active bookshlefs?

[Jdrumstik]

I really want some decent speakers for my computer, at work, and so I need some active monitors, unfortunity, the computer world is littered with 2.1 satelite systems, which is what I have and its a piece of crap. I really want a 2.0 bookshelf system like this

http://gallery.bcentral.com/ProductDetails.aspx?GID=4585736&PID=2846571


the only problem with that is it is a pair of monitors, and monitors are designed to be accurate where as your typical loud speaker from best buy has a lot of bass and treble enhancement which makes it sound better.

so any suggestions?

any one know of some active monitors I like the way these look so much, it kills me to not buy them but I know that is not what I want, at least I don't think it is./

 

[Gatorchong]

A friend of mine uses Behringer's in his home studio, and they sound good. If you want to use them with a soundcard, it had better be a good one. I've heard studio monitors sound pretty awful with cheap soundcards. Anyway, you probably knew that already, but you can check the Behringer's out at www.musiciansfriend.com. I've been thinking about getting a pair myself.

 

[Jdrumstik]

well i guess I will just buy a high end sound card that will have a system eq like Ive been dying to get anyways

 

[Westrock2000]

Paradigm used to sell some..though they were quit expensive.

Heres some Behringer B2031A's...there $340 at PartsExpress....seem pretty good for, and the price is descent.

 

[Rob Babcock]

You might want to ask this in one of the other areas of the Audioholics forums. This one is for user reviews, and you probably won't get a lot of views here.

 

[Rip Van Woofer]

I prefer passive bookshelves. Nothing more annoying than a bookshelf galumphing around the room.

(sorry )

OK, I'll quit fooling around and move this to the Speaker forum.

 

[plhart]

I've got a trio of the NHT M-00 powered minimonitors on the way for a review in my home theater rig. I already know, because I've seen the curves, that these little guys are very linear and sound great. There is a high frequency compensation switch to change from nearfield to mid-field listening environments.

NHT does have a companion S-00 8" sub which is specifically designed for DAWs (digital audio workstations) so you can expect that to be pretty accurate also. Add the sub and you've got the bass contol you seek .

Having worked with and measured many, many self powered and bi-amplified "studio monitors" I can tell you for a fact that most are not all that linear or even that well executed as a speaker/amp/cabinet IMHO. At the prices you see these offered, especially on the low end of the price scale, you can bet that a lot of $ corners have been cut in the quality of the drivers or in the implementation of the chip amps that are used to drive them.

My advice would be to read reviews of these types of speaker systems in the musician mags and pay particular attention to the actual measured response of these systems. Many are not all that hot. In fact a few still try to mimic the white-woofered studio monitor speaker from the seventies which was anything but flat.

 

[cbraver]

In my dorm room I have M-Audio Studiophile DX4s. They are small, and fantastic for my application. Don't expect huge bass, but, they are great little desktop monitors.

If you want something more powerful, these DX4s are the little brother of the bigger DX5 (? something like that ?).

You can buy them at B&H Photo Video. www.bhphotovideo.com

Comes with all you need to hook them up to a sound card.

I have a Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2, fyi.

-Chad

 

[cbraver]

Update:

The bigger brothers are the BX series.

They have subs and such available too.

Here is the website:

http://m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=studiomonitors

-Chad

 

[djoxygen]

the only problem with that is it is a pair of monitors, and monitors are designed to be accurate where as your typical loud speaker from best buy has a lot of bass and treble enhancement which makes it sound better.

Don't say "better" until you've listened to them. If you're near a pro music gear store, you should go in there with a couple of the CDs you know best and have them fire up a few pair. Also, "bass and treble enhancement" can be had in different ways. Many active monitors have switches on the back to shelve bass/treble for particular placement issues (corners and such) and personal preference. You should certainly give accuracy a chance before you rule it out. Maybe you've been listening to "piece of crap" speakers too long - you might like what a great active monitor can do for your music/games/movies/Powerpoint transition sounds... >

 

[cbraver]

If you are willing to spend a little more, M&K just came out with a new monitor that is supposed to absolutely kick ***:

http://www.mkprofessional.com/mps1611p.htm

I'm unsure on what the price is yet, I'm trying to find out because I'm considering purchasing a pair.

You would want a sub, an M&K CR480 ( http://www.mkprofessional.com/creator_series.htm ) and the mini bass management box would work perfect.

-Chad

 

[cstanley]

As with most things you get what you pay for - if you want a
really good pair of active bookshelves look at the dynaudio
BM6a for around $1k off of ebay. the mackie monitors
are also very good, i can't say i've heard the behringer, but
as a company they don't have a very good reputation
(their rep is one of putting out cheap knock-off of other
companys (mackie, etc) gear).

The new Event active monitors are supposed to be good
as well. NHT makes good stuff as well. i would stay away
from (or at least audition very carefully) alesis, foxtex,
roland, yamaha active monitors...

As other folks have said, just be sure to audition these monitors
with the same CD's, and get a good soundcard - the m-audio
audiophile series (USB or firewire) have pretty good DA's for
the price.

good luck!

-carl

 

[cbraver]

i can't say i've heard the behringer, but
as a company they don't have a very good reputation
(their rep is one of putting out cheap knock-off of other
companys (mackie, etc) gear).

The Truth series are basically cheaper knock-off's of Genelec monitors. They still sound decent for the money, but, yeah, they are a total knock off. Behringer used to be really bad about it, now their designs are starting to get more developmental. But, the Truth's are like a Genelec monitors retarded brother. But, for the price, they still are pretty decent.

-Chad