에서 부분 하나 , 나는 평균 침실 / 프로젝트 스튜디오에서 작은 스피커를 갖는 실질적인 혜택을 통해 이동합니다.
이 부분에서 나는 가서 몇 가지, 빛, 비 수학, 작은 방에서 음향 문제, 하이파이 니어 필드 스피커 대, 모니터링 및 느낌의베이스, 마지막으로 프로에 터치 서브 우퍼를 추가하는 죄수의 차이 당신의 설정에.
아니 정말, 모두가 흥분하지
사용자는 일반적으로이를 처리하는 체적을 나던 방에 너무 많은 에너지를 음파 넣을 말아. 룸 비율은 물리적으로 특정 주파수의 행동에 영향을 만들 것 서 파도 그 치수 (방 모드) 상대를.
그림 1. 작은 객실은베이스에 대한 정상파의 형태로 구축 악명이 높다.
이 방 자체가 당신이 듣고 무엇을 원하지 않는 부스트와 컷을 추가하는 것을 의미하고, 그 정확한 모니터링에 역효과.
어떻게 그런 일이 왜이 글의 범위에없는 작은 방에서 큰 스피커를 넣어 말을 충분이 로우 엔드에서 큰 문제를 만들 것입니다. 스피커 경계 근처에 의한 간섭이 스피커 경계 간섭 응답 (SBIR)는 벽과 같은, 바닥 및 ceilingwill는 청취 위치에서의 보강 및 파괴적인 간섭을 일으킨다. (그림 2 참조)
스피커 경계 간섭으로 인해 그림 2. 웨이브 취소.
제대로 배치 작은 니어 필드 모니터를 1 부에서 언급 한 바와 같이, 먼저 드라이버에서 직접 소리를들을 수있는 능력을 향상시킬 수 있습니다. 또한 제한된 공간과 작은 방에 적합 전체 청취 위치와 다시 벽에 가까운 얻을 수 있습니다.
작은 스피커와 더 적은 에너지가 방, SBIR, 룸 모드, 초기 반사음과 잔향이 다소 감소되는으로 추진되고 있으며, 당신은보다 정확한 청취 경험을 얻게 될 것이다.
물론, 방에 고유의 음향 문제가 마술처럼 사라지지 않을 것이다, 그러나 작은 방에 작은 스피커는 확실히 필요한 것보다 더 많은 에너지 문제 주파수를 공급되지 않습니다.
그것은 니어 필드 모니터링해야합니까? 어떤 작은 하이파이 스피커 세트에 대한?
당신은 신발 상자의 쌍에 3 인치 트위터를 탑재하고 해당 설정의 단점을 알고 themas에 긴 혼합, 정확하게 보정 할 수 있습니다.
그림 3. 신발 상자 스피커
그것은 쉽게하지만 당신의 일을 할 것인가? 그럼 이런 식으로 넣어, 기술적으로는 플라스틱 욕조에서 대서양을 건너 행 할 수있다
대부분의 낮은 중간 범위 하이파이 스피커 전문 니어 필드 모니터보다, 음향, 다르게 수행합니다. 하이파이 스피커는 출력시 사운드를 균일하게하고 기계 설계 및 심리 트릭을 사용하여 만족스러운 주파수를 강조하기 위해 설계되었습니다.
그것은 일반적으로 매우 좋은 소리 때문에 캐주얼 듣기에 좋은 곳입니다,하지만 당신은 음악을 혼합, 분석적으로 스피커의 이러한 종류를 사용하려고하면, 당신은 주파수가 스피커 자체에 의해 추가되는 보상 것, 원료 물질에 존재하는 주파수하지 그 . 이것은 당신의 믹스 아마 기타 사운드 시스템에 잘 번역되지 않습니다 것을 의미합니다.
즉,이 (에) 유명한 야마하 NS-10S 실제로 하이파이 스피커입니다 말했다, 그러나 theyre를 행복 이상, 그리고 규칙에 가장 확실히 예외입니다.
그러나 나는 그베이스, 사람이 필요합니다!
그것은 일반적으로 청각과 저음을 모니터링하고 그 느낌의 차이를 구별하는 것이 좋습니다.
