I used the search function and didn’t find a thread with this topic so here it goes.
I need some speakers at home, I am currently using a pair of old external computer speakers for my master output from my audio 2 dj…they are terribad. I can barely even hear the frigging kick unless I crank it. So I need some new speakers.
From what I have been reading up on, I am assuming there are two types of speakers: monitor speakers and PA speakers. Monitor speakers are pointed towards the DJ, and have a very flat sound so we can hear all the frequencies etc.. PA speakers have a lot of bass and are for the audience. Am I right?
It looks like I need monitor speakers, but ideally I’d like some speakers that I can use at home but also let’s say for a small party. What do you guys recommend?
I don’t want to spend more than $400-500, $300 would be ideal.
If you want something for parties that you can also DJ with then go a PA.
Monitor speakers really are not for parties, though they can do the job.
The only reason i would say to get studio monitors is if you are also doing production.
Theres also the option of checking out all the second hand stores and scoring yourself a nice consumer level stereo system - which would be good for djing and parties.
Yeah, Monitor speakers are for production really. I use monitors at home for a bit of production and also djing but i wouln’t take them to a party, although they’d probably be pretty good really. They go really load but i just wouldn’t want to thrash them.
I agree with Bento, you could just get a decent consumer amp and speakers really and that would probably serve you better in the end…
If you want to do home production also you´b be better doubling your budget, for ~350$ a piece you will get some nice monitors.
if you are going for a more customer style home stereo i can recommend the products from http://www.teufel.eu/ but i dont know how hard it is to get that stuff in canada
I went the easy route and got the obvious Monitors that people talk about KRK Rokits.
I never want them to leave the house and i do some production so they were perfect.
If people come round they are loud enough to rock the house.
Ah I see what you guys mean. Looks like I’ll be getting some PA speakers then.
Behringer seems to be a popular brand…not to mention some of their stuff is in my budget limit. Any recommendations with those or is buying speakers less of a “buy the EXACT right product” type of thing (comparable with purchasing a first midi-controller)? You know what I mean? Would I be safe with just purchasing an inexpensive set of Behringers?
hrmmm… 400-500 is going to be a little tough to swing for a decent PA. I would recommend staying away from such companies as Technical Pro, and the like.
Your classification of monitors and PA’s are… almost right, but most Pa speakers, will have very little content below say… 80 or 90 hz, and even thats pushing it. The bass comes from the subs. Most PA speakers are just… louder across their bandpass than monitors. They generally use a larger midrange driver (in your price range, a single 10, 12, or 15) and larger High frequency drivers. The focus is making something that will reproduce music LOUD, which is why many of them are unsuitable for use as production monitors, because volume isnt an issue with monitor.
I would say look for a used pair of Tapco thumps… but they would kind of be a bitch to use at home. They drop like a rock after 80 hz, but the thing about kicks is they have content in the bass (60-90 hzthis is what you “feel”) the midrange (this is what you "hear), and the highs(this is how your brain knows to stay in time). I’m not a fan of 15s in the midrange, especially when coupled with subs (Laser tight midrange dispersion) but I’ve used the tapcos in the past and been fairly happy with them for stand alone mobile setups.
Thanks for the clarification there. Those Tapco Thumps look great…I love the EQs in the back of the TH-15A 15". I might just purchase one of them for now just so I have some decent sound, then in the future I can always buy the second one later. Thanks!
no problem man. Tapco is a sub company of Mackie, which explains why the tapco thump was recently discontinued, and mackie released some M thumps or something hahaha.
1 should be fine for now. It wont be stereo, but thats not a big deal. A friend of mine has spun downtempo by the bar with just 1 thump before, while we tore it up in the backroom. He said he had plenty of coverage, but it wasnt overly intrusive.
The only downside is… they wont fit on your desk hahaha.
Yeah I am not in a rush to get the second. I just wanted to get some speakers that I can use at home as well as in the future I will be able to use for small parties, as opposed to getting some smaller speakers for home and then going out to buy even more speakers for small events. I figure it’s less expensive in the long-run.
And yeah they aren’t exactly small I’ve noticed haha. I will have to make some room.
studio monitors are also called “near field monitors”, they’re designed to sound flat and good only from a short distance from the speakers, and the tweeters need to be at ear level. They’re great for dj’ing in your bed room / production, but don’t take them to parties, they’re not lound enough and don’t provide the needed covrage that PA speakers do. Get a matrix-1000 or thumps for a cheap PA, i found some awesome m-audio bx5a monitors on ebay for like $150 with a soundcard that I ended up selling for $70
I have a mixer with XLR out but I’m trying to make my setup more portable, so I going to internally mix on a VCI-100 and have sound out from my
Audio 2 DJ -RCA-> samson s-covert --XLR-> PA Amp
You could get 1/8"/RCA to XLR cables to go from sound card to PA but the issue is that you’re going from a line level unbalanced (-10db) connection on your sound card to a balanced (+4db) connection on your PA, basically you loose a lot of volume. You would have to turn up your amp to compensate, personally I wouldn’t risk breaking your amp/speakers, get a DI box or use +4db outs..
Wait what? I need one of those things too? I don’t have a mixer I’ll be just getting sound out of an audio 2 dj…
Christ good thing you told me. Is that all I need lol? And I’m assuming that samson s-covert is a good one to get right? I am so tired of reading reviews for every frigging item I buy haha.
Tweeters essentially need to be at ear level. Vertical dispersion is crap in the high frequencies. You can compensate by turning PA speakers up louder, but this means that whoever is actually at ear level to them is gonna get they’re head blown off.
lack of volume is directly porportional to coverage (inverse square law), although I agree, nearfeild monitors are more lacking in dispersion (especially in the high frequencies) than a majority of PA speakers.
