alternative to Avantone MixCube active monitors?

[donreynolds]

Hey group,
Can anyone offer a little advice?
I am wanting a lo-fi bass challenged set of nearfield monitors. I have read a lot about the Avantone active MixCube. Do you have any recommendations of any that are comparable for what they do and price? I have Event bas 20/20 and Adam audio A7's for my main monitors. Just needing something to see how it sounds on cheaper playback systems. I want active, not passive speakers.
Thanks
Don

[waxman]

I am loving the IK Multimedia iLoud. I have Avantones and I find myself not using them since getting the iLoud's...
https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/iloudmm/

[donreynolds]

.Thanks,
I hear the mix cubes were not very good monitors and that if your mix sounded good on them, you probably have got it together. That was my purpose in wanting them. I looked at the ILoud from your link just now. My question is this.. Do they have the same properties as the mix cube which has no tweeter or woofer. It is all in one of course. Does the ILoud negate that due to having tweeter and woofer and port? I guess that is my question.

[mikehalloran]

The Avantone is purported to be a modern version of the Auratone. I had a pair, what, 40 years ago? You got them mail-order by clipping the ad from every recording publication.

I never understood the appeal unless it meant that everybody had the same set of low-fi speakers. Yes, if I got my mixes right on good speakers, they always sounded ok on Auratones. I found them useless for mixing but others sang their praises.

[mikehalloran]

Damn, Auratone 5C Cubes are back. Here’s the Sound on Sound review (spoiler—these sound different from the 5Cs of 40 years ago):
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/au ... sound-cube

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... lAQAvD_BwE

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... _BwE&smp=n

[HCMarkus]

They were called Horrortones, Mike.

The Avantones have a single speaker in each li'l cabinet, so there are no crossover anomalies. That said, I think they are probably less relevant than they were before; pretty much everyone today listens on audio systems with good to excessive high-frequency response. I still use them sparingly but fairly regularly.

[mikehalloran]

They were called Horrortones, Mike.

The Avantones have a single speaker in each li'l cabinet, so there are no crossover anomalies. That said, I think they are probably less relevant than they were before; pretty much everyone today listens on audio systems with good to excessive high-frequency response. I still use them sparingly but fairly regularly.

Agreed. I don’t recall how many decades ago I sold my 5Cs but I’ve never missed them. With no info in the low bass, I just didn’t see the point.

If my portable rig required a pair of speakers, I’d get the iLoud to play rough mixes for clients but I rarely have that need.

If they were still available, I’d be recommending the Equator D5. I sold my pair (with the carry bag) after I upgraded to the D8 — and then they went out of business. Damn!

[waxman]

.Thanks,
I hear the mix cubes were not very good monitors and that if your mix sounded good on them, you probably have got it together. That was my purpose in wanting them. I looked at the ILoud from your link just now. My question is this.. Do they have the same properties as the mix cube which has no tweeter or woofer. It is all in one of course. Does the ILoud negate that due to having tweeter and woofer and port? I guess that is my question.

Hi Don... The Horrortones (lol Marcus) were simulating checking your mix on the 2" deck speaker, transistor radio, TV, elevator speakers etc... Without the tech stuff most would agree the bottom line in choosing a speaker is this... "If your mix sounds good on your mixinf speakers will it sound good everywhere?" ie... does it translate? In my experience "if it sounds good on the iLouds it will sound good everywhere."

[mhschmieder]

For those who do want the Auratones, Zen Pro Audio may still have its sale in effect (I just got back from a three week vacation, so haven't checked yet), which includes good pre-amp choices as well (for the passive models) and now also a mahogany finish if I recall correctly.

Auratone also has some other interesting new models, but I forget the form factor -- maybe designed more for iPhone type environments. I simply can't remember, but I think they are at Front End Audio and Zen Pro Audio's sites (my two preferred pro audio dealers, along with Sound Pure, due to their extensive catalogues for brands unfortunately not available at Sweetwater).