low volume near-field monitors?

JimmyTheSaint · Post by **JimmyTheSaint** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:12 am

Guitar player with tendinitis here, convalescing at Kronos until I can go back to guitar. At home, I play guitar through my regular rig, but inches from my face. With my amp simulator, that lets me get the full sound at low volume and keep peace with everyone who lives around me. So I don't have experience with quality near-field monitors. For the Kronos, I understand that near-field monitors would give a high fidelity sound for production purposes, but can people advise as to how appropriate they are for low volume? I'm currently using a small speakers/subwoofer set that's made for using with a computer in a home theater set up. It's quite good for USD $70. But they completely blow compared to plugging in high-end noise-canceling ear buds. It'd be nice to be able to go without the earphones, though, so I'd like to find out if I can get a high quality, low volume sound from near-field monitors, or are they made to be cranked up a bit? I could budget $1000 a pair if they'll perform as I need.

MarPabl · Post by **MarPabl** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:55 am

Playing a $3,000.00+ USD flagship instrument through a $70.00 USD computer speakers sounds (pun intended) like a bad idea

JimmyTheSaint · Post by **JimmyTheSaint** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:57 am

MarPabl wrote:Playing a $3,000.00+ USD flagship instrument through a $70.00 USD computer speakers sounds (pun intended) like a bad idea

That's why I asked my question.

MarPabl · Post by **MarPabl** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:07 am

Great! This is a good starting point: Need good studio monitors (cont...)

JimmyTheSaint · Post by **JimmyTheSaint** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 7:05 am

I should have added that I read extensively through the forums about near-field monitors, as I have no experience with them. I also watched lots of demos on YouTube. But there is one basic aspect which no one addresses, perhaps because it's so obvious to people with even a little bit of experience with near-field monitors. I just have one very specific question:

Can people advise as to how appropriate they are for low volume? Or are they made to be cranked up a bit?

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 7:25 am

AFAIK they work fine at low volumes. Convention suggests that high volumes will result in distortion due to the physics of the speaker cone.

Larger speakers such as those in a PA system or stage amplifier are designed to work at higher volumes, and again physics dictates at the other end that low power will not move the cones adequately for accurate sound reproduction.

Basically, I can't see that you'd have a problem. I do the same thing - don't want to disturb those around me so often the monitors are on low or I am using high quality closed cup / open back headphones.

JimmyTheSaint · Post by **JimmyTheSaint** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 7:38 am

OK, thanks. If quality near-fields give a listening experience comparable to good earphones, then I'm willing to spend the money just to get untethered from the earphones. I have no production considerations, just want to enjoy as much of the Kronos's sound as possible. The computer speakers are better than expected, but still sacrifice too much of what I can hear with the earphones.

BobTheDog · Post by **BobTheDog** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 2:18 pm

How about the Genelec 8020B, good quality small monitors, fairly cheap and work well at low volumes.

JimmyTheSaint · Post by **JimmyTheSaint** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:22 pm

Thanks for the suggestion, as I don't have experience with this kind of gear. I guess you mean Genelec 8020B, not 8020S? I do like the idea of 4" monitors and after researching was considering Focal CMS 40. But I'm also kind of limited to what I can find here in Taiwan, so I'll have to find out about that soon. I can always buy and import, but then they'll hit me for substantial customs duties.

CfNorENa · Post by **CfNorENa** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:51 pm

Focal CSM40s would be fine.

Another good option in this price range is the Adam A5X. I'm using their slightly bigger brothers, the A7Xs. Crystal clear sound (I don't miss ANYTHING that I'm hearing with my headphones), excellent detailing and stereo imaging, beautiful high end, just enough low end. Should be ideal for low-volume applications.

Edit: I should add that studio monitors are perhaps the most subjective items in this crazy electronic music world of ours. Almost every monitor out there is a "love-hate" sort of thing. And people get REALLY invested in their choices! Always best to try if you can. If it's not possible, the best you can do is settle on a price point, read up on all the monitors in that price point, narrow it down to three or four models that seem to fit the bill, and then ask specific questions about them...

BobTheDog · Post by **BobTheDog** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 7:54 pm

I didn't know there was an 8020S?

CfNorENa is quite correct though these monitors are a subjective thing, I like genelecs as I used them at work and got used to their sound.

The CSM40s are good as well as the Adams. If you can't get a chance of auditioning then I couldn't see you going wrong with any of these.

BobTheDog · Post by **BobTheDog** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 7:55 pm

Ah I see my other post had 8020s in it, a typo

JimmyTheSaint · Post by **JimmyTheSaint** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 2:05 pm

Here are my local options:

The store used to sell Focal CMS40, but they sold the last of them months ago, and there's no local dealer. That means you have to special order, which I'm not willing to do in Taiwan because there's no way to predict how long it will take. I'd buy from eBay instead, and have to pay import duties, which could raise the price 30%, but I can't be sure.

The store sells Adam A5X, and there's a local dealer--which is great in case of service needs--but currently none in stock. Again, you can't be sure how long it will take for a small market like Taiwan to get new stock. The store does have A5 (without the 'X') in stock. What does the 'X' do?

They have the larger Genelec 8030A in stock, but not the 8020B. The difference in size will, annoyingly, require me to move some gear around that I'd prefer not to move. But the real question is: Will the larger size really pay off soundwise? The price is USD $1230. Taiwan prices for imported things suck, I'm told because the smaller demand prevents getting better prices from overseas suppliers. Comparing with what's on eBay, that price doesn't look outrageous. I see Musician's Friend's price is $750. If that's for a pair, I'm outraged. If that's for one, then my local price is looking pretty good. Before I impulse-buy a pair of 8030A at $1230, what do you think?

CfNorENa · Post by **CfNorENa** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 6:56 pm

JimmyTheSaint wrote:The store sells Adam A5X, and there's a local dealer--which is great in case of service needs--but currently none in stock. Again, you can't be sure how long it will take for a small market like Taiwan to get new stock. The store does have A5 (without the 'X') in stock. What does the 'X' do?

It's the newer model, and stands for their new "X-art" tweeter. The specs on the X-series are supposed to be superior, and most users claims they are significantly better than the older versions. One of the common complaints about the older models is that they make a "chuffing" sound through their ports at high volume. But since you specifically want to play at lower volumes, that might not be a problem. And since the A5 is old stock, you might be able to talk your dealer into a lower price.

Here's a nice review, from Sound on Sound: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec08/a ... adama5.htm

JimmyTheSaint wrote:Before I impulse-buy a pair of 8030A at $1230, what do you think?

It's probably more than you need -- but those are well respected and highly reviewed monitors at a good price ($750 is definitely for one, not the pair). You wouldn't be disappointed, I imagine, if you were willing to spring for them. Will he let you try them out for a few days?

JimmyTheSaint · Post by **JimmyTheSaint** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 7:21 pm

By law (here) I can return new merchandise within seven days. Even so, I don't think there'd be a problem due to my relationship with the store manager. But, from what people here say, at this level of quality it's not a matter of whether these speakers are good or not, but just personal taste. In that case, I'll probably end up liking them just fine because I don't have the experience to make that kind of judgment. Bigger than I need, I guess, but I'd rather save the hassle. And I could end up paying just as much--more, even--for a smaller set if I import them.