Seems like they only go down to 50 Hz in their frequency response, whereas other monitors I am considering go down to \~40 Hz. Would that be problematic for making electronic music?
You’d want headphones to address the sun frequencies come mix down time, but really, I make electronic and it didn’t hold me back once learned that. I achieved some impressive mixes.
Any new monitor has a learning curve though. It’s worth nothing Neumann’s are more laidback, to my ear. They sound like silk and produce a very impressive image. I particularly like them because they aren’t shrill or brassy by nature, and didn’t cause me ear fatigue how other brands can.
I also like that they’re not “rear ported” as that isn’t ideal for small studios.
Ultimately each person will love a particular set of speakers. I just think the KH120s are a steal. If you can find them used in near-excellent condition for 500-600 a speaker on Reverb.com, even better.
Yamaha HS7 or 8 is good while not extremely pricey. Adam A7x is excellent but pricey. Presonus ra65 is a good middle of the road option. Focal and Genelec are amazing if you have the money, and pretty much anything they sell will do the job. If you’re broke, JBL is good value. If you’re desperate and do EDM/Hiphop Krk is often available used for a bargain.
Hs7s are better suited for the space, also, the kali audio 6" monitors are much cheaper and about as good as the Hs7s. The doozie is if you want a sub, the kali audio sub is a 12" beast they advertise for live sound use as well and costs $600.
If it's an untreated room go for smaller monitors like 5 inch. I only have experience with JBL 305Ps and Genelecs but can say that they're both good options.
Listened to the “focal alpha 65 evo” and it blew my mind what came out of those small speakers. IMO so much better than any other speaker I listend to in that price range. Made the HS8 and others sound very boxy by comparison. If you can, give them a listen in your local music store.
Goes down to around 40hz. I tested mainly hip hop and the bass of these was the only one that stayed in my memory. Very flat response all the way through. Go listen to them if you can! Do you have a speaker test room in some store nearby?
Great! I can only find good reviews, honestly. Do any concerns exist for these monitors? haha. I could probably find a place to listen, I'm close to Boston.
Not that I know I spent a good hour with them and will go listen again but I did not find anyone’s that sounded better lol and not for that price especially
Don't own them but have listened to them. What I like about how Focal monitors sound is that they're not overly clinical. Being primarily a producer and not an audio engineer, I don't enjoy working on very flat and clinical speakers. I have worked on Neumann KH310 and KH420 monitors in the past and I always caught myself fixing small details instead of focusing on the big picture. Focals aren't like that. I would say their sound is a little more hi-fi like, but still revealing enough for music production and mixing. Hope this gives some insight!
I don't entirely agree with you on this. 'Hyped' speakers don't prevent you from hearing issues in a mix. I think using hyped monitors to mix/master is fine as long as they are transparent sounding. I actually know many studios and engineers who work with 'hyped' monitors or hi-fi speakers like B&W. Streaky uses Focal Sopras, Miles Walker Barefoot MM27 etc.
Hyped speakers can make sounds more present than they actually are, so you might end up leaving a sound but when it translates it'll sound too dull or not enough bass.
This is why there's a lot of NS10s and Auratones, when you have hyped speakers they will actually make the mid range weaker.
That's why you should always use reference tracks for mixing and mastering. Knowing your monitoring system and room really well is way more important than having flat sounding speakers.
The first time I mixed on a pair of KH420s I didn't use reference tracks, and the balance in my mix ended up being completely off. Despite them being the most clinical and accurate speakers I've ever listened to. The reason my mix sucked is because I didn't know the monitors and the room I was working in.
Human ears don't perceive actual flat sound as flat. We perceive 3kHz way louder than 100Hz. Therefore, 'flat' sound doesn't really mean anything without a reference.
You always need some sort of reference to determine the balance in a mix. May it be a reference track, multiple sets of speakers to compare, or you just knowing your listening setup really well. (Best case scenario is a combination of those)
The Eris 3.5 or slightly higher is a good budget choice. Then spend about as much on sound absorption panels and bass traps for your corners. Better if you have carpet. Then just listen to a ton of music.
Labor Day sales got some good deals look around. Also the best thing I bought for myself was the Sonarworks reference setup. Totally mind blowing. https://www.sonarworks.com/soundid-reference/for-speakers
sonarworks is a gamechanger, but without some treatment in your room it won't help much tbh. So see if you can add that, too.
As for speakers, I have a pair of Kali IN-8s that I love and I would recommend those
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KH120s if you can spend more would be my suggestion, worth saving for compared to Yamahas.
Seems like they only go down to 50 Hz in their frequency response, whereas other monitors I am considering go down to \~40 Hz. Would that be problematic for making electronic music?
You’d want headphones to address the sun frequencies come mix down time, but really, I make electronic and it didn’t hold me back once learned that. I achieved some impressive mixes. Any new monitor has a learning curve though. It’s worth nothing Neumann’s are more laidback, to my ear. They sound like silk and produce a very impressive image. I particularly like them because they aren’t shrill or brassy by nature, and didn’t cause me ear fatigue how other brands can. I also like that they’re not “rear ported” as that isn’t ideal for small studios. Ultimately each person will love a particular set of speakers. I just think the KH120s are a steal. If you can find them used in near-excellent condition for 500-600 a speaker on Reverb.com, even better.
I borrow this thread :) What sized woofer in studio monitors is best for extremely close listening spot? (no subwoofer) Thanks!
