Best Budget monitors? ADAM?

[Luke W]

Link is here if you do decide to calibrate levels:

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/establishing-project-studio-reference-monitoring-levels

[richbondmusic]

Sorry to revive this post, but it seemed the best place to ask this question as some of the monitors I'm looking at are referenced...

I'm in the process of trying to expand my professional mixing work, and I'm looking to improve my monitoring for the low end of my mixes.

For clarity, currently I'm working on a pair of Genelec 8010a, a mono Avantone mixcube and a pair of AKG K702s. However, I feel a bit like I'm mixing blind in the low end. I'm working in a room measuring L16.7ft x W12.2ft x H10ft that has been treated using 100mm thick Rockwool panels - RW5 for bass trapping in the front and back wall-wall corners (extending nearly floor to ceiling), and front wall-to-ceiling corner, and RW45 for the broadband panels located at the first reflection points to the side of my monitors, hanging above my mix position and on the front and back wall. The space is in a late victorian terraced house with exposed floorboards. It seems pretty well behaved as a space, but this might well be because my monitors simply don't put out enough low end information to excite the room modes. Here is a link to see some images of the studio space and the acoustic treatment if this is useful. https://www.wisetreestudios.com/

The options I've explored are:
- Get another set of budget monitors - e.g. Adam T7V (or T8V) that have been previously mentioned in this post.
- Get a Genelec 7040a sub for the 8010a to create a 2.1 system.

As an FYI, alongside this, I'm planning on investing in Sonarworks as well.

I like the idea of another set of monitors to provide another perspective on my mixes, however I'm aware that the Adams are very cheap, and maybe not up to the job.

If I went down the Genelec sub route, I'm a little nervous about how easy it will be to get the sub to integrate in the room. From what I've read it often seems to be a gamble, with many suggesting larger stereo monitors are a safer bet.

What are people's opinions?

Thank you very much in advance for your time!

[Hugh Robjohns]

I dont usually recommend subs, but in your case I think adding the Genelec sub might be the most sensible and cost effective route.

It sounds like your room is well treated, and you are already very familiar with what the 8010s are telling you, so filling in the bottom couple of octaves with a sub should give you the confidence you seek, with the option of disabling it to go back to what you know easily.

Also Genelec subs do work well and are relatively easy to align with the satellites, and if you subsequently wanted to upgrade the satellites to a better Genelec model the sub would still be useful.

The idea of secondary main monitors in the space is -- I think -- a fallacy. They inherently suffer the same bass uncertainty as your primary main monitors because it's the room that creates that uncertainty. Far better, in my view, to invest in the best main monitors you can afford, rather than two lower quality sets.

A small mono single-speaker grot box is a worthy addition, though, which will tell you useful things the main monitors can't.

[Drew Stephenson]

The other option might be to invest in some very high end headphones?

[Hugh Robjohns]

He's already got K702s...

[Drew Stephenson]

hence the 'very' in my post

[Hugh Robjohns]

hmmm. Okay... Not sure very high end phones would make much real difference in assessing the low end over K702s... But it is an option, I agree.

[richbondmusic]

Thank you so much for your thoughts Hugh, and Blindrew - I really appreciate the support.

Yes, everything you have said makes sense, and I think the Genelec Sub sounds like the best bet. Unfortunately the 7040a doesn't have a footswitch to turn the sub on and off, so it is a little faff to use the 8010as without the sub once installed, but hopefully I won't feel the need to do this

Is there anything I need to potentially consider about placing a sub on the wooden floor? It is a first floor room. I've seen things like the Auralex Subdude and other similar products.

Thanks!

Rich

[w oxo cube]

Is there anything I need to potentially consider about placing a sub on the wooden floor? It is a first floor room. I've seen things like the Auralex Subdude and other similar products.

Thanks!

Rich

I put down a thick rubber matt, placed some breeze blocks laid flat on top of the rubber, then laid my sub on top. It's not especially attractive but it certainly works.

[Zukan]

hmmm. Okay... Not sure very high end phones would make much real difference in assessing the low end over K702s... But it is an option, I agree.

Agreed. I use Audeze LCD-X and the low end referencing is very good. But TBH, not much better than the 712s I had....

[Arpangel]

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.

