Need some Studio Monitors

[Van Weapon]

So I'm wanting to get into recording my guitar playing since I've been doing it for near on 10 years now, and I've got myself an interface and recording software. I have Audio Technica ATH-AD900X headphones but I'd like some dedicated monitors for listening back to my recordings. 

I know a lot about headphone audio but not a lot about speaker audio, so I'd just like some suggestions for a pair of speakers, or just some "what to look for/avoid" tips. 

I don't necessarily have a price limit but prices would need justification. Also these will be getting plugged into the outputs for my guitar interface, not my PC, I already have speakers for my PC. These are purely for recording/playing back guitar. 

[FloRolf]

I heard only great things about the jbl305.

There isn't always something to look for, like driver size or something. Great reviews make great speakers. You gotta Test yourself though.

[EndlessOyster]

7 minutes ago, FloRolf said:

I heard only great things about the jbl305.

There isn't always something to look for, like driver size or something. Great reviews make great speakers. You gotta Test yourself though.

well then you have never heard the JBL 305s

[FloRolf]

4 minutes ago, EndlessOyster said:

well then you have never heard the JBL 305s

You mean they suck?

I'm thinking about a ~300€ pair of speakers myself and they seem to be recommended all over the place.

[EndlessOyster]

Just now, FloRolf said:

You mean they suck?

I'm thinking about a ~300€ pair of speakers myself and they seem to be recommended all over the place.

Not the worst thing in the world I guess, but they are a bit crap.

[Van Weapon]

Just now, EndlessOyster said:

Not the worst thing in the world I guess, but they are a bit crap.

Not gonna lie, its a bit hard to take your opinion seriously with that signature 

[FloRolf]

45 minutes ago, EndlessOyster said:

Not the worst thing in the world I guess, but they are a bit crap.

Personally tested or also based on others opinions?

Also, what else would you recommend at this pricepoint?

[Philosobyte]

If SSL says that the JBL LSR305 monitors are the best under $500, then they're likely to be the best monitors under $500. 

They've gotten a lot of great reviews and recommendations on Gearslutz for their bass extension and very good waveguide/sweetspot. 

However, the Equator D5 front-ported monitors were updated and re-released a month ago on December 28th. Depending on how the new D5s are reviewed (there was no press or hype about it due to a lack of marketing) it's possible they might be a very good option. They seem to use an internal EQ calibrated at the factory to make the FR flatter.  The original D5s already put up a good fight against the LSR305s, apparently having a midrange with greater resolution. 

But the LSR305s are a safe choice which seem to be well-liked on the forums and rarely ever criticized. 

[Guest]

No speaker can be everything to everyone, even expensive "high quality" speakers.

I have never heard the LSR305. However, I know how to read and employ critical thinking. As such, my reading of this review: http://noaudiophile.com/JBL_LSR305/ has led me to the conclusion that this speaker is a high value and generally performs well. This is based on justifications given in this review, reinforced by the obvious knowledge and experience of the reviewer.

2 hours ago, EndlessOyster said:

Not the worst thing in the world I guess, but they are a bit crap.

In comparison, this statement provides no justification for the conclusion that can allow me to even begin to take it seriously. I suggest that the OP not take it seriously either.

The LSR305 have a flat response, image well, have a nice, wide dispersion, and extend reasonably low. I'm not sure what more can be asked for in a sub-$500 speaker.

[Omon_Ra]

I know a few people who love the Rokit series monitors. They range in price depending on size from $300/pair to $1000/pair. Get isolation foam to put the speakers on and align them with your ears properly.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_1_4_hso_sc_smartcategory_1?rh=n%3A11974991%2Ck%3Arokit&keywords=rokit&ie=UTF8&qid=1454343406&sr=8-4-acs

[EndlessOyster]

4 hours ago, FloRolf said:

Personally tested or also based on others opinions?

Also, what else would you recommend at this pricepoint?

