Best Budget monitors? ADAM?

[james090]

The time has come for me to get some monitors to mix on, as I only have a small set up and recently moved home and to a new room.

The room is untreated, but currently use Headphones which isn't always ideal.

Previously I did have a pair of original ADAM A7's and thought these were superb but had to sell quite a bit as i downsized and moved, hoping to get something similar later.

I produce dance music and occasiinally TV / Orchestral Music so would need a bit of everything really.

How do the newer ADAM T5v monitors work out? These look perfect to me, as I loved my last ADAM's, but see these are being marketed as DJ monitors? so would these be as good for Orchestral style mock ups etc?

Thanks for any advice!

[John Willett]

What's the budget?

On a tight budget my "go to" monitors would be the Neumann KH 120.

[ef37a]

What's the budget?

On a tight budget my "go to" monitors would be the Neumann KH 120.

Interesting John? On another forum I was rather castigated for suggesting that accurate monitors really only start at $/£ 1000 the pair.

I now feel somewhat vindicated.

Dave.

[Sam Spoons]

And you'll probably need so room treatment as soon as you move to speakers.

[Drew Stephenson]

At that price point they're definitely worth a listen, probably worth looking at the Kali audio stuff as well.

[James Perrett]

The Adams mentioned are £250 for a pair so the Neumanns are probably way out of the budget. On that kind of budget I'd be looking for something used - there are bargains out there if you look carefully.

[Aled Hughes]

With the caveat that I’ve never heard them (but use KH120 regularly) - is the Neumann KH80 worth a look?
A fair chunker cheaper (and a bit smaller) than the KH120.
When/if I ever replace my ae22 I’d be looking at them.

[Hugh Robjohns]

On another forum I was rather castigated for suggesting that accurate monitors really only start at $/£ 1000 the pair.

Maybe a little lower these days... there's some pretty decent stuff around now at the £750 mark, actually -- including the KH80s I think... and yes, they are definitely worth a listen if the budget can reach them. Slightly different presentation to the KH120s because of the linear-phase DSP malarky, but definitely on a par quality-wise.

But if we're talking genuine, well-made, accurate, professional standard 'monitors' worthy of the name then the serious stuff starts at around £1k, and by £3k it's really very good indeed.

[The Elf]

When/if I ever replace my ae22 I’d be looking at them.

I hope I never reach that place. The AE22s are easily the best speakers I've owned.

If you could pick up a decent secondhand pair of those you'd be doing yourself a favour.

[Logarhythm]

+1 for the AE22s - extremely happy with mine, following recommendations here. Paid comfortably under £250 for the pair, too.
Don't see many of them for sale but there are a couple of sets of the active version on eBay at the moment, although possibly with rather optimistic asking prices

[John Willett]

What's the budget?

On a tight budget my "go to" monitors would be the Neumann KH 120.

Interesting John? On another forum I was rather castigated for suggesting that accurate monitors really only start at $/£ 1000 the pair.

I now feel somewhat vindicated.

Dave.

You are right - the same feeling as me.

You can get reasonable loudspeakers cheaper, but good monitors do cost money and are well worth the investment.

My first decent monitors were the Harbeth Monitor 30 Actives (now for sale if anyone is interested) and a pair of K+H O110D for location work (also now for sale). I was very happy with these - I think the O110D were just under £2k and the Harbeths about £2.5k.

I did compare the O110D with the KH120 and found them very close and pretty equal.

But I then upgraded to the MEG RL906 for location and now (in the last few days) have the RL934K for the main set - all nearfields as I don't sit that far away.

[Drew Stephenson]

For what it's worth I've recently got a pair of KH80s and they are a clear step up from the previous HiFi speaker and amp combo I was using. They were (well, still are) good speakers, Dynaudios, and it was a decent Musical Fidelity amp, but going to a proper set of monitors was a huge improvement.

None of which helps the OP of course.

Second hand is good if you can find something and know enough about what to look for, but if you do go for new the Adams are certainly going to be in the ball park for that price range.

[ef37a]

My problem with budget (and to some extent second hand) monitors is that if you have never had or heard really top end speakers you have no reference point?

