SPEAKERS vs STUDIO MONITORS!!! What's the difference? Find out!!! TSC Production Tip 005

[@brighteyedsmiles]

This wisdom I took from this was "there isn't a wrong choice" ... Ill apply this to all areas of my life :)

[@SocialClubSound]

Absolutely.

[@bradleys4783]

This dude has great delivery. Very well done.

[@SocialClubSound]

Thank you kindly!

[@bobsandidge9613]

First time you've dropped into my feed. Won't be the last. Excellent deep dive. While I've been working with speakers for many years I learned a few things. I appreciate your passion in pursuit of excellence in sound! I got turned on to great sound somewhere around 1959 when I was listening to Western Electric 1/2 wave folded bass theater horns with 18" WE electric powered drivers (no powerful magnets yet)... topped with a very large multi-cell horn with WE drivers. And for good measure an Electrovoice T120 big tweeter that EV built a custom crossover for this system. This was a stereo pair power by a custom built 200W per channel amp. All this in a friends house. He did custom recording and sound work. Been playing with studios, speakers, mics, ever since. Thanks for doing what you are doing as I'm suspecting that you'll be getting more people excited about the incredible world of amazing sound! I'm eager to hear your speakers. In Peace.. Bob

[@SocialClubSound]

Thanks Bob. I really appreciate the thoughtful comment. And woah! What a cool backstory in HiFi. I'm a studio engineer so most of my previous videos have been on digital audio theory. But I've seemed to hit on something with this video. Like I said, thanks for dropping a comment and I hope my future vids are just as useful to you.

[@chinmeysway]

awesome animation / speaker / transducer breakdown!!

[@SocialClubSound]

Thanks! The graphics are from @animagraffs

[@Magnum_Opus_Music]

Amazingly clear and informational video! Thanks mate and good luck with your own line of monitor speakers 👍🎶

[@SocialClubSound]

Thanks so much! Glad it provided some value. And thanks for the good luck. Sold a pair of VH-180s yesterday! 🙌🏼

[@Magnum_Opus_Music]

@@SocialClubSound Absolutely! Alot to learn,i love all the info i can get to understand this topics better! So much respect to you! And good to hear you sold the pair today,i will dive into your model later this week! I recently scored some vintage C5´s almost as good as new so i will check them out in studio by now:) I fully understand what the magic from this speaker is...most important in music *midrange* i already learned myself to listen on low volumes and not bass heavy systems but something didnt go right with other monitors and passive speakers (treated room etc) and then ive learned about phasing issues coming from speakers also and thats where the searching began! Im serious about my music and want to grow ''soundwise'' and trying to learn the basics very good without all the hyping and big sounding speakers etc i know now its a more delicate process (but simple to understand) that everything happens in the mids so i go focus on that very accurate and try to learn this new system of mixing that is totally oldskool because i trust that more than all the hype these days. I have a good feeling about my choice at the moment and hope the next mix will translate like a charm everywhere :) Cheers my friend

[@nelsonnichols922]

Very thoughtful and detailed explanation of the elements involved in speaker design. Great video!

[@SocialClubSound]

Thank you kindly!

[@bobbyjazz]

Thanks for the effort brother, really appreciate. I learned something new today!

[@SocialClubSound]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for the comment

[@danieldevlin3836]

Hey there! Just stumbled upon your videos, and I have to say, you're doing an awesome job sharing all this valuable info! I'm on the hunt for the best speakers to kick off my first ever studio, and your video has given me the confidence to go for it. I'm aiming to save up for a pair of your SBH-7S studio monitors in the coming months - they seem like the perfect fit. Thanks a ton for the content!

[@SocialClubSound]

Awesome, thank you! Glad you got something out of the video and best of luck with the first studio!

[@bryanjones9952]

Thanks for clarifying how a passive radiator speaker is tuned. I thought it was just the size.

[@rudygloria2721]

WOW!!! I just always wondered??? A “lay” person who also misses the high fidelity sound of the 70s up too late 90s? I’m almost 60! You give me hope that there is a crying and demand for that beautiful hi fidelity sound again. I agree with another post, simple, math says I would LOVE to listen to your speakers!!! Thank You Very Much!!! Peace, Rudy🕊️☮️🙏🏼🕊️

[@SocialClubSound]

Thank you Rudy!

[@MichaelBeeny]

Sadly few care these days. When I was younger, almost everyone I knew had some kind if HiFi, some more HiFi than others. Today most people are happy to hear music and watch movies on a telephone. Kind of sad really. Few people even know what REAL live music sounds like anyway. A good sound for many people is no midrange, lots of dreadful one note bass, the more the better and tizzy boosted treble.

[@RADCOMJ1]

Excellent overview of how speakers work and design. Thanks. All I need now is a better room😊

[@SocialClubSound]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jcpuga]

Nice to see I'm on the right mindset despite just starting to learn about audio production 2 years ago.

[@jefffranke]

Great video. I appreciated the details and the animation of how it all works. Good luck. I'll check out your product when it's ready. Thanks

[@SocialClubSound]

Thanks Jeff! Good news, it's up on the website now! Check out inclinedfidelity.com for the two speakers I referenced. The VH-180 and the SBH-7S. And thanks for watching and your comment!

[@dirtyglovekennels616]

I understand about Imaging and sound quality in speakers...E-40 has a song called "go hard or go home", The Producers put so much background noise & different instruments in the background, the lower quality mids & highs don't pick it up, but soon as you get high-quality drivers you start to hear so much of the producers work.

[@SocialClubSound]

What you're describing in the E-40 track, I feel that way about Aproach to Danger by N.W.A. So much detail and stuff going on in the background especially during that intro. And that sub bass that hits and then pitches down. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@danielfontes6629]

It was interesting to hear you go into the difference between regular speakers and studio monitors. Ironically, back in the early 90s, when I was recording my Folk Rock duo Red Hound, I was using a pair of Ohm 3XOs as my "studio monitors." People LOVED the recordings I was getting and I was using an inexpensive setup based around a late 70s 4-track reel-to-reel with NO noise reduction, running at 7 1/4 ips. I still have the 3XOs but now I will be using Linux and the Ardour DAW to record. For my ears the 3XOs have always presented some of the clearest sound I could get.

[@SocialClubSound]

And that's the magic! ✨ When you find that speaker that translates for your brain that's all that matters. Glad you found yours early and got such great results! Thanks for the comment

[@stephencallil6512]

Thank you for explaining speakers in how they work in a way that a non technical person can understand [me]

[@SocialClubSound]

Glad I was able to convey it in an easy to digest manner. I hope you'll come back for my future videos!

[@fireinthewhole]

Phenomenal video, man. Thank you.

