[Doublej]

Active speakers from Monoprice for under $175. Anyone heard them? Are they cheerful? Are they rebadged something elses?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=115&cp_id=11504&cs_id=1150401&p_id=605500&seq=1&format=2

[srb]

There is a topic about them on Head-Fi

One member said "Those are definitely just rebadged Energy Takes, and at a great price. Saw a post online where someone on another website compared the Monoprice manual to the Energy Take one. Almost word for word the same, and they left Energy in the manual in one spot"

I saw something interesting I hadn't seen on the Monoprice site before.  When I checked shipping rates to my locale, there were the usual options ranging from Standard (3-5 business days) at $11.48 to Next Day at $60.61 - but at the top of the list was "Norco Overnite: Next Business day ($9.96) - Best Value!", the cheapest option of all.

I had never heard of Norco Delivery Services before.  Has anyone used them?

Steve

[santacore]

I had never heard of Norco Delivery Services before.  Has anyone used them?

Yes, I get most of my deliveries from MP using that carrier, and have always been pleased. Of course, I live fairly close to MP, so your experience may differ.

[JLM]

Good catch.

But as stated in the review, the Monoprice representative indicates that they are intended for studio, not home use.  Studio monitors are designed for flat response (as stated repeatedly in the Monoprice customer reviews and which is a very good thing) but they are also designed reveal all the warts (from the desktop) not to entertain in-room.  Accordingly I've found that all of the cheaper studio monitors I've auditioned to sound very dry, without body, and so quite lifeless.  They are the right tool for investigating a crime scene at the resort (or perhaps video gaming), not for enjoying yourself while there.

Active designs for home use include AVi 9RSS, Paradigm Shift A2, and Quad 9AS.  Note that I don't considered powered monitors (Audioengine, NuForce S3-BT, or PSB Alpha PS1) as active.  Pro-sumer options include Adam F5 and the Emotiva Pro series. BTW the AVi and Quad have full pre-amp, DAC, subwoofer output, and remote capabilities making for a compact/simple quality solution.

And folks wonder why professionals and hobbyists can't relate.   

[studiotech]

And folks wonder why professionals and hobbyists can't relate.   

All I'm gonna say here is that a good, accurate speaker, is a good accurate speaker regardless of what it's called.....be it studio monitor, reference speaker, home hi-fi or HT.  It's NOT what it's called, it the quality of the product.

[randytsuch]

There is a topic about them on Head-Fi

One member said "Those are definitely just rebadged Energy Takes, and at a great price. Saw a post online where someone on another website compared the Monoprice manual to the Energy Take one. Almost word for word the same, and they left Energy in the manual in one spot"


Steve

That was an example of a similar situation, Energy Takes are not active (I searched for info on the Takes, and when I saw they are passive, I was confused, so I looked at the head fi thread).

Randy

[srb]

That was an example of a similar situation, Energy Takes are not active (I searched for info on the Takes, and when I saw they are passive, I was confused, so I looked at the head fi thread).

I was aware of the Energy Take 5.1 passive system and figured I just wasn't aware of an active version, but you're right, they don't exist.  Another member said it was an M-Audio BX5, but neither the BX5 or BX5 D2 are an exact match, although they certainly could be a slightly different version from the same OEM manufacturer.

It all comes down to hearing them for yourself.  I would somewhat disagree with the thought that a true active bi-amplified monitor always beats a single amp powered monitor with passive crossover.  I have the Yamaha MSP3 (single amp powered monitor) that I think sounds better than the KRK Rokit 5 G2 (bi-amplified true active monitor) that they replaced.

The Monoprice active monitors may or may not be a good deal, it all depends on the quality and execution.

Steve

[wushuliu]

I saw something interesting I hadn't seen on the Monoprice site before.  When I checked shipping rates to my locale, there were the usual options ranging from Standard (3-5 business days) at $11.48 to Next Day at $60.61 - but at the top of the list was "Norco Overnite: Next Business day ($9.96) - Best Value!", the cheapest option of all.

I had never heard of Norco Delivery Services before.  Has anyone used them?

Steve

Yes the Norco is what I use when I order from Monoprice here in CA.

[JLM]

All I'm gonna say here is that a good, accurate speaker, is a good accurate speaker regardless of what it's called.....be it studio monitor, reference speaker, home hi-fi or HT.  It's NOT what it's called, it the quality of the product.

I used to share your opinion but...

I now realize that each of us have our own idea of what a 'good accurate speaker' is.  I started out looking for a (rather low cost, high WAF) active option for a casual use 2nd system using Airport Express, because i'm a big believer in active design and believed that I wanted to hear what was heard in the studio (being a purist of sorts).  But so far none of the typical studio monitors contenders interest me.  Every one of them I auditioned lacked body and soul.  Yes, they were at least the 'intellectual (specifications) equals' of several good low cost passives, but it was like comparing prunes (studio monitors) to plums (home passives) without the extra sweetness or black and white versus color (which would you want to view Kate Upton with?).  They were accurate, but there just wasn't any 'fun' in listening to them.  Don't know how higher end studio monitors would fair, but they're beyond what I want to spend.

'Quality of product' is also in the eye of the beholder.  Should it be armor plated for supreme toughness or finely crafted to be suitable for presentation to the queen?  Discernment (not absolutes) is the key in my mind.

Again studio monitors are conceived for a different purpose versus home use.  Sorry, but if the sound isn't enjoyable why bother?

[Russtafarian]

I have heard them.  They sound really good for an entry-level powered desktop monitor; articulate and fleshed out, not overly analytical.  There is nothing else out there that sounds this good at this price-point.

A friend just graduated from HS and wanted to assemble a simple home recording setup with his graduation money.  I recommended either the Monoprice or entry-level Emotiva Pro monitors depending on his budget.  He got the Monoprice and I helped him set up his desktop system.  For $165 pr. I was pretty damn impressed!

The inputs are balanced TRS phone jacks so you will need adaptors or TRS to RCA cables to connect them to your source.

Russ

[Peter_S]

I just got a pair, AND they just dropped the price to $132.  I'm quite impressed with them.  They are very musical, have good spatial resolution, are flat (i.e. not biased), are very enjoyable to listen to (I'm listening nearfield).