposedly the -3dB down point is at 33Hz, (was 50Hz on the Mk1) so pretty good for a sealed box! I know a couple of people with the Mk1 Rocks and they are very happy with them.

SOS has only reviewed the Mk1 version https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/unity-audio-rock but the Mk2 is just that bit better. Here's an Audio Media review. https://unityaudioproducts.co.uk/docs/r ... omedia.pdf

For real full range system you'd need their 'Boulder' sub, (as would almost any speaker system at this price point) but at around £2.6k, it would be best to see if you really needed a sub in your studio before spending a lot more money!

[Sam Spoons]

For most of us a -3dB point of 33Hz would be considered pretty full range

Edit :- just read the spec and have to report that the -3dB point is at a disappointing 37Hz

[Wonks]

Yeah, rubbish!

I was going by the review test figures, so maybe the test location bolstered the low end a bit compared to the Unity Audio figures.

[Matthew Seed]

Thanks for all the tips guys. I am not aware of the Unity Audio The Rock Mk2's so i will take a look now. What about the Genelec models in this price range, are they worth a look.

I have looked at the Neumann KH310s that Hugh recommend i look at and they seem on paper at leat to be top dollar speakers, They do push my budget another £400 or so, so that will need some thought and of course a listen.

The other monitors i keep seeing are the Mackie 824's, whats the thoughts on these ?

Thank you
Matthew

[Guest]

I have looked at the Neumann KH310s that Hugh recommend i look at and they seem on paper at leat to be top dollar speakers, They do push my budget another £400 or so, so that will need some thought and of course a listen.

Hi there.

I have the KH310As. They are most excellent and I know of 7 composers with studios that have them also. They seem to be quite accurate.

Oh, and as mentioned, KMR provide an excellent environment in which compare monitors. I must also recommend Funky Junk (London) who are very accommodating in sorting out a good monitor tryout. Also worth going there just to look at the fab retro stuff they have in.

Cheers.

[Wonks]

The Mackie 824s are at a lower price point per speaker and it shows. Average performance at best and are outshone by a lot of other monitors of a similar price.

[Matthew Seed]

Thanks Wonks, thats good to know as thats where i am coming from now a pair of original Mackie 824s, generation one.

I have been reading about these Genelec One speakers, im intrigued by the technology of the One driver. They might be over my price......but any views anyone on what they are like ?

I think that the Neuamann 310 and the PMC Result 6 are both on my shortlist to try....just not sure what else yet.

I may well make a trip down South to KMR and indeed Funky Junk and see whats what.

When you do a listening test like that, i'm not sure how useful that is when its not in my own environment, whats the thoughts on this and what is the best way to get the most out of an opportunity like that as far as what to take to listen too and how best to compare ?

Matthew

[jaminem]

I have KH310's they are brilliant, simply put I dont worry as much about mix translation now. I still check on 2 sets of cans and a mixcube, but I find I am now making more 'choices' than 'corrections' these days. Forget the Mackie's they are simply not in the same ballpark. Not even the same sport in fact. I had some years and while they were a good step up from the hifi speakers I had before, they do funny things to the bottom end. Spend time rockwoolling the arse off your room, and take decent well known ref material to KMR...

Good luck.

[Matthew Seed]

Thanks jaminem the more i read the more I am thinking that the 310's could be the ones for me. the only snag is they push me £400 over my limit. Thats one for me to think about. I am still interested in the PMC Result 6 monitors too. Of course I have heard neither of them its on speculation based on what i am reading online and advice from the guys n gals on here. Hugh made the point that a 3 way speaker will always out perform a 2 way one....just maybe that might be the reason to spend the extra on the 310's.

Hmmmm, new year approaching and a lot to think about.

Matthew

[Drew Stephenson]

As one of the biggest cheapskates on this forum I'm aware I'm being a bit hypocritical, but £400 for a probably-once-in-a-lifetime purchase would be a terrible regret to carry around...

[Matthew Seed]

Your right blinddrew except my budget was £2000 and i'm already pushed at £2500. I can't keep pushing it up and up. Ya know what it's like i'm sure.

Matt

[Drew Stephenson]

Yes indeedy.

[Sam Spoons]

That's only a 50% hike , I've doubled my budget to arrive at the KH120s I hope to buy in the Spring......

[Hugh Robjohns]

With a nominal budget of £2.5k my shortlist to try out would be:

Unity Audio Rock 2, Geithan RL906, Focal Twin 6BE, Neumann KH310, and the PMC Result 6, of course....

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/unity-audio-rock

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/geithain-rl906

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/focal-twin-6

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/neumann-kh310a

Of those, the Neumann is the only three-way sealed-cabinet model and is by far the biggest bargain in terms of bang per buck. The Rock is also a sealed cabinet design.

You could try to butter up John Willett to try and get a special SOS forum member's discount on the Geithains ... and they would double up as a handy flower vase, too... And while the Focal Twins are a ported cabinet design, their time-domain performance is exceptionally good -- better than some sealed cabinet boxes, in fact! I'd be very happy to use any of those monitors... although I personally opted for the KH310s and I'm very pleased with their performance.

BTW, The Rock review I linked above is for the original model, rather than the current mk2, but the update only brought some very small (but worthwhile) improvements. (See also the SuperRock review below).

Around similar money you could also check out the Quested SR8 Mk3, Genelec 8340 or the classic 1032, Amphion One18 (you'd need to add a decent power amp but that should still be within budget). The Questeds have a British sound character and a cult following, the Genelecs have a different character and a different cult following, and although I've not reviewed the Amphions a lot of people get excited about them, too.

If your budget might stretch to £3k, then the Unity Audio SuperRock and PSI Audio A17M come into range, too, and both are excellent.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ge ... -8350a-sam

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/am ... ne15-one18

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/un ... super-rock

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ps ... -a17m-a21m

Sadly, the Genelec Ones that you mentioned earlier are all more than double your current budget.

As with most things, buying monitor speakers is a case of diminishing returns; the more you spend, the better they are... but each step up costs larger and larger amounts. Once you get above about £1.5k you're into safe 'monitor' territory where the speakers really start to get genuinely revealing, but to hear that you need a properly sorted acoustic space -- so I'm glad you've already addressed that one.

Hope that helps.

H

[James Perrett]

One other thing to consider is buying used. If they aren't abused, monitors can last for many years. Keep an eye on the Readers' Ads.

[John Willett]

Hi guys I am in line for buying a new pair of studio monitors for a home studio setup. I have £2500. To spend. The problem is of course trying them out, I live no where near any shops that have this calibre of speakers in stock or if they do they have one model. The idea of going to one shop one weekend and another the next makes it too hard for me to judge. I’m trying to read as many reviews in SOS as I can to try and make a balanced view and shortlist.

So, any advice guys on best pair for that price point.

I’m interested in the new PMC Result6 monitors, I imagine with being PMC they are going to be a good set. I wonder Hugh, are these getting a review anytime soon ?

So Amy advice or also anything to avoid etc would all be welcome.

Thankyou.
Matthew

Where abouts are you?

Are you in the UK?

I'm pretty sure that PMC can arrange a home demo, as do various other manufacturers/dstributors of quality monitors.

PS - just reading Hugh's post above - the Geithain RL 906 are certainly available for a home trial in the UK.