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Pro Musician needs new speakers for home studio

OP
WaynesterUK

WaynesterUK

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There is no speakers in the world which won't sound boxy when put against the wall like that (especially back ported one's) and no EQ will help. Move desk up front at least half a meter and do the same with speakers (and at least 30~ 40 cm from side walls), do a acoustic treatment of the room (back wall and all corners with bass traps, front wall with difuzers and depending on the nead side walls combined), then EQ peaks and try to compensate for deficits.
I can’t do acoustic treatment!! I rent my apartment here and the landlord will go insane if I start putting stuff like that on the walls, I can’t bring my speakers any further forward as the rooms not big enough.. I thought about the IN-8’s as they are front ported and can also be placed horizontally or vertically, I just know that the HS7’s sound awful
 

thewas

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Looking at Amirs review of the 1st edition IN-8’s, it seems I’ve saved myself from a set of awful speakers then!
Where did you see that they are awful in the link I posted above? Please do not get confused by the initial test of a broken sample.
 

ZolaIII

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I can’t do acoustic treatment!! I rent my apartment here and the landlord will go insane if I start putting stuff like that on the walls, I can’t bring my speakers any further forward as the rooms not big enough.. I thought about the IN-8’s as they are front ported and can also be placed horizontally or vertically, I just know that the HS7’s sound awful
You can make a cheap bass traps that you will hang on the walls like pictures and find a way somehow to put some alike that into corners (especially on front wall) which won't be hard attached and removable. Thick curtains will help regarding glass windows. You can also use closed enclosure speakers but they will go only with a good such sub which will make problem smaller to start with.
Have to go to make lunch, have a nice time!
 

audio2920

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Most obvious difference between IN8 V1 and V2 is hiss. The V1 is quite hissy (although it's quite a "warm" hiss, not HF sizzle). Kali also improved headroom and arguably FR on the V2, but those are more subtle improvements to my ears. The noise floor is the step change.

I used my V1s at about 3m and it was still totally audible, but it never bothered me in the slightest in actual use. That said, I grew up in the analogue days; where significant noise floor was just a part of life in mixing/recording and you just had to deal with it the best you could of course! At the other extreme some people seem to report that if any hiss is audible at all, that means the speaker is unusable for them. Dunno where you sit on that scale but it could be a deal breaker?

Oh and as above, make sure you look at Amir's retest of the V1 not the first unit as that was NG. Can't remember if I posted it in this thread or elsewhere, but my take on the Kali is that it's a very well designed speaker, very cheaply made. So it doesn't entirely surprise me that the first one Amir had was bad. I've been unlucky and had a couple (out of 8) that have been imperfect, but I'd still buy them again if I needed more speakers at this price point. In the event you were also unlucky with it, you can always return a bad unit and have it swapped out, and once you do, they are IMHO unbeatable for the money. I'm yet to have any long term issues with any of them - like - they're totally reliable once you get units that aren't DOA. So far :)
 

Anonamemouse

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Looking at your pictures I'd say that 90% of your sonic problems stem from placement of just about everything in that room. Buying new loudspeakers (or anything else really) will not make any difference if you place them in the same locations.
You would be a lot better (and cheaper) off if you hire an acoustics specialist and work on placement of gear and acoustic treatment for the room.
 

Digby

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You would be a lot better (and cheaper) off if you hire an acoustics specialist and work on placement of gear and acoustic treatment for the room.
How much is that going to cost? £2000 easy. OP has £300-£400 for speakers.
 

Digby

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OP should post a picture of the room from the doorway, then advice given may be more useful.
 
OP
WaynesterUK

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Op can buy any speakers he wants, it won't make any difference.
After reading the last posts (I replied after only reading through the first page) I think that @ZolaIII has the best solution, apart from moving...
Helpful! Not!! Don’t bother commenting again with your stupid sarcasm
 

pseudoid

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This is not meant as stupid or sarcastic:
Your original symptoms were that they 'sounded' boxy/honky to you.
I don't think shopping online or word-of-mouth will really get you substitutes that may change your personal experience.... unless auditioned before purchase.
Could a sub or replacement floor-standing speakers satisfy your needs and also uncage your music that doesn't feel free?
 

Vict0r

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Would the landlord object to easily removeable, non-permanent acoustic panels? You don't even have to drill holes in the wall. Just put em on risers/stands at around ear level. DIY acoustics panels using Rockwool (or similar material. I use Akotherm, which is polyesterwool) are cheap and easy to make. You can even take them with you when you move, since you can make them portable. It really changes the way any speaker will sound in your room.
 

lowkeyoperations

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You can’t do treatment and your budget won’t get you monitors that are any better really.

I’d suggest a pair of Slate VSX headphones. The software emulates studio monitors of various types.

They really are great for mixing.

 
OP
WaynesterUK

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So… I took some pictures before I sold my Yamaha HS7’s (found em on my iPhone)
As I said, they sounded boxy and honky

I had them slightly curved inwards to where I sit and play my keyboards

They were 8 inches from the rear wall to the back of the speaker and 6 inches from each side of the speaker to the side wall

Distance between each speaker is 73 inches

Pictures here from above speakers looking down and from the front, The settings on the back were these and if I’m honest (nothing got rid of how awful they sounded)




I’ve been away in Bahrain performing with my band and I’m about to order the 1st generation of these


my budget is £400 to £450 max for a pair of active speakers
 

audio2920

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If any speaker at this price point is going to be an improvement over the HS (to help in a room with poor acoustics) then it's the Kali, IMHO. Their superior dispersion characteristics are about as good as it gets for listening at multiple heights, and the more even coverage also gives your room the best chance.

But they aren't magic. When setting the bar for your expectations, note what others have said about the room and my previous comment regarding the noise of the V1 Kalis. It's not like having a Marshall stack cranked wide open, but they're not silent.
 
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