당신이 그것을 느낄 수있다, 당신은 작은 방에 앉아있는 경우, 확률은 당신이 당신의 공연 오늘 밤 다운 믹싱 음악에 방 자체에 주로 존재하지 강화 물결을 느끼고 있습니다. 당신이 실현되면 당신이 당신의 스튜디오에서 경험하는 로우 엔드 파워 앞줄에있는 모든 사람들이 떨어져 팬티를 날려 기대, 댄스 플로어에 드롭, 당신의 공포, 당신의 트랙이 얇고 힘과 군중 소리 속옷은 제자리에 단단히 남아있다.
그것을 생각 해 보 니, 당신이 더 크게 볼륨을 확인하는 트랙을 펌핑 한 후 아래로 조금을베이스 차례 않았다, 그것은 결국 믹스에 너무 큰 소리로, 그리고 어쩌면 당신은 EQ에게 그것을 제어하는 비트 감동 그것을 부드럽게, 그리고 지금 당신은 당신이 거의 완전히 대신 트랙에서 제거했는지, 너무 늦게 깨닫고있다.
축하합니다, 당신은 당신의 공간이 아닌 소스 음악을 혼합. 더 큰 스피커를 소유하여 더베이스를 얻기 위해 노력하는 것은 실제로 당신에 대해 작업을 끝납니다.
반면에베이스 청력 서면으로 설명하기는 어렵다.
잘 선택과 방에서 잘 스피커를 배치 (이상적 음향 조정)베이스는 그냥 - 현재 - 당신이 명확하게들을 수 있습니다, 당신이해야 상상 곳에 앉고, 그리고 꿀 같은 방을 채우고 있지만 압도하지 사운드 스케이프.
그것은 크게 볼륨에서 그것을 느낄 수 있지만, 그 존재조차 낮은 볼륨에서 항상 믹스의 나머지 부분에 비례한다.
서브로 여부를 하위에? 베이스는 질문이다.
당신이 예산을 위해, 당신의 스튜디오에서 1000 그늘을베이스 확장을 갖는 설정하는 경우까지 조정할 쉽고 큰 두 가지 방법으로 모니터 한 세트보다 설정됩니다 작은 모니터 전문 세트와 서브를 얻을 수 있습니다 . 이 논리에 의해, 크고 예산보다 작고 프로 가서 더 많은 의미가 있습니다.
그림 4. 서브 우퍼를 추가
장점 :
전용 서브 우퍼를 사용하면 원하는베이스 레벨을 설정하고 정말 많은 로우 엔드가 방으로 추진하는 방법을 제어 할 수 있습니다.
대부분의 괜찮은 서브 우퍼는 차단 주파수를 가지고 만 (일반적으로 최대 80 Hz에서에서) 특정 임계 값 이상으로 위성에게 주파수를 공급하고,이 실제로 위성 스피커가 더 잘 수행하는 데 도움이됩니다.
단점 :
서브 우퍼는 방에 불필요한 저음 정보의 전체를 많이 추가하고 해결보다 더 많은 문제가 발생할 수 있습니다.
괜찮은 서브를 추가하면 비용이 두 배입니다.
좋은 서브는 심지어 공간이 있습니까, 큰 일이?
결론 :
작은 객실과 예산에 대한 작은 스피커, 실제적으로 과학적, 경제적, 여러 수준에서 작동합니다. 당신은 그러나 당신이 솔루션보다 더 음질 문제를 추가하는 위험을 실행, 대형 스피커와 함께 이동하고, 합리적인 수준에서 객실의 크기를 기준으로 모니터 할 수 있습니다.
정말 당신이 작은 방에서 작업하는 경우 더 의미가, 오히려 큰 예산보다 작고 프로 갈 수 있도록 않습니다.
Discussion
Cost wise:
It is cheaper to invest in the M3-8s at +/- $350 each, as opposed to NS-10s at about $500 to $900 a pair used. The NS-10s are not active, so you will also need a good amplifier with a suitable slew rate for audio work. The Alesis RA150 comes close enough on a budget at $200, so even with entry level amplification the NS-10s are a more expensive investment.
The M3-8s are three way (with an inline speaker design) so, for the price, they seem to be quite interesting. Professional three way designs will usually set you back thousands of dollars.
