Budget of $300, need monitors

[pskjr]

Currently trying to decide on monitors for my studio. I know it's a small budget, but my max is $300. I've narrowed it down to the M-Audio BX5a's and the Alesis M1 MKII's. Other recommendations are welcome as well. These will be used for mixing/editing audio as well as sound for video. Need input asap. Thanks guys.

[LazarusLong]

Alesis. The BX5a's are too smiley-faced for my taste. There's very little mids in them, so it's hard to tell what's going on. Make nice home theater systems, though.

[A.David.MacKinnon]

I don't know the BX5s but I has a pair of Monitor 1s and was very happy to see them go. Saying they suck is being too kind.

For your budget I'd look for a pair of KRKs or Yorkvilles. Both might be a little out of your price range but you could always get a used pair and save a bit of cash.

[vikingrecording]

i have to throw my support behind the Mackie MR5s, something like 350 for the pair. Not perfect, but fairly even in my experience.

[Snarl 12/8]

Gotta cheapo stereo amp you can upgrade later?

http://www.axiomaudio.com/m2.html

[JWL]

No brainer, Wharfedales, $149 each.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--WHADP82A

I wish I'd known about these when I bought my Behringer Truths many years ago..

[thethingwiththestuff]

Do not waste your money on the Alesis M1Mk2's. get a pair of good old 70's stereo speakers and a decent amplifier or even receiver.

[kingmetal]

I work on Yamaha HS50Ms and I love them to death. They're a little over your budget at $200 a speaker but I've seen them down around $170 each (check Amazon). The sub that goes with them is apparently great, as a down-the-line upgrade, but I'm using a different sub with mine.

[Ryan Silva]

They don't make them anymore, but keep an eye out for Event 20/20's. I see them on ebay and Craigslist fairly often for around your budget.

Good Hunting

[markitzero]

Having been there, I can understand wanting the best you can get for the little money you have....

But how discerning do you really think you can be with a great big giant stack of $300? And if $300 is really your maximum and you can't afford a penny more, you have bigger problems than what low-grade monitors to buy.

Not that I'm trying to discourage you or be a dick. I'm trying to prevent someone else from wasting money on sub-par shit that just ends up being sold at a loss or just ceases to function. Been through it too many times over the years. Makes me realize the music industry isn't broken... instead of albums, people buy cheap home studio shit. Same consumers, new way of consuming.

[Ryan Silva]

Having been there, I can understand wanting the best you can get for the little money you have....

But how discerning do you really think you can be with a great big giant stack of $300? And if $300 is really your maximum and you can't afford a penny more, you have bigger problems than what low-grade monitors to buy.

Not that I'm trying to discourage you or be a dick. I'm trying to prevent someone else from wasting money on sub-par shit that just ends up being sold at a loss or just ceases to function. Been through it too many times over the years. Makes me realize the music industry isn't broken... instead of albums, people buy cheap home studio shit. Same consumers, new way of consuming.

Good point, even if you are happy initially with your purchase of $300 monitors, you could outgrow them very quickly, or have reliability problems.

That being said, my first monitors were M-Audio B5's and I mixed recordings on them that I still enjoy to this day.

However, on the other hand, I replaced them in 18 months after I got them. Not because they broke, or because they sounded horrible, but because they became the weakest link in my chain. It didn?t seem to make since to record with a AKG 414 into a UA m610, then listen back on what?...B5's?

Point of the story: If your planning to grow, big steps make a big difference in your sound. Small steps make small (if any) improvements but still cost money.

Good luck

[Nate Dort]

No brainer, Wharfedales, $149 each.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--WHADP82A

seconded. i've been using mine for 5 years now.

[ott0bot]

They don't make them anymore, but keep an eye out for Event 20/20's. I see them on ebay and Craigslist fairly often for around your budget.

Good Hunting

Those are pretty good for the money, my old school had a pair in the electronic music lab.

Don't get those crappy Alesis speakers!

Personally I'd recomend getting a pair or KRK Rokit 5's. I have the first generation ones that I bought for super cheap when they were closing them out. It took a little bit to adjust to them, and I ended up turing the HF knob on the back nearly all the way off to get them to translate mixes a bit better. But you can find a pair for under $300 from B&H and other places.

Also, I've found using some decent passive speakers with a decent receiver is also a great for monitoring. Something has to be said for mixing on a source similar to what they'll end up getting played on. Well....it that case just mix on a pair of $10 ear buds!

That being said, adding some treatment to my room made a huge difference. And as stated my many other posts, don't waste you money on something you'll grow out of.

[vivalastblues]

Get those shitty behringer ones for $80 or whatever. MS16 i think they're called. Keep them for a few months till you can afford something good then upgrade.

[rwc]

The Axiom M2i will throw everything mentioned in this thread under a bus. I've been shilling them here for years. They make great stuff. Think high end Paradigm & B&W with we-don't-advertise-or-use-wood price tags.