Best passive studio monitors for under 1k

[Grant Slack]

Hello again, and thank you for your reply, and also for clarifying your intended usage with the new speakers.

 

Dr. Toole discussed both the early and late versions of the NS10M in his book. I am not sure that he thinks the later model was an improvement. He actually describes it as "even more like the (1980) Auratone 5C than the original model". I get the impression that Dr. Toole regards it as regrettable that the industry adopted the NS10M as a de facto standard, instead of something with a flatter and more extended on-axis frequency response, such as the JBL 4301. But, ever thankful for small mercies, he is grateful that a de facto standard monitor speaker was adopted, which is better than having no consistency.

 

Regards

Grant

[anewmission]

Hello again, and thank you for your reply, and also for clarifying your intended usage with the new speakers.
 
Dr. Toole discussed both the early and late versions of the NS10M in his book. I am not sure that he thinks the later model was an improvement. He actually describes it as "even more like the (1980) Auratone 5C than the original model". I get the impression that Dr. Toole regards it as regrettable that the industry adopted the NS10M as a de facto standard, instead of something with a flatter and more extended on-axis frequency response, such as the JBL 4301. But, ever thankful for small mercies, he is grateful that a de facto standard monitor speaker was adopted, which is better than having no consistency.
 
Regards
Grant

Yes well i agree with him there. I dont agree that the ns10m sound anything like the aruatone. I have both. The auratone sounds like a built in television speaker more than anyyhing else. The industry standard should have been something better however it is what it is. You get use to how things are supposed to sound and if you send your work to another studio they are more than likely to have a paor of ns10m. Funny thing is that decades of music have been recorded through these speakers. And people spend 100k+ on speakers to listen to the music that was made with a sub 1k pair of speakers...

[anewmission]

I was also thinking about it today as far as ear fatigue people talk about with certain speakers. I do agree the original ones were very harsh. The tweeters were horrible and engineers would put squares of toilet paper over the tweeters. Having worked in both analogue and digital studios i think that this hearing/ear fatigue is mainly due to digital music sources. Its much nice to work with analog for extended periods of time than it is with digital. And i dont think any dac chips in the world can change my mind about that.

[kelossus]

Since when have the NS10M been reference quality playback speakers? Just like the Altec 604E's engineers knew the speakers, knew their short comings and could utilise them appropriately.

 

The idea that the NS10M's would be better then the focals in a pure listening/hifi experience is ridiculous. Look at the frequency response of the NS10M's. They roll off pretty steeply below 200hz, no bass or even mid-bass, none, nothing to appreciate there. They were good speakers in the era of compressed music. Their frequency response is tailored to this.

 

Yes I have owned a pair and they may have had a place in a studio in their day but they are from hi-end speakers and those Focal's would destroy them in every aspect. You need to listen with your ears and if you can't hear the difference I envy you.

Edited September 22, 2018 by kelossus

[anewmission]

Dont get me wrong. The focals are much better speakers however they sounded far too coloured when feeding a guitar signal. I am probably going to make people angry on here by saying this but most audiophiles rely far too much at specs on paper rather than just using their ears. I bought a laney guitar amp with amazing specs but it sounds terrible. My little traynor guitar amp has terrible specs on paper yet it sounds beautiful.

[kelossus]

30 minutes ago, anewmission said:

Dont get me wrong. The focals are much better speakers however they sounded far too coloured when feeding a guitar signal. I am probably going to make people angry on here by saying this but most audiophiles rely far too much at specs on paper rather than just using their ears. I bought a laney guitar amp with amazing specs but it sounds terrible. My little traynor guitar amp has terrible specs on paper yet it sounds beautiful.

As in you plugged a guitar directly into the speakers? If so that's certainly not what the Focals or the Yamaha's were designed. I assume this isn't what you meant.

 

I could almost guarantee, in fact I am certain if you played an array of music through both speakers everyone would prefer the focals. If not consider yourself lucky and save thousands.

[anewmission]

No ofcourse not. Microphone (sm57) in front of amp. Through a neve pre amp and compressor to a converter

[anewmission]

Maybe its just the music i grew up with was all mixed on ns10ms so it just feels right for me.

[stuckinhere]

How about the Alesis Monitor One MkII ? different price point but from what I've read are possibly best studio monitors for under 500.

You definitely wont need or want a sub with them 

 

 

 

 

 

For transparency: Yes I have a mint pair of these with the matched ra150 amp  in storage that I'd be fine to move on. I have never stepped foot in a recording studio, just spent a bit of time researching best monitors under 500 

Edited September 29, 2018 by stuckinhere
transparency

[blakey72]

If you can stretch the budget (might be impossible) I can get you a fantastic pair of near monitors for $1500 new.

