I was planning on saving for some KRK RP6s, here they’re new for about $580. However, just found some new M-Audio Studiophile BX8a’s for $280.00 for a pair. There’s limited stock so I wouldn’t have a chance to audition them beforehand (which I know is going against rule number 1 for buying monitors).
However, at a $300 difference, I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with these monitors? I’d like to use them for producing and general listening.
While I won’t get to hear them before purchasing, I think I’d be comfortable with trusting other people’s judgement if a $300 saving on these is worthwhile. Otherwise I’ll keep saving.
Thanks in advance for your advice
edit: and just to check, I can run my Audio 2 DJ into the TRS input on each speaker?
I have bx8a. Had them for a about 14 months. Love them. Ive beat them up a whole lot but they still give great output. The krks are great speakers too but for the price difference, theres not much difference
You can’t just run your audio 2 into each monitor by TRS, the Audio 2 outputs unbalanced stereo not balanced mono. If you want a better explanation read my cables article that’s linked in my sig. You can use one of the TRS-RCA splitters that’s supplied with the A2 and run RCA cables to the monitors which will be fine over a short distance.
You’d need to buy something like a DI box to use the balanced inputs, but I doubt that’ll be necessary for a home setup.
Unlike the rest, I have actually heard really bad things about the BX8a’s. I have been in the market recently for some monitors and done a fair amount of research in this area. The major complaints I’ve had with them is that their Amps are of low quality and distort after extended use. Also, one of the stores I was listening to monitors in said they have a very high return rate as they blow quite easily (amps blow, not drivers). I would say that it is better to spend a little more money and get something you know will last and treat you well. I’m not saying go spend $1000 on a pair of Adam’s (though they are awesome), but get something tried and true… (IMO KRK RP6’s are the best for DJ use right now).
Thanks for all your responses, great having some input.
@minimal: Good to know they don’t hurt your ears too much, I was doing some reading today that said the high’s can be a bit strong and cause fatigue, though that may be at higher volumes.
@fullenglishprint: I did some reading on cables and think I sort of got my head around it. Just to confirm I run the splitter to each speaker into the TRS input? (so red for one and white for the other) Though I’m not sure because both aren’t both XLR and TRS balanced? And the monitors only have a XLR and TRS input.
@Argos: During my research I came across some similar comments regarding the speakers blowing. But then wondered whether it was rarer than it seemed. RP6’s definitely have a lot of support, just more than twice as much at this price. I know there’s no substitute for quality but in a non-studio environment, figured it wouldn’t be as much difference. Though reliability is something else again..would be pointless if they blew in two months
Hard to know..but then at $280 they’re pretty tempting..maybe worth a gamble on the reliability, I wouldn’t need to be running them very loud
If you are mostly dj’ing and just want to hear what you are playing then I would highly recommend at that price.
They are very very bass heavy, so for production they would not work very well especially if it is your first pair of monitors. It will be hard for you make your mixes translate to other systems.
But for listening I enjoy bass heavy speakers so they will be nice. The 8’s are very loud.
If you go with the R6’s they will be light on the low end so either way its not an ideal situation.
No eq on the monitors either so thats a minus but overall they are good quality and build to last. Guitar center uses them as display models for this reason.
They would work for small house parties also.
Edit: By reliability I guess i’m referring to woofers not puncturing…haven’t researched the amps
Thanks fullenglishprint for the info on the DI box. Bit of a pain, means they’re not quite as cheap.
@Rukks: I’ve read a fair few comments that they are bass heavy. For listening I expect they will be nice but I am a bit concerned about translation issues and they are my first pair of monitors. While I can’t treat the room they’re in (and I expect it’s pretty bad acoustically) and if I was producing something to send out I’d probably have it professionally mastered, perhaps the bass would be too misleading for even some self-mastering.
after some thought today I think 8" could be too big for the room I’m in and I’m a bit wary of a possible excess in bass.
I could probably stretch for some rp5s or second-hand rp6s. I know the rp5s wouldn’t have quite the bass frequency range of larger speakers but read some comments that they give a reasonable enough bass output, especially in smaller rooms? Also read a few comments that the rp6s can be a little muddy, especially in smaller rooms.
Is it true the rp5s are slightly tighter if lacking some responsiveness in low bass frequencies? I’m thinking I’ll go for some new rp5s unless they’re going to be useless for monitoring bass.
