Active speakers...

[Lozzie]

Yo!

Hope you're all well? This isn't strictly 'music' but it's about playing it lol.


OK - basically, I was wondering if anyone uses active speakers for their dj set up at home.

I'm after a pair. I was originally going to get KRK Rokit 5's. Now I'm fully aware they're for studio use - but I'm not gonna be absolutely blasting it out…just loud enough to get the full effects of the tuna.

I basically don't want an amp. I think if I could get a pair of corkers that work fine without why would I want one?

A nice man I spoke to at a shop in Manc, mentioned I might be better with the Rokit6's…as they're less likely to blow. But tbh - I'd quite like some input from peeps who aren't after my £££.

Does anyone use active monitors on here - if u do, what is your advice? The Rokit's are where my budget is at…can't be spending £800 on a pair tbh lol.

xxx

 

[siman91]

I have 2 sets of active speakers, both Alesis,

M1 Active 620, are beside my computer and sound fine for what they are. I paid £65 for them so cant complain.

M1 Active MKII, I use these as DJ monitors as they are designed for. They are at face height and give a nice balanced and very clear sound. Although they are a few years old, they are great close field dj monitor speakers and for some reason realy hold their price well. I understand they can suffer from dry solder joints so I look forward to mine breaking down at some point as 6 years old now.

I would not recommend either of the above for close field studio work however for dj'ing the MKII's do the job nicely. Not havig an amp to mess around with is realy nice although for some reason Alesis put the power switch to the MKII's on the back!!

My brother spent out £1,200 on studio monitors for dj'ing and they are completely wasted and give quite poor bass response.

S

 

[Jiglo]

I use Mackie HR624 active monitors and they took me a long time to get used to because they haven't got the killer bass of my last much bigger set of passive speakers hooked up to an amp. I first bought a Mackie SRM 350 (or 450) but they need to be cranked up LOUD in a massive room or outside to use them, so mine's been sat doing nothing for a couple of years :lol: The upside of the HR624's is (being high end) I can hear lots of stuff I couldn't hear on my previous set up and the attack is fast.

They're neutral studio monitors though, so not the best for my style, but the upside is they don't shake the house after dark.

The best advice would be to try before you buy. Yep, that old cliche, but it's amazing how much different a speaker can sound in a different environment. Whether any shops carry demo gear to try at home first though i've no idea, but that's the best way to guarantee satisfaction (at least in the short term until you get used to a new sound).

 

[edd_jedi]

I have Alesis M1 620s. Now they are considered quite inaccurate for producing, but that is what makes them great for DJing. They have a REALLY nice bass sound, very loud and clear. Where as you will find many studio monitors sound very flat (they're supposed to) so aren't great to DJ on.

 

[Lozzie]

Hey guys - thanks for the responses!

I was originally considering a pair of Alesis actually. Is the bass rich in the bottom end, or does it have plum-y tendencies?

I just want something that sounds good to my ear. I suppose I'd have to go and listen to some wouldn't i? I guess the proof is in the pudding.


Thanks - I'll let you know how I get on xxx

 

[siman91]

Dont be too particular about the sound, your playing vinyl through a mixer and very average cables. You need to be spending £1k's to be hearing a big improvement.

The MK II's sound great with my A&H S2 mixer and vinyl/cdj's. I bought a single MK II for digital music via Vestax VCI 300 and it sounded poor, too much bass and poor top end. Got it sounding ok with eq's on back of speaker.

Was offered the 620's for £65, plugged them in and massive improvement over MK II for digital.

Try them out and judge for yourself

S

 

[U31]

Would the Mackie's be for sale to an incredibly sexy poor man, Jimbob?

 

[blue jammer]

If you can afford it go for Yamaha HS80M's £191 each (best price from Amazon UK - slightly cheaper than when I bought mine a couple of months ago when they were £199 each)

Great for studio use and for DJin with, best thing is they have the capability to be SO loud if you need it and at low levels and mid levels they are also excellent quality.

[ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-YAMAHA-HS80M/dp/B000ZLOHQ2]YAMAHA HS80M: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics[/ame]

 

[ComaProject]

^^^ You also need to consider what your room set up is like. If the monitors are to be placed up against a wall then you probably wouldn't want to get the Yamaha HS80M's... as they are rear ported (they should be placed some distance away from a wall). The Alesis M1 Mk II's are front ported though, so can be placed slightly closer to a rear wall.

 

[ste huxley]

Ive got the rokit 6's, very happy with them at low or high vols, they have a front bass port on as well as mine are against wall, probably doesnt make the whole bass near the wall scenario 100% better but compared to my last pair of wharfedales (rear firing) they are much better

I still run an eq through my speakers as I find them a tad to bassy for mixing closeup

they have settings on the back for bass and loudness as well

you can use em for producing as well, but they arent the most natural sounding apparantly so good for dj'ing as well

I have saved space by not having an amp and subsequently I can shove records in that space now, yay!

 

[Lozzie]

Dont be too particular about the sound, your playing vinyl through a mixer and very average cables. You need to be spending £1k's to be hearing a big improvement.

I'm not necessarily on about an improvement of the sound - but certain tonal qualities sound better or worse depending on your ear - I'm really aware of slight 'imbalances' in sound, and I instantly know what I like when I hear it in a speaker. This is regardless of price really, I'm sure most of you guys are the same.

I will be using digital music too - not just vinyl...And I deffs want something front ported - my house carries enough sound as it is. Eeeeeeeeeee I'm so excited - it's sooooo much money though, but once it's been gotten it's been gotten hasn't it - even if I have spent all of my student loan on it hahahaha.

Thanks for t'feedback everyone!

xxx

 

[siman91]

Its very easy to set up a £10k pair of speakers poorly equally you can make £100 speakers sound great. Maybe wrong but always...keep cable lengths as short as practical, even lengths, spend well on cables oxygen free where possible and position speakers away from corners and on a solid footing and use feet/spikes to reduce boom from bass.

A friend has an amazing system, hand built by himself and sounds absolutely amazing...about £20k's worth though. He knows loads about setting up systems and is a member of this site........Julian where are you??

S

 

[ilovepiano]

+1 for the Mackie 624s

Have you got balanced outputs from your mixer/sound card? If so, then I'd make sure whatever monitors you get have balanced inputs (and then use balanced cables), great for noise reduction. Just don't get suckered into buying rip-off cables, there's no need and your dosh may as well go towards the monitors. Or beer.

 

[U31]

^^^ What Tim said about cables...
I was that sucker in me "Yute" when everything had to be Arcam separates, Oxygen free virgin copper directional this and Gold plated that.
When the kids came along it ALL got sold, i got a high spec Aiwa seperates with Maplin mid range cables.
It sounds no friggin' different.
Still got the Aiwa . Number 1 son is 14 at Chrimbo..
only its got TDL monitors now after blowing the originals about 2 years ago while tone testing

 

[Benny-Digital]

Just for use at home?

Behringer MS40 Digital Monitor Speakers (pair) | eBay

I have the 20's which are great but The Trucker has the 40's they're tops!

 

[marty]

I use Rokit 5's and love them...... much better (for my set up) than the Alesis M1 MKII that I bought beforehand.

The M1s were too bass-heavy, but the KRKs are just about spot on for my room.

 

[Lozzie]

I use Rokit 5's and love them...... much better (for my set up) than the Alesis M1 MKII that I bought beforehand.

The M1s were too bass-heavy, but the KRKs are just about spot on for my room.

Cool. So are the 5s ok for dj use? The man in the shop (£££) said I was likely to blow them, because they're not designed for volume - just for clarity. And that I should go for the Rokit 6s instead. Is this balls?


x

 

[Jiglo]

Would the Mackie's be for sale to an incredibly sexy poor man, Jimbob?

Not unless I get a better pair at some point mate

I'd forgotten i'd leant my sister's band the SRM350 (or 450) for monitoring, so thankfully that's getting used too when she plays out and rehearses