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dcalfine wrote:

thanks, critter, i'll check those out

I'm starting to have second thoughts about the StudioPro 3.  I hear the bass is weak.
What should I get then?

You should get the StudioPro 3. Or the 4 - if you don't stick pencils in them, not having grilles isn't a problem.

And don't listen to people who complain about bass. Bass is a panacea - bad sound? bad music? bad speakers? More Bass. It doesn't solve the problem.

Most people who complain about a $150-$200 set of studio monitors not providing enough bass are clueless anyway. (I'm assuming they're using them indoors in a room less than 400 square feet, of course.) And they've probably caused themselves hearing damage. Monitors are designed to accurately reproduce sound, period.

Particularly when I listen to classical music, I find myself turning the bass down slightly, so it sounds a little more like live. Just a fun trivia factoid.

Reality check...
Bass reproduction requires lots of air movement.  That means big drivers accurately controlled.  You cannot get deep bass from little boxes.  Many speakers create booming bass at 50 -80 Hz by tuning their cabinet to resonate at one frequency.  The result is one note bass.  A bass guitar will sound very powerful when it hits that note and much weaker everywhere else.  I'm sure you have heard the thumping cars, right.  All you hear is one thump repeated endlessly.

Another example is the Bose Acoustimass subs.  Their bass is muffled because the box completely shrouds the driver.  And the box resonates so much all bass sounds wooden.

In your research you can find that certain size drivers are used for certain frequencies.  You know - tweeters, mid-range and bass.  In the better speaker systems you will find 6 inch drivers are considered small for bass reproduction.  Keep in mind that the speakers are intended to fill a living room with bass.

You are looking for nearfield speakers not living room speakers, therefore my recommendation.

You could add a subwoofer later if you really want more bass. 

Something else to be aware of...
High quality speakers take some time to break in.  At first you may be disappointed with the sound.  Just keep using them.  The bass driver in particular needs time to loosen up.  Keep the volume below where you hear distortion.  (Simplistically, Distortion is when you don't like what you are hearing.  The sound is irritating.)  Just increase the volume a little bit more each time you listen.

The speakers in my main system took about 100 hours to break in.  The M-Audio StudioPro 3 will take less, probably much less.  Still, you should be patient and not expect much bass immediately.

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-THX-Cert … lectronics


I have these speakers.  I live in a dorm room so they are perfect because of their size.  They sound great at any level and get EXTREMELY loud.  To the point where you don't want to turn the volume up all the way because it's so loud. yeah baby.

dcalfine wrote:

mrreet2001 wrote:

isub

are you referring to the SoundSticks?

no ...
http://legacy.macnn.com/thereview/revie … isub.shtml

they don't make it any more, but you can find them on ebay.

Well, most "computer speakers" or multimedia speakers aren't very good, I'm afraid. The Soundsticks are nice though. And the Klipsch iFi rocks too (thats what I use with my Mac ) - but thats out of your range. However, if you can find some nice monitors, that'll kick ass. And I agree with dvpierce, bass isn't everything.

Last edited by Floyd (2006-10-30 2:32 pm)

dcalfine wrote:

mrreet2001 wrote:

dcalfine wrote:

are you referring to the SoundSticks?

no ...
http://legacy.macnn.com/thereview/revie … isub.shtml

they don't make it any more, but you can find them on ebay.

yeah, that's a component of the SoundSticks by JBL (or is it Harman/Kardon?)

harman/kardon

i'm pretty sure the apple pro speaker are also make (or at least designed) by them too

my logitechs! pick me pick me!

Visit a local home audio electronics store (NOT  a big box!) and ask if they have a used section.  Pick up a stereo receiver and a pair of nice, big speakers.  Done.

yeah, I've been hearing a lot of that.  I called up a friend of mine who does reviews for speakers, and he recommended that I get a receiver and a pair of Boston Acoustics.  But even if I could find a good-priced set, I don't have room for a receiver and bookshelf speakers.  I think I'll just go with the SoundSticks.  Maybe somewhere down the road I'll have a room big enough for a receiver and I'll hook that smurf up and it will sound awesome, but in the mean time I'll stick with Multimedia speakers.