It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
^ completely understandable. Music playback will purely be a secondary use, if at all. That said, is there any reason why running an EQ between source and monitors wouldn't allow me to dial in some "colour" to ease the listening experience?
@Fretwired - can I ask how large a room yours are in? Budget isn't an issue, nor space really... just aesthetics! After all, there's not that much size between the HS5 and 7s...
lil' tip... I have my HS7's mounted on ISOAcoustic stands
2 benefits:
- the low end tightens right up
- the monitors are higher so that the tweeters are the same height as your ears.. makes quite a difference..
hi-fi generally "colours" the sound to make it sound more exciting.. this generally means that the lows and highs are boost..
monitors try to be as neutral as possible..
switching from hi-fi to studio monitoring is like taking off a pair of shades when looking at a picture
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
that's not completely true..
the prob with monitors is.. although they are supposed to be "flat"... they all sound different.. so clearly they're not flat.. lol..
when I listen to music through NS-10's it puts my teeth on edge... my HS7's are far more pleasant [apparently they are supposed to be like NS-10's but without the low freq roll-off happening quite so high up the spectrum..
compare that with my boy's huge Mackie's.. they sound fkn epic.. maybe a little too epic..
So is there any reason to think this can't be adequately be replicated with some careful EQ shaping before the monitors? Seems logical enough to me but I've never gone down this route before!
Thanks @Fretwired, I'm going to figure out how I can sneak the HS7s in methinks - it'll be easier to do that than get the HS5s now and then decide at a later date that I want the sub too. Plus there's barely any difference in price between the sizes!
a nice space... you should hopefully have enough room to get the monitors at least 1m from any wall..
if the monitors are big [8" woofer or more] you'll want them further from you on stands [with IsoAc stands on top]
if they're smaller you can place them on your desk about 2m apart [on IsoAc stands]
make sure that the speakers and the listening position form an equilateral triangle.. point them in at 60 degree angles so that the monitors point right at your head.. ensure that the tweeters are at ear-height
in a room that size, you may need to sort at least the worst the acoustic probs..
tip.. on the back wall behind you.. a book shelf full of books and other crap is great for soaking up some reflections... plus you may want to consider [if the room is a large empty space] some acoustic foam panels that you stick to the walls [either side of you, mid-way between the listening position and the monitors] and on the ceiling in the same point..
the mirror tip: sit in the listening position and get someone to hold a mirror against the wall.. look in the mirror.. as they move the mirror along the wall, eventually you'll be able to see the monitors.. that is where the sound will bounce off the wall towards you.. and so that's where the treatment panel goes to kill the early reflections.. do the same on the other wall and the ceiling... some treatment on the wall right behind the monitors is good too..
you don't need the room completely 'dead' [cos that sounds shite and sterile anyhow].. but you do want its strongest issues dealt with
to do this with EQ, you need a really flat mic, a spectrum analyser, a tone generator and a pair of mono graphic or parametric EQ's [with lots and lots of bands]..
the prob is.. if you look at the freq characteristics of a speaker, it's not so much as a valley between two hills [a bass hill and a treble hill].. it's more like a mini mountain range with peaks and troughs all over the place..
the best solution is really to get the best pair of monitors you can afford, and the try to kill off the strongest acoustic aggro in the room..
it won't be Abbey Road... but you'll be in good shape to knock out sensible mixes...
new monitor tip: before you mix anything through them... spend many hours playing CD's through them that you know well.. you need to get used to how they sound.. and when mixing down, do so with a reference song in the project so you can check your EQ choices..
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Tell you when it really hit me, as to how much I liked listening to hi res audio albums on my monitors - Nine Inch Nails last album, Hesitation Marks. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross really know how to record, mix and produce. When I bought the deluxe CD, I got a lossless audio dl of the album, and a hi res audiophile master dl too. The audiophile master is the "true recording" as in not compressed and made louder for the mass market. So, the audio is full if you will, with all the original dynamics of the recording.
In honesty, you can only hear the real difference on my monitors - things like added resonance on reverbs, sub bass, etc. Very impressive.
I thought you'd be into all that, what with your audio enthusiasm?
@Clarky and your comments on EQ. I love it when you talk dirty.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
All the rest is just spouting off.
Now, can we please have a discussion about regulated mains supplies??
I couldn't get the HS7s on my desk. See, now you're making me think I need a sub.......
which of course I do heheh!
Haha, do it! I'm going back in this weekend for a second listen, and also to try the KRK's against them in Wunjo just on the off-chance that I prefer the sound of those too.