Second set of monitors?

[Arpangel]

All is well, at Angel Towers, no major concerns about the studio, but I’ve expanded on a side table, so the whole set-up is in a big L shape, monitors and computer in front, keyboards etc to the side, so I need another pair of speakers.
I’m OK when mixing etc, but I need another set for when I’m sitting at the synths, as I can’t hear very well to the side. I’ve got a hi-fi I could have used, but my partner has commandeered it for conservatory music duties.
I can’t think, do I say goodby to my Behringer monitors, and use those for programming, getting a better pair of main monitors, or should I just get a cheap pair for programming and keep the Berry’s as usual?

Yours, confused.

[resistorman]

Same thing happened to me. I bought Eris E5XTs with an Eris Sub 8 for synth duties. A lot of fun and surprisingly accurate, though maybe a bit too flattering for critical mixing. Still, it’s nice to shake the room up a bit with those low notes for extra synth inspiration.

[ef37a]

I don't think I have ever read an SoS review of the Behringer monitors? You seem to rate them and in truth (see what I did there!) I have not read anything bad about them but maybe this is an opportunity to get something REALLY top notch?

Phil Ward was very taken with a pair of (Polish?) speakers a while ago and I think they were sub £1k5 a pair?

Regarding the 'stolen' hi fi speakers, bit risky putting synths through them unless they were unusually massive?

Dave.

[MOF]

The KRK range are very good value for money. I’ve got the VXT6 version.

https://www.krkmusic.com/

[ore_terra]

The KRK range are very good value for money. I’ve got the VXT6 version.

https://www.krkmusic.com/

agree. the non rokit KRK's are good and usable.

[Mike Stranks]

The KRK range are very good value for money. I’ve got the VXT6 version.

https://www.krkmusic.com/

agree. the non rokit KRK's are good and usable.

Yup! I have the VXT4s

[Drew Stephenson]

I'm going to plug the Adam T5Vs again, I have no connection with them but when I went to listen to some with a friend last year they were definitely the best in the sub £300 category to my ears.

[shufflebeat]

I'm going to plug the Adam T5Vs again, I have no connection with them but when I went to listen to some with a friend last year they were definitely the best in the sub £300 category to my ears.

I'll second that. My meagre folkie offerings translate much better to the car and other systems since I started using them.

[uselessoldman]

I have a set of Adams T7Vs and love them to bits. Besides the 5 yr warranty when I was researching and testing studio monitors I found them to be miles better than anything in their price range and better than some that cost significantly more.

I found the 7s had just that little more bottom end punch than the 5s, yes they do cost a little bit more but worth it.

[Arpangel]

Dave, the Berry’s are absolutely fine, for the money, they don’t have any major glaring issues, that distract me, I can remember searching very hard at the time for something cheap and cheerful, and these were the best of the bunch, and of course, over the years, my ears have got even more used to them.
In my last flat I had loads of spare speakers that never got used, but now I’m in this house, they’ve all got used up, on various things.
Monitors I’ve heard and liked, what I call "serious" ones, are Event Opals, ATC SCM20 Pro, SCM25, and the venerable Yamaha NS10, I always liked I like a lean sound, so many monitors seem to have a bass hump, another one I liked was the Acoustic Energy AE1.
The Presonus system with the sub as mentioned here sounds like it could be good for programming, I like their stuff, I may give them a try anyway, but for main monitoring, I really don’t know, if I replace the Berry’s they will be used for my synths anyway.

[Arpangel]

OK, decided no sub, could be really bad, I just need two speakers.
Prepared to spend on either of these two, Eris 5 XT, or Adam T5’s, any overall opinions appreciated, it’s no big deal, I don’t want to ad any more to the equation, either of these could be good.

[Hugh Robjohns]

How are you planning to switch between these two sets of monitors?

[Arpangel]

How are you planning to switch between these two sets of monitors?

