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For the audio-monitor savvy…
Hello,
I’m looking into a reasonably priced audio monitor setup, in the $200 and under price range. Can anyone recommend what the best monitor is at that price point? The ones I have seriously considered so far are:Wharfedale Diamond 8.1
M-Audio BX5a
(Both can be found for under 200)Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks,
Alexander Gao
USC School of Cinematic Arts
John C. Hench D.A.D.A. -
8 Replies
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I like Soundsticks a lot… if you’re mixing for TV consumption, they are a nice cross between a quality home audio system and a cheap TV set… THey are no longer USB so you can route them out a capture card or from the mac internally. Way less than 200 bucks…
Jerry
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Alexander,
I have a pair of the M-Audio BX5a monitors and like them a lot. I compared them to many other monitors in a side by side test, including more expensive monitors, and they got my money.
David
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY
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It seems the average price for M-Audio BX5a monitors are about $300. If you’re going that route, I’d recommend the KRK RokIt 5 (RP5) monitors. We use a lot of different audio monitors at my facility in both our edit suites and recording studio, from KRK, Tannoy, Event, Yamaha (the infamous and crappy sounding NS-10Ms that you see in every recording studio since the 80’s), Energy, etc. The KRKs work really well in the edit suite environment.
We do have 12″ subs we can turn on if we need a wider frequency range since the KRKs will sound thin by themselves as would any monitor in this size form-factor so you might want to keep that in mind.
Marco Solorio | CreativeCow Host | OneRiver Media | Codec Resource Site | Cinesoft | Media Batch
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We run the KRK Rokit 5’s in all our suites. Excellent flat monitors, yet with a good amount of low end as well. I picked up a pair for $200 just two months ago at Guitar Center.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html
Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
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Are you guys plugging your monitors straight into the Mac audio output, or are you using some type of amplifier/breakout box. If the latter, please suggest some models.
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In our main edit suite, computer audio I/O is run through the Kona K-Box and then everything is mixed to a Tascam DM24 digital mixer where we can input/output more channels. Monitoring/talkback is further controlled via a PreSonus Studio Control Center unit. We can switch between the KRKs I mentioned above or to a 5.1 array that uses Tannoy monitors. We also use a few other toys in our audio line up to both monitor and input audio to the edit suite (I started in the audio industry in the start of the 1990’s before I got into video so audio has always been a high priority for me and my facility).
Ideally you should have some type of mixer, at least for monitoring, whether it’s a simple little analog mixer or an automated digital mixer that has expanded features.
Marco Solorio | CreativeCow Host | OneRiver Media | Codec Resource Site | Cinesoft | Media Batch
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So if I only need to output 2 channels, and not input, do I still need to look into a mixer right now? Also, Is the only purpose of the amp to make the signal louder?
Thanks,
Alexander Gao
USC School of Cinematic Arts
John C. Hench D.A.D.A. -
If you can already control the level of your audio monitors within reach, then no, you may not need one for your setup.
In your scenario, a mixer, even a small one, is nice when you want to control your audio monitors within reach. It’s also nice if you want a convenient location to hook up headphones with dedicated level control.
You may need one if you master to an analog tape deck. As you grow, there’s going to come a time when you will need one to manage everything.
Marco Solorio | CreativeCow Host | OneRiver Media | Codec Resource Site | Cinesoft | Media Batch
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