Building a wishlist: Amp, monitors and sub.

Shayper

Shayper

Shayper

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Hi guys :)

I'm going to be getting a new set of speakers soon, and this will be a proper cash blowout for me. I'm looking to get an amp, studio monitors and sub for music production. Which would probably cost a fair amount, although I have no idea where to start.

I know the sort of sound reproduction I want though: like a club :D. The sort of music I produce (dubstep, dnb and electro) has very heavy bass, and I would want the stuff I'm producing to sound like it would in the club; as well as keeping the mid range well saturated and without cutting over the high end, or there being too much treble.

I also don't want to spend more than, say, 4-500 quid. As I really can't afford much more than that, but I do need good speakers. I'm on either Microlab R700s or Corsair SP2200s at the moment, and they really aren't good enough any more.

I know this is a big ask, so thanks a lot guys in advance for your help :)
 
Presumably, you want a proper hi-fi setup, rather than PC speakers? You'll get much more VFM going second hand. Keep an eye on AVForums.

Speakers - You want to be looking at low-mid end bookshelf speakers from Mission, Monitor Audio, B&W, Wharfedale, Tannoy etc
Amp - NAD, Arcam, Rotel, Marantz, Yamaha etc
Sub - Something from BK, Velodyne, MJ Acoustics, SVS, Paradigm etc

Your budget isn't going to get an awesome setup new (though it will be better than anything all in one) but should stretch quite nicely second hand. Really, you need to have a listen to each of the brands and models, as they'll all sound quite different and your needs are quite specific. Generally, companies have a family sound, so if you like the new mid range B&W speakers, you can pretty much bet on liking the outgoing model or the equivalent from 10 years ago.

EDIT - Just to clarify, since you've had some replies, I know nothing about music production, and have taken the angle of playback based on what you've asked :)
 
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If you're getting them for music production then you don't want to get bookshelf speakers.

You'd also be better off getting active speakers, especially at that price point.

I would recommend getting two KRK Rokit 8's. I have these and they are absolutely brilliant.

they're around £200 each so should be within your budget. Or have a look at the low end genelecs and m audio monitors :)

Hope that helps :)

EDIT: Just fully re read your post, and in regards to the heavy bass, I find the KRK's to be ample enough for all types of music, If you get the room acoustics and placing right and get some good isolation (moPads are what I have) then you should have enough low end for your music
 
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Isn't it better to produce on a neutral set up ideally? If you produce bassy music on a bass-heavy system your tracks will have too little bass on other systems.
 
hellarda said:
If you're getting them for music production then you don't want to get bookshelf speakers.

You'd also be better off getting active speakers, especially at that price point.

I would recommend getting two KRK Rokit 8's. I have these and they are absolutely brilliant.

they're around £200 each so should be within your budget. Or have a look at the low end genelecs and m audio monitors :)

Hope that helps :)

EDIT: Just fully re read your post, and in regards to the heavy bass, I find the KRK's to be ample enough for all types of music, If you get the room acoustics and placing right and get some good isolation (moPads are what I have) then you should have enough low end for your music
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Would I still need to get a dedicated sub with these? And an amp? Cheers guys for your help :) I take it that AVforums have a similar mm policy?
 
Shayper said:
Would I still need to get a dedicated sub with these? And an amp? Cheers guys for your help :) I take it that AVforums have a similar mm policy?
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Possibly, it really depends. The rokit 8's give a very flat response. the bass is there it just isn't over pronounced, as the whole point of studio monitors is to provide as flatter frequency response as possible. You don't want to mix with incredibly high levels off bass, as then (As shamrock said) you will mix the bass lower because it has been unnaturally boosted. So when you play it back on another system the bass will be lacking. I hope that makes sense?

You will not need an amp with the krk's as they are active so have a built in amp. The main advantage of this is the amp is built specifically for the drivers used.

I know you said you want to produce stuff and have it sound like it does in a club, but (not 100% sure on this as I don't know but am making an educated guess) i would think that most club systems use overpowering bass, and boost a lot of the lower frequencies. So as I said you don't want to be mixing on a system like this.

If you really want a dedicated sub then go for the rokit 5's and get krk's sub that they do (the 10s is in your price range just)

again hope that helps :)
 
hellarda said:
Possibly, it really depends. The rokit 8's give a very flat response. the bass is there it just isn't over pronounced, as the whole point of studio monitors is to provide as flatter frequency response as possible. You don't want to mix with incredibly high levels off bass, as then (As shamrock said) you will mix the bass lower because it has been unnaturally boosted. So when you play it back on another system the bass will be lacking. I hope that makes sense?

You will not need an amp with the krk's as they are active so have a built in amp. The main advantage of this is the amp is built specifically for the drivers used.

I know you said you want to produce stuff and have it sound like it does in a club, but (not 100% sure on this as I don't know but am making an educated guess) i would think that most club systems use overpowering bass, and boost a lot of the lower frequencies. So as I said you don't want to be mixing on a system like this.

If you really want a dedicated sub then go for the rokit 5's and get krk's sub that they do (the 10s is in your price range just)

again hope that helps :)
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Thanks, I'll have a look at second hand versions of those :)
 
Speakers - You want to be looking at low-mid end bookshelf speakers from Mission, Monitor Audio, B&W, Wharfedale, Tannoy etc
Amp - NAD, Arcam, Rotel, Marantz, Yamaha etc

i agree with this 100%, i picked up a Rotal RA-04 amp on ebay, mint condition for around £100. some very good buys on ebay if your patient and know what to look for.

Ive also had my mission 321i (i think? been a while!) speakers for around 10 years and still going strong
 
OrionTC said:
Speakers - You want to be looking at low-mid end bookshelf speakers from Mission, Monitor Audio, B&W, Wharfedale, Tannoy etc
Amp - NAD, Arcam, Rotel, Marantz, Yamaha etc

i agree with this 100%, i picked up a Rotal RA-04 amp on ebay, mint condition for around £100. some very good buys on ebay if your patient and know what to look for.

Ive also had my mission 321i (i think? been a while!) speakers for around 10 years and still going strong
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not for music/sound production you don't, which is what the OP is using them for.
 
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