Need help in how to treat my bedroom studio and what studio monitors to buy

[eden.ekendahl]

Hey guys! I'm new here.

I'm a music producer since many years but always just put all my focus on starting new tracks and not finishing a lot of them and never really took it serious enough to think properly about acoustics etc. I used to live in Berlin where I had a pair of Adam A7X speakers and BEYERDYNAMIC DT-880 PRO headphones. I sold the speakers and the headphones because I needed the money some years ago, but now I'm looking to buy a pair of new studio monitors since I already bought new headphones, the Sennheiser 660S and a subpac. If you think Audeze lcd-xc headphones would be better for producing and mixing then I would be ok with saving up for thoose, or if you know anything better, pls let me know, I just saw that Tony Anderson are using thoose. I'm making various electronic music (techno/house/rnb/hiphop). I have bought sonarworks mic (calibration for speakers and headphones but haven't used it yet), so I am slowely preparing for putting together a lil' studio.

My room is 3m 54cm x 3m 80cm and 3m in height. Attached a drawing of the room. It's a room I'm renting in a house and I can't drill or anything, so if I have to put up absorbtion in the ceiling then I am prepared to buy or build some type of wooden frame and have things hanging somehow being attached to that frame.

The speakers that has gotten most of my attention so far when I have been looking around is the Neumann Kh series, JBL 308 mkii, Genelec 8030c, Kali LP & IN series, IK Multimedia iLoud MTM, Dynaudio LYD series, Yamaha HS8 or the Yamaha HS5 + HS8S, Auratone 5C Active, used NS-10's, Adam A7V etc. No clue what to get, only speakers or subwoofer also? I am very open to suggestions, other brands as well . I think I would prefer speakers that sounds good on low volume, I might put up the volume once in a while but mostly I will probably play the music not too loud due to I have a flatmate in the next room.

I live at the moment in the south of Spain, so if anyone knows where I could travel to listen to all the best headphones and speakers, like a music gear exhibition place/trade show or music store that offers good listening options, please let me know, I'm thinking about maybe going to Thomann but not sure if it's worth it? I am ready save up, but at the moment my salary is not the best.

I'm thinking about filling up the gym equipment with sand, think it could help or do I have to get ridd of the whole thing?
Maybe the closet could be used as some type of absorption if I open the doors? As soon as I have bought a speaker I will do this test that Jesco (this guy who does acoustics videos on youtube) talks about, emptying the whole room and placing one speaker on the bottom in the corner and see where to find the best sweetspot before placing furnitures. I guess I will put the speakers on stands. Think it's ok to fill up these cheap triangle speaker stands with sand? I've seen people talking about ISO-Puck Mini etc but it's not necessary if I have them on a stand, or? Seen different opinions about that.

So many questions....I need your help guys : )

 

[Sal1950]

The speakers that has gotten most of my attention so far when I have been looking around is the Neumann Kh series, JBL 308 mkii, Genelec 8030c, Kali LP & IN series, IK Multimedia iLoud MTM, Dynaudio LYD series, Yamaha HS8 or the Yamaha HS5 + HS8S, Auratone 5C Active, used NS-10's, Adam A7V etc. No clue what to get, only speakers or subwoofer also? I am very open to suggestions, other brands as well . I think I would prefer speakers that sounds good on low volume, I might put up the volume once in a while but mostly I will probably play the music not too loud due to I have a flatmate in the next room.

Wow, older post, sorry no one responded earlier.
Looking a your list of gear I would highly suggests the Genelec's 8030c and a SVS sealed subwoofer to go with it, maybe even 2 of the subs. Once you've spent some time using the Genelec's included software you might decide the included subwoofer will do fully it for you. You might very well find the final results more than capable of producing excellent results here will give near SOTA playback reproductions.
BTW,, Welcome to the ASR music reproduction site.