I chose Tannoy Reveal 5As some years ago on the basis of a "shootout" (not SoS) my logic being that the reviewers had had vastly more experience than I and had access to far better sources and other, state of art, monitors to compare. The Tannoys came out well and in my then budget. I was also swayed by the fact that Tannoy had been making speakers longer than I had been alive and should know a thing or three AND they do not make every other electronic gimmcrack on the market.

My other reservation is QC? A review sample might be touted as a £199 "giant killer" but is that quality maintained sample to sample?

Dave.

[Zukan]

The Adams mentioned are £250 for a pair so the Neumanns are probably way out of the budget. On that kind of budget I'd be looking for something used - there are bargains out there if you look carefully.

I'm with James here, used will serve you better.

Have you considered using headphones and a cheap box for stereo imaging?

[james090]

Thanks for all your replies.

I've decided as a previous ADAM's user to go for the T7v's which look great, and lots of positive reviews.

[Arpangel]

Thanks for all your replies.

I've decided as a previous ADAM's user to go for the T7v's which look great, and lots of positive reviews.

Sorry to rock the boat, but have you heard the Presonus Eris range, these stood out for me when I was looking, also, KRK, these two seemed to have the most acceptable tonal balance, I did listen to a lot at the time.
But monitors are so personal, and if you're happy with the ADAM sound then go for it.

[Martin Walker]

My other reservation is QC? A review sample might be touted as a £199 "giant killer" but is that quality maintained sample to sample?

On the other hand, you must offset that against the fact that the review sample may have been bounced around the country via a host of indifferent couriers before it got to a particular magazine.

On the other, other hand if you believe in 'playing in' loudspeakers, the review model might sound more at ease than models straight out of the factory.

On the...

Martin

[ef37a]

My other reservation is QC? A review sample might be touted as a £199 "giant killer" but is that quality maintained sample to sample?

On the other hand, you must offset that against the fact that the review sample may have been bounced around the country via a host of indifferent couriers before it got to a particular magazine.

On the other, other hand if you believe in 'playing in' loudspeakers, the review model might sound more at ease than models straight out of the factory.

On the...

Martin

Thank you Martin for that incisive response! I have been told that speaker cones are notoriously difficult to make in a consistent way. I think it was the Kef R105 which had serial numbers on the drivers and should a replacement be needed a match could be found from a database?

Cannot see such intense QC being lavished on speakers at £99.0 a pop.

The "burning in/wearing out scenario is a can of worms opened FAR to often! I shall remain shtumn.

Dave.

[Drew Stephenson]

The "burning in/wearing out scenario is a can of worms opened FAR to often! I shall remain shtumn.

Dave.

I'd rather discuss brexit!

[John Willett]

The "burning in/wearing out scenario is a can of worms opened FAR to often! I shall remain shtumn.

Dave.

I'd rather discuss brexit!

[DC-Choppah]

I recommend that you plug your new Adam monitors into an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect them, along with the rest of the studio gear too.

[Wonks]

I recommend that you plug your new Adam monitors into an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect them, along with the rest of the studio gear too.

Not really necessary in the UK (at the moment) unless you live in an area prone to brown and blackouts. But it does sound like a good investment in the US, where the power quality is far more varied.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I'd rather discuss brexit!

I think we can be pretty confident that it has been fully run in now...

H

[james090]

Just a quick thank you to all the posts here!

I decided on the Adam T7v's and they sound fantastic!

However, I just wanted to ask, as they are connected to an Audient ID22 via the Outs 1L and 2R.

I just feel that the monitoring seems low? I turned the Adam Monitors back volume up to +18db to compensate for this, but not sure if I should be using them at this high a setting?

At 0db on the monitors, it seems that I have to turn the Audient ID22 volume/monitor dial right up? I remember it being more sensitive than this? so maybe a quarter of the way around was quite loud/room volume?

I have the iD software all set up correctly from what I can see, with the channels at 0db

Any quick tips on what to look for or whether I should put the speaker volumes back to 0db? and turn up the Audient ID22? (I just didn't want a huge blast of noise if I had indeed set this up wrongly and it blow my speakers or blow my socks off!)

[ef37a]

One more small expense James, a "C" weighted sound level meter.
Does not have to be expensive, £15-£20 easily good enough.

Then I am sure someone will give you a link about calibrating your monitors.

Dave.