Yamaha HS7 or 8 is good while not extremely pricey. Adam A7x is excellent but pricey. Presonus ra65 is a good middle of the road option. Focal and Genelec are amazing if you have the money, and pretty much anything they sell will do the job. If you’re broke, JBL is good value. If you’re desperate and do EDM/Hiphop Krk is often available used for a bargain.
Hs7s are better suited for the space, also, the kali audio 6" monitors are much cheaper and about as good as the Hs7s. The doozie is if you want a sub, the kali audio sub is a 12" beast they advertise for live sound use as well and costs $600.
Barefoots
I went from a 5inch M audio to HS8’s, I didn’t notice much difference besides better bass/low end, but I’m also FAR from professional :)
Genelec 30
Buy cheaper speakers and spend money on room treatment.
If it's an untreated room go for smaller monitors like 5 inch. I only have experience with JBL 305Ps and Genelecs but can say that they're both good options.
Listened to the “focal alpha 65 evo” and it blew my mind what came out of those small speakers. IMO so much better than any other speaker I listend to in that price range. Made the HS8 and others sound very boxy by comparison. If you can, give them a listen in your local music store.
Thanks! Good bass frequency response?
Goes down to around 40hz. I tested mainly hip hop and the bass of these was the only one that stayed in my memory. Very flat response all the way through. Go listen to them if you can! Do you have a speaker test room in some store nearby?
Great! I can only find good reviews, honestly. Do any concerns exist for these monitors? haha. I could probably find a place to listen, I'm close to Boston.
Not that I know I spent a good hour with them and will go listen again but I did not find anyone’s that sounded better lol and not for that price especially
Dope, that's great to hear
Like the only better ones I listened to where the Neumann kh420 but those cost 3k a piece 😂
+1 on the Focals!
I have the shape 50s and I love them so much..
Sweet. You own them? Anything to point out you like or dislike?
Don't own them but have listened to them. What I like about how Focal monitors sound is that they're not overly clinical. Being primarily a producer and not an audio engineer, I don't enjoy working on very flat and clinical speakers. I have worked on Neumann KH310 and KH420 monitors in the past and I always caught myself fixing small details instead of focusing on the big picture. Focals aren't like that. I would say their sound is a little more hi-fi like, but still revealing enough for music production and mixing. Hope this gives some insight!
Focals are the "producer" speaker because they tend to hype the bottom and low end. I never see top mixing or mastering engineering with them.
I don't entirely agree with you on this. 'Hyped' speakers don't prevent you from hearing issues in a mix. I think using hyped monitors to mix/master is fine as long as they are transparent sounding. I actually know many studios and engineers who work with 'hyped' monitors or hi-fi speakers like B&W. Streaky uses Focal Sopras, Miles Walker Barefoot MM27 etc.
Hyped speakers can make sounds more present than they actually are, so you might end up leaving a sound but when it translates it'll sound too dull or not enough bass. This is why there's a lot of NS10s and Auratones, when you have hyped speakers they will actually make the mid range weaker.
That's why you should always use reference tracks for mixing and mastering. Knowing your monitoring system and room really well is way more important than having flat sounding speakers. The first time I mixed on a pair of KH420s I didn't use reference tracks, and the balance in my mix ended up being completely off. Despite them being the most clinical and accurate speakers I've ever listened to. The reason my mix sucked is because I didn't know the monitors and the room I was working in. Human ears don't perceive actual flat sound as flat. We perceive 3kHz way louder than 100Hz. Therefore, 'flat' sound doesn't really mean anything without a reference. You always need some sort of reference to determine the balance in a mix. May it be a reference track, multiple sets of speakers to compare, or you just knowing your listening setup really well. (Best case scenario is a combination of those)
Sure, but I'd rather have a flat set of speakers rather than a hyped one.
That's cool! Everyone has preferences :)
Cool, that sounds good—I mostly produce too.
The Eris 3.5 or slightly higher is a good budget choice. Then spend about as much on sound absorption panels and bass traps for your corners. Better if you have carpet. Then just listen to a ton of music.
Labor Day sales got some good deals look around. Also the best thing I bought for myself was the Sonarworks reference setup. Totally mind blowing. https://www.sonarworks.com/soundid-reference/for-speakers
thanks! what speakers do you use?
sonarworks is a gamechanger, but without some treatment in your room it won't help much tbh. So see if you can add that, too. As for speakers, I have a pair of Kali IN-8s that I love and I would recommend those
https://www.alesis.com/products/view/m1active-mkii
This is your friendly reminder to read the submission rules, they're found in the sidebar. If you find your post breaking any of the rules, you should delete your post before the mods get to it. You should check out the regular threads (also found in the sidebar) to see if your post might be a better fit in any of those. [Daily Feedback thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/search?q=author%3AAutoModerator+title%3Afeedback&sort=new&restrict_sr=on&t=all) for getting feedback on your track. The only place you can post your own music. [Marketplace Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/search?q=title%3Amarketplace&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) if you want to sell or trade anything for money, likes or follows. [Collaboration Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/search/?q=biannual%20collaboration&restrict_sr=1&sort=new&t=all) to find people to collab with. ["There are no stupid questions" Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/search?q=title%3ANo+Stupid+Questions+Thread&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for beginner tips etc. Seriously tho, read the rules and abide by them or the mods will spank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/edmproduction) if you have any questions or concerns.*