I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
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- SixStringGeek
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I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
I've done the room treatment dance - built about a dozen 4" absorber panels and put them behind and in front of the speakers in various places. Ran the FuzzMeasure room analysis software using a calibrated mic. Very measurable improvement in damping time and frequency response. And my mixes consistently surprise me when I play them outside the room. A lot.
So I'm looking for new speaks. I have been looking at Equator Q10s - they seem to be well spoken of. They would be complimenting my Avantones and my super crappy laptop extension speakers (for the ipod reference check) and used in a near field position about 6' from my head 2' from the treated wall. I have also heard about the D8's but I've got a line on an open box pair of Q10s for only a couple hundred $'s difference so I'm not really considering price as a factor. More interested in suitability. The room correction software feature is kind of attractive as well if it works.
Open to other suggestions in the general $1-1.5k per pair range. Also, anybody want a pair of Mackie hr824s (cheap)?
So I'm looking for new speaks. I have been looking at Equator Q10s - they seem to be well spoken of. They would be complimenting my Avantones and my super crappy laptop extension speakers (for the ipod reference check) and used in a near field position about 6' from my head 2' from the treated wall. I have also heard about the D8's but I've got a line on an open box pair of Q10s for only a couple hundred $'s difference so I'm not really considering price as a factor. More interested in suitability. The room correction software feature is kind of attractive as well if it works.
Open to other suggestions in the general $1-1.5k per pair range. Also, anybody want a pair of Mackie hr824s (cheap)?
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
The 824s are in your price range (not that you'd go out and buy another pair.) What is it you don't like about them? The thing I like about mine is that I never think about them.
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- SixStringGeek
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
That I am consistently surprised every time I take a mix out to play on something else. And not in a good way.bayswater wrote:The 824s are in your price range (not that you'd go out and buy another pair.) What is it you don't like about them? The thing I like about mine is that I never think about them.
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
Interesting. I've sometimes been told my mixes have too much low end, and I've noticed that too when I play them on other speakers. I assumed it's my room. Is that what you're hearing?
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- SixStringGeek
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
Yes - my mixes all sound "muddy" to varying degrees.bayswater wrote:Interesting. I've sometimes been told my mixes have too much low end, and I've noticed that too when I play them on other speakers. I assumed it's my room. Is that what you're hearing?
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- mikehalloran
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
i don't see how you can go wrong with either the D8 or Q10. Both are impressive. If you have the room--and it sounds like you--the Q10 should make you happy.
I'd use a subwoofer with the D8 like I currently do with my D5s. There's some wooliness near the bottom that a sub would clean up. When I pointed that out to Ted, he agreed with me and mentioned that rolling off the bottom for use with a good sub would allow increased output from the D8s as well. The price of a full-featured sub makes the D8 as expensive as the Q10 so there you go, right?
The only reason I have not upgraded my D5s is because I would have to redesign my work space to accomodate the larger boxes (it's that tight). Next year when I figure out how to get three 27" monitors on my desk, I'll make room for D8s. When I heard them at NAMM, I wanted to take them home.
I'd use a subwoofer with the D8 like I currently do with my D5s. There's some wooliness near the bottom that a sub would clean up. When I pointed that out to Ted, he agreed with me and mentioned that rolling off the bottom for use with a good sub would allow increased output from the D8s as well. The price of a full-featured sub makes the D8 as expensive as the Q10 so there you go, right?
The only reason I have not upgraded my D5s is because I would have to redesign my work space to accomodate the larger boxes (it's that tight). Next year when I figure out how to get three 27" monitors on my desk, I'll make room for D8s. When I heard them at NAMM, I wanted to take them home.
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- Michael Canavan
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
Focal CMS 65's or if you have the cash, the ones above them in price. I have the CMS 65's and they're really quite clear, if something's mudding up a mix they catch it. For what it's worth I liked the sound of them better than the $2000 Genelecs I tried out, the Adams.
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
Well that's sort of what I'm hearing. Mixes sound OK on the Mackies, but a bit woofy or muddy on other speakers. But I guessed that was because the Mackies had a clean or tight bottom end compared to the other speakers I was listening to.SixStringGeek wrote:Yes - my mixes all sound "muddy" to varying degrees.bayswater wrote:Interesting. I've sometimes been told my mixes have too much low end, and I've noticed that too when I play them on other speakers. I assumed it's my room. Is that what you're hearing?