I’m mainly producing deep house and techno sounds. Translation onto other systems is important for me but I don’t want to go for completely flat speakers as I’d like to be able to use them for general listening and I’m conscious of spending more (rp6s and up) because it’s an untreated room and I would look to professional mastering for any tracks I feel worthy.
I guess it comes down to: do they give reasonable bass response or are they useless? I’m thinking for my (at this stage amatuerish) purposes they’ll be sufficient
I’m a little confused and very drunk but the RP6’s would give resonable bass response. The ideal KRK setup that I have heard and read elsewhere is 2 RP6’s and a KRK 10 sub. But the nice thing about this is that you can add a sub later.
I bought 2 jbl 6" monitors and they seemed fine without a sub so I saved the money.
The final thing that you should know is that no matter what monitors you purchase, you will need to train your ear to hear the tendencies of the speakers.
Basically the more systems you can reference your mix on the better. In my case I had a bass trap of a room this summer and didn’t realize it until the day I moved out when I sneezed and heard the echo.
Causing a “of fuck” now I have to mixdown every song again.
I’ve read that too about the two RPs and an RP10. I’m just hoping RP5s will be enough, with the proviso, as you stated that my ears will have to adjust to any monitors.
Though just found some second-hand RP6s that would be cheaper..they’re G1s but from what I’ve read there isn’t too much difference. So maybe I’ll shoot for those and stop questioning it.
Sorry to hear about your summer discovery, quite a pain, though better quality in the end.
Mmmm… I’m tempted by the KRK 10s. I’ve got it as a saved search on ebay but they don’t come up at anything other than full price very often. Maybe I’ll just bite the bullet some time.
I’ve had my BX8As for nearly 2 years now, shipping them back and forth between NYC and LA and have never had any problems.
I can vouch for them but have never heard the KRKs. For 300 I cannot imagine a big enough difference to take the KRKs…
Good to know the reliability problems aren’t affecting everyone. At a 300 price difference I probably wouldn’t but have found some second hand rp6s I might be able to get for about the same price as the BX8as would have cost me so think I’ll pursue that.
They’re G1 RP6s but what I’ve read suggests there isn’t too much difference between G1 and G2. Seemed the main change was a widening of the sweet spot
I’ve also been debating on the 8s as well for mostly production, the price is right and as much as I would love to splash the cash on KRKs I think my budget studio would benefit from some 8s.
I used the Bx5as for several years and upgraded to KRK 6s when Guitar cetner was selling them for $90 each. The difference was very significant. While some of that can be attributed to the slightly larger size, the KRK’s sound significantly better all around. The bass is also much more present in the KRKs. Neither speaker is going to give you much below 80Hz but nothing that size will without a subwoofer. But the M-Audios had almost nothing in the low end. I was happy about it when I bought them because I lived in a lot closer proximity to neighbors than I do now, and the Bx5as probably saved me from waking them up every night. But if you’re looking for strong bass response I wouldn’t recommend anything from M-Audio.
It’s possible the 8s are much better in this light though.
people seem to have mixed responses to the Bx8a’s but probably fine if there’s a significant price difference. Having to get a DI box on top is a bit of a pain too. Because I want something that will be good for general listening too, think I’ll splurge on some rp6s..won’t be second guessing them as much then either
Just to add to your dilema
Most monitor in 5’’ won’t give you “enough bass” but that is easily balanced by the fact that after spending time listening to music thru them, you’ll know how the mastered music is suposed to sound. And “enough bass” is very subjective, i have rp5g2 and find them perfect for my needs and the bass is kicking !!
8’’ are great if not overkill for some homestudio, and usually people aim in the middle for some 6’‘, anyway you can always add a sub later if you want more bass, because output wise, even 5’’ are enough and plenty loud (maybe not for a 70 people house party, but i wouldn’t put my monitors on the line for that ).
Between rpXg1 and rpXg2 they did change stuff, but i got the feeling looking online that it was mostly on the 5’’ that in the g1 serie were a bit lacking.
I heard some Bx5a’s and the sound sure is an improvement from a home stereo, they sounded nice and had a nice stereo field (so i’m sure the 8’’ are also quite nice, if not a bit too much flattering). It’s the only thing on my krk that i can feel is lacking a bit, they are very directional, so the stereo field is not as wide.
Also consider that to get the best out of the monitors you will buy, you will need to set them up at your ears level, literally the tweeters pointing at your ears. So that means investing a bit more for a cheap but great thing to have :
