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[advice] Help for purchase of active monitor speakers

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Inge
Man-At-Arms

Joined: 04 May 2003
Location: Nieuw Lekkerland @ Holland

Posted: Mon Mar 06 2006 19:35 [advice] Help for purchase of active monitor speakers
I've been thinking about buying active speakers for ages, and I now more-or-the-less have the money to do so. Multiple persons pointed me to the Behringer Truth B-2031A, which they said to be the best active monitor speakers below 500 euro. What are the things I should look out for in my quest for the best active monitor speakers that cost approximately 400 euro (per two!). The Behringer is currently 379 euro for two speakers (new-line.nl), so that's quite nice. I mainly wish to use them to listen to and evaluate music. Flat response and transparant sound is therefore essential. Any thoughts on this matter?
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Sunbuster
Registered User

Joined: 05 May 2003
Location: Finland

Posted: Mon Mar 06 2006 19:54
Well, most of what I'm going to say will be familiar, but I'll repeat it anyway. From what I've heard from people who do this more often, the most important thing is to listen to the speakers you're targeting (and other models too) by yourself before deciding. Pick out a couple of CD's that you know (various genres) and go to your local shop and ask if you can listen to some models. Better yet would be if they would be willing to let you borrow the speakers so you could test them at home or wherever you plan on using the speakers. Take a couple of days for each model (max a few hours a day though, so your ears don't get tired) and write down what you like and don't like about them. Continue with next model. This process is of course more important when deciding about higher priced speakers, but if you have the time/energy then I'd suggest doing it. As far as features of the speakers, what I'd look for is that they have balanced connections (XLR or plug) and some form of option to adjust the sound of the speakers (low-cuts, high-cuts etc) so that you can adjust the sound to your listening enviroment as much as possible.

mechanism
Registered User

Joined: 11 Jul 2003

Posted: Wed Mar 08 2006 05:20
To be honest it sounds like you need a good pair of headphones. The room you are listening in is half the problem, while good active close monitors can reduce your room interference, good headphones that reduce outside noise is also a great way to go for analysing music, and cheaper too. For writing music, I would suggest something replicating a bassy home stereo, which is what most punters listen on anyway.
<~The Mechanism~> http://mechanism.madtracker.net

Inge
Man-At-Arms

Joined: 04 May 2003
Location: Nieuw Lekkerland @ Holland

Posted: Wed Mar 08 2006 08:55

mechanism wrote:

To be honest it sounds like you need a good pair of headphones. The room you are listening in is half the problem, while good active close monitors can reduce your room interference, good headphones that reduce outside noise is also a great way to go for analysing music, and cheaper too.

You'll have to admit that there's something very special about speakers and the sensation they can generate by providing sound. I already own a set of pwn'ing AKG K240 Monitor-headphones, but I can't wear these 24/7. It's nevertheless an intriguing question why people prefer speakers over headphones. I think the sound will be more integrated into the rest of their perception and give rise to a less isolated and more free feeling. Suggestions or knowledge are welcome about this though.

mechanism wrote:

For writing music, I would suggest something replicating a bassy home stereo, which is what most punters listen on anyway.

Oh my no. You always try to start with something as flat as possible to make the ideal thing for ideal circumstances. After that, you play the sound back at various setups (crappy 6 watt computer-speakers, bassy home stereo, club PA) to check if it remains sounding okay. Starting with the wrong reproduction from scratch will most probably get you into severe problems afterwards.

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mechanism
Registered User

Joined: 11 Jul 2003

Posted: Thu Mar 09 2006 06:35
Well, I have found multiple problems with mixing on flat speakers. Because they really don't sound anything like what home systems sound like, you can run into mixing in too much bass, and not giving enough EQ separation. This ultimately ends up with quite muddy mix, but if you know your speakers well enough I guess you can make up for this. My theory is that if it sounds good on really shitty speakers it is going to sound fantastic on decent ones. But hey, each to their own I guess.
<~The Mechanism~> http://mechanism.madtracker.net

Jimmy �kerlund
Regular

Joined: 24 Jul 2005
Location: Sweden

Posted: Thu Mar 09 2006 07:52
its only 75 watt shall be more! like 300 each as I have, I have like 800 Watt in my room in my Pc right now heheh. but Try them at the store first m8 =) To be honest it sounds like you need a good pair of headphones. The room you are listening in is half the problem, while good active close monitors can reduce your room interference, good headphones that reduce outside noise is also a great way to go for analysing music, and cheaper too. Listen to this guy and buy headphones thats what i shuld do.

D Vibe
Registered User

Joined: 04 May 2003
Location: Sweden

Posted: Thu Mar 09 2006 09:52
I have a pair of Behringer B2031A, I think they are enough good for producing/mixing/mastering music at least. You have some parameters on the back of the monitor to optimize them for your room. /Daniel
https://www.dvibe.se

Walter Vos
Registered User

Joined: 04 May 2003
Location: Groningen, The Netherlands

Posted: Thu Mar 09 2006 15:24

Zero1989 wrote:

its only 75 watt Laughing

shall be more! Very Happy

like 300 each as I have, I have like 800 Watt in my room in my Pc right now Wink

heheh.
but Try them at the store first m8 =)

To be honest it sounds like you need a good pair of headphones. The room you are listening in is half the problem, while good active close monitors can reduce your room interference, good headphones that reduce outside noise is also a great way to go for analysing music, and cheaper too.