If you are keen on three way systems check out Event 2030s. Per pair they’re about the same price range as used Yamahas with a cheap amp, and the main cone is 7.1 inches, I would give those a listen too.
Size wise:
The M3-8s have an 8†driver so they’re probably too big for a small room (as set out by the criteria laid out in the articles).
Sound wise:
Tread lightly; the NS-10 are not nice. I worked on a few pairs in Tokyo and in Belgrade, and one of the best things about working on NS-10s is switching to another set of speakers. In other words, NS-10s are usually the “other†speakers. Of course it is important to have accurate monitoring, but it is also important to enjoy listening to your speakers, especially in a home studio set up. I have yet to find anyone who enjoys listening to NS-10s - unless you find pleasure in a million sonic kittens scratching incessantly at your eardrums. It’s cute at first....
Other considerations:
NS-10s are aging and require a certain degree of TLC. It is quite easy to blow the tweeter, and while it is possible to get parts, it can be a hassle you don’t really need.
Pairing the NS-10 with a decent amp can become expensive and a rabbit hole sucking time and money.
Active monitors are (in theory) perfectly matched with their drivers and likely to be more robust than a set of used speakers from the 80’s.
Conclusion:
Of course the whole “which speaker?†question is subjective, but remember to trust your ears and not the industry hype. Make sure to audition any speakers you want to buy, in a good environment, or even better, on trial in your own space, and when you hear them, the right set for you will be very obvious.
Thanks for the comment.
Have no fear on the HS8 purchase, they are great speakers, just don’t get a sub woofer. ;)
I skimmed through the HS8 user manual and you’re in luck. There is a switch on the back called “room controlâ€, try the two settings. The switch compensates for bass build-up when you must place the monitor near a wall; the three-way switch provides 0, -2 or -4 dB attenuation below 500 Hz. This should assist, somewhat, in “bringing the speaker under control†in a smaller room. I was wary of room control on my speakers (Adam A7s with front facing ports), but attenuating the bass in my room made a huge improvement. Remember, hearing the bass and feeling it are not necessarily the same, so see if using the controls makes a difference.
Recommended pro small speakers in no order or endorsement:
From personal experience - I own or have worked on these speakers.
Adam A3X
Genelec 8010AP
Focal CMS 5
Adam A7
Adam A7X
From hearsay - often mentioned in my circles or highly praised.
Event 20/20
Equator D5
PMC twotwo.5 / TB2S+ (Passive)
http://askaudiomag.com/articles/review-gibson-les-paul-studio-monitors
Any thoughts on the SubPac for small room low-end mixing?
The SubPac is ideal for small spaces, in theory, because it bypasses room conditions entirely. Since it's physically touching the body it should be a very "tight" bass experience too. "Loosness" in bass response is often a problem in small rooms, even with higher end subs, not to mention minor bass anomalies from small ported monitors adding to the mess. This "loosness" tends to mask many issues going on "down there" and SubPac seems to address and rectify this.
There are also no phase issues to speak of except that, due to the Sub Pac being next to your body, the further you sit from your monitors the more likely you are to notice a delay between the audio and tactile response. Most producers would never notice anyway, especially in a small room.
Cost wise it equates to a low end sub woofer by Samson or Behringer, so if it works as well as claimed it would great investment. A decent sub starts at €500+ and fine sub is many time more expensive, and too large for small rooms anyway.
Sara Simms reviewed it here http://askaudiomag.com/articles/review-subpac-s2-feel-the-bass-wherever-you-sit and says it works well with many genres.
I hope this helps in some way.
Great article - I wish I'd read this many years ago! Below are the dimensions of the room I use for music:
Length - 375cm, Width - 280cm, Height - 210cm
I am currently using Adam P22A Monitors (discontinued), they have an 8.5 Inch Driver. I'm certain they are far too big for this room. When sitting in front of the Adams I can 't hear the bass but if I go to the back of the room the bass piles up and it seems flabby rather than tight and punchy. I suspect that any driver over 7 Inches is not going to work in this small room.
I am considering buying a much smaller pair of monitors. Could you recommend some? Or a combination of small monitors with a sub? I make Drum & Bass so bass is important but I don't need to listen to the music too loudly.
