Advice wanted: speaker options for home practice

close2u

Here's the scenario ... 

Vocal microphone and a guitar (acoustic and / or electric) into a TC Helicon Play GTX unit then going into a what? 

Some kind of small pa / personal monitor / speaker system for home use. 

Options... 

1) Active studio monitors with balanced xlr inputs. I have found the Tannoy Reveal series at modest cost.

http://www.tannoystudio.com/ ;

 2) A small portable PA type system such as the Yamaha Stagepas 401i. Definitely top end of budget and size 

http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/global/en/products/pasystems/stagepas_400i600i/ ;

3) A personal speaker / monitor such as the Behringer B205D 

http://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Loudspeaker-Systems/Portable-Speakers/B205D/p/P0957 ;

or B207mp3 

http://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Loudspeaker-Systems/Portable-Speakers/B207MP3/p/P0AEC ;

It would be for use in a small bedroom. 

I mainly want to play acoustic guitar in but would like it to be able to cope with electric guitar in too (both via the TC GTX unit). 

MP3 in is good - any connection is fine, 

Connectivity to a PC for recording would be a big bonus. 

Thanks

close2u

Bump ...

thermionic

I have some older Tannoy Reveals in my "studio", but I have a desktop Vox Tonelab plugged into a mixer and I play guitar through that setup more often than one of my proper amps. Bass as well.

I think any half-decent active monitors plugged into a small mixer would do the job well, and have some flexibility.

close2u

@thermionic

Thanks for replying.

I'm not quite sure whether the setup you describe is guitar > tonelab > mixer > speakers.

If so, then it seems you're saying that the Tannoy Reveal work fine with guitar input ... is that right?

Cheers

thermionic

Yes, guitar-Tonelab-mixer-speakers.

In theory I could probably send the outputs of the Tonelab straight to powered monitors and you might be able to do the same with your TC Helicon unit... But a small Behringer (for example) mixer is inexpensive and would give you more control over the setup and have more options in future (other instruments, microphones, MP3/CD, effect units etc). Also, many mixers have Firewire or USB I/O, making recording into a computer very easy.

close2u

Thanks again @thermionic

Any one else got thoughts?

On options 1] and 3] maybe?

close2u

Also, I know nothing about small mixers and recording.

Do they need USB?

Any advice on that would be great.

close2u

Update I decided on option 3b Behringer B207mp3 A long wait for some reason until delivered though