[@SocialClubSound]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment

[@rodjack1378]

1st time for me too. Subscribed, (of course)! Just am now figuring which components to get for my home recording situation...

[@SocialClubSound]

Thanks for the subscribe! Any questions you ever have, just hit me up!

[@cisvee]

Very informative. Thanks for the fine details.

[@SocialClubSound]

Glad it was helpful!

[@christkallimanis4621]

Explained well. Love to hear your speakers.

[@SocialClubSound]

Thank you! The first few pairs have started shipping out to their new homes. Exciting times around here!

[@paavotorkkola523]

Thanks. Best key points exölained

[@rodney6900]

Excellent explanation of how speakers work!

[@SocialClubSound]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JeffreyWalker-sm5er]

Thumbs up to your video for a first time buyer for monitor speakers.

[@blahdiblah2169]

LOL - After 1 minute. I realized this guy sure has the credentials :)

[@nelsondog100]

“It’s a personal thing”. This is exactly why I design and make my own.

[@SocialClubSound]

Same here. Nobody can know your taste as well as you can.

[@zogzog1063]

Hi from New Zealand. Thanks for your insights.

[@SocialClubSound]

Hello NZ! My pleasure!

[@makamancha2333]

Excellent Sir! I've learned a lot on a such short video. No nonsense from start to finish! keep up the good work!

[@SocialClubSound]

Thanks! I'm sure in the hands of a good editor it could have been more streamlined but I wanted to hit on what feels important. Thanks for the comment, I hope you'll be back for future videos.

[@lusiouse]

great animation and info

[@SocialClubSound]

Thanks! The animation was from Animagraffs.

[@keithneal5369]

I'm still using a pair of tannoy 609 mk 2s with the marantz pm6007 amp. These speakers are over 30 years old. Sound amazing with the marantz. Imaging is spot on. I can see why many studios used tannoy speakers as a monitor.

[@SocialClubSound]

Imaging on those point source speakers is almost always fantastic!

[@barelybreathing2238]

Thank you, what a great informative video, your knowledge is invaluable, thank you again.

[@SocialClubSound]

Thanks so much for your comment!

[@darrenparkes9805]

Excellent presentation😊 😊

[@SocialClubSound]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@alessandrograldi4334]

Wery well, easily to understand explained! In fact about the end of your video, it was easiest to find speakers that fit my room than treat the room to make it fit other speakers… i’m talking about a living room, not a studio naturally. I agree every word you say cause in my little way, i experienced the troubles to find a right sound to fit my standards

[@SocialClubSound]

Thank you!

[@jamesrichard9722]

It's a great training video. Your speakers probably sound great. Each engineer "voices" their speaker to their own taste; as did you. Good for you. It's a formula that is primarily the function of your crossover; as the sound will be similar to each different cabinet you design. Like B&W are a flatter sounding speaker like. Again; good for you. It seems that this is also a fund raising video. I get it. Good Luck. I'm a Magneplanar guy

[@hrvojekant9415]

Beautifuly explained..Thank You

[@SocialClubSound]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bisarowood]

great info , thanks Closed enclosure that's probably why I really like my ADS L780 the best so far ...? wonder how they would compare to any of these ...

[@topfuel29channel]

Kick -Ass review. Hope to see more.

[@SocialClubSound]

Thank you!

[@SpeakerKevin]

Incorrect. In a ported enclosure, at the tunning frequency (where the port is adding bass), the air in the port moves in the same direction as the woofer. You said, that when the woofer moves in, air in the port moves out. If this were true, the port output would be 180 deg. out of phase with the woofer and bass would be drastically decreased. Another thing that you said (which is not true) is there is no air spring on the woofer on a ported like on a sealed. There is actually more resistance in a ported design than a sealed. Don't believe it? Run this test. Say that your tuning frequency of your ported speaker is 42hz. Now cover the port, run a 42hz test tone thru the speaker until you see the woofer moving quite a bit. Now remove the port blockage. What you will see is that the woofer is barely moving. Because the air in the port is moving in phase with the woofer cone, the pressure has reduced the cone movement. BTW, everything that I said about a ported design, applies to passive radiator systems because all a passive radiator does is, replace a port.

[@Jack_Sparrow_1]

It is unbearable to watch a person that is just now beginning to understand the basic principles that go into the construction of a speaker, who jumps over its vast sea of ​​unknowns and resorts to a very cheap psychological manipulation to diss the tried and true "competition" and to try to make you buy its primitive product.

[@chinmeysway]

so if that is true would you say that if a (well tuned) ported speaker say kali in5, is more articulate than sealed designs (say older snell)? lot of talk about sealed having better “impulse response.” tighter bass. but might be inaccurate. if what you’re saying is accurate…

[@SpeakerKevin]

@@chinmeysway I do believe a sealed system has a more controlled ie tighter sound than ported, but under certain circumstances, a ported box will deliver a cleaner sound due to the lower distortion associated with less cone movement.

[@whollymindless]

It really is frustrating that the speaker is only half of the setup. Every human hears differently - both physically and neurologically. BUT that's why we have so many manufacturers - which is a good thing for us enjoying audio.

[@SocialClubSound]

Exactly! Which is why I said I can't tell you which speaker will work for you. Try a bunch and stick with what fits!

[@mikesmith1290]

I’m still using my Mackie M5’s from 2006! They still work great, but it’s time to upgrade

[@SocialClubSound]

If it ain't broke...

[@DigitallyBranded]

Useful info in here! Thanks @Von_Hertzog

[@ferdinandgleinser2681]

To my understanding (and please correct me if I'm wrong) the beauty of active speakers is to have an active crossover feeding into two amplifiers. So first upside is, an active crossover doesn't cause phase shifts, and therefore is a lot better for the time domain aspects of sound reproduction, secondly you can have two "specialized" amps, that only need to excel at certain areas of "amplification". Wouldn't it be "the best of two worlds" to bi-amp passive monitors, get rid of the passive crossover and put an active one before the two (external) amps. Would even give you the freedom to chose the best amp for each driver 🤔 *just my two cents*

[@SocialClubSound]

Yeah since this video I've built out the King RO4Y MKIII 3 way active speakers with DSP and they're now all I need

[@mwe999]

@@SocialClubSoundThat’s quite a reversal!

[@marioalleyne8559]

Good video I learned a lot.

[@jamiboothe]

I use Ampex 2110 and Ampes a-692 self tube powered speakers, as both monitors and guitar amplifiers for recording. They have a big screw in the back of the cabinet that is used to tune the cab and speaker together, instead of a port. Have you ever tried these types of speakers for monitors?