Personally used them. Had them and some Behringer truths and a yammy speaker cant remember which once and even the truths sounded better (p.s. I hate the truth). Also the build quality wasnt as good as the others and thats saying something when compared to the Behringer (it was the truths with the ribbon high dont know the code off my head)

 

2 hours ago, Philosobyte said:

If SSL says that the JBL LSR305 monitors are the best under $500, then they're likely to be the best monitors under $500. 

They've gotten a lot of great reviews and recommendations on Gearslutz for their bass extension and very good waveguide/sweetspot. 

Thats surprising thats what I though was the worst was the lows and mid lows. I personally found the highs and mids good but I like my low frequencies and I didnt find them up to par compared to the yammys I had

 

 

I personally have no recommendations on that price point because I dont have a large enough experience with enough speakers in it to say. But if you ever want a subwoofer in a budget of 1k+ give me a ring.

[Philosobyte]

14 minutes ago, EndlessOyster said:

 

Perhaps it has to do with room acoustics (uneven FR absorption) and speaker placement. The JBL monitors are rear-ported, while the Behringer Truths are front-ported, so Truths can theoretically be placed closer to the wall than the JBL monitors can. Since we don't know the Yamaha speakers, we can't comment on that unless if you remember whether it was front or rear ported. Also Yamaha HS monitors at least tend to be bass-light compared to the JBLs: perhaps your room amplifies low frequencies and made the JBLs muddy. 

[EndlessOyster]

38 minutes ago, Philosobyte said:

Perhaps it has to do with room acoustics (uneven FR absorption) and speaker placement. The JBL monitors are rear-ported, while the Behringer Truths are front-ported, so Truths can theoretically be placed closer to the wall than the JBL monitors can. Since we don't know the Yamaha speakers, we can't comment on that unless if you remember whether it was front or rear ported. Also Yamaha HS monitors at least tend to be bass-light compared to the JBLs: perhaps your room amplifies low frequencies and made the JBLs muddy. 

Very possible and my judgement on speakers is nothing to be amazed at. But one thing was I found the build quality low in comparison and build quality means a lot to me.

[Philosobyte]

18 minutes ago, EndlessOyster said:

Very possible and my judgement on speakers is nothing to be amazed at. But one thing was I found the build quality low in comparison and build quality means a lot to me.

Most of the stuff I was saying was just speculation, so yeah. How was the build quality lacking? Was it the finish, tolerances, material quality, material thickness, or some other characteristic?

[EndlessOyster]

Just now, Philosobyte said:

Most of the stuff I was saying was just speculation, so yeah. How was the build quality lacking? Was it the finish, tolerances, material quality, material thickness, or some other characteristic?

material quality and it felt cheap and lacking comparing them to behringer and there well know for being cheap so unless I no longer not was good quality is.

[Guest]

Of course the build quality is cheap. How else would they be expected to keep the cost down?

I guess the whole bass thing is a data point, though. If you like boosted bass, anyway.

[ZigAudio]

I can recommend a few monitors that I've experienced, differing in price. My little workstation has a paid of Fostex PM-1's I picked up about 6 years. They sound alright, not fantastic but alright.
I have worked on a one job mixing on Dynaudio BM series (I think the BM5 mk2). They were comfortable for mixing dialogue on and sounded good, more of a warm sound. 
I have also mixed on Genelec speakers before with dialogue and music. Very clear sounding speakers but would classify them as more cold and direct, so basically great for music. 
Finally, I had a friend who got a pair of sE Electronics Munro Egg 150. One of the best experiences listening to these, very hard to describe but he loved them. 
Hopefully this helps a little.

[spwath]

15 hours ago, SSL said:

Of course the build quality is cheap. How else would they be expected to keep the cost down?

I guess the whole bass thing is a data point, though. If you like boosted bass, anyway.

Seems like it would make sence for a studio monitor to have not great build quality, as they just sit somewhere and focus on sound.

My speakers have amazing build quality, but they were pricy when New, and not best bang/buck