Topic: Speaker advice

[potatomaster]

I have just started taping in the past few months and am finally getting around to mastering my recordings. I only have computer speakers at the moment, so I know that I need an upgrade. I have a pretty small office, so larger speakers placed at a distance from my workstation are not an option. I'm pretty much confined to what I can fit on my desk.

I'm just looking for some opinions on decently affordable speakers. I know that you're generally not supposed to master with headphones, but if anyone has some reasonable recommendations in that arena as well, I'd be open to hear it just because of space issues.

Thanks.

[Brian Skalinder]

"Decently affordable" means different things to different people.  What's your budget?

Do you intend to drive these speakers from your PC's analog output, i.e. hook up the speakers directly to the PC, like your existing computer speakers?

[potatomaster]

By "decently affordable",  I meant $500-600.

I would prefer to hook up speakers directly to the PC, but I know that is not an option for some equipment, so I would not be opposed to getting an external amp if that is the recommendation.

Thanks.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

Are the speakers intended for playback too?  If you just want to use these for editing your recordings and want no external amp, why not get some decent headphones?  I know alot of people will report a different experience, but for me I have better results using headphones for sound editing than I've had with open speakers.

edit to add: I guess it depends on what you mean by mastering.  If all you are doing is tracking and doing simple stuff I don't know why you wouldn't use head phones.  I'm using some Grado SR80s currently and they are very nice and less than $100.  You can get SR60s for less than $70 new.

[potatomaster]

By mastering I meant harmonic balancing, compression, EQing, etc. Headphones would be fine for me. I've heard good things about Grado.

[Nick Culbreth]

By mastering I meant harmonic balancing, compression, EQing, etc. Headphones would be fine for me. I've heard good things about Grado.

For what it's worth Grados have a very colored sound and might not provide the best frame of reference for EQing.

[poorlyconditioned]

For headphones, I like the Sony 7506.  Well, I like everything except the coiled cord !

For speakers, has anyone tried Paradigm.  I'm thinking of the Titans.  I heard them in a project studio and really liked the sound.  Seemed much better than some of the low end "studio monitors" I've been hearing.

  Richard

[BC]

For speakers, has anyone tried Paradigm.  I'm thinking of the Titans.  I heard them in a project studio and really liked the sound.  Seemed much better than some of the low end "studio monitors" I've been hearing.

  Richard

Paradigm's are a great value for the $$. Very neutral balance overall with a little bump in the low end to make them satisfying for bass-heavy music. Quality stuff no matter where in the line you make your purchase.

[pfife]

For headphones, I like the Sony 7506.  Well, I like everything except the coiled cord !

I like the 7506 as well.

[cgresq192]

http://www.digitalprosound.com/2002/10_oct/reviews/monitor_shootout.htm

[potatomaster]

The Sony 7506s look very affordable and well-recommended, so that might be good companion to whatever speakers I end up getting. Thanks for the advice.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

shameless threadjack

For what it's worth Grados have a very colored sound

how so?

not being defensive, just wondering.  The grados are the first real headphones I've ever tried so I don't really know.

[MattD]

Personally, I found the Grados I demoed to be on the bright side.

[cgresq192]

the 7506's are the industry standard in film/music industry. Very honest set of cans

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

Personally, I found the Grados I demoed to be on the bright side.

Yeah, I get that impression too with some material but I wasn't sure if it was the grados or me not being used to headphones.