It’s OK Hugh, it’s two separate systems, I’m mixing and monitoring off the computer interface on the computer table, the monitor out on my MixWix will be connected to the synth table monitors, I don’t need to switch from one to the other, I’ll always be using the new speakers at the synth table.

[Hugh Robjohns]

[Arpangel]

Taking delivery of a pair of Genelec 8030's, today, don’t worry, I haven’t bought them, a friend is clearing out, and he no longer needs them, this is going to be very interesting, as I’m not a fan, but I’ll see how they sound in the basement, I’ll report back.
I get the feeling these won’t be anywhere near the going rate, so whatever happens they may be tempting, unless I totally hate them!

[ConcertinaChap]

I've still got my Genelec 8030s that I replaced with a pair of KH120s years ago, so the Genelecs got moved into the studio recording area because I couldn't bring myself to sell them. There they're doing sterling service and I've always thought they run the KH120s surprisingly close. If you've got the chance to buy them unusually cheap and they're in good nick I'd say don't let them get away.

I'm a bit of a fan of Genelec speakers and elsewhere in the house I've got a pair of 8020s and another of 6010s all earning their keep.

CC

[Arpangel]

I've still got my Genelec 8030s that I replaced with a pair of KH120s years ago, so the Genelecs got moved into the studio recording area because I couldn't bring myself to sell them. There they're doing sterling service and I've always thought they run the KH120s surprisingly close. If you've got the chance to buy them unusually cheap and they're in good nick I'd say don't let them get away.

I'm a bit of a fan of Genelec speakers and elsewhere in the house I've got a pair of 8020s and another of 6010s all earning their keep.

CC

Interesting, what do you particularly like about them?
They sound OK to me, but I’m not sure I’d like to spend even this amount on them, I listened to them last night, they sound a bit forward, and larger than life compared to my Behringers, could be a good thing though, especially for playing synths through, programming.

[Mike Stranks]

Interesting, what do you particularly like about them?
They sound OK to me, but I’m not sure I’d like to spend even this amount on them, I listened to them last night, they sound a bit forward, and larger than life compared to my Behringers, could be a good thing though, especially for playing synths through, programming.

But then you've got used to the sound of the Bs and that is now your 'normal'....

[Arpangel]

Interesting, what do you particularly like about them?
They sound OK to me, but I’m not sure I’d like to spend even this amount on them, I listened to them last night, they sound a bit forward, and larger than life compared to my Behringers, could be a good thing though, especially for playing synths through, programming.

But then you've got used to the sound of the Bs and that is now your 'normal'....

Yes, that’s true, but if I’m going to be spending serious money, to me, more than the Berrys,
then the new ones have got to be an undoubted obvious improvement, like, wow!
The Geny's are good, I’m not putting them down, it’s as you say, my ears have got used to my monitors, so they feel more "comfortable" familiar, even though ultimately they may not be as good.
I think I’m going to have to pay a lot more, up into the thousands, to get something that’s going to be a definite improvement, but then again, what’s the point in that? My room is untreated, and has issues, this is why I’ve never bought anything else, or got further than tentative enquiries.
It was good though, borrowing these monitors, it’s made me think a bit more about the whole situation.

[ef37a]

ONCE upon a time... the quality of speakers, both in the upper echelons of 'hi fi' and studio monitors was compared to REAL acoustic instruments!

I would say the ideal of becoming 'imprinted' on a set of speakers would be totally alien to the old guard that I was brought up with? People such as John Crabbe, Angus McKenzie (Hi Fi News) Hugh Ford (Studio Sound) Peter Walker (Acoustical 'Quad') Percy Wilson and many others that went to CONCERTS!

Comparing speakers to 'speakers' is to me a Zanzibar fallacy.

Ok, apart from that rant Arp'. Having a "less than perfect room" is to me no obstacle to getting some highly accurate monitors. Surely the listening experience can only be enhanced and at least you know you have a solid baseline from which to consider treating the room? Cannot have a silk room with pig's ear speakers!

Dave.