Best desktop speakers/monitors for Vegas editing?

ken c wrote on 6/6/2007, 9:14 AM
Hi - anyone have any recommendations for desktop speakers/monitors that are good to use with Vegas for desktop editing?

I'm using Sony MDR-7506 headphones (thx Spot for the recommendation, in a DVD), and they're great... and Klipsch speakers (I had been using the satellites alone, but now Finally newegg has the Klipsch satellites w/subwoofer in stock, after 3 months of waiting, just ordered):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836119101

But I know I should probably consider higher-end monitors, and a better overall acoustical environment for doing more professional grade audio, since that's critical to quality in DVDs... especially for things like audio cleanups, fixing commercials, track fades and all the rest of it... and I'd like to avoid using headphones if possible...

Any suggestions?

Thx,

Ken

Comments

fldave wrote on 6/6/2007, 9:52 AM
Good question, this is my next upgrade. Very timely, because I heard that the M-Audio LX4's, a previous recommendation by several people, have been discontinued.

I definitely don't want to spend $1000, just something that is very accurate for the price - sub $300-$400?
JJKizak wrote on 6/6/2007, 9:55 AM
I have the Klipsch 4.1's and wanted to upgrade to the 5.1's but Klipsch got out of the desktop market except for the 2.1's because they could not compete dollar wise with the competition that is out there now. (this was a direct message from their website.) There is a problem with me when going from high end desktop to super high magnificent home theatre where all of the defects in the sound are really magnified, kind of like going from a 15" monitor to a 46" HDTV. So if it was me I would surround the computer editor with an enormous system with massive specifications and performance. But economics does play a substantial role here.

JJK
deusx wrote on 6/6/2007, 10:08 AM
KRK rokit ( 5,6 or 8 depending on your budget ) are pretty good/accurate monitors for the price. These are designed as studio monitors, not to color your sound.

5 inch ones are $300 a pair ( they are powered, no need for external amp )

http://www.zzounds.com/item--KRKRP5 ( 149 is per speaker of course )
busterkeaton wrote on 6/6/2007, 1:05 PM
Lots of LX4's still out there
http://www.google.com/products?q=M-Audio+LX4&btnG=Search&show=dd

It might mean that they are going to come out with an LX4a. They did that with the BX5a's when they discontinued the BX5's
Jay Gladwell wrote on 6/6/2007, 1:31 PM

Buster, the LX4 5.1 is what we're using and they provide excellent results.

xog1 wrote on 6/6/2007, 6:00 PM
I got a pair of Event ALP5's. Really like 'em. Purchased from Sweetwater for around $300. Hooked 'em up to an Alesis FW410. Best new gear I've purchased in awhile!

Xog
UlfLaursen wrote on 6/6/2007, 9:24 PM
Hi,

I use a pait of nEar 06 speakers from ESI and I like them a lot.

http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=46

/Ulf
NickHope wrote on 6/7/2007, 12:18 AM
My M-Audio BX5's have been great so for stereo-only work I would recommend the BX5a's. Personally I don't think a subwoofer is necessary with these monitors.

Also don't get distracted by "digital input". I was hell bent on Edirol speakers because of this but in real life I don't think it makes any difference.

Echo Gina3G is a great audio card to drive them.
dhill wrote on 6/7/2007, 1:01 AM
I just got a pair of the JBL LSR4300's and they are great! I little pricey compared to the ones mentioned here though. Especially if you want to do surround sound. I moved my Mackie HR824's over to keyboard land after hearing these JBL's, which is saying a lot since I really do like the Mackie's too. I've had two different audio engineers over here recently and they both loved the JBL's. So, there's another couple of models for you to think about. Derek
barleycorn wrote on 6/7/2007, 3:59 AM
We listened to a lot of monitors at the cheaper end of the market recently and settled on Fostex PM0.5 MkIIs with the PM0.5-Sub MkII subwoofer (see http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/music_products/pm_series_mkII.shtml). At the price we were able to get this combination (there's a bundle available here in the UK), nothing could compare.

I personally wouldn't consider not having a subwoofer but there's no doubt that it makes calibrating the system more complicated. I'm a bit surprised at some of the recommendations you've had (I wouldn't choose them) but for critical listening, any of them should be preferable to multimedia speakers.
FuTz wrote on 6/7/2007, 4:22 AM
How about these?
http://www.event1.com/Products/20_20/20_20bas_V2.htm
Serena wrote on 6/7/2007, 5:44 AM
I have a pair of Behringer Truth B2030A which made a big improvement in my mixing.
farss wrote on 6/7/2007, 6:15 AM
Behringer B2031As here, quite good value for the money and they're big enough and loud enough to fool the clients into thinking I know what I'm doing.

Two things:

1) Don't forget the room. (Like I should talk!)
2) I thought having monitors with SPDIF inputs was a bit of overkill however the BMD Decklink card only has SPDIF out and it's a right PIA to keep rerouting the audio so it can be handy to have matching monitors.

Bob.