Best buy monitor speakers in an untreated room?

[SAVO]

I'm looking for what monitors to buy...

I've been strongly suggested the KRKs for around £300. Some suggest buying Samson, or any just looking at monitors under £400. I've been told Mackie speakers are too harsh on the ears making your ears tired after 20 minutes of listening through them...

What would everyone here suggest for under £350 in an untreated room?

Discuss...

(by the way, for all those outside UK...
£350 is equivalent to; $515, €382, 721 Australian Dollars, 584 Swiss Francs)

[John Koch-Northrup]

All the brands you listed are good speakers. I love my Mackie HR-824's. Harsh on the ears is bunk - but we're talking 3 times the cost you're looking at (at least when I bought them years ago...)

It's all in what sounds good to you - and frankly - no matter what speakers you get or how much you spend (or don't spend) - you can learn what works on your speakers. It's all about getting to know your speakers, how they work in your room, etc...

You're good with any of those. There are tons of reviews out there - if you see a brand/model you think you like - do some searching, find some good and bad reviews (some people are either total fans or completely anti different brands) - weight the pros and cons and get 'em. :-)

[Vladimir Kozlov]

I'm using Alesis M-one MKII (active) near 5 years, was using it in unthreated room couple years, to compensate bass - put foam rubber into phase inverter. I think today new pair costs lower than $500. But you have to get used to them.

[John Koch-Northrup]

Check out the Tweak's Guide article on choosing monitors... I read this years and years ago and found it helpful.

http://www.tweakheadz.com/studio_monitors.htm

[SAVO]

ok kool. thanks guys ;)

[SAVO]

Would u guys say that the monitors u are suggesting are more for ambient productions or general?

[F Fang]

I have had Mackie HR-824's for almost 10 years and have been very happy with them. Their high end sounds fine, and I do not hear any excessive coloration of the sound that I think is more prevalent in less expensive monitors.

Forrest

[Vir Unis]

I've had Mackie HR824's for over 10 years and wouldn't trade them for anything. They are incredibly detailed in the mids to highs, the low end is so tight you don't need a subwoofer, and they are soft on the ears with repeated listening. I paid like $1,500 for the pair, trading in an Access Virus in order to get them. While I certainly miss that little beast of a synth, I have gotten so much more use out of these monitors. I can't stress to anyone enough how important your monitors are in your studio. I consider myself a painter and the monitor is the canvas; the stereo field between them is where we paint our ideas. They are certainly "better" and more expensive monitors out there, but it all comes down to what works for you the best....

[SAVO]

Thanks for the advice John ;)
Vir Unis said:

I've had Mackie HR824's for over 10 years and wouldn't trade them for anything. They are incredibly detailed in the mids to highs, the low end is so tight you don't need a subwoofer, and they are soft on the ears with repeated listening. I paid like $1,500 for the pair, trading in an Access Virus in order to get them. While I certainly miss that little beast of a synth, I have gotten so much more use out of these monitors. I can't stress to anyone enough how important your monitors are in your studio. I consider myself a painter and the monitor is the canvas; the stereo field between them is where we paint our ideas. They are certainly "better" and more expensive monitors out there, but it all comes down to what works for you the best....

[Chris Russell]

Oh ya the HR-824's are real sweet, I wish I had a pair.
In fact the early mixes of Merge are being tested on a pair of them, in a friends studio of course :(

[John Koch-Northrup]

I've had my 824's for about 7 years... perfect to my ears. I love them. At the time I bought them because John/Vir had them - and about 10 of my friends. I know just as many people that love them that don't like them - it's all a matter of taste.

I'll still point you back and echo what's already been said... just go out and listen to different pairs with music you know really really well... get what you can afford... there are very good monitors in different price ranges... and once you grow accustomed to how your speakers work in your room... you'll be fine with just about any pair.

[virtual]

ADAM Audio A7 i found superb alongside some behringer 990 headphones.As i listen to headphones more i mix to these more and if a mix works on them it works on any speakers for me - those headphones are like a ' bad mix bullshi..te meter ! ......bad frequencies dont get through them and sound terrible - a good mix on them just works anywhere .I mixed for years on many good monitors but good phones improve for me my mixes - but i have a preference for music that 'floats ' on phones and isnt to big or pumped up .I also mix to a second stereo i have in my studio that i know really well .The adams are very good but consider mastering quality headphones also - they dont lie.

[Nathan Youngblood]

I recently got the Mackie MR5s. Not very expensive at all, but I am amazed at what a difference they have made.
I'm sure they're not THAT great compared to others, but I've learned to love them.
They are leaps and bounds above the old JBL's handed down to me from Roach.. (He's a mackie man himself)