[@SocialClubSound]

I have not heard them. My only experience with Ampex has been with tape machines

[@DrBroncanuus]

Focal Trio11 Be is active with built in Amp and it is outstanding

[@SocialClubSound]

Well, yeah, they're $8k a pair. They BETTER sound outstanding. I mentioned not all plate amps are bad! But when you're getting an active speaker for $1k the corners will be cut as opposed to the higher quality parts they can afford to include in an active speaker at $4200 each. I'm not taking anything away from that speaker at all. Cheers!

[@MichaelBeeny]

Just a thought....In an ideal world the pressure on a bass drivers' cone, should be equal on BOTH sides of the cone. So, it pushes and pulls with equal resistance. In a sealed box this is not so. It pushes out with greater ease and has a higher resistance on the inward thrust. With a ported box, the pressures will be more equal, be it frequency dependent. Just thinking out loud, no conclusions!

[@KennethCrickmore-t1i]

OI achieved good results with salvaged speakers from various consoles and discarded speaker cvabs over the time i was building my recycled parts speakers using discarded kitchen cabinets and salvaged speakers drivers of all sizes and shapes from whatever i found thrown out to the curb when i was only about 10 to 12 yrs old and wanted a high end sound at next to no cost but for cables and some hardware in the builds. of 4 pairs I made with discarded parts mostly... and salvaged stereo equipment that had minor problems i easily fixed fron a simple blown fuse to bad power connections including broken solder andwires to damaged cords just inside the unit but unseen fron outside. unless you tok the unit apart to find the problem...mix and match sound quality to match pairs for sound quality... trial and error ovet timetakes patience i didn't usualh have with ADHD. have.. but for the incentive of obtaining the best sound quality i could get with what i hd on hand from scrounging all I could find. ... discardeed kitchen cabinets with a custom baffle added maked for good speaker cabstoo...lol hey pre teen with a passion for stereo and quadrophonic systems i could get for next to nothing but a litle searching through other peoples trash to find the best equipment they had no idea wreonly slightly bad and easily repaired with a fuse of simple solder job to fix...

[@markdavis4754]

Just wanted to add that a speaker for ported design cabinet normally have a stiffer suspension but at the expense of the efficiency. Also I know its frowned on but I have been using studio monitors in my listening room around 10 years. Most hifi speakers are coloured or have a recessed midrange so that all mix's sound similar. But for me I like to hear how something is mixed in a balanced way. And studio monitors do just that. If the mix is good or bad its part of the music.

[@SocialClubSound]

I'm the same in that I prefer a speaker that let's me hear the recording instead of the sound of the speaker itself

[@m.9243]

Best performance I have ever heard was, active speakers with each driver, driven by a separate amplifier (every driver had its own Class D amp), through an electronic crossover. Also, the "marriage" of an amplifier to a pair of speakers, (monitor or other), is the most important factor in what the final result will be. A mismatch between the two is disastrous. With active amplification the manufacturer has (hopefully) worked out an almost perfect match. There's no need for further experimenting. (..my two cent worth of trying and listening for over 50 years..)

[@SocialClubSound]

A well designed active system can sound AMAZING. I wasn't trying to say all active systems aren't as good as passive. I was trying to make a point about buying a speaker for a price point. Like when you spend $1000 for a pair of speakers with an amp built in... No way that's going to compete with a high level genelec or ex machina. Thanks for the comment!

[@m.9243]

@@SocialClubSound Indeed, point taken! As usual, I get carried away with perfection. 😏😏😃😃

[@johnwet6969]

Total agree.

[@nataliahertzog4995]

Thanks for explaining the innards of a speaker.

[@SocialClubSound]

Hopefully you can save this video and refer back if you have any questions in the future

[@patrick7799]

some of this The Social Club's information is not correct but doesn't matter no one can disprove this vague speaker information.

[@8546Ken]

What are studio monitors suitable for ? Would I want to use them in my living room?

[@LemonySnicket-EUC]

That's up to you. What kind of sound do you prefer ?

[@8546Ken]

But are they specifically designed to be used at close range?

[@SocialClubSound]

Good question. There are near-field, mid-field,and far-field studio monitors. The type I'm discussing in the video are the smaller near-field and mid-field. Far field studio monitors are the big soffit mounted speakers in the walls in studios. The ones in my video are more bookshelf sized with 7inch woofers. They're perfect for near and mid field. The way I'm using them in my studio, they're about 5.5 feet apart and they image like an dream

[@omarleyva4493]

Thanks excellent video ! Keep it up

[@SocialClubSound]

Thanks, will do!

[@jamesmorss9940]

thinking of using KRK's to build a 5.1 for games and movies :)

[@SocialClubSound]

Give it a go! Let me know how you like it

[@MicroAngelo1]

Brilliant explanations and many very good points , the only thing confusing me, is the mention of AC current driving the voice coils. Isn't the + and - on all the speaker terminals , specifically because they are running on DC ? I always thought all amplifiers input AC and output DC?

[@TerryClarkAccordioncrazy]

Polarity indications on the speakers are there to ensure you connect the two stereo speakers with the same phase. If you don't do this then low frequencies from one soeaker will be 180 degrees out of phase with the other speaker and they will cancel out leading to very weak bass.

[@SocialClubSound]

No! All speakers run on AC. It's the alternating current that charges the voice coil and creates the electro magnet that works against the permanent magnet. A DC signal just pushes in one direction.

[@MicroAngelo1]

@@SocialClubSound OK so this information is blowing my mind, so all these years Im measuring DC offset at the speaker terminals in DC voltage, and now I learn the output stage of an amp is in AC?

[@SocialClubSound]

Think about what a sine wave looks like. It has positive and negative values that alternate. You can take a AA battery which is DC, attach wire leads to it and connect it to a speaker. The speaker will push out if connected with proper polarity and will pull back if connected in reverse. But there's no other moment because DC is a solid current. You need the alternating current to charge the voice coil to create the electro magnet that pushes and pulls against the driver's permanent magnet. I hope that helps clarify!

[@TerryClarkAccordioncrazy]

@@MicroAngelo1 DC offset is an unwanted characteristic of an audio amp. It's important to measure DC offset to ensure it's negligible. Substantial DC offset will dissipate power and can even damage speakers.

[@JV-nt9bp]

Well explained 👍🏻😊

[@SocialClubSound]

Thank you! 🙏

[@RWRKofficial]

I have vintage speakers with dome midrange. Proper amp with good speakers you can achieve a good sound

[@fmphotooffice5513]

SPL matters. My current setup won't rock the house but it's not "turned up" very far either. The individual driver designs will go non-linear at different volume levels. There is a whole can of worms starting there. The "triangle" is also important. I have full bookcases behind me and the mid-hi drivers are pointing at my ears, etc. Subwoofer placement is another can of worms, but unless you're building a space, placement is remarkably flexible, I have mine at my feet under the desk sending only subsonics to my shins.