[Powerglide]

Interesting read hear may suit your needs perfectly 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2018 by Powerglide

[kenwstr]

Well, the best pair of monitors under $1k that I have found are a pair of Polk 10Bs that I then replaces the tweeters.  Sound like $10+k speakers now.  I probably should replace the XO caps too.

 

Ken

Edited October 5, 2018 by kenwstr

[blakey72]

These are the ones I was talking about.

 

https://m.ebay.com.au/itm/PMC-Tb2-Speakers-New-Rare-Rosewood-finish-mint-condition-RRP-1500/292608983213?hash=item4420dac0ad:g:H3kAAOSwgTJbKBOG

Edited October 6, 2018 by blakey72

[anewmission]

These are the ones I was talking about.
 
https://m.ebay.com.au/itm/PMC-Tb2-Speakers-New-Rare-Rosewood-finish-mint-condition-RRP-1500/292608983213?hash=item4420dac0ad:g:H3kAAOSwgTJbKBOG

They look nice. Didnt realize the aud was so bad compared to gbp. I was there 8 years ago and it was almost even

[anewmission]

So i have decided thar these speakers will be used for mastering. I still dont understand why people dont suggest 3 way speakers

[anewmission]

So i have decided thar these speakers will be used for mastering. I still dont understand why people dont suggest 3 way speakers

And are diatones any good?

[Barton Price]

I’ve done loads of recording with NS10s but not recently. The other speaker I used to love was the favourite of an awesome engineer called Julian Mendelson (Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, heaps of other stuff) . It was AR 18s. Had to be that model specifically, the “s” stood for short throw. They had a much bigger low-mid and bass than NS10 and can still be found well under $1k on e-bay

[Barton Price]

And... now that I’m reminiscing... don’t forget that when NS10’s were a standard in the eighties, there was always a big set of uries, jbls, or Tannoys to check the bass on , or crank up loud when the band wanted a playback. So the NS 10’s were just one monitoring tool. Perhaps you should be looking for something entirely different, much bigger, to complete you ns 10s?

[anewmission]

And... now that I’m reminiscing... don’t forget that when NS10’s were a standard in the eighties, there was always a big set of uries, jbls, or Tannoys to check the bass on , or crank up loud when the band wanted a playback. So the NS 10’s were just one monitoring tool. Perhaps you should be looking for something entirely different, much bigger, to complete you ns 10s?

Yeh thats exactly what i am looking for. Something bigger with more low end and i would use them for mastering purposes. The ns10s really work well with my amp the yamaha p2200. And when i am tracking bass guitar i have been using headphones. Sennheiser 650s.. A nice 3 way speaker would work.. Even a ns1000m but because of their cult following they are much more expensive than they should be. I am thinking something by krix or focal.. Maybe something more niche though

[Al.M]

For a used speaker budget $300-1500 and if you are quick and lucky plus patient for them to come up consider many like:

 

Yamaha Ns1000 matches very well with your amp (I have them both)

Proac Studio 100

Dynaudio various standmount models

Jamo Concert 8

Alesis Monitor 1

KRK 

Kef LS50 highly recommended will thrive on you amp watts

Lenehans

Legend

Sonus Faber FM1 and others

VAF I91

some of the better B&W standmounts

ATC

 

List is pretty much everything under the sun but never know what floats the boat.

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2018 by Al.M

[anewmission]

For a used speaker budget $300-1500 and if you are quick and lucky plus patient for them to come up consider many like:
 
Yamaha Ns1000 matches very well with your amp (I have them both)
Proac Studio 100
Dynaudio various standmount models
Jamo Concert 8
Alesis Monitor 1
KRK 
Kef LS50 highly recommended will thrive on you amp watts
Lenehans
Legend
Sonus Faber FM1 and others
VAF I91
some of the better B&W standmounts
ATC
 
List is pretty much everything under the sun but never know what floats the boat.
 
 
 

I actually have 2 of the same amp so i could even mono bridge them.
Anyone have any idea how i could mono bridge a pair of p2200?

[Grant Slack]

On 06/10/2018 at 9:18 PM, anewmission said:

On 06/10/2018 at 6:52 PM, Rangi said:

....Perhaps you should be looking for something entirely different, much bigger, to complete you ns 10s?

Yeh thats exactly what i am looking for. Something bigger with more low end and i would use them for mastering purposes. ....

Hello, I now understand your purpose properly. I suppose that explains why you kept asking for 3-way recommendations.

 

Perhaps the $1,000 limit is the factor here, that prevents you from getting answers. 3-way speakers are generally more expensive than 2-way, but, in particular, good quality bass is invariably more expensive. The only 3-way passive monitor that I am aware of, and mentioned previously, is well over your limit.

 

Regards

Grant