I can remember when the AE22 came out, I was raving about them, I thought they were one of the best monitors around at the time, the competition sounded so coloured and unnatural compared to the AE22.
I’d still recommend them even now.

[The Elf]

The only things that will replace my AE22s is a repair or a secondhand replacement. They are easily the best monitors I've used.

[Arpangel]

The only things that will replace my AE22s is a repair or a secondhand replacement. They are easily the best monitors I've used.

I should have bought some when I had the chance, I think a lot of the clarity and detail of these speakers comes from a very tight and well controlled bass, not interfering with other frequencies, in fact, I’ve heard some say the 22’s are bass light, but I just think it’s a very well balanced sound, they make lots of other monitors sound very hyped, and coloured.

[Aled Hughes]

The only things that will replace my AE22s is a repair or a secondhand replacement. They are easily the best monitors I've used.

I should have bought some when I had the chance, I think a lot of the clarity and detail of these speakers comes from a very tight and well controlled bass, not interfering with other frequencies, in fact, I’ve heard some say the 22’s are bass light, but I just think it’s a very well balanced sound, they make lots of other monitors sound very hyped, and coloured.

I agree.

Keep an eye on ebay/Gumtree etc though - they have a rather low resale value. Seen a few active pair go for under £300.

[Arpangel]

The only things that will replace my AE22s is a repair or a secondhand replacement. They are easily the best monitors I've used.

I should have bought some when I had the chance, I think a lot of the clarity and detail of these speakers comes from a very tight and well controlled bass, not interfering with other frequencies, in fact, I’ve heard some say the 22’s are bass light, but I just think it’s a very well balanced sound, they make lots of other monitors sound very hyped, and coloured.

I agree.

Keep an eye on ebay/Gumtree etc though - they have a rather low resale value. Seen a few active pair go for under £300.

[uselessoldman]

Just been through the same long and arduous process of choosing which Studio Monitors I wanted. I started with a clean sheet with no specific preferences and tested speakers costing over a £1000 down to the higher end budget range.

The Adams T7Vs were by far the best buy. A nice bass, punchy tight and covered most genre of music without needing a sub (I have a big Yamaha sub should the need arise). The 5"s I found lacked Bass so I counted anything less than 7" out.

That aside what made me choose them? Looks, they look LOVELY, they sound perfect, BORING AND DULL as they should be, enough power for the rooms I use, keep this in mind a larger room might require more power. Best of all, a 5yr warranty !!

I did seriously consider Yamaha and JBL but in the end I just thought the Adams sounded better and picked out some sounds I found more difficult to hear on the others. In fact I found it impossible to justify spending more on anything else, even the better Adams range. If I had needed more power then I would have opted for maybe something else, but they ticked all the boxes. I am very happy with them, you cannot fault them in any way

[Aled Hughes]

I counted anything less than 7" out.

Then you’ve probably missed out on the best monitors available in that price range!

[Arpangel]

Just been through the same long and arduous process of choosing which Studio Monitors I wanted. I started with a clean sheet with no specific preferences and tested speakers costing over a £1000 down to the higher end budget range.

The Adams T7Vs were by far the best buy. A nice bass, punchy tight and covered most genre of music without needing a sub (I have a big Yamaha sub should the need arise). The 5"s I found lacked Bass so I counted anything less than 7" out.

That aside what made me choose them? Looks, they look LOVELY, they sound perfect, BORING AND DULL as they should be, enough power for the rooms I use, keep this in mind a larger room might require more power. Best of all, a 5yr warranty !!

I did seriously consider Yamaha and JBL but in the end I just thought the Adams sounded better and picked out some sounds I found more difficult to hear on the others. In fact I found it impossible to justify spending more on anything else, even the better Adams range. If I had needed more power then I would have opted for maybe something else, but they ticked all the boxes. I am very happy with them, you cannot fault them in any way

Bass is so important, and the only really reliable way of producing it is to shift a lot of air.
Most of my listening is done in my car, which has "loads of bass" and I love it, it makes the music sound whole, complete, when I listen indoors on my monitors it’s like my legs have been cut off. I know it’s not best practice, but I’m longing for a sub now, it’s just so much more exciting.
Depends what you want, and if you have to,please anyone else, mixes etc, but without decent bass half of the music is missing in some genres.