New Speakers/Monitors

[Malazan]

Hi, I would like some suggestions on Bookshelf Speakers. The room will be about 10x12, my budget is 600.00 or less

I'm pretty new at all of this, and a little confused about Monitors vs. Speakers I always thought they were the same.

I don't know if I need active or passive? They will mostly be used for playing Rocksmith 2014, but also my music, gaming and and possibly my guitar work if I get an effects processor.


Thank you

 

[j_garcia]

Effectively, they are different words for the same thing.

Active means you just need the right connection types to plug into their inputs. Passive means you have a receiver/amp already to power them. Passive is more common and active, depending on what you're really looking for, will tend to be more expensive because they are amplified (but then you don't need a receiver/amp obviously). What do you have already?

 

[Malazan]

If I go passive, I will want an amplifier. Would 600.00 dollars be enough for a decent pair of Active Monitors? Or should I get a cheaper pair of passives say 300.00 and an amp such as the Emotiva UPA-200?

 

[j_garcia]

Yes, with a passive speaker, you have to provide some form of amplification. Do you have a receiver or preamp currently? You can't use something like the UPA-200 by itself without some sort of preamp stage. Something like the Mini X A100 can be used by itself however.

Some actives that might work:

http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Powered-Speaker-Systems

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/behringer-truth-b2031a-active-monitor-single

 

[Malazan]

I would run it out of my line out on my PC sound card to the UPA-200

 

[j_garcia]

OK, so UPA-200 and passive speakers would be a better option IMO (depending on the card you have). More flexibility in the long run because you can change speakers and keep the amp. $600 includes the amp as well or speakers only? Take a look at these:

EPOS EPIC 1 BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS (PR) at Music Direct

 

[shadyJ]

If you aren't going to use a subwoofer, I would go for the speakers with the deepest extension that you can get. Some highly regarded monitors that look to have decent extension:
Mackie MR8mk3
JBL LSR308
Emotiva Airmotiv 6

 

[JonnyFive23517]

Back when I was in a super cool industrial band we used these for desktop mixing:

Amazon.com: Behringer TRUTH B2031A Active 2-Way Reference Studio Monitor Pair: Musical Instruments

They were very good for the price, IMO. They are active, and have some bass boundary compensation. XLR and 1/4" inputs as well.

 

[shadyJ]

I own the passive versions of those Behringers, very good for the price. You can get the passive versions for $220 a pair at the moment, that is a terrific price for them.

 

[j_garcia]

Back when I was in a super cool industrial band we used these for desktop mixing:

Amazon.com: Behringer TRUTH B2031A Active 2-Way Reference Studio Monitor Pair: Musical Instruments

They were very good for the price, IMO. They are active, and have some bass boundary compensation. XLR and 1/4" inputs as well.

Those are the same thing I already linked above

Some actives that might work:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/behringer-truth-b2031a-active-monitor-single

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

and possibly my guitar work if I get an effects processor.

If you are interested in any sort of pro or semi pro music stuff - you will be better off with budget pro audio speakers.
Monitors are subsidiary of these, specifically designed for recording and studio audio monitoring. Active have built-in amps, passive don't. Home speakers would not have correct balanced inputs which most likely would be needed for any pro audio devices - aka interfaces, mixers, processors etc...

I would highly recommend to stick above suggestions for active monitors

I would also like to add my own 2c:
I highly advice same ones as I own and love - JBL LSR2325p - you don't need to get the larger 8" version as 2325p with 5.25" drivers and ported design have plenty of bass already to fill small to mid sized room.

 

[Malazan]

If you are interested in any sort of pro or semi pro music stuff - you will be better off with budget pro audio speakers.
Monitors are subsidiary of these, specifically designed for recording and studio audio monitoring. Active have built-in amps, passive don't. Home speakers would not have correct balanced inputs which most likely would be needed for any pro audio devices - aka interfaces, mixers, processors etc...

I would highly recommend to stick above suggestions for active monitors

I would also like to add my own 2c:
I highly advice same ones as I own and love - JBL LSR2325p - you don't need to get the larger 8" version as 2325p with 5.25" drivers and ported design have plenty of bass already to fill small to mid sized room.

Would the newer JBL lsr305 be comparible?

 

[slipperybidness]

Those are the same thing I already linked above

Welcome to the Department of Redundancy Department

 

[ski2xblack]

The JBL LSR 2328 are ~$500/pair.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Would the newer JBL lsr305 be comparible?

The new series were introduced at much lower initial price. Your guess is as good as mine on what was charged to achieve that

 

[slipperybidness]

The new series were introduced at much lower initial price. Your guess is as good as mine on what was charged to achieve that

I've been looking at them both. From what I can tell, the most significant change is that they removed any unbalanced connection. Gotta save a few dollars in hardware for sure.

The trade off is flexibility, I would prefer the older model with the option of balanced or unbalanced.

However, it is purely a hunch, but I suspect that the new models are a bit more accurate and/or better dispersion due to more time and better software to design the tweeter waveguide.

Bottom line, I would prefer the older version, but think I would be satisfied either way.

 

[puckhead]

Another vote for the Emotiva Airmotiv 6 - they're on sale now for $599 including shipping (I have no affiliation with Emotiva). They are a very nice sounding monitor with solid, tight bass and smooth and detailed mids/highs. I have a pair of the 4's in my garage that sound great playing lossless (ALAC/FLAC) files straight from an iPod/Sansa. Wtih a good soundcard and properly set-up audio player software you should be quite pleased with the results.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

$160 (Pair of Infinity P163 from Amazon Warehouse)

$280 (Denon 2113 from Electronics Expo)

 

[Malazan]

Thanks for the replies. Does it matter what type of music I listen to? I listen to Heavy Metal, Hard Rock. Or is a good speaker a good speaker no matter the music?

 

[ski2xblack]

Does it matter what type of music I listen to? I listen to Heavy Metal, Hard Rock. Or is a good speaker a good speaker no matter the music?

A good speaker is a good speaker, and won't play favorites with musical genres. Some genres are more challenging than others, like opera, massed vocals, full orchestra classical...Heavy Metal/hard rock are typically less demanding. The studio monitors will have kickin' dynamics that commercial speakers at similar prices will have a hard time matching. Probably better in other areas as well. I personally like the JBL lsr's, but the other studio monitors mentioned in the thread probably offer similar results.