nearfield monitors

lcrim · « **on:** 26 Jan 2004, 04:12 pm »

I have been surfing for a pair of speakers for a second (bedroom) system and stumbled into recording studio monitors. Ended up on a pro-audio site that had a few interesting products http://www.musiciansfriend.com/
The Tannoy Reveal @ $359 a pair and the DynaudioAcoustics BM5 @ $500 a pair, both passive (no internal amp) and manufactured by recognizable names to me caught my attention.
Is anybody here familiar with either ? Can you recommend or give your viewpoint or experience with this type of product?
I am thinking that studio monitors should be free of coloration and therefore should provide inexpensive quality, if you are not that concerned with appearance.
Teaming these with a Panny digital receiver just might be very cool. Don't know where I could audition these so looking for a little help.

Larry

JLM · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Jan 2004, 11:05 pm »

My limited experience with studio monitors is that they can be extremely analytical, to the point of being sterile. All the detail, but without the music. Better for HT. Best for studio work. Not good for enjoying the music.

Ferdi · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 Jan 2004, 11:09 pm »

I don't know these little speakers specifically but monitors (real ones) generally are very revealing. That can also be interpreted as harsh, lean, cold. Together with typical mainstream amps or receivers, the result might not be too attractive.

Others may have better hints but these speakers sound sort of expensive to me, in their class.

Maybe others can give hints about their current "diamond in the rough" speakers?

Good luck.

Ferdi

lcrim · « **Reply #3 on:** 26 Jan 2004, 11:57 pm »

I received a suggestion to check out the Hafler M5's which are less expensive ($80 ea.) and also have treble slope switch (neutral/-3 db) that may be a better choice.
Then there are the Ascend Acoustics CBM170, which have received a lot of praise on this board for a bit more. I find the Axiom bookshelfs a bit bright but maybe they weren't broken in yet.
I saw a pair of Soliloquy 5.0's on Audiogon for a reasonable price, and they can't be accused of being sterile,but they really want to partner with a decent low wattage tube amp and there goes the budget.

srclose · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Jan 2004, 12:03 am »

If you don't mind a kit, the GR Research A/V-1 should be a very balanced speaker.

TV Man · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Jan 2004, 01:28 am »

Not sure about your amplification, but for near field monitors the Omega Super 3R are killer.

I have a pair driven by custom 300B tube amps (8watts per channel) and they are stunningly real sounding. I listen nearfield at medium volume levels... The goosebump factor is high and musicians are in the room with you on good recordings. Soundstage is huge with good depth and height. Excellent recordings are freaky to listen tothey sound THAT good

They take quite a while to break in, but at $749 are an absolute steal. Definitely something to take a look at.

eico1 · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Jan 2004, 04:06 am »

Tannoys always sound good and musical. If that's what your after give them a try.

steve

nathanm · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Jan 2004, 07:00 am »

Well if you play music through them there's a good chance it will sound musical. How could it sound otherwise?

Now, say you played a recording of a band saw cutting into a sheet of aluminum - that would not sound very musical.

I listen to studio monitors 75% of the time and I personally wouldn't describe them as sterile. I am not familar with the Reveals, but if they share any similarities with other Tannoys then they will probably be on the warm side of things, and not harsh at all.

dwk · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 Jan 2004, 01:44 pm »

I'll also cast a vote for Tannoy's in general. I'm using System 600 (entry-level dual-concentric monitor) with my Panny XR-25 right now, and am very happy with the sound. Of course, I was also pretty happy with them and a Jolida 202. I'd agree with the characterization of being slightly warm, but not overly so, and it doesn't obscure the detail.
You can find the 600's online for about $550 or so I think - worth considering IMHO.

JLM · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 Jan 2004, 02:59 pm »

Depends on your budget/taste, but I've owned the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170s for a couple of years. Not much to look at, but high content value and they reveal the soul as well as the detail of music. First used them for combined audio/HT, but have now have separate systems and the 170s are in the HT system for a variety of reasons. IMO their too good for HT. Are more musical than Paradigms, Dynaudio, B&W, the usually cast of characters at several times the price. The 170s are $330/pair. Efficiency is 89 dB/w/m. I use them with a Hsu VTF-2 that I also got from Ascend to add feel and a slight fill in. (Get extra bass due to use of wall mounts.) I love them and would highly recommend them in a $1,000 - 1,500 system.

I've also heard some of the Omega speakers. Even better than the Ascends, but only with tubes (I'm not a tube guy). Louis can do custom work for you and his cabinetry is wonderful. Prices run $400 - 1,400 for the different models. Efficiency ranges from 93 - 96 dB/w/m. Most folks/applications would want for a sub. I'm considering them for my new $3,000+ audio system.

lcrim · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 Jan 2004, 07:43 pm »

The Omega's are wonderful speakers and probably should be partnered with high quality, low powered tube amplification to take full advantage of their inherent quality.
What I am looking for is a bedroom system to use with a Sharp Aquos 22" LCD (refurbdepot -$1200), a Panny XR25 or 45, Denon DVD 910, probably a Bolder digital cable w/ a Bybee RCA connector and Hughes HTL-HD direcTV HD receiver that uses an optical digital cable (sound Professionals). I love the music stations that direcTV throws in for free and with a digital receiver the quality is incredible. I also like the idea that everything has a remote and can be messed with without getting up. Spend a bunch more on adaptors and the power side and my little bedroom system ends up north of $3000 even trying to keep the speaker choice in the reasonable area. You only go around once.
Thanks for the rec's