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home studio reference speaker questions

chuck3

chuck3

Jun 19, 2009
4,469
1,063
Brooklyn & Rhinebeck NY
#1
I am putting together a modest home studio. Definitely nothing too fancy. For reference speakers, I have room for the KRK Rokit 5s and could probably fit the 6s as well. They are also in the right budget zone. But I have heard both good and questionable things about them, with the questionable part being about bass response (so obviously of concern to a bass player). On the other hand, I understand that reference speakers aren't necessarily supposed to be the best bass response speakers since you are trying for a balance that will work well on all sorts of gear.

Any suggestions? Are KRKs good? In the same size/price range, is there a better brand? Would it make sense to use the KRK 5s plus a subwoofer of some kind?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.:bassist:
 
#2
I'd look at spending the extra dough, go with the VXT4's, and then look at the sub later. In the end, you'll want the better monitors, and end up spending the money anyway.

The lowend on the 4's is actually pretty good, and I find myself only using the sub to find issues..... and then, it ends up being vocal issues that I end up finding (slight plosives). Another nice thing about the 4's....... I'm in a new room, and it has yet to be treated....... while I know there are issues, they are very small, and almost unnoticible. I think it's due to the smaller monitors, and working at more "modest" volume levels..... although the lack of treatment becomes very noticible when using the sub.

The VXT4's are little cannonballs, and well worth the extra cash.
 
#4
The problem with satellites with a sub is the room. You're essentially building a full range system and is heavily dependent on the room. The bass may be emphasized more than natural playback environments.
A common mistake is listening through such a system you actually starve the bass on mix. Without a sub, a common mistake is to over emphasize the bass.

Monitors are good and convenient, but also mix to headphones, earbuds, cheap speakers, regular stereo type speakers, your computer speakers, and your car. After a while you'll get a feel for what comes out of your monitors versus how it will sound elsewhere.
 
#5
I never mix to headphones. I only use them to pinpoint things. I do, however, also have a full range home system hooked up for reference. I mix with monitors.

Whatever method you use, I would recommend listening to your favourite CDs through them. The songs you listen to the most. That way you'll have an idea what your favourite songs sound like through monitors. Then, when you mix, you'll have an idea where everything should fit. Go play the mix in the house, and the car, through headphones, through the cheapest, nastiest little player you have. Then you hear what's missing. Eventually, you'll just need the monitors.
 
#7
Exactly what seamonkey said. You don't want a system that's too bass-heavy, especially if it uses a sub. And you don't want a system that's too bass-light, either. I tried the KRK Rokit 5's, Rokit 6's AND Rokit 8's. For my particular environment, I judged the Rokit 6's to be "just right", per the Goldilocks/porridge analogy. By the way, I was replacing a well-used set of Alesis Monitor One's which had served me well. I think I am mixing more accurately now that I'm using the KRK's. You know the drill: Mix using monitors, listen to mix on home stereo speakers, revisit mix to tweak, listen on car stereo speakers, revisit mix to tweak, listen again on home stereo speakers, lather, rinse, repeat, etc. Since I started using the KRK's, I revist my mix fewer times on my way to the finished product.

IMPORTANT: This is just my experieence with my particular environment. YMMdefinitelyV
 

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