 

[eden.ekendahl]

Wow, older post, sorry no one responded earlier.
Looking a your list of gear I would highly suggests the Genelec's 8030c and a SVS sealed subwoofer to go with it, maybe even 2 of the subs. Once you've spent some time using the Genelec's included software you might decide the included subwoofer will do fully it for you. You might very well find the final results more than capable of producing excellent results here will give near SOTA playback reproductions.
BTW,, Welcome to the ASR music reproduction site.

Thank you welcoming me and for your input! =)

 

[Sal1950]

Thank you welcoming me and for your input! =)

No problem. I did neglect to mention, by the looks of things that room is really going to need attention some to acoustics. Being an almost perfect cube bass modes will be a big problem. Specially consider some manner of DSP and/or bass traps in corners. Then with what you believe you can get away with in some DYI wooden frames filled with fiberglass insulation. Also for a no modification idea, look to link in my signature, if you don't have a lady that would oppose it, see how I used my window frames to put in the sound insulation. Great sound damping, and good thermal insulation, a win/win if you don't care about seeing outside.
Back to bass again, having at least 2 subs will allow placement to again help breakup those pesky modes.
Speaker stands & whatever, sand can be a real PITA with it leaking out, making a mess, etc. Consider the use of lead shot from a local gun supply store, and/or free used wheel balancing weights from local tire store, etc.
Just more ideas to kick around.

 

[JustJones]

This is a good resource to look up active monitors. Shows prices, measurements, reviews. I know it says USA but most of these are available in EU.

Active Speaker Recommendations for USA (by @sweetchaos)

I'm constantly asked which speakers to purchase...so, here you go! :D This guide is for ACTIVE speakers. For PASSIVE speakers go here. Click on the "Spoiler" buttons below to expand each section. Readme: Legend: Active Speakers (aka Studio Monitors): Bookshelf speakers (when turned 90deg)...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[eden.ekendahl]

This is a good resource to look up active monitors. Shows prices, measurements, reviews. I know it says USA but most of these are available in EU.

Active Speaker Recommendations for USA (by @sweetchaos)

I'm constantly asked which speakers to purchase...so, here you go! :D This guide is for ACTIVE speakers. For PASSIVE speakers go here. Click on the "Spoiler" buttons below to expand each section. Readme: Legend: Active Speakers (aka Studio Monitors): Bookshelf speakers (when turned 90deg)...

audiosciencereview.com

Thanks! Do you know if the KH80 dsp + subwoofer in that list is made with the Neumann 750 subwoofer + M1 calibration?

At the moment I'm leaning towards Neumann Kh80 dsp or Kh120ii + Kh 750 + M1 or if there is anything equivalent in quality and price with Genelec + GLM.

 

[holdingpants01]

Looking a your list of gear I would highly suggests the Genelec's 8030c and a SVS sealed subwoofer to go with it, maybe even 2 of the subs. Once you've spent some time using the Genelec's included software you might decide the included subwoofer will do fully it for you.

8030 are analog monitors without any software. I would go for KH80 with KH750 and MA1 as a cost effective but good sounding solution. I never liked mixing and matching subs from different brands and I would always choose built-in software for monitors and their integration with subs, rather than some kind of third party solution.
You'll need quite a lot of absorption in your room, as I can see the walls are almost entirely covered in ceramic tiles? Cube dimensions will be problematic as well. To be honest I would measure first with what you have and see if it's really worth the investment, could be impossible to get a good sound out of speakers there, headphones could be a better solution

 

[DRMLFL]

I highly recommend you to invest in the range of Focal Solo 6. Best monitors I have had so far as a hobby "music producer" and mixing engineer and no need for a sub. Given the fact that your room is even smaller than mine they will be more than enough for your needs. Yes, they cost more than what you are looking at now, but coming from Yamaha HS 8, KRK Rokit 5, Focal Shape 65 I guarantee you you will be very happy with this decision.
But you will definitely need some acoustic treatment on the walls and the ceiling + room correction software for a decent sound. And yes, you want to place your speakers on stands (filling them with sand can help to reduce the resonant sound of the metal), so there is no "real" need for iso pucks atm. These things can help to get the last 5-10%.

Good luck with your room!