So far I've been looking at:
Yamaha HS5
Genelec 8010A (3 Inch) + 7050B (6.5 Inch) Sub
Genelec 8020A (4 Inch) + 7050B (6.5 Inch) Sub
Genelec 8030A (5 Inch) + 7050B (6.5 Inch) Sub
Adam A3X + Adam Sub 7
Adam A5X + Adam Sub 7
What do you think? Looking forward to your reply.
Thank you
HealthyGuy
Thanks HealthyGuy I hope it helped.
– Comment: I wish I'd read this many years ago!
Me too!
– Comment: Below are the dimensions of the room I use for music: Length - 375cm, Width - 280cm, Height - 210cm
At 22.05m3 you are in a typically small bedroom for sure. You would need to do actual measurements, but a back-of-the-napkin calculation shows you may have issues around 45 Hz and 90 Hz (F1# and F2#) and other troublesome modes at 61Hz and 122Hz (B1 and B2).
Dial these frequencies into a tone generator and walk around your room. You should hear them swell and fade as you walk through the nodes. Knowing which frequencies are causing issues means we can target them with speaker placement and acoustic treatment.
No speaker or room EQ will change the physics of your room I am afraid. Even bass traps are no guarantee, unless they are very well built resonant type focused on the range below 250Hz.
– Comment: I am currently using Adam P22A Monitors (discontinued), they have an 8.5 Inch Driver.
Awesome speakers. I’ve heard the P11s in a very well tuned room in Belgrade and they are a fantastic range. Hang on to them if you can.
– Comment: I'm certain they are far too big for this room. When sitting in front of the Adams I can't hear the bass but if I go to the back of the room the bass piles up and it seems flabby rather than tight and punchy.
8.5 inches is large for this room volume indeed.
You do not mention any room treatment or speaker placement, so I am going to say before investing in new speakers try to find a more optimal position for your speakers or listening position. Do not underestimate small movements to or away from the wall directly behind your speakers.
What you are experiencing is boundary effect, technically called Speaker-Boundary Interference Response (SBIR).
From your description you might be sitting in a naturally occurring null that could be exaggerated by SBIR.
Move yourself and your speakers backwards or forwards and see if you get different results. The (very basic) idea is to push the bass dip caused by SBIR into a higher frequency range which is easier to manage with acoustic treatment. Or find a place to sit where the the null is not so obvious. It’s a dance between the two.
If you have limited space just make sure that at the very least you cannot see either side of the speaker cabinet from your listening position – that is, if you turn your head and look at each speaker you see only their faces. The ideal height for monitors is tweeters at ear height when seated or around 121cm (4ft), and make sure you have line of sight to your drivers.
Since the P22A have front firing ports you can get them quite close to the wall behind them.
I went through the P22A manual and see that they have a control panel on the rear.
It seems counterintuitive, but you may want to turn the bass down on them. By how much can only be determined by experimentation, and definitely attenuate the closer you get to the back wall to offset proximity effect. I own a pair of Adam A7s and it took me years to use the rear control panel. I was always wanted to keep the output as “flat†as possible for “purity†blah blah. But when I did attenuate some of the bass and push the speakers further back, the room and bass started to behave a little better.
EQing on the speakers is not going to solve any major issues outright, but it might help at the very least.
You may have heard it before, but half your speaker budget should go to treating your room acoustically. A couple of DIY bass traps will go along way, and are far cheaper (and effective) than a shiny new subwoofer.
In a small room bass trapping should ideally go on the wall and room corners directly behind you.
– Comment: I suspect that any driver over 7 Inches is not going to work in this small room. I am considering buying a much smaller pair of monitors.
To be clear, smaller speakers will not solve any inherent acoustical issues within a room, they are just less likely to aggravate them as easily. And smaller speakers have issues of their own especially with directionality in the midrange which can cause coloration in the low mids if placed improperly.
– Comment: Could you recommend some? Or a combination of small monitors with a sub? I make Drum & Bass so bass is important but I don't need to listen to the music too loudly.
My recommendations follow below, but first a note on what it is you are after.
