help with selecting monitors

[stinis87]

Hi people!

Just wondering if you guys have any experience with either the mackie mr8 monitors or the krk rokit 8's? And who would you choose between them?

tnx for any replies

[deRaNged 4 Phuk'dup]

Retail price or bargain hunting?

i'd buy whichever I found for cheaper personally.

MR8s have a nice presence to the mids and are overall the better sounding of the 2 IMO. Just opinion BTW RP8s are more "filtered" sounding still accurate but "too clean" in the mids and highs, and while the bass is very nice sounding, I can't call it 'accurate" as other models. I would pick KRKs over MR8s for listening hands down, not for mixing though. Their sound's a little enhanced(make everything sound too good).

But the RP8s surpass "just getting by" to the point I wouldn't be disappointed with either of these choices and price would be my ultimate decision maker.

To clarify, even if you throw HS80Ms in the mix, and they're definitely the best of all 3 for mixing, I'd still go with the cheapest pair. All fall within the same range of quality and clarity, all are well above the B.S. people try to call 'monitors to make a quick buck, and all can keep you happy using them forever. Especially once you're familiar with their sound.

[stinis87]

thanks alot for the answer! every single one of them gets good reviews and bad once so it seems like i would get pleased either way. I have a small room though and neighbours so i probably wouldnt need the heaviest bass, and i want the most acurate monitors so i'm not gonna be surprised when checking them on another system. Maybe ill go for the hs80's then! probably by tomorrow i will have change my mind again though:P

again, thanks!

[deRaNged 4 Phuk'dup]

Again, all of my post was based on my own opinions, but if money's not an issue, I'd definitely advocate HS80s above both other choices. In the end, regardless of what you get, it will take your ears time to get used to them, and the HS80s can be a little "brilliant"(for lack of better wording)in the mids and highs, but IMO, this makes for a much better mixing environment. There ois more of a day/night difference between the HS80s and RP8s/MR8s, so if you've already got the sound of those other 2 sets in your mind, you may want to try a pair of HS80s out in a guitar center. Bass is way more accurate IMO, but not as "present"(actually a good thing if you'd rather get in the car and hear stuff hit harder than you thought than to get in and hear it sounding weaker).

I think the sound of HS80s translates better across other systems. Still all my opinions. May wanna research them good to make sure you think like I do, lol.

[stinis87]

actually, these will be my first monitors. I havent been doing this for long so i have been mixing on cheap headphones, which i have come to know doesnt work at all! no, money isnt really an issue as they cost pretty much the same here. but do you think that the hs80's are like "boring" to listen to compare to the others? dont get me wrong, i want acurate monitors and not some who gives me overrepresented frequencies, but i want some with som "fight in them" too, if u know what i mean?:P which monitors do you have by the way?

[deRaNged 4 Phuk'dup]

I have A collection of Passives, PAs and Hi Fi Speakers with a few options of Amps.

I've been accumulating speakers/monitors for years. I just happened to have a Powered Reference Amp and Event 20/20s from the start, so I always went with stuff like JBL PA Speakers, Sony B3000s, got a pair of Yamaha NS 6400s from like 1980(didn't buy them back then, found them in a Pawn shop a year or so back, lol), KRK ST8s, ect. Got a 200W computer gaming sub I power off of for producing(so I can get the bass knocking)also.

If I had got powered monitors from the beginning, I most likely wouldn't just go buy a new pair of $40-250 Passives every time I see them in a Pawnshop or Garage sale, but with passives(powered too, you just have no control after purchase)it's all about having a clean amp and getting the best specs.

I suggest getting an amp for guys who are starting on a lower tier, because if you go with something like RP5s, you end up replacing them down the line anyway and pay out more than you would for a studio amp($100-300)and a pair of speakers to get by on until you can upgrade($20-50).

But once you get into bigger stuff with better freq range and wattage for clarity, you'll be happy with your purchase for a long time going with powered monitoring.

From your description of what you want, if I was a gambling man, I'd bet money you'd be happiest with the sound of the KRK RP8s. They're real easy on the ear. As I said before, in the end, you have to "learn" any monitoring you purchase(takes a little time)once you're familiar with how sound crosses over to other speakers from them, you'll still have extremely listenable monitors.

As i said before, to listen to music, I'd pick the RP8s. To mix on, I'd pick HS80Ms because of their accuracy. MR8s aren't being brought up as much in this discussion because IMO they're the more "down the middle" of both. A little more accurate than RP8s, but dont have the same 'PA System" sound, not as accurate in mids and highs as HS80s. But, if you don't want either extreme end of the spectrum between accuracy and listenability, the Mackies win out of the 3.

Being that it's your 1st pair, if you can get to a music store, it's worth checking out options and giving test drives. People's ears tell them different things, so my review is based on what my ears tell me. The next guy will tell you BX8s are better when I'd say those aren't worthy of being in the conversation, lol. If you can't get out to a music store easily, I'm sure any of the 3 pair we've discussed with make you happy, just a gamble on the one your ears will like the absolute most.

[stinis87]

thanks alot for the very informative response! the only problem is that i can only find all of them on an internet store, so its hard to get the chance to test them all. but i dont need a sub to these monitors right? they all bring out enough bass? when i think about it, i'm most interested in having as (flat respons?) as possible so when i test the song in my car, or on a home stereo, it will sound almost exactly like on my monitors. I cant crank the monitors up anyways because i have a small room with neighbours and i basically want some good monitors to mix my song on, and not listening to other music, thats less important. So maybe then the hs80's would be a good choice for me? this music hobby is haard!:P i bet in som months i will have the same decision issues when it comes to like buying a new vocal mic or audio interace or something:P

[deRaNged 4 Phuk'dup]

^^^They should all be "bassy" enough out the box. I'd say the RP8s more so than any others, but the MR8s and HS80s will have more accurate low end.

A sub takes bass to an entire new level. It's one of those things you add later if needed.

[stinis87]

thanks alot for the help ! i have decided to go for the hs80!

[Cheta]

great choice. thats the one i was gonna say get also