User experience of Fostex PM 0.4, PM 0.5, Samson Rubicon 5a

[TheClothEar]

Hello all.

I'm going to buy some budget monitors in the very near future.

Budget is a very important factor, although I don't want to fall into economy equals false economy trap.

I will be mixing in my bedroom. It's a small room with minimal acoustic DIY treatments.

I will be mixing and pre-mastering my acoustic trio:
doublebass, bass clarinet, drums.
NOT jazz, more contemporary classical. The recordings are intended to be as realistic as possible (mix of three mics: one a couple of feet from each performer) minimal compression and eq will be applied during mixing

although these are all bass instruments my main priority with the monitors is lo mid accuracy and good stereo imaging, massive sub bass is not a concern.

I've heard good things about the rubicons, but long term failure of samson amps worries me (admittedly i haven't heard of such a phenomenon in their active monitors.)

I've also heard good things about the fostex PM 0.5, which made me wonder if the the PM o.4s would be adequate (the space saved is a real bonus) and then using the money saved for mastering......

the PM 0.5 and Rubicon 5As are both £200 ish ($400 approx)
the PM 0.4 are £110 ($220)

I know the best advice is try them all out...annoyingly the room the dealers I could buy from is useless to truly test monitors in.

I'm after any real world user reports.

Many Thanks

Thomas