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I have a new computer with no speakers and rather than get plain old computer speakers I figured I should get my first pair of studio monitors. And I'd appreciate any recommendations based on the following criteria, - They must be cheap! I am and the monitors need to be too! $300 for the pair is my top end. - Obviously I'd love the highest quality possible! - While I want to improve my mixing setup I am NOT planning to do ANY room treatments or special mounting of the monitors. I currently mostly use headphones and reference recordings. I view adding monitors as a slight improvement over that setup. I know you are supposed to position monitors a certain way and add treatments to the walls and all of that...but I am NOT going to do any of that!  - They need to double as regular computer speakers! I may just buy a pair of KRK Rokit 5 because they come highly recommended and the black and yellow kinda soothes me! Thanks in advance for any recommendations!
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Check out the Mackie MR5 speakers. That's what I bought for my monitoring system. I paid $300 for the pair many years ago. Sweetwater has them for $120 each. Mackie MR-5 LINK They sound good and when used with a sub, you even have a really fat low end. However, the sub isn't needed, but it does make a nice case of ear candy. Certainly worth a look.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 05/12/17 02:03 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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I love my Barry MS-40 Near Field Monitors. Under $200. They were recommended by our own Mac. Donny https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-MS40-BEHRINGER/dp/B000IKSIOM
Last edited by Don Gaynor; 05/12/17 02:57 AM. Reason: Added a link
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I have an old version of M-audio's BX5 near field monitors and they are still working perfectly. They just fit in your budget. Note that I also use these for my computer speakers and are great for listening to music. M-audio also has a less expensive version but I have no experience with them. https://www.sweetwater.com/c405--M-Audio--Active_Monitors
Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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I would say you cannot go wrong with the KRK 5's. Bud uses them (I believe) and has some of the cleanest, clearest mixes imaginable. Musician's Friend sometimes put the silver one on sale (for $99 each) - in the Stupid Deal... They are doing "Stupid Deal Of The HOUR" today - so you might watch all day (check each hour). http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupidThey have a good price on the Tannoy Reveal 502 (on sale) http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/tannoy-reveal-502?src=3XBACR(I do not know anything about them, personally, just pointing that out. Do your homework). Good luck with your search....
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The Behringer Studio 50USB are sold by the pair, accepts XLR, TRS AND USB (digital) inputs! Presently they are priced at about $150 (US) with free shipping through Sweetwater. 34 reviews and they have a 4.5 out of 5 rating. +++ Studio 50 USB +++
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Why would you buy Behr when you can buy these? https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSR305Where they actually publish their specs?  Total Power 82W Frequency Range 43Hz-24kHzCrossover Frequency 1725Hz Maximum Peak SPL 108 dB Regards, Bob
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I love their speakers! I have the bigger, 8" speakers. Beautiful for monitoring!
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Why would you buy Behr when you can buy these? https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LSR305Where they actually publish their specs? Total Power 82W Frequency Range 43Hz-24kHzCrossover Frequency 1725Hz Maximum Peak SPL 108 dB Regards, Bob Bob, That's the PRICE EACH! Donny
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Yup, and they just squeak in with John's max price for the pair.
Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
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Thanks for the shout out floyd and yes we do use Rokit 5's. https://www.amazon.com/KRK-RP5-G2-Powered-Monitors/dp/B001ANZTCKI remain impressed with their flat neutral response and FWIW if I get a mix to sound good on them it seems invariably to sound equally good on our much larger audio system. Guess that's the whole point Bud
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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I had a pair of Behringer MS40 monitors. Horrible. So I upgraded to the KRK 5s Floyd mentioned about 2 years ago. Infinitely better. You need good monitors.
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- They must be cheap! I am and the monitors need to be too! $300 for the pair is my top end.
Highest reviewed monitor at Sweetwater (I need some myself). Rick
BIAB 2016/2017 Everything
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" While I want to improve my mixing setup I am NOT planning to do ANY room treatments or special mounting of the monitors. I currently mostly use headphones and reference recordings. I view adding monitors as a slight improvement over that setup. I know you are supposed to position monitors a certain way and add treatments to the walls and all of that...but I am NOT going to do any of that! smile"
Well, I understand the sentiment, but please consider trying as much of the above as possible. Otherwise just continue mixing on your headphones - you will get more accurate frequency balance if your headphones are relatively flat response. Save yourself the money of spending anything on monitors if you outright refuse to do any of the above.