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- daniel.sneed
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
Just two more cents on a large subject: JBL4326+sub has much control over bass and low mid. The JBL automatic room correction may take care of noticeable room mode, if any.
IMHO, a picky monitor calibration with good measure mics, SpectraFoo software, a calibrated hand held SPL soundmeter and a trustful parametric EQ has proved to be valuable in setting up my actual and previous studio monitoring systems.
The old rule will remain: Treat the room first...
BTW both near field response and listening position response are to be precisely evaluated. In case you don't, your mixes may translate in much erratic ways.
A dozen of well built music recordings may help to get an idea of what you hear, what you like and what others do.
IMHO, a picky monitor calibration with good measure mics, SpectraFoo software, a calibrated hand held SPL soundmeter and a trustful parametric EQ has proved to be valuable in setting up my actual and previous studio monitoring systems.
The old rule will remain: Treat the room first...
BTW both near field response and listening position response are to be precisely evaluated. In case you don't, your mixes may translate in much erratic ways.
A dozen of well built music recordings may help to get an idea of what you hear, what you like and what others do.
dAn Shakin' all over!
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
If I were looking, I'd check out the current JBL LSR series options. I've been pleased with the old LSR speakers for over a decade. Room correction software can sound weird but worth looking into. I'm using the old ARC system and it helps with my crappy room a lot.
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
When I was shopping for nearfields (way back when), I had some 824s on loan for about three weeks. I experienced the same thing. They just didn't translate well. I ended up getting the Adam A7s (which were a hot item at the time) with a sub. I'm happy with this setup, but if I were shopping today I might not go that route as there are many more options now. But, I agree with you about the 824s.SixStringGeek wrote:That I am consistently surprised every time I take a mix out to play on something else. And not in a good way.bayswater wrote:The 824s are in your price range (not that you'd go out and buy another pair.) What is it you don't like about them? The thing I like about mine is that I never think about them.
Phil
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- daniel.sneed
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
Just as I got it: in JBL language, LSR stands for Linear Spatial Reference...
dAn Shakin' all over!
DP11.31, OS12.7.4, MacBookPro-i7-3.1Ghz-16GoRam-1ToSSD
Falcon, Kontakt, Ozone, RX, Unisum & Michelangelo, LX480
Waldorf Iridium & STVC & Blofeld, Kemper Profiler Stage, EWIusb, Studiologic VMK, ControlPad
JBL4326+4312sub, Behringer X32rack
Many mics, mandolins, banjos, guitars, flutes, melodions, xylos, kalimbas...
DP11.31, OS12.7.4, MacBookPro-i7-3.1Ghz-16GoRam-1ToSSD
Falcon, Kontakt, Ozone, RX, Unisum & Michelangelo, LX480
Waldorf Iridium & STVC & Blofeld, Kemper Profiler Stage, EWIusb, Studiologic VMK, ControlPad
JBL4326+4312sub, Behringer X32rack
Many mics, mandolins, banjos, guitars, flutes, melodions, xylos, kalimbas...
- SixStringGeek
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
OK so I went for the Q10s. Scored an open box deal from Equator at $599 each for a pair.
Time to put some stuff on eBay and craigslist.
Time to put some stuff on eBay and craigslist.
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
I think your going to love them I would never part with mine.SixStringGeek wrote:OK so I went for the Q10s. Scored an open box deal from Equator at $599 each for a pair.
When you pull up one of your mixes you say had a bit of mud you'll be able to zero right in on the problem when you hear the Q10's
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- mikehalloran
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Re: I am done Done DONE with my Mackie hr824s - what to buy?
I figured that's what you were looking at.SixStringGeek wrote:OK so I went for the Q10s. Scored an open box deal from Equator at $599 each for a pair.
When I bought my D5s, they were open box bargains but one had an issue (hiss). Ted replaced it immediately and included a pre-paid return label so that I could return the defect ASAP. Excellent service.
Yep, just because you no longer care for them doesn't mean that someone else won't love 'em especially if there's a bargain to be had.Time to put some stuff on eBay and craigslist.
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