[@SocialClubSound]

Yeah it does matter. For the studio we tend to not want to mix higher than 80 or 85dB for music. Need the ears to keep their longevity!

[@fmphotooffice5513]

@@SocialClubSound True, but the point I'm making is the different drivers in the speaker cabinet lose efficiency at different SPL. There is a sweet spot **range** where the bigger drivers don't slow down or stop altogether from inertia and the smaller drivers don't sitck out of linear reproduction because they're much smaller and might work with a different physical reaction as with piezo drivers. I'm sure the fine folks at Genelec, etc take all that into account. That was the intent of the "loudness" switch, to exaggerate the low frequencies at very low volume levels to give the woofers a chance to stay linear. As with subwoofer function, we all know where that went in popular culture. Regards.

[@billynomates920]

you look so much like my mate tom that if it wasn't just gone four in the morning, i'd phone him and ask him about studio monitors. it is absolutely uncanny how similar you look!!

[@SocialClubSound]

Cheers to Tom! Let me know if he's also making studio monitors. If so the matrix may be out of memory

[@RicardoDawson]

Great video! Thanks!

[@SocialClubSound]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for your comment

[@karthikeyan-lv5on]

You amazed on and on and after a long time, college-feel albeit senior. But please stay the same and continue the trend, this trend. Trendy, really, I confess man. Aaahh, after a long long time someone like you. Man! By the way, coming to the point, how about ceiling tweeters, arms-level midranges(both ported) and floor woofers(sealed) and front floor small multi subwoofers in stereo enclosures. All with active crossovers or DSP & individual amplifiers!? I'm already beginning to expect you again. Once more!

[@ubza1234]

I hate to be that guy, but I wish the animation showed the coil moving inside the magnetic gap and when in it's rest position, it has an equal amount of coil hanging out of either side of the magnetic gap rather then the coil being predominately behind the magnetic gap, inside the structure. It shouldn't bother me as much as it does 😂 Otherwise, I really enjoyed the easy you delivered this info man, thank you!

[@ubza1234]

Oh wait.. He's explaining that the air just gets pushed out of the port at the resonant times frequency and therefore the cone is uncontrolled at the tuned frequency, which isn't true. The opposite is in fact true. The reason why a port "resonates" is because air takes time to compress. Much like his animation of air molecules moving in response to the motion of the cone. With a port, the cone gets the air molecules inside the enclosures.let's say they are pushing the air molecules out of the enclosure. By the time that air movement reaches the outer edge of the port, the cone is now pulling the air back into the enclosure, via the port. Because of the delay, which is exactly one half wavelength at the resonant frequency, the sound waves exiting the port, actually realign with the sound waves coming from the front of the cone. You get this motion of air molecules moving out of the port at the same time cone is moving forward, which is sucking the air back into the enclosure. Just as the air moves at its highest velocity back into the enclosure, the cone is now moving in a way that is pushing the air back out. As result of this, pressure inside the enclosure is amplified beyond what the speaker would experience if the port was sealed and all other things being equal. This added pressure actually creates dampening that the driver would need to overcome. These pressure actually resist cone motion at that frequency. Not only that, but due to the motion of the cone affecting pressure levels in the enclosure, the resonant motion of the air going in and out of port is also dampened to a point. However, it is a little less dampened than the speaker driver. The larger the diameter of the port, the more air mass there is, the more stored energy there is. That is to say, if the air in the port is excited by a transient audio frequency, it may "ring" for 1-3 cycles, and a select few can hear that. This requires a very large however, become obvious if the area is equal to around 1/4 the total cone area. If the port is too small, due to the air squeezing through such small hole, the air velocity may be so high at high volumes, that you can hear a "woosh" sound often referred to as "chuffing". The extra physical dampening/kinetic impedance also increases the electrical impedance, lowering cone motion further and reducing heat by reducing current through the coil. Below the tuned frequency of the port, there is zero dampening. Air moves in and out as if there is no enclosure at all. Sounds waves from the port cancel out between the port and the cone. It is important to have either the port resonance around the frequency of the lowest frequency of the music being played, OR, incorporate a filter that will cut those lower frequencies. Above the resonance of the port, the mass of the air inside the port resists that faster motion. Like, it's too heavy to move effectively. It will absolutely leak sound, but will be largely filtered and drastically reduced. You may not hear very much sound from it, even up close, but especially if the port is faced away from you. As for dampening, it has less dampening than a sealed enclosure and thus less control. This can be mitigated by using a driver with strong internal dampening intrinsically via the suspension system, but will often effect sensitivity. Another option is to use a driver with a powerful copper shorting ring. This can offer increased dampening without sacrificing sensitivity. Wait.. I'm getting off topic here.. Lol back to ports, their behaviour I describe above is almost exactly like bouncing a slinky in your hand. Hold your hand out infringe of you with the dangling down,with a 12 inches of space below it and bounce it at the resonant frequency. You'll notice the end moves the opposite direction to your hands, demonstrating the phase inversion. You can also observe that a small input of movement from your hand, and the much larger output of the opposite end of the slinky. Now move it really fast and notice the tiny wiggle at the end of the slinky. Observe the motion does not match because the slinky absorbs a lot of that energy, a little like car suspension. Now move it slowly up and down and notice it match your motion perfectly. Observe no phase inversion, and no amplification of amplitude at the other end.

[@AudriusN]

8:80 not necessarily, check measurements at Erin's corner or Amir's, there are lots of speakers that have excellent response. 12:45 you barely understand how Helmholz resonator works. The air cushion is there, sprung mass holds it there.

[@wwjnz9263]

As a hobbiest beat maker, I learned a ton about studio monitors in this video. I cannot drop $900 and up for my first set of monitors though. I gotta make due with the entry level priced gear of $300 and below for the pair. I wish there was a sealed option at these prices. Could I have the monitors mounted higher than my head, but pointed down to where I will be sitting? I figure as long as the speakers are pointed at my ears and properly spaced, the elevation shouldn't matter? Plus my space is less than ideal. I'm in an open and cuttered basement.

[@SocialClubSound]

Yeah I didn't start out with $900 speakers either. My first pair of "monitors" were Yamaha speakers from Best Buy. Can you please the monitors higher and aim them down? Yes. Try and get the equilateral triangle and it will go a long way to getting your speakers to image properly. As for the basement, the clutter isn't necessarily bad, it can keep scatter the waves, but being that your walls will have ground on the other side of them the bass notes will reflect back so just try and pick an area where the bass sounds as even as you can get it. Hope that all helps!

