New studio monitors sound the same as the old! Thoughts?

[splproductions]

So I've been mixing on a set of Yorkville YSM-1's for the past 10 years. Yorkville is a Canadian company, not too well known in the US, but I think their products rock. I've also been using some of their microphones (under the brand name Apex) for many years.

My monitors are in the $500 price range. Pretty cheap, I know, but they sound fantastic to me, and with so much experience on them, I feel like I've been able to get my mixes to translate to a wide variety of speakers that my clients might use.

I just bought a pair of Event ASP8's, and I've been A/B'ing them with my own mixes and different professional recordings. To be honest, I can't really tell the difference. And if there is a slight difference, I seem to favor the Yorkvilles.

Some confounders could be the fact that my room is anything but acoustically correct, and that I'm so used to the sound of the Yorkvilles.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Is anyone of the opinion that great mixes can be made on cheap speakers, and it's more about the engineer knowing how his/her mixes translate? (NS10's come to mind).

[bongo_x]

I think you've already answered all your own questions. I've always heard good things about the Yorkvilles, I was looking at buying a pair a couple years ago.

Yes, I think that knowing and being comfortable with you speakers is more important than what they are. Most recording engineers I know don't use particularly expensive speakers. The really Hi-Fi ones confuse me, everything sounds "pretty". Flattery is not helpful.

If you're wanting to be a mastering engineer then that's different.

bb

[James Steele]

Never heard the Yorkvilles but I have some ASP8's and I like 'em!

[mhschmieder]

I wouldn't pooh-pooh the Yorkvilles. They're part of the same group that distributes A.R.T. Both are value brands that MOSTLY put out great bang-for-buck mid-quality gear at low-end prices. They are my most recommended brands for people on a budget or just starting out.

We are using a Yorkville combo amp based on that same driver, in my newish jazz group that I joined in early February. I'm mostly playing upright bass, which challenges most systems, and it sounds sweeter and more balanced than on my higher-end gear that I leave at home in lieu of the keyboardist's studio rig in the rehearsal space. I'm very impressed.

In the end, the most important thing is to learn your speakers, and also your room. As long as your mixes translate well, there's no pressing need for "upgrades", as each change to the system requires readjusting and getting to know and work with the new sound.

Loudspeaker design has improved in leaps and bounds over the past fifteen to twenty years or so. For all the discussions and arguments people have about Brand X vs. Brand Z, there aren't that many loudspeakers in production today that I feel can't get you to a good mix with minimum effort at adjusting to the sound.

If you work in certain genres, of course, there may be specific requirements (for instance, extended bass for electronica).

I'm not at all surprised that you didn't experience a "wow" in going from the Yorkvilles to the Events. Both are good monitors.

[James Steele]

Wasn't poo-piping the Yorkvilles, just sounding off for the ASP8s.

[Phil O]

I have an old pair of the YSM-1s myself. I actually use them with my TV now. They are a very good budget monitor, but I think you'll find that they are lacking in the low end. I'm not familiar with the Events you mentioned, but I did have some event 20/20s at one point. The 20/20s have slightly better bass response, but are similar to the Yorkvilles in the rest of the range. If you're looking for a low cost upgrade, you might want to consider adding a sub.

Phil

[mhschmieder]

James, although my post followed yours, it wasn't a response. I was afraid you might think it was.

I was referring more to the OP's sense of regret, which seemed based on some idea that maybe Yorkville isn't in the same league or maybe not reputable. It's easy for people to think this about a brand that doesn't have "buzz".

[Kubi]

You should take a good look at your room's acoustics. While there is the possibility that two sets of speakers sound very similar, if you can't make out differences clearly, chances are your room has issues. Those tend to smear over differences not just between different sets of speakers, but of course more importantly between a good and a mediocre mix.

Not saying this is definitely the case here, but just something to look at.

[mandobilly64]

You should take a good look at your room's acoustics. While there is the possibility that two sets of speakers sound very similar, if you can't make out differences clearly, chances are your room has issues. Those tend to smear over differences not just between different sets of speakers, but of course more importantly between a good and a mediocre mix.

Not saying this is definitely the case here, but just something to look at.

+1 on this train of thought!!!!!! Exactly what I thought when reading the first post.