Listen to this guy and buy headphones thats what i shuld do.

the amount of watts are totally irrelevant when it comes to good monitor speakers zero, it's all about the frequency response. 75 watts will give you plenty of db's.

what is hip?

www.waltervos.nl

Pablo
User

Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Netherlands, Nijmegen

Posted: Fri Mar 10 2006 12:42
Inge, why would you choose active speakers? Instead of normal/passive in combination with a good amp? I've allways had problems with noise, the 50Hz humm and DC-spikes... (mostly because of a bad/poluted high-current-network) but noise is something i allways hear on those active units.. Well maybe it's my problem in combination with bad active speakers

Sunbuster
Registered User

Joined: 05 May 2003
Location: Finland

Posted: Fri Mar 10 2006 13:40

Pablo wrote:

Inge, why would you choose active speakers? Instead of normal/passive in combination with a good amp? I've allways had problems with noise, the 50Hz humm and DC-spikes... (mostly because of a bad/poluted high-current-network) but noise is something i allways hear on those active units.. Well maybe it's my problem in combination with bad active speakers Rolling Eyes

I know it's filled with marketing talk, but if you can look past that then here are some motivations as to why one would want to use active monitors instead of passive:
http://www.mackie.com/products/mackietechnology/Active_vs_Passive.html

and here's some more talk on the subject:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/manufacture/0403/index.html

DC-spikes are a problem. That's also the reason the speakers should be the last thing turned on and the first thing turned off in any system. You're right that active speakers often have a faint 50Hz hum, but this can be greatly reduced by having all equimpent on the same phase and using balanced cables. In my system the hum is barely audible even if you place your ear next to the speaker cone.

Inge
Man-At-Arms

Joined: 04 May 2003
Location: Nieuw Lekkerland @ Holland

Posted: Fri Mar 10 2006 14:58
The speakers that I referred to, are also known in certain cases to pick up radio signals. This nevertheless should be solvable with the proper cables and grounding. As for not going for passive: I simply love the sound of good active monitor speakers. Passive speakers are mainly targetting at the average listener who wants to hear something nice. I want to hear exactly what the artists provide me with. Furthermore, I already have a harman/kardon (HK 3480), so it's not that I'm throwing the entire passive solution away. I just want it both, and I want to start using active monitors more often. As for headphones: I gave my explanation for that earlier in this thread, including the remark that I already have high-end headphones.
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Inge
Man-At-Arms

Joined: 04 May 2003
Location: Nieuw Lekkerland @ Holland

Posted: Fri Mar 10 2006 15:02

Sunbuster: thanks for these two! Very useful. To quote the second:

Quote:

The performance benefits of active over passive loudspeakers is substantial. Even a system, which incorporates the best available stand-alone power amplifier, will never achieve the performance of a similar active system. Yet active loudspeakers are slow to be accepted for home use, when they are the only choice of the professionals who master your DVDs and CDs.

That's essentially the point why I want to go active. All passive and headphone advisors can officially give up.

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djustiz
Registered User

Joined: 12 Feb 2005

Posted: Fri Mar 10 2006 18:11
I've been using a pair af Behringer Truth B2031 for several years now, and I have to say that its a purchase I'll never regret. It certainly did wonders for my music, actually being able to hear what was really going on. When listening to them for a prolonged period of time, they tend to tire the ears by being a bit sharp in the top frequencies, but price/performance-wise I'll say that they're your best bet ...

Inge
Man-At-Arms

Joined: 04 May 2003
Location: Nieuw Lekkerland @ Holland

Posted: Fri Mar 10 2006 21:28
djustiz: thanks for that. Good to hear that you like them too. I assume that 50% of the purchase arguments will consist of facts, and 50% of conviction that you're buying the right thing. Some small questions: 1: Do you know if speakers like this degrade in quality over time easily? Or are they stable in their performance for a longer period of time? 2: Did you encounter the problem concerning picking up of radio frequencies by the speakers? 3: what cables do you use to connect them to your mixer? 4: how large should a room be before they can be used optimal? 5: what is the best distance between the speakers and hearer and between each other?
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Blaster
Registered User

Joined: 04 May 2003
Location: Netherlands/Germany

Posted: Sun Mar 12 2006 02:42

I got mine from http://www.thomann.de. Never had the output over 50% because I fear the windows won't hold (besides, I don't want to risk hearing damage). Had some problems with interference but moved them around a bit and put other cables out of the way and most of it seems gone now (or I'm used to the sound that it doesn't bother me).

I think they're really good for the price you pay for them. They come recommended by music mags, that's probably a good sign too Very Happy

I really noticed the difference between the old computer speakers I had and the b2031's. Especially when the track is clipped (the slightly distorted sound).

I use them for everything: listening, games, movies..

Inge wrote:

3: what cables do you use to connect them to your mixer?

4: how large should a room be before they can be used optimal?

5: what is the best distance between the speakers and hearer and between each other?

3: My audio outputs are unbalanced.. but get balanced cables, always make balanced connections if you can.

4: you can always alter the acoustics of the room which isn't really hard. The manual says "make sure that the room neither sounds too hall-like nor too dull". They're nearfield monitors.. the room acoustics shouldn't have a huge effect because of the short distance.

5:that would be around 1-1.5 meters as they're nearfield monitors. Roughly the same distance from eachother as from the listener.

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