Help to find speakers for a DJ setup

[Sonic A]

Coundt do a search for "dj" because there wasnt enough letters!

SO I dont really need the whole surround sound system. I want to get a reciever and some great speakers for my turntables.

The powered studio monitors are cool, but are expensive, and If i go the reciever route i can use it lfor a home theater system as well.

Im Thinking about $300-500 for a set of two speakers.. I also want to add a subwoofer soon.

I know this is super low end for you guys but do you have suggestions on good self speakers for this price range?

THanks!

 

[jaxvon]

Is this just going to be for your own listening, or are you going to use it play events with? If you are going to playing events, how large will they be?

 

[cbraver]

I assume you are talking about just while you are mixing at home ..... I use a Pioneer Elite reciever and a pair of Dynaudio Audience 42 speakers for monitoring. Two Sunfire True Subs for the low end. Works great.

Any two channel amp and a pair of decent speakers will due.

Stay away from super-tweeters and PA gear... they'll give you DJ-ears quick.

Turn your volume down between mixes!

-Chad

 

[cbraver]

Oh, suggestions....


If you want to get active monitors...a lot of DJs on a budget like the Behringer Truth active monitors. They are in the 200 buck range I think.

But, your looking for the same qualities in speakers as the audio guys here...so, just look around here for recommendations in that range. There are lots of threads about it.

You don't NEED studio monitors because you aren't doing that kind of work...just get what sounds good.

Happy spinning,
-Chad

 

[Sonic A]

I listened to some studio monitors and they just didnt sound as good as bookself speakers with a fm reciever. Maybe I just wasnt listening to the right one.

Will an amp be better than a reciever, or are they the same thing?

 

[jaxvon]

Studio monitors have a very flat frequency response. You're probably used to speakers that have a response hump (most likely in the midrange), so they "sound better". Of course, they're changing what the sound really is. Also, it may have been the way the speakers were setup. If you were listening off-axis, then the sound would also seem inferior from the monitors.

A reciever is a preamp and an amplifier in the same case. Since you have a mixer for your turntables already, I don't think a reciever should be necessary. You should be able to just run outputs right from your mixer to an amp. Or if your speakers are powered, then to the speakers. I'd still recommend some studio monitors if you can afford them. If you want to hear the details of what's going on with the stuff you're mixing without any enhancement, then they're the way to go.

For an amp, I'd look around at Guitar Center/ Musician's Friend. They have pretty good prices on stuff.

 

[Sonic A]

jaxvon, thanks.

The thing is though, I'll be mixing for entertainment/music enjoyment purposes, not recording/music manipulation/soundworking/etc ones.

I am going to guitar center to check out what they have in teh way of studio monitors, but right now am sideing towards regular speakers.

I hanvet decided whether i want an amp or a reciever.

 

[jaxvon]

How big of an audience are you playing for? That will really determine what you should get. Just a few people at home? A few hundred in a hall?

 

[Sonic A]

How big of an audience are you playing for? That will really determine what you should get. Just a few people at home? A few hundred in a hall?

Oh 10 -15 people MAX. But mostly me - alone, in my house.

Here are my choices so far:
Buying a denon reciever DRA 395 ($330) and some Boston Acoustics CR85s ($250)

Buying a behringer truth studio monitors - $300

Buying M-Audio Studiophile BX5s - $300

The reciever "option" costs more but gives me more options later. (I went with those speakers because I thought they sounded pretty good!

But now that i did some serious shopping and saw the costs, I am siding towards the M-Audios and think that is the way i am going to go.

 

[jaxvon]

Make sure you do some listening before you buy. If you're in the area of a Guitar Center, go in and see how you like the M-Audios. They might not have enough output for you.

 

[cbraver]

I have DX4s, I use them for computer speakers. The quality is ok for the money...the big brothers have more output but, like he said, probably not enough for when you are entertaining. For just monitoring your own stuff, they are perfect.

Don't get the DX4s for that application. DX5s are fine for your own use... but, even for 10/15 people, I'd get something with more output.

When people are drunk, high or whatever, they usually like music a lot louder than when they are sober. That's why at clubs the volume raises throughout the night (as people get more messed up)... Something that sounds really loud sober to you...you might find to not have enough juice when your trying to make them perform for a crowd.

www.behringer.com They are relatively inexpensive and good for the moeny... and will do the job! A pair of 10s or maybe 12s.

If you want to stick with monitors...then try the Truths. They have more output then the DX5s.

-Chad