[@wwjnz9263]

@@SocialClubSound It does. Thanks a million!

[@diamondfieldmusic]

Bro, top notch work here. Get them in front of the Tape Op/SOS dudes!

[@SocialClubSound]

Thank you! And that's a good idea. I should try and find out their submission process. Thanks for watching and for the suggestion!

[@peterrichard3706]

Can I put the speaker horizontal in stead of vertical.? I use mine that way. Is there a difference. Just looked at your web site Specs in particular. 81 db. I don't know. 88db is ok . My Ohm L,s are 87 I think There ok. I would rather see like 96 of 97db. For the $$$$. Ya know.

[@SocialClubSound]

Speaker can be placed horizontally or vertically. It will load the sound in the room a bit differently but not in a major way. The low sensitivity is what it is. The sub is low sensitivity to start with. To keep the speaker linear I could only work with what I had. That said, it takes plenty of power and has a big Xmax. All in all these are made to play clean up into the mid 90s for SPL as they're intended to be studio monitors and you don't want to mix much louder than 85dB for your ears sake.

[@thefloop2813]

You dont see many (You, gr research, Ps Audio) Being this forthcoming with actual information in regards to the design of their speakers, and why they make the decisions they do. +Respect and a lot of interest in your designs now. And even if it feels a bit salesy (as it should, you've made a product) i feel like i can detect a lot of honesty and integrity in your personality lol. Even though i prefer passive monitors for gear freedom, one major benefit to active monitors is the very DSP that can also be a con. It can be implemented in the design process of the speakers pretty effectively allowing for improved performance with lower cost drivers, amps, and cabinets being employed. Def a double edged sword though Im gonna add to your explanation of speaker setup to make it easier for the inexperienced. People often mention proper speaker setup, and what it should sound like. But they NEVER suggest busting out a measuring tape, making sure your front speaker baffles are at MINIMUM 36" from the wall behind them, and make sure both front edges of both monitors measure the same as the corresponding edge on the other monitor, from the wall, and listening position both. Rooms even properly treated are rarely symmetrical, and if they are, your gear in immediate line of site is not. And this believe it or not makes eyeballing speaker setup almost impossible. And if you dont start from a place of symmetry to the rear wall and listening position, with a reverb diffused room , you can play with the soundstage by ear all you want, but unless you are intimately familiar with a proper soundstage and imaging, and have some test tracks you know like your own name, you probably wont nail your speaker setup by ear. Especially when in near field environment. half inch off on one speaker and you may be making very inaccurate decisions as far as placement of instruments in a soundstage goes. You very likely wont have any accuracy at all in the low end, and zero imaging outside left, right, and direct center if your speakers are too close to the wall. 1 foot+ can be ok for small near fields, but if you have drivers 5" or bigger you really want those guys at least 3 feet out from the wall, at minimum 3-4 feet apart, with you 4-5 feet back from the center point. Yes, minimum. And yes, a single half inch of misalignment can mess this up with speakers that small. pretty badly actually. Fact. Also headphones cant soundstage at all, and unless you are using very expensive planar driven headphones with some kind of sophisticated crossfeed going on, you are not making accurate soundstage and instrument placement decision, period, end of discussion. lmao. You can make proper decision using headphones as long as you are very familiar with how those decisions translate to a proper soundstage, which you need to have setup at MINIMUM for reference purposes. Eye/ear balling when dealing with a time domain measured in milliseconds, and with distances measured in feet with tolerances under a half inch... Use a damn measuring tape you fools.... I fairly frequently make a couple tweaks to alignment of speakers and listening position for people in both the home audio, and pro audio world, often to hairs standing on end and legitimate amazement as they, usually for the first time in their entire life, perceive a proper stereophonic soundstage. In my opinion this is the reason a lot of people have "heard and didnt care for" a high end setup someone they knew had. They are either just talking to talk, or their friend had no idea how to setup a set of speakers, which is MOST people with fancy speakers and monitors honestly. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "These capacitors test and measure the same, but they dont sound the same." There are (non audio obsessed) electricians and engineers out there, who genuinely become annoyed by people who would suggest such a thing. Ive tried lots of different caps in crossovers and coupling of same values because often a certain one just ends up playing a little more nicely then the others. Sometimes same brand same value caps sound a tiny bit different too. Some of my favorite sounding cheap polypropelene caps are the JFX 5% series of caps. But for some reason like 1 in 4 just sound weird and floppy and i toss em. I dont have nearly that rate of loss with some others i really like, but i like the good JFX one's more. Similar story with those red "audiophiler" caps all over ebay and amazon. They sound fantastic especially for the price, but like 1 in a handful always seems to just sound wrong, even if it tests within spec. Those audiophiler caps often test outside rated tolerance and their epoxy dip is inconsistent and sometimes has hardened drips in them, so i dont recommend them, but they DO sound good lol. The home hi-fi world thinks theyre chasing accuracy but they are chasing and being sold musicality. A good chunk of The pro audio world thinks they are chasing musicality, but they are in fact chasing and being sold accuracy (attempts at it anyway) I find the misunderstandings and differing, sometimes hostile perspectives, to be entertaining most of the time. I love reminding the internet audiophiles that they are likely getting further from the original recordings, not closer, by increasing the perceived musicality of a recording using sound coloration techniques and house brand EQ curves. But they are also not wrong in chasing the most enjoyment out of their music that they can. I mix on some of my own built monitors, with carefully designed, simulated, tested, and tweaked crossovers, in a damped room with proper speaker setup when i can. I keep a class A tube preamp i through together to throw between my interface and power amp when i just want to enjoy musicality or reference my mix on something closer to an "Audiophile" setup with that sweet sweet nectar that is even order distortion soundstage enhancement. the negative feedback loop is tweaked to just soften the upper mids and highs but without killing any air or the high end presence. And musicality wise its absolutely stunning. Tubes, where they belong, as voltage multipliers only... But it is NOT accurate to a recording at all lmao. Also No studio sub iv ever tried integrates nearly as well with a set of active monitors, as a decent high level in sub amp (class D is actually a great sub amp option for control, accuracy and cost all at once going this route), fed from your main power amp, pushing a proper enclosure with proper subwoofer for that enclosure, integrates with a set of passive monitors. Also properly enclosed and crossed. As long as you make wise design decisions, having that isnt any more expensive either if you make it yourself. Im about $700 into those things, and can promise most would struggle to outperform them for anywhere even beginning to approach that price I used to keep em set up for reference and the trickier mix decisions, especially in the sub 120hz areas, but rents a bitch and i live in a smaller place then i did a few months ago. Im trying to get the current landlord to let me finish the basement, out of my own wallet no less, so that i can set up a proper space around the large monitors but i dont think they're going to bite that hook. I dont have a lot of free time anymore, and id like to spend it all making music not gear. Long story short your monitors very much intrigue me >:) it'll just take a bit to swing.

