New near field advice

[reddirt]

Hi people, have just sold my Event ASP8s and am looking for advice on replacements.
The ASP8s were a bit big for what I'm doing these days and not as open in the mids as I need for lighter vocal-centric music styles and translations.
Am looking for something that clearly shows weak points in a mix.
I do need drum and bass resolution capability but nothing heavy.

Am thinking of Focal CMS65 / Solo 6 be, Neumann KH 120, Quested S7R , Genelec ? and anything else I'm not aware of.

Budget is up to and around $2,000 (Dyn BM6A@ $2,600 are just a little pricey)

Do any of you have positive or negative recommendations based on actual experience?

I appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers, Ross

Ross Muir
Alice Springs

[Chinagraf]

I hate the mids or should I say lack of mids in Genelecs. The bigger models start to get okay, but around 2K not really so good imho.Having said that, my partner uses them and does great mixes on them, but I cant. I use NS10s and a sub that is switchable in/out for my mains. It costs a bit more than 2K when you include the amp for the NS10's.

[mylesgm]

I'm enjoying my focal CMS65s. Non-fatiguing but still very accurate and the bass is especially accurate which is hard to find in a smaller monitor. New genelecs get no love from me either...

[harry]

Hey Ross,

I auditioned a pair of the Focals some time ago - i felt that they were slightly hyped in the high end compared to the Dynaudio Bm6 and Bm5 which i felt were more neutral and accurate

I auditioned source material that i know quite well - so i'm fairly sure i know how the recordings should sound..
If you're into the focals - i would suggest an a/b with the dynaudios before you make your choice..

Let us know your findings..

just my $0.02

h.a.r.r.y.a.r.v.a.n.i.t.i.s

[reddirt]

Thanks for your replies so far; i think it's an interesting topic for many of us - so many varying opinions. When I rang Turramurra the bloke there said BM6A mk11 or BM5s which was not how I would have gone based purely on on-line comments/reviews. Who knows?
Keep 'em coming guys.
Cheers, Ross

Ross Muir , Alice Springs

[The Tasmanian]

I'm running BM6 passives and BM5MkII actives (plus a sony ghettoblaster and Auratones)
The BM6's I have been using now for about 8 years - I still really like them and have not bored of them at all.
Ive done so many albums tracking and mixing on them - and never felt I was missing something.
Everything transfers to mastering and the real world very well - and they have been dragged into big mix rooms, tiny edit suites, and home studios and they work in all the rooms.
Still I wouldn't mind getting a pair of bigger monitors like the Opals (for fun) as my room can handle bigger monitors for the huge electronic mixes (and still keep and mainly reference the Dynaudio's)
If I only had the Dynaudios I could quite happily mix forever on them.
Not many speakers I can say the same things about.
Let us know how you go and what you end up with - there is plenty of good speakers to choose from these days.

[Ben M]

The ASP8s were a bit big for what I'm doing these days and not as open in the mids as I need for lighter vocal-centric music styles and translations.
Am looking for something that clearly shows weak points in a mix.
I do need drum and bass resolution capability but nothing heavy.

Hi Ross
I recommend the Opals if you can find the extra $. Mid range is nice. When I first bought mine I played a few past mixes and was amazed at how the opals exposed everything. Lots of clarity, nice mid range, great bottom end. Things are translating a lot better since buying them.

[reddirt]

Yeah thanks Ben, they certainly have my interest though I'm just not doing enough to warrant that kind of dough and size - my thinking is leaning towards the Cm65 or maybe the Neumann however up here I can't listen to any and I'm searching for ideas from those like yourself who are serious users and who have the experience to make real judgements.
Any more thoughts?

Cheers, Ross

Ross Muir, Alice Springs

[reddirt]

At this stage I'm leaning towards either the Focal CMS65 or Neumann KH 120 - still piecing it all together. The Solo 6 Be is probably a little pricey @ $2200.
Really looking for something which shows the problems and thus ultimately makes it easier to mix.

Cheers, Ross

Ross Muir, Alice Springs

[mal stanley]

The Dynaudio BM6As are defintely worth a listen...I've found mixes on them translate very well...
we have them in our studios as nearfields.
Opals also I've had experience with..very clean and tight bottom end...
but I think they more qualify as mid fields maybe..

[Thirteen]

BM6 passives and a decent amp are hard to beat.

[The Tasmanian]

100% Agree Steve
Ive had so many monitors at my disposal to audition in many studio's over the years and BM6 passives are the only speaker I feel I could mix any genre of music on - without fail.
In fact there have been times when I have had 4 sets of monitors to check during mixing and gotten to the end of an album mix and thought - wow, I never even checked the mixes on any other speaker or headphones.

[reddirt]

"BM6 passives and a decent amp are hard to beat "

I'm checking them out.
Cheers , Ross

Ross Muir, Alice Springs

[Chris H]

I have a very similar speaker, the Duntech PLC 15 which uses the dynaudio driver and a different tweeter in a time aligned box with the standard duntech felt dampening. They are superbly detailed with a very good stereo image. They are a sealed box, ie no bass port so I use a small sub crossed over to match where the Duntechs roll off to extend the bass.

[reddirt]

It seems Dynaudio don't make the BM6 anymore

Cheers, Ross

Ross Muir, Alice Springs

[DaleRoyce]

ATC scm book shelf models.

[gigpiglet]

how did you go with finding new monitors?
notice that you said your budget was 2k..
which is what i was asking for my pair of Meyer HD1's
these were bought from rick (for more than that) a couple of years ago
i love love loved them (as does rick) but have changed things at my place with the reno and they just rant required anymore.

let me know if you are interested in giving them a listen, as they are definitely for sale.

[Alistair]

Has anyone hear tried the Pro Ac 100's or Hot House monitors? They are both around $1500 and seem to be highly regarded. I'm not sure if the Hot House monitors might be discontinued though.

[reddirt]

Hi Gareth, thanks for the offer; I imagine the HD1s are great but I'm looking to downsize a bit so am heading in the direction of KH 120s / CMs65 or even as a left of centre option, Orpheus passive aurora 1s; still digesting and "permutating".
Up here, the warranty on something new is a big factor as well.

Cheers, Ross

Ross Muir, Alice Springs

[gigpiglet]

in that case - and admit I'm not sure of price as i wasn't "shopping"
but the small focals, and grover notting are the best things i have mixed on lately.
worth a look

[mylesgm]

These PMCs might be your thing...
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/australi ... -gear.html

[reddirt]

Thanks again to you all guys, unless I hear some bad mail in the next couple of days I'm probably going to throw my hat in the KH-120 ring; I've just re-oriented my studio to something quite small and feel like they should hit the spot with where it's at - it's all a bit suck it and see ; there's been nothing but positive reviews from every publication and posting user so if I do it I'll follow up in a few weeks with a " user review".

Cheers, Ross

Ross Muir, Alice Springs