I mentioned earlier that I heard Adam P11s in a well tuned room (alongside PMC LB1s) and I noticed that at decent standard monitoring levels I could hear the bass, but was not necessarily feeling it.
That was very ear opening.
I have a DJ’s ear so I have been able to carry that imprint of “how bass sounds in a properly treated room†into other spaces, and almost always, shitty bass comes from an attempt to feel it rather than hear it.
A great reference track for this concept is the track by Rebecca Pidgeon - Spanish Harlem. According to Bob Katz (who mastered the album) in a properly treated room the first four notes of the opening bassline should all be clearly audible and evenly balanced. If any one or all of the notes disappears or jumps out of the mix, you have issues at those frequencies. (I cannot link to his webpage, it is currently listed as a dangerous site, but do look up his notes on this track, very interesting.)
If at all possible find a local studio/mastering house with a properly treated listening room and ask if you can hear a few of your own tracks and reference tracks in it. Pay for the time if need be, but make sure the room is as good as it can be before forking over money that could go to your own acoustic treatment.
Once you have heard what a properly treated room should sound like it takes away a ton of guess work.
– Comment: So far I've been looking at:
Yamaha HS5
Genelec 8010A (3 Inch) + 7050B (6.5 Inch) Sub
Genelec 8020A (4 Inch) + 7050B (6.5 Inch) Sub
Genelec 8030A (5 Inch) + 7050B (6.5 Inch) Sub
Adam A3X + Adam Sub 7
Adam A5X + Adam Sub 7
What do you think?
I can tell you from first hand experience a subwoofer creates more issues than it solves, unless you are treating the room accurately, and know how to place and calibrate it properly.
That said, once set up properly it is worth the effort.
I actually have two of the speaker set-ups you are considering. I’m currently using Adam A3Xs paired with an Adam Sub8, and I have a pair of Genelec 8010As. (my Adam A7s are in storage unfortunately.)
I love them both.
The 8010s are the reason I wrote the article. They have literally been a game changer. And this is coming from I die hard Adam fan.
I can tell you with absolute confidence that in terms of bass production in a well treated small room, the 8010s on their own are serious competition for Adam A3x’s with a sub.
The 8010s impress me every day.
When a DJ friend from Japan (who knows my old studio in Tokyo with the A7s) dropped by my space in Paris he literally said holy sh*t when I turned the 8010s up.
Here is the catch. Genelecs are very well known for having a “sound†to their pro family range and the 8010s are very definitely Genelecs. They are fast and forward speakers, tending to rush a bit, which many producers find too colored and “niceâ€.
Another catch is that in a bigger room the 8010s lose their power quite rapidly, the A3X’s however don’t. I actually have the A3Xs in my lounge from time to time (minus the sub) to reference mixes there because the Adams perform so well in the bigger space.
The Adam A3Xs are far less nuanced than the 8010s. I am sure your P22A’s will school the A3Xs any day of the week in detail and depth.
Adam’s in general are far more clinical and flat than other speakers, but that can come at a cost to depth and spatial details.
Compared to the 8010s the Adam A3Xs are flat as a board and somewhat lifeless as a result. I have found the 8010s to breathe a bit more and carry a far more sophisticated sound overall, but that can be overly flattering and misleading mix wise.
The Adam Sub8 doesn’t pair very well with the 8010s, it just can’t keep up with them, and frankly in my room the 8010s by themselves are fine without the sub. I am very keen to hear what the 8010s sound like paired with a Genelec sub.
I would switch to a Genelec 8010A + 7050B sub setup in a heartbeat., but that is only because I am doing more post production and film based audio, which is where the Genelecs excel.
The A3Xs with the Sub 8 is a well oiled machine, coherent and well tethered, the crossover is much easier to find and they exist in the same family of sound - flat and unrushed. The Sub 7 is also a good pairing with the A3Xs according to a close friend who uses that set up.
In conclusion, seriously look into maximising your current gear. A new set of speakers – even smaller ones – will not solve any inherent acoustical or speaker placement issues. Treating the room will also be a much cheaper option if you can do it yourself.
Honestly, if your current speakers were not P22A’s I would be more inclined to encourage upgrading, but I don’t think you will get “better†results with speakers that are frankly a step down from what you already have. (Unless they are in bad condition, then by all means get new speakers!)