[@kevyjo]

Very nice....SEAS rocks! I'm building a pair myself using them...my only quibble is his characterization of how the port works. Ported speakers aren't exactly "open" because of the port resonance & "notch of minimum motion"..it acts similar to an air pillow in that it limits the motion of the woofer so PROPERLY TUNED can sound just as "tight" as a sealed or passive radiator....

[@m0wao690]

What if you make them active and using DSP?

[@SocialClubSound]

That can work out really well if you have high enough quality parts. Ex Machina has had amazing success with that method. Whatever works for your ears!

[@Gateseleven]

what made you select the scan tweeter, over lets say a peerless dual ring one? or the scan dual ring one? what s the crossover point on thise? and how much do the passive in the back adds, have you tried no passive? I also read in your shorts, that it was powered by a hyper x amp, ( im guessing that's an amp you could build into the speaker?, are you making some active version then?

[@SocialClubSound]

I used a SEAS tweeters in both the VH-180 and SBH-7S, I think they sound more natural than peerless. The passives add a few dB on the lows while staying lasted sealed, enough to make it worthwhile

[@Gateseleven]

@@SocialClubSound any thanks and thanks for the video also

[@silentscope7440]

I’m wondering if I need to turn my monitors off when I’m done using them to extend the life of them? And I’m going to give yours a try.

[@SocialClubSound]

There's a mixed school of thought on keeping your equipment powered on all the time, but I am in the camp o keep them powered on. What really shortens the life is the power surges in the capacitors turning the power supply on. The less frequently you do so the less stress. There's people who will argue it but me personally, I keep my amps and studio equipment on 24/7. Stand by mode is really efficient in gear nowadays, especially class D amps.

[@silentscope7440]

@@SocialClubSound thank you. I havent yet to use them at even half of their capacity so they should last a while. KRK Rokit 8

[@user-lx8ky9yf3b]

You haven't talk about underhung vs overhang voice coil .

[@SocialClubSound]

True! I tried to fit in as much as I could and keep it stream lined and it still ended up being 33+ minutes 🙃 It's a subject I can cover in a future video! Thanks for the comment

[@paulhamacher773]

Great video! But I stumbled accross the following: 16:43 two different capacitors which measure identical but sound different? How can that be? If we don't believe in voodoo speaker systems are physical things. Also capacitors are physical things, which have physical traits, which we can measure. So by logic inference we can say that if two capacitors measure the same they behave the same in a physical system so in the end they must sound the same. How come you say they don't? And can you tell in a true ABX test or did find out by a side-by-side comparison?

[@SocialClubSound]

Because they're made of different materials. The ratings on a capacitor is for how much energy it can store. That's it. How quickly it can charge and discharge matters greatly in the sound of the capacitor. It's why poly caps are preferred over electrolytic caps. It's not voodoo. It's still science. But the science is more in how a cap discharges than what it can store. I hope that makes sense!

[@rfpeace]

Seas, now that's a name I haven't seen in a long while! I was turned onto them by a buddy (we were all self-proclaimed audiophiles and experts back in the early 90's!) who sold them out of his little 4 car bay retail shop, specializing in keyless entry/auto-alarms and ridiculous car audio installs out of lovely Tustin, CA. Sadly the idea of a loud speaker capable of accurate reproductions was never a priority with me and my crowd. We were into the "Wong-factor" (those Earth trembling trunk lid rattles from >1500 watts of 35Hz) and deafening loudness. Fortunately, my sonic palate has matured, and I've started to rediscover music in general. Something I've always wondered about was the utility of a dual voice coil set up? My said buddy used to demo a woofer (I don't remember the brand, but it was most likely a re-badged Taiwanese EV knock off) by plugging into a standard 120v receptacle. He said these speakers would push and pull due to the dual voice coils? That got me thinking about why no one has ever developed a speaker motor that used an active electromagnetic field as is used in electric motors, rather than a fixed magnet? Maybe I'll build one and answer my own question? cheers! ron:)

[@SocialClubSound]

Nice! I started in car audio in the 90s. I installed car stereos for a few years between high school and college. Good times! SEAS is still sounding great

[@richpayton7162]

Electromagnetic aka "Field Coil" speakers in most part preceded permanent magnet types. Sometimes they did double duty as chokes in the power supply of amplifiers and radios.

[@1RungAtATime]

I know you don't want to use stereo hi fi speakers as studio monitors, but what about the people I see using studio monitors as hi fi speakers? It was my understanding that studio monitors are near field, but many are using them to listen from across the room or in a home theater setup. Will both types of speakers perform the same in that scenario?

[@SocialClubSound]

The individual speakers characteristics matter more than the distinction. Remember the Yamaha NS-10M started life as a HiFi speaker but got adopted by engineers as a studio monitor. The Amphion One 18 are meant to be near-field but the Two18 can be mid-field. The space you're using them in makes a large difference on how much leeway you have placing them in the room. Woofer size will matter a lot for how far away you can use them. There's still no replacement for displacement. My best recommendation will always be getting a reference mic and doing sine sweeps to find where the best listening position and speaker position is for your specific room. I hope that helps!

[@tombrennan6312]

Many Altec and JBL home speakers were large monitors in home furniture cabinets rather than utility cabinets. The Altec 604 Duplexe driver was used in both monitors and home speakers and still has a strong following among audiophiles. indeed, the 604 is still made by the Altec successor company Great Plains Audio.

[@Jesus_ls_The_Way]

Great video gonna suscribe

[@SocialClubSound]

Thank you very much! If you ever have any questions, just ask!

[@trevorcourt1403]

Very interesting I enjoyed this 🖱️🔈🔉🔊

[@SocialClubSound]

Thanks for watching and for the comment!

[@trevorcourt1403]

@@SocialClubSound do you prefer a metal dome or soft dome tweeters as was thinking of upgrading my dynaudio tweeters to seas or scanspeak would be interested in your views?…….

[@manusudha4269]

Location of the voice coil with respect to magnet in the animation is wrong. Good lecture though. Thank you .

[@Chris11249]

Speakers are speakers.. Anyone that doesn't agree, go put some ATC mains in your living room and see if any other $20k audiophile speaker does a better job lol. Also for guys like me, some cheap studio monitors like 8" KRKs will be better than any hi-fi speaker you can buy for even 3x the price.. Only downside of studio monitors? Crappy built in amplification on anything under a few grand. Sure get some barefoots or Meyers and that's not a problem as they're not using crappy class-D amps, but you get my point. Whatever you do though, add a decent sub. Most people like me want music to "bang" occasionally. And most speakers/monitors can't do it well enough. Plus if you let the sub take care of all the lower frequencies, say < 60hz, the monitors/speakers will perform better as the woofers have less things to do.