Your statement "I currently mostly use headphones and reference recordings. I view adding monitors as a slight improvement over that setup." is only true if you take the effort to remove room modes on the low end of things, and comb filtering on the high end, then your view will very likely end up wrong and headphones are very possibly a better option.
-Scott
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Otherwise just continue mixing on your headphones...
Just a different perspective... I disagree with this... I mix in headphones (ATH-M40fs) for most of a mix. Until everything "gets in place". BUT... once I am satisfied with that, I listen through monitors (Yorkville YSM-1 through an Alesis RA-100). The mix always gets better - generally, it is subtle - sometimes, "less than subtle". When I then go back to the headphones, it is improved enough to notice. I do not have a "treated" room. I have a 2-panel sliding glass door...a hardwood floor (with no covering). There is a wall hanging - a 3X5 rug, handmade by my wife (hooked yarn), which, no doubt absorbs something... and there is a whole bunch of crap... bookcases filled with books and CDs and old equipment and who-knows-what... I believe taking the time to mix using monitors is... time well spent...
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I agree; I couldn't even consider calling a mix done without my monitors. I can do a LOT of the mixing work in headphones (percentage/time wise) but I know it is not done without using the monitors. I will say, it may take a while (maybe even months) to really learn your new monitors. Once you get that one thing, it becomes a lot easier. Grab that favorite CD, the one that sounds good in your car and in your living room. Play it through your monitors a lot; listen. Get to know your monitors. Once they are your friend you will trust them. Headphones can get you really close, but I have learned to trust my monitors. If it sounds 'off' using my monitors (a well known reference), it will sound 'off' elsewhere as well. if I get a mix to sound good on them it seems invariably to sound equally good on our much larger audio system.
(Bud) Yep, that's exactly the point; once you can trust your monitors things become much easier.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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It all depends on the acoustics of the room. Some of what you listed is actually quite good acoustic treatment; particularly the books-a time honored way to disperse reflections. Unless the books are all the same size, the various sizes reflect high frequencies in different directions and can kill off flutter echos.
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We use these to deal with flutter echos:  Regards, Bob
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" While I want to improve my mixing setup I am NOT planning to do ANY room treatments or special mounting of the monitors. I currently mostly use headphones and reference recordings. I view adding monitors as a slight improvement over that setup. I know you are supposed to position monitors a certain way and add treatments to the walls and all of that...but I am NOT going to do any of that! smile"
Well, I understand the sentiment, but please consider trying as much of the above as possible. Otherwise just continue mixing on your headphones - you will get more accurate frequency balance if your headphones are relatively flat response. Save yourself the money of spending anything on monitors if you outright refuse to do any of the above.
Your statement "I currently mostly use headphones and reference recordings. I view adding monitors as a slight improvement over that setup." is only true if you take the effort to remove room modes on the low end of things, and comb filtering on the high end, then your view will very likely end up wrong and headphones are very possibly a better option.
-Scott Thanks, but as I said, I will NOT be doing any room treatments! I have been very satisfied with headphone mixing using known references of music/artists/productions I enjoy. After I "finish" a mix I then test it on several systems including my car and home stereo and sometimes I'll stop in the Best Buy to demo it on their systems! I also send it to a few trusted music friends who tend to be VERY critical...er...honest with me! Adding monitors will provide me with another reference point and hopefully help me improve my mixes further. This is a hobby for me and the room I use will always need to be very multi-purpose and shared with other family members. If I hit the lottery maybe I'll build a sound booth!
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HUGE THANKS to everyone who offered their advice! It is so nice to be able to pop in here and get such great information and informed opinions! I think I am going to choose between the JBL LSR305s and the KRK Rokit RP5 G2s. Based on the comments here and the reviews everywhere I think I cannot go wrong with either of those. I am tempted to get the Behringers because I am cheap but I worry about the quality and consistency of their products. I own a couple of their products and had lots of problems until I got one replaced and then it was great but still worries me it will fail. So thanks again and I'll report what I get and whether or not it improves my mixes! 
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