Can anyone recommend some good studio monitors. I have a pair of Bose self powered speakers that are slowly dying and I need to find a good replacement for them. My Avids travel alot in Pelicans so smaller self powered book shelf size are definitely a preference. 

I just thought i'd throw it out there and see what everyone else is using.

Thanks,

Matt

I use the Genelec 8030 and I'm happy with them.

I have the small Genelecs and I think they're great.

http://www.genelecusa.com/products/2-way-monitors/8020a/

I'm using Yamaha HS50m speakers. They're a lot cheaper, but they're very critically acclaimed, and have good user reviews. 

Anyone know the best way to get balanced audio out? Will any fw/usb interface work with Media Composer?

Genelecs if you have the bread, m-audio bx5's if you don't.

Tannoy's get my vote.

You need to state a budget. We can go as low as $99 for a pair. Or several thousands for a single monitor :)

Mat1138:

 

Anyone know the best way to get balanced audio out? Will any fw/usb interface work with Media Composer?

ummmm,... you should take a look at a post i just made, i have no idea my find means but i definately havent ever heard anything about this before so hopefully someone will be able to chime in and explain and if this is what i think it might be, then i think your question is answered. as far as i know, no fw/usb interface has worked in the past with older versions of MC or even any pci cards that offered balanced I/O unnless you bought studio toolkit, mojo sdi or adrenaline so it seem like you might have a new and quite affordable option to for balanced out as well as in for the first time.  and thats all on me just guessing what the reason is for the file i found in the MC 3.0 goodies folder

I have M-Audio Studiophile DX4's.  I've been very happy with them.

hidefcowboy:

Genelecs if you have the bread, m-audio bx5's if you don't.

Actually no...

Thanks guys, all really good info - will look into all of those options. As far as coin goes Dom, for me it isn't a matter of money, more a matter of finding a good sounding speakers for cutting. I'm not final mixing so I don't need reference monitors, I just don't want to over capitalize and spend thousands... but if thats what it takes to have good quality portable speakers that don't hinder the editing process.

The main thing for me is having self powered bookshelf as I don't need more stuff to ship and potentially break when cargo'd around the world constantly.

Thanks again for the info,

Matt

Mat1138:

hidefcowboy:

Genelecs if you have the bread, m-audio bx5's if you don't.

Actually no...

 

siencs:

Mat1138:

hidefcowboy:

Genelecs if you have the bread, m-audio bx5's if you don't.

Actually no...

real helpful.. care to clarify mat?

In recent years there has been huge increase in the active monitor speaker market, this because with the ability to assemble a high grade product through the use of our slaves in 3rd world countries, we can take advantage of a high quality product at a reasonably low cost.

For example, Mackie, a high end brand has used it's low end brand name, Tapco, to take advantage of the growing market. Tapco is designed by Mackie engineers, but assembled in China to keep costs at a minimum. Take a look at SoS, and you'll see Tapco speakers are received very favorably, and at a much lower price point. 

So it's a little annoying to read a comment with some sort of elitist wank speaker attitude, because there is fierce competition in the lower end active monitors, really good gear is available at a lower price. M-Audio isn't the only option, in fact if you read reviews, and user reviews, you'll probably find yourself looking at KRK, Yamaha, or Yorkville offerings. Go into a shop and try, then look at those models online, and find out what you can.

Summary: If you don't have the bread, you have many options available, and most of these will be overkill anyway.

Well said Mat. I couldn't agree more in terms of the price you pay doesn't neccesary equal the best value for money. Thats why I started this thread, to ascertain exactly what you guys are using in your edit suites.

Sure i've got the 'bread' but I don't want to spend lots of dollars for the hell of it or so I can say to people "hey check out my really expensive speakers". I'd rather spend the money on a well deserved holiday when my edit locks off. 

I'm in Japan at the moment and had to buy lcd monitors for the Avid, i did my research in the technology heaven that is Japan and found that the best looking screens were actually one of the cheapest options. So rather than paying $2000 for apple cinemas, I bought 2 x 22" that actually prefer to the cinemas. 

Thanks for getting my point, Mat and thanks to all others for their suggestions - its cool that Avid forums can actually save you money!

Matt

You will never be disapointing on Genelec. They exist in prices from just little more than the MC upgrading price to the heaven.

They are nice to You ear, which means You can listen on them an entire working day, and they are produced in Finland, not a third world country