[@Chris11249]

Oh and great video, I learned from it!! Don't think I was making fun. Just throwing in my flavor

[@canepaper967]

Have you ever considered AMT's and or wave-guides instead of dome tweeters on a flat baffle for the SBH-7S? And if not, why not? I've always been impressed with the top end on Adam's monitors.

[@SocialClubSound]

I've considered them for other builds, not for the SBH-7S specifically. My Amphions use a waveguide and sound great. But I love how these tweeters sound in this build. Very linear and open. Thanks for the comment!

[@dk6343]

What about a 3 way system

[@danbreuner1260]

Great infomercial

[@SocialClubSound]

Thank you

[@FLAVMEDIA]

Very informative:)))

[@SocialClubSound]

Glad it was helpful! More videos on the way!

[@AstrAir1]

Can I put the right speaker on the left? ;-)

[@SocialClubSound]

Get crazy with it 🤪

[@Obsfucation]

I’d very much be interested in seeing you do a proper ABX test with your speaker using the two different capacitors you referred to. You claim that they sound different; let’s cut through the BS and prove it to us. Unlike most KZbinrs you have the means with your own product to set up this demonstration. On that same note how do you have two capacitors of the same value that have “a different phase response”? If what you claim is true I’d also like you to show that too. A simple XY Lissajou pattern on a scope with the two caps on the respective channels with a proper resistor load would be a simple, graphic and effective way to demonstrate your assertion. Please illuminate us.

[@SocialClubSound]

Thanks for the well thought out comment. I'm going to try and find ways to capture the audible difference. But between the limitations of microphones trying to record audible performance vs the KZbin codec crushing any nuance I'm still searching. A lot of the difference comes from the materials used which seem to have an audible effect that isn't necessarily showing up in a meter reading. I think everyone can agree the sound difference between electrolytic caps and poly caps even when they're the same value. I want to dig into this further but I need to try and figure out how to convey the difference. Like I said, thanks for the reply and let me see what I can do.

[@xanataph]

@@SocialClubSound At radio frequencies different dielectric materials have quite a marked difference on the velocity of propagation down a feed line. Not sure if this would make much difference at audio frequencies with different caps, but it might. Although what I suspect the main difference between "cap A" and "cap B" (even with same value, voltage rating etc) could well be is that they are built differently enough from one another to exhibit different amounts of parasitic inductance. That would certainly alter the phase response.

[@chinmeysway]

does Seas make a tweeter w a waveguide?

[@SocialClubSound]

Yes they make a few actually. All of Amphion's waveguide tweeters use SEAS tweeters. Hope that helps answer your question!

[@mariobastidas3102]

I got the Genelecs for my gaming setup... some people told me it was overkill. What do you think of Genelecs?

[@SocialClubSound]

Genelec makes some great speakers. Overkill just sounds like your setup is killer!

[@deviceone]

Appreciate the video. What do you think about the diffraction that can be caused by the half rolled rubber surrounds on these woofers? Is it negligible for the mid high frequencies?

[@SocialClubSound]

It's something that I thought would be a bigger deal, but wasn't thanks to driver spacing and crossing over where we did. Thanks for the question!

[@Seiserism]

Do you plan on making a bookshelf speaker with a 5 inch driver?

[@SocialClubSound]

Yes! Already have some designs in development with all SEAS drivers

[@MDFGamingVideo]

Looks good as a monitor where position is constant. If I wanted to use these for in-room listening, how's the horiz/vert on/off axis response?

[@SocialClubSound]

These really were designed with the studio in mind. So they were developed as near fields. The VH -180 does a really good job of having a big sweet spot thanks to that tweeter. Both these designs can be placed horizontally or vertically. The crossover point is low enough that they image like a point-source. Any other questions please ask! Thanks for the comment

[@seifallahdirgham3206]

Great thanks , what is the best choice for singing : KRK Monitor with audio interface or using the Speaker JBL PARTYBOX 100 ?

[@SocialClubSound]

Are you asking about which would be better for performing live?

[@seifallahdirgham3206]

@@SocialClubSound to train and record, I use the KRK Monitor or JBL Partybox?

[@stivkrunic8612]

And what about ears capability ( mind response to sound ) everything is relative 😊

[@SocialClubSound]

That's why I said no one can tell you the right speaker for your ears! We all hear a little bit differently. Thanks for the comment!

[@leif8660]

I enjoyed your video very much and see that you have entered in the manufacturing aspect of this industry. I want to encourage you to do more research before making the statements you have made. Passive radiators are slow and the fact that your using the same driver for bass and midrange frequencies means the passive radiator will modulate the midrange frequencies. Your statement about the ports vs sealed is inaccurate. The problem is most designers don't possess enough understanding in speaker design. Now I have no doubt your speakers sound better than the speakers you referenced. New technologies have arrived and world class speakers are only using some of the guidelines in the speakers design. Most crossover design programs are limited. And you didn't talk about any psychoacoustic principles implemented into your design. Of course your going to have clarity with a SEAS tweeter. Most studio monitors have crap tweeters, generic crossovers that are not optimum for best speaker performance, and utilize crappy parts. But it is nice to see some affordable new speakers because most studio monitors are crap. That why we have so many recordings that sound horrible. Yet, we have recordings from decades ago that just sound amazing. And we all know not all engineers are created equal. They may know how to navigate a mixing console but they can't hear the way they should be hearing. And they get over saturated and keep boosting the high frequencies. I spend most of my time doing research and over the last two decades realized we have a very confused industry. The problem is if you hear the same thing over and over again you start to believe. I look forward to hearing these speakers. Very curious to hear if you have somehow made a speaker with a extended subwoofer, to reproduce accurate sound at 2000 cycles and how you can or can't hear the transfer to the tweeter. That would be impressive. Very interesting approach. But again, you are bringing a speaker to the consumer that isn't horribly expensive and no doubt will most likely sound better than many of the mass produced monitors made in China! And your retail seems to be in the ballpark for someone selling direct depending on your crossover parts. I must have missed it in the video oir did you state what filter topology you implemented in your design? I've seen hundreds of speaker companies come and go. It's a tough business and polluted with pay to play reviews and the ones that suffer are the consumers. In the end, it is the consumer that is most important. Very curious to hear these. We have had one of the best 3 way monitors using all SEAS drivers and I never ever pushed it over to the pro audio market. But the cool thing is some of the mastering engineers are starting to use high end speakers for reference and you can definitely hear it in the mix. Keep up the research and passion to build better speakers! All the best Leif S.

