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Cheap studio monitors or older component stereo system?

Joebarnes

Joebarnes

Oct 4, 2011
504
608
Surrey, BC
www.whiskeykarma.com
#1
Hello all, would like some advice on a question that has been bugging me. I'd like to get a set of speakers for monitoring my recording for some basic mixing. I don't have a lot of money to drop at this point (let's say $100 max for a pair).

I am looking at the "studio" monitors in this price range and I have a hard time accepting they are flat and provide me a suitable starting point for a reference monitor. Obviously a quality studio monitor should provide the solution that I want, but I'm not talking about spending $500-$600 and up at this point.

Alternatively, I can see listed used on Craigslist some high quality '80's and '90's component stereo systems in the sub-$100 range. I'm not talking about a fancy "boom box" with crap speakers and the bass way over boosted. I'm talking about quality "hi-fi" stereo components with (at one time) high dollar speakers from an era when the goal was more of a flat speaker reproduction rather than just boost the bass and highs to hide how low quality the speakers were.

If you're looking in a low dollar range as I am, would it be better to buy the bottom end dollar studio monitors or using an old high quality receiver and speaker setup that would have probably cost $500-$1000 new?
 
#2
Hard to make a blanket statement, but if the old speakers sound more accurate than the cheapo new monitors, then there you go. If you go for old hi-fi speakers, pop the cloth off and have a look at the surrounds. These can be in pretty rough shape on older speakers. (You can DIY repair for ~ $6 per driver, if that's work you don't mind doing.)
 
#3
Don't get the cheap studio monitors; I did that but they misled me badly about the nature of the mixes.
I then got store demo monitors that work great for me.
I can't speak to the highend stereo speaker idea, but have read that even these MAY (and often do) have a "colored" (not flat) sound.
Maybe published specs and your ears might help guide that choice.
 
#5
If you can stretch the budget the Fostex PM3's are decent for the money (140.00) The Yorkville YSM5's are much better for 180.00 (financing, 0%, Yorkville month etc. - these are always on sale it seems) Call your local L$M and ask if they have any rental stock too as these can be a good deal sometimes.
 
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#8
Joebarnes said:
Those yorkies look like 180 per speaker? And the yamaha's are 300 for the pair. Great options for down the road and I'm not looking at this as a permanent setup. I'm looking, spending up to 100 now to replace later; which is better bang for my ultra low buck?
Click to expand...

After a closer look, yes they are. Sorry 'bout that. I'd take my IPOD to a store and try out the cheapest monitors to get a reference and then probably go out and get some nice old stereo speakers.
 
#10
Given the right testing conditions a $200 speaker can compare to a $9,000 one
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Many smartphones can be used to measure speakers. Some may need an external mic. Measure a good set of speakers and use this as a reference as you go around auditioning others.

Studio monitors are designed to be near field. To sit on a mixing desk close to you. Mainly only a narrow point is the ideal spot. Stereo speakers are likely designed for a wider throw as in a living room.

Skwee is right, you need to listen to you mixes in on many different speakers, and many different places. Earbuds and headphones included. After a while your brain will tell you what you hear through your main monitoring choice and the real world equal out.
 
#11
No matter what I use, I check the mix ... in the car (where most will hear it), on my iPod with ear buds (where many others will hear it), and on my computer with headphones. Very few of your listeners will be playing your stuff on high fidelity audio equipment
 
#13
Do you have an amplifier in case you want to use passive speakers? Some of the old classic sealed two-ways are fairly neutral and can work if they are still in good shape. NHT Super One would be one and the smaller ADS in the 300 and 400 series.

Otto
 
#14
Hi-fi speakers are *not* designed for flat response and I don't think they were "back then" either. They're designed to flatter. Not a good idea to use hi-fi speakers for mixing. Maybe to check a mix on, but not for critical duties like tweaking EQ's and relative volumes. If you really wanna be able to detect subtle changes as you turn knobs, you need a treated room and real studio monitors. I promise. Even good studio monitors won't help much in an untreated room.

You won't get where you wanna go for $100, but you can get to a pretty good place for $400-$500 including a pair of monitors and DIY room treatments.

You would do better to spend the $100 on some Roxul Safe-n-Sound to build some DIY bass traps and absorption panels for now. Continue using whatever speakers you already have until you can save up about $300 for a small but decent pair of "real" studio monitors.

Musician's Friend SDOTD yesterday was a great deal - these were $100 each:
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There's some old classic Yamaha model that's supposed to be great and you can find on ebay for about the same kinda $ I believe. Don't know if it's the same model Skwee mentioned above - but if I were you I'd spend some time looking into those.
 
#15
paparoof said:
Hi-fi speakers are *not* designed for flat response and I don't think they were "back then" either. They're designed to flatter. Not a good idea to use hi-fi speakers for mixing.
Click to expand...

I would agree about the need to control reflected sound. Just about any speaker is usable in a well controlled space.

However, hi-fi means high fidelity, as in accurate. Mastering guys have the best systems and use expensive, accurate "hi-fi" rigs in particularly good rooms.

I didn't talk to the ADS guys but I have talked to Ken Kantor about his design goals and process on the NHT speakers I mentioned and I assure you that accuracy was a high priority. Sound on Sound did an interesting article comparing two decent small monitors and two decent small hi-fi speakers for studio suitability, and the monitors were not not more accurate just different. The most accurate of the four was a B&W "hi-fi" speaker. The point is those are just labels and what matters is accurate sound.

OTOH, cheap consumer audio speakers would be a poor choice even if labeled hi-fi. Personally I think the Yamaha NS-10Ms, which I assume you refer to, are dreadful and they are very inaccurate but they were popular for a while for mixing.

Otto
 
#16
I use the term "hi-fi" generically to mean "home stereo speakers". I'm sure that's technically inaccurate. We're both right - you'll get better mixes that translate well on other systems with speakers that were designed to be flat/neutral/accurate than you will with typical home stereo speakers - even "high end" ones.

And without room treatments, you might not notice the difference. And room treatments are cheaper than a good pair of monitors so....
 
#18
#1 is treat the room. No matter how good of monitors you have the alone will not be able to compensate for all room conditions.
You need some monitors and get something. Do as you state "testing your mix on a variety of systems" +1

Next step may be to
Measure the room and tune things, like with ARC 2
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ARC2
Watch out for IK sales, I paid less than half of that. Includes a measuring mic.

From there you can decide what other monitors to get, or to treat the room more.
IK Arc2 can also simulate Cars and other environments.
 
#20
Yeah, I was trying to suggest something useful for $100 or so. The Super Ones show up on eBay and CL for about $100. BTW, the "outdoor" version is often available and sounds just as good.

You could get an old receiver for cheap or one of those little class D amps for $25 or so. In the short run you would be way better off than just mixing with only headphones and you would never have to sell the Super Ones.

Otto
 
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