Topic: digital computer speakers for mixing/tweaking recordings?

[dmaster]

I'm in the mood for some new speakers sooner or later for my desktop.  I've got digital outputs on my motherboard (either coax or optical) and would like to get something digital. 

At work, i just got a new pair of these:

http://www.roland.com/products/en/MA-15D/index.html

Are these good enough to tweak recordings with?  (I assume they're at least better than my headphones, but I'm not sure by how much).

I brought a few of my recordings in to work to listen to and see how things compare, and I was fairly amazed to realize how horrible one of my recordings sounded on them, when I thought it sounded good at home, and conversely how much better a recording sounded at work compared to at home.   I'm assuming this is a product of my speakers at home being iffy, and my headphones not being as great as they could be.  (they're not bad, they claim 20hz-20khz, but really..) 

Is there something better with a comparable price?   I don't want a 5.1 setup, I don't want a 7.1 setup, I want 2 speakers and maybe a sub if necessary.  I don't have room for anything at all except for a pair of desktop speakers.   (no amp, no stereo system, no space for anything at all). 

[RebelRebel]

Depends on your notion of "good enough"...if the finished product sounds good to you , then there is your answer. I personally wouldnt  mix on those. I use a dedicated pair(s) of speakers to mix and master with(Truth Audio TA-1PS for mixing, B+W 802s for mastering)what I have found is that lower budget/lower quality speakers are good barometers for translate-ability.. I always get it sounding good on the mastering speakers, then reference with the walmart/Guitar Center stuff......BUT if you mix on the lower grade stuff, you might have a product that sounds fantastic on the low end side of things, but sound like hell on a upper level system....

That being said,  I must throw out an endorsement for Blue Sky Media Desk speakers..I bought these for my wife(at the suggestion of folks at Gearslutz and Recording.org), and was blown away at how much detail and presence those things brought!! some on GS use them for reference mixing....I HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest them. I am so confident that you will love them for playback and minor mixing tasks, that if you dont, I will buy them from you!

I'm in the mood for some new speakers sooner or later for my desktop.  I've got digital outputs on my motherboard (either coax or optical) and would like to get something digital. 

At work, i just got a new pair of these:

http://www.roland.com/products/en/MA-15D/index.html

Are these good enough to tweak recordings with?  (I assume they're at least better than my headphones, but I'm not sure by how much).

I brought a few of my recordings in to work to listen to and see how things compare, and I was fairly amazed to realize how horrible one of my recordings sounded on them, when I thought it sounded good at home, and conversely how much better a recording sounded at work compared to at home.   I'm assuming this is a product of my speakers at home being iffy, and my headphones not being as great as they could be.  (they're not bad, they claim 20hz-20khz, but really..) 

Is there something better with a comparable price?   I don't want a 5.1 setup, I don't want a 7.1 setup, I want 2 speakers and maybe a sub if necessary.  I don't have room for anything at all except for a pair of desktop speakers.   (no amp, no stereo system, no space for anything at all). 

[BobW]

The little Swans M200 and Tannoy Reveal 5 would be up on my list as well.
Newegg has the Swans on the cheap, the Tannoys are now in several flavors...be sure that you pay attention to placement !

The Tannoys are nearfields, the Swans are not.


Swan M200



Tannoy Reveal 5A (passive)

[RebelRebel]

I think the m200 have been replaced by the s200a?? I wanted to get the swans but couldnt find them, heard the blueskys and was blown away.

Teddy

[tfs8271]

Just now looking at them...not a bad price. Looks I could just run RCA out of my computer into the speakers and not use the rca>mini.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836136102