I am not endorsing any one product over another here. All speakers have pros and cons, and the whole subject is very – er – subjective. Very subjective. This is just my experience based on my room, which is slightly bigger than yours.
If at all possible, demo the speakers at home first. See which work and if they actually make a big enough difference in the end to warrant an expenditure. Jumping from Adams to Genelecs is also quite a leap sonically so that also needs to be taken into consideration.
The real key is in the conscious knowledge that your speakers are more than likely too big for your room, and that knowledge can be used to work for you instead of against you without spending extra cash.
To be honest, I’m fed up with the Adam P22A’s and will probably sell them. I made a mistake buying them. They were advertised as a “nearfield/midfield†monitor, I believe that the new Adam AX8’s are their successors and they are also advertised as a “nearfield/midfieldâ€. If I position them near the rear wall facing into the room the sweet spot is quite far back - but then my back is against the wall due to the small room. It’s like they are projecting the sound way past me and into the space behind me.
Ideally I would like "proper" Nearfields (not Nearfield/Midfields as advertised) and have them near the rear wall and the sweet spot is in the middle of the room (not the back of the room).
I live in a block of flats so I don't really need the high volume they are capable of - it will annoy my neighbours.
You mentioned that the Adam AX3 would be a step down from the P22A’s. I believe the “AX†series are the successors to the now discontinued “P†series so hopefully the only real difference would be in the lows. Hopefully the sub will compensate for that.
As you advised in your article above, a smaller pair of monitors could be better in this situation. So to rephrase my question – given the dimensions of the room and assuming I no longer have the Adam P22A's, out of the setups I've mentioned(or ones I've not mentioned) would you go for? (PMC and ATC etc are out of my price range though)
Also, why did you go for the Sub 8 over the Sub 7?
Thanks for your time Shane. Looking forward to your reply.
Cheers :)
– Comment:
Thank you very much for your detailed reply Shane.
– Answer:
No problem, good to get the old noodle thinking!
– Comment:
FYI my room has no acoustic treatment but am thinking of investing in the future.
– Answer:
Highly recommend, DIY is cheap and effective. But don’t underestimate careful speaker placement and symmetry in the room.
– Comment:
To be honest, I’m fed up with the Adam P22A’s and will probably sell them. I made a mistake
buying them.
– Answer:
Haha, fair enough. I always start with the work-with-what-you’ve-got-and-save-some-cash route. ;) I hope you can get a good price for them.
– Comment:
They were advertised as a “nearfield/midfield†monitor, I believe that the new Adam AX8’s are their successors and they are also advertised as a “nearfield/midfieldâ€. If I position them near the rear wall facing into the room the sweet spot is quite far back - but then my back is against the wall due to the small room. It’s like they are projecting the sound way past me and into the space behind me.
– Answer:
Yes anything above 7 inches starts to move a lot of air. Yamaha NS10s are 7 inches and are still considered essential near field monitors.
I came across a thread online where a guy with 8 inch speakers was complaining of the same situation as you, and he was in a much bigger room with DIY treatment.
So 8 inches is an issue even in bigger rooms.
I feel your pain, especially given that you are working in a genre that is so bass centric.
– Comment:
Ideally I would like "proper" Nearfields (not Nearfield/Midfields as advertised) and have them near the rear wall and the sweet spot is in the middle of the room (not the back of the room).
I live in a block of flats so I don't really need the high volume they are capable of - it will annoy my neighbours.
– Answer:
Working at a moderate level is good and healthy. In your room anything above 70 dB SPL would be messy anyway. When you get the new speakers look into calibrating them properly too so that you are always working at the same reference volume.
– Comment:
You mentioned that the Adam AX3 would be a step down from the P22A’s. I believe the “AX†series are the successors to the now discontinued “P†series so hopefully the only real difference would be in the lows. Hopefully the sub will compensate for that.
– Answer:
Yes, the Adam A3X are a step down (up?) spec wise 60Hz as opposed to the P11A’s 42 Hz, but that is what you want in a way.
The P11As will also be a fair bit more neutral and linear down to the low end. The A3Xs, like most small cabinet speakers, are slighlty hyped in the low end.