[@barbaradee5191]

Fact is " studio monitor" has long become just a marketing gimmicky name to make you falsely believe that they are actually are used in recording studio In fact, only one great speaker really was used in recording studios and that is the legendary "JBL L100". That speaker originally was a genuine studio monitor used in studios . JBL then made a consumer version of it in a fancy cabinet that sounded the same. Many younger people have no clue of this as it was before their time.

[@tombrennan6312]

The L-100 was not unique--both Altec and JBL made many home speakers based on their monitors, as did EV and Tannoy too.

[@Angellus502]

Nice vid :) Also if you have resonable speakers, dont underestimate a good amp or DAC upgrade; I remeber years ago I upgraded my HiFi speaker and amp setup ( a $1000 yamaha 5.1 to a NAD 2 channel power amp + Tube DAC ). When I hooked up my old speakers to sell them I was blown away how good they sounded with some good electronics driving them. Ironicaly years later I rebought a pair, upgraded the crossovers, and my expensive speakers that cost 10x the price are not getting used :S

[@SocialClubSound]

Yeah, on the studio side here, switching between audio interfaces (DACs) you can hear the audio quality differences. Clocking also seems to play a role in how the frequencies are handled. I enjoy having the option to switch between interfaces and amps. Thanks for the comment!

[@timberwolf7341]

Hi, Von! Excellent video and a nice lineup at IF. I know this video is over a year old, but I'm hoping you get notifications and will respond, sooo: I've been playing a few instruments since I was a kid, started becoming an audiophile in junior high, moved from consumer grade to professional grade equipment in high school, play with Peter’s Equalizer APO Peace program (outstanding!), do a good amount of mixing and mastering for myself and some friends, and I’m familiar with the details of setting up a room properly. However, the longer I do this, the more I realize I don’t know. *grins* Right now my babies are a pair of KRK V8s, which are roughly $1700/pr at Sweetwater. I don’t need a sub, so that simplifes things, but I’m looking at moving up in monitor price to $2500-$3000/pr or so, given that the quality goes up commensurate with the price. Yes, I realize that similar quality can vary wildly in price point, etc., as evidenced by your comparison of the $3300 Amphion One8s to your $1750 IF VH-180s. Those really intrigue me. I’ve always thought that the quality of the amps in powered monitors must correspond to the quality of the enclosure, speakers, etc., and never gave it much thought beyond that. I also thought that by combining them, it would be more efficient and therefore cheaper than buying them separately. (Although in everything else I always buy components. Hmmm. *grins*) Seeing your video, it made me wonder if I was right or if I was buying monitors built with “good enough” but not matching quality amps, to meet a price point, as you said. Your statement makes a helluva lotta sense. You mentioned that active monitors at even $1000/ea are compromising somewhere, so that would include my V8s, which disappoints me. Add in the possible design shortcomings of the V8s and I know I can do much better. So the first question that I have for you: at what price point do you think the internal amps in active monitors correspond to the quality of the enclosure, speakers, crossovers, etc., and stop being a compromise, “cutting corners”? Which brings me to the option you prefer, passive monitors. Looking around at Sweetwater, zZounds, and Musician’s Friend, it seems that the cheapest, good quality amp, making good power is the ART SLA-2 at $450, which produces 280W per channel at 4 Ohms. Given that my V8s max at 230W each and I rarely use all of that power, I think the SLA-2 with cleaner power should be OK and give me more than enough headroom. (You spec out 50-250W/ch for the VH-180s, so that makes me think that you’re accounting for headroom at 250W and keeping it simple for us. If I did go with that setup, I’d be at $2200 + tax, etc., which would make me a happy camper.) Second question: Is the SLA-2 a good complement for the VH-180s and similar quality monitors? I don’t want to do this twice. Thanks.

[@roysjudy]

"I'm not trying to get cocky here". 😂

[@FreeDooMusic]

From the clip about how a speaker works, people will now think they only move in the positive polarity and not the negative as well. details details. :P

[@SocialClubSound]

That only happens with DC current! AC current pushes and pulls as the video states

[@FreeDooMusic]

@@SocialClubSound the exampled showed it reacting to the peaks of the waveform from the music. so not a true representation of how it would behave with music playing.

[@starker1971]

There are people out there who highly advise not to get studio monitors for home use. The best I can come up with is people inherently prefer some coloration that comes from HI-Fi as apposed to orthodox flat ? Perhaps the topic is more in reference to the older studio monitors with wide baffles ? Are there any solid reasons anyone should avoid using a Studio monitor for Home Hi-Fi usage ? I have a fairly lubricous collection of redundancy. Despite all my "exploration" I think I love a lightweight paper woofer the best. Sony SS-CS5 JBL Stage a130 a170 a125c Studio 590 Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 Uni-Fi Reference UBR62 Bose 201 Series IV Klipsch RP-160m RP-600m 1st gen

[@SocialClubSound]

Studio monitors for home use is definitely a debate but I think it comes down to how you listen. If you prefer just the recording as bare as you can get it, studio monitors are the way to go. But if you want some of that hifi magic you'll end up coloring the recording. But you may prefer it that way and that's fine. I don't think there's a wrong answer for what a person personally prefers. I'm working on a new design now with a silk tweeter and SEAS reed paper cone 5.5" woofer .

[@K03sport]

so, monitors aren't "colored" and speakers are "colored" or have a frequency bias? is that what I was supposed to get from this?

[@SocialClubSound]

Monitors are less colored. The criteria to make a good studio monitor is low distortion, good phase response, and as flat a frequency as possible. The goal of a studio monitor is to color the sound the LEAST amount possible. Because you don't want a speaker coloring the sound, if that's not how the recording sounds. In the studio you need to hear any imperfections in the recording so we can fix them before the music is released. Hope that helps clear it up!

[@walterpen371]

I'm still using my 1979 JBL 4311's. I will never sell them and I still have my 1979 stereo gear. There is always wishing for my dream system, however I still have to purchase lottery tickets.

[@therealdjap]

I'm down to try a pair of your monitors. I am so damn particular with monitors.

[@SocialClubSound]

I am too, which is how I ended up building my own. My Amphions have done great for me, but nothing quite like what I've been about to build.

[@therealdjap]

@SocialClubSound hit me when you have some demo models available. Shoot me a message. I'll give you my contact info.

[@Pumpndump897]

What did they use to produce dark side of the moon?

[@SocialClubSound]

They used ATC monitors originally when they recorded it and again when they had the original engineer do new 5.1 mixes