Studio monitors at the BBC?

[Arpangel]

I’m interested in finding out when they they stopped using the standard LS series monitors? I was there around 2010/2011 and there were a lot of Genelec's in evidence, I heard that they made a decision in 2014 to use Dynaudio as the predominant monitor, I also saw K+H used a lot, I’m wondering, is there a preferred BBC monitor theses days? a corporate decision, or is it up to individual departments to make choices?

[Hugh Robjohns]

I’m interested in finding out when they they stopped using the standard LS series monitors?

There wasn't a fixed date, but the evaluation process was in 2003/2004 and Dynaudio Air speakers flooded the refurbished (digital) Broadcasting House studios thereafter.

I wrote a brief history box-out on the beeb's speaker heritage in my recent Rogers LS5/9 review: https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ro ... classic-se

I heard that they made a decision in 2014 to use Dynaudio as the predominant monitor...

No, it was 2003/4 and they selected two different Dynaudio Air models (Air20 and Air6) to serve as substitutes for the LS55/8, LS5/9, and LS3/5A in new digital studios. Passive BM5s were also selected for non-digital applications.

It wasn't a universal changeover though; different departments and national/regional broadcast centres frequently used whatever they already had or more specialist monitors to suit specific needs.

But pretty much all of the Broadcasting House studios are using Dynaudios as far as I know -- I've not been there in a few years -- and obviously with staff working in different studios there on a daily (or hourly) basis consistency of monitoring is vitally important.

[ronmac]

Hugh, can you remember the amp used to drive the passive BM5s, please? I have an ancient pair that I am driving with a Bryston 2B of the same era, purchased used from a post house.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Sorry, no idea. Possibly Chord amps?

The Bryston 2B is a good partner, though.

[ronmac]

Thanks, Hugh.

I am happy with the combo, in my tiny room.

[Arpangel]

Thanks Hugh, all interesting, I was at Marylebone, now closed and they had an old studio there, upstairs, with an old console, and monitors, I can’t remember what they were, but they looked like a large LS design of some sort, we visited Radio 1 studio quite a bit, and there were lots of small editing suits in that building, mostly using small Genelecs.
I often recorded with Mike Skeet in the Wigmore Hall, and they had K+H 0300's in the BBC control room there, that’s what made Mike buy a pair.