They are excellent speakers for the price though. I wholeheartedly recommend them, but would stay away from A5Xs. I found the bass on the A3Xs much more controlled and well tuned. They’re inherently colored by front facing ports, but not overly so, whereas the A5Xs were, to me, the most hyped and colored Adam model I have heard.
– Comment:
As you advised in your article above, a smaller pair of monitors could be better in this situation. So to rephrase my question – given the dimensions of the room and assuming I no longer have the Adam P22A's, out of the setups I've mentioned(or ones I've not mentioned) would you go for? (PMC and ATC etc are out of my price range though)
Also, why did you go for the Sub 8 over the Sub 7?
– Answer:
I can only speak after speakers that I know and use, so I will not recommend outside of my immediate experience.
Furthermore, since you are familiar with the Adam sound, I would happily recommend the A3Xs paired with a Sub 7.
A close colleague and friend of mine has that combo and he only has great things to say about it. He works in a small untreated space primarily on sound design and the set up works very well for him.
The Sub 7 also has an optional input for a foot switch so that you can bypass the sub – a feature sorely (and strangely) missing from the Sub 8.
I have a sub 8 with A3Xs only because I am working towards a 5.1 system with three A3Xs and my A7s (not dolby standard, but it will have to do!).
Also, I know the Sub 8 pairs with Adam A7s very well from another colleague’s old studio set up in Tokyo. Obviously the Sub 8 has more oomph, but that causes more problems than it solves.
The cons of the A3Xs over the A5Xs is that the A3X’s have no room control options except for tweeter levels. So placement becomes very important since the bass cannot be controlled manually.
Genelec 8010s with a 7050B sub would also be a good option, but Genelec is a different beast tonality wise, and not to everyone’s taste. They are clinical, but in a very upfront and punchy way, many engineers find it too much. The switch from ribbon tweeters to metal dome is also quite a change.
If you plan to branch out into film sound or post production then the Genelecs are the way to go, excellent for voice over mixing and scoring. In fact I really wish I could set up a 5.1 Genelec rig and then mix music on the Adams.
One issue with the 8010s is that they are hard to calibrate. They have no volume control, only a -10dB /+4dB switch and some rudimentary room EQ options, so some kind of monitor controller is almost essential. They are also not very well matched, almost 1 dB difference between the two I have.
The Adams have volume and on off controls on the front panel which I have always liked as a design choice, and it makes them easy to setup and calibrate.
In this price range these two set ups are tied for quality and value for money. They are entirely different beasts tonally, and I would urge, if at all possible, to demo them before investing.
Maybe don’t get a sub straight away.
If The Sub 8 had a foot switch I would be bypassing it more often than using it. In fact the next monitor control set up I am looking into specifically allows bypassing the sub, and I cannot wait.
The reason I don’t bypass the Sub 8 right now is that is it a pain in the ass to calibrate properly, so once it is set up, I don’t really want to mess with the settings. But when I am able mute it, I will do so more often than not.
– Comment:
Thanks for your time Shane. Looking forward to your reply.
– Answer:
No problem, I hope this helps a bit in your endeavours!
Do let us know what you decide, and what kind of difference it makes, so we can all continue to learn from this experience.
– Comment: Cheers :)
– Answer: All the best.
I produce/mix electronic music (primarily) and see so many of the top producers/mixers using Genelec 8040’s, which makes me think there’s something to the Genelec sound that I should embrace, even if my room size necessitates a smaller version. And so my question is what size woofer should I get for my size room with those dips/resonances? Since I have 5†LSR-305’s now, would Genelec 8020’s at 4†(and add the recommended 7050 sub in the future) be a big enough woofer/quality change to make it worth the money OR is my money better spent on 8010’s at 3†(and add the recommended 7040 sub a bit sooner)? OR would you go with a different brand/setup altogether?
I really hope you have a minute to advise. Thanks!
I have one question: in the comments you mentioned Adams a5x being hyped and coloured – what do you mean by that, in particular? Like too pronounced bass, not really flat?
I have a small room and I was considering something from the ax series, and a7x seems too big while with the a3x I'm a bit put off by the modest 60hz, so a5x seemed like a perfect middle ground, but your comment makes me wonder.
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