Comments on: How To: Upgrade to Studio Monitor Speakers

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:44:39 +0000

Thank you for comparing monitors to high-end computer speakers! It confirms the fact that it simply makes it harder to mix. Thank you also for pointing out the fact that you need SPACE for good monitors too. I don’t have space for nearfield monitors in my apartment – maybe one day, but not now. This is a good thing because I need some portable monitors anyway. The KRK 5 inches sound great and are in a reasonable price range, but they border being too large for my desk. I would have bought some 6 or 8″ monitors and had no where to put them!!

By: Cliff

Cliff — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:31:59 +0000

I have to thank you again for your article on the KRK’s. I made the leap and replaced the Bose Companion 3’s with a pair of KRK RP5 G2’s. I also went all out and added the KRK RP10s sub to the system. I am using the Edirol UA-25EX as my external sound controller. I am very happy with my choice; they really are amazing speakers/monitors. It’s really great when you listen to an old song and all of a sudden you hear instruments that you have never heard before with other speakers. I am also having a blast searching for high-definition 96khz/24bit lossless audio tracks. Thanks again Paul.

By: Paul Stamatiou

Paul Stamatiou — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:58:57 +0000

Wow Bob this is very insightful. Thanks for posting!!

By: Bob Mac

Bob Mac — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:57:46 +0000

Paul, Thank you very much, you really opened my eyes. Dec 31st I went to GuitarCenter and bought KRK Rokit 6 in red for $126. each and the audiobox usb for my new iMac. On the way home I stopped by BestBuy and bought the Bose Companion 5 speakers. I hooked up both sets of speakers by USB and then set the volume at the same level. I closed my eyes and listened to both sets. The Bose speakers sounded very processed but good, when I switched to the KRK’s there was now no comparison. The KRK Rokit speakers were so clear I could visualize where every instrument and vocal was coming from. I even used the demo disc that Bose packed in the box. Now I know why you will NEVER find a Bose setup in a retail store where you can compare speakers. Bose always has their own display separate from other brands. Bose has a processed sound of their own. The KRK’s were bright and very accurate clear great sound. I would have never done this if not for your article. Thank you. And yes the Bose went back to Bestbuy and I am keeping the KRK setup like in your article.

By: Paul Stamatiou

Paul Stamatiou — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:43:20 +0000

Yep you are correct for both of your questions – the audio output is from the PreSonus over USB which acts as an external sound card. You can skip the PreSonus if you like and just connect minijack to TRS if you aren’t a big audio person as you will probably not notice much of a difference. Truth be told I no longer use my PreSonus as I became too attached to adjusting volume with the keyboard controls on my MacBook and did not like reaching over to the volume control knob on the PreSonus Audiobox all the time!

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:53:21 +0000

Hey Paul,
Maybe an dumb question, but I’m assuming that the audio output from the computer is a result of the USB connection from the computer to the audio interface? So connection wise it would be computer audio(itunes) to audio box via the usb, then audio through the audiobox to the monitors via the 1/4″ TRS connection output? Thanks!

By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:52:08 +0000

Hey nice speakers!…. KRK definitely the best choice of that money!

P.D: Whats the first song of the video? thanks!

By: Paul Stamatiou

Paul Stamatiou — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:05:51 +0000

Hi Cliff – unfortunately I’ve never played with anything in the Bose Companion product line.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:24:17 +0000

Paul, have you ever had the opportunity to listen to Bose Companion 3’s? If yes, how would you compare your KRK’s. I currently have the Bose and I am looking to upgrade to the KRK RP5’s. Tnx.

By: Spammer

Spammer — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:06:31 +0000

You should show pictures of the cables. I’m looking at adding Behringer Truth 2030A’s to my computer. On the Behringer site they have a UCA202 adapter which has USB to the Computer and RCA out. And they show their 2030A’
s connected to the adapter. The problem is the speakers only have TRS and XLR connectors. And Behringer offers ZERO pre sale support because you have to register existing equipment to send an email.

Typical of all Forum posts everyone chimes in and says you can do something but never has any real answer as to “how”. I found your post and it’s nice except again… no “how to” when it comes to actual connections.

By: JBH

JBH — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:03:26 +0000

These speakers aren’t appropriate for home music listening – they’re for engineers mixing music. Hi-fi stereo speakers with a stereo amp would be much more pleasant to listen to. You’ll not find audiophiles using studio monitors.

By: Haitham

Haitham — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 06:43:27 +0000

I considered monitors for a while, but instead went for a home theatre system including a reciever/amplifier that supports dual-zone audio, so basically my DVD player and other under-TV devices go into zone “A” in 5.1 (living room) while the PC input goes to zone “B”, two speakers on my desk.

I use a Yamaha 7.1 reciever/amplifier so basically using the dual zone feature turns it into a 5.1 amp + Stereo amp, and they are connected to Jamo E7 speakers: the Living room has E7 floorstanders, center, sub, and surround speakers, and the desk has an additional pair of surround speakers.

Interface I use is a Native Instruments Audio 8 – compatible with Core Audio and uses USB

By: Review: Spotify (Music on Demand) — PaulStamatiou.com

Review: Spotify (Music on Demand) — PaulStamatiou.com — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:33:16 +0000

[...] I must have some new, non-overplayed songs to get any work done. That’s why I invested in a solid studio monitor setup and that’s why one of my screens usually looks like this: Left to Right: Hype Machine, [...]

By: Brad Harwood

Brad Harwood — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:24:51 +0000

I use a set of Sanyo desktop stereo monitors. They came with one of those 3 disc changer systems. The system has since gone to the bad, and I needed something with more range than my 5.1 system. So, I plugged them into my subwoofer to make a 3.1 system. I run the stereo signal through a presonus HP-4. It does the job. I will upgrade to a more professional set-up when the money starts happening.

By: Zachary Jones

Zachary Jones — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:06:03 +0000

I mentioned this article on a similar article I wrote on my site. My article mentions a different set of entry-level studio monitors that are very decent quality but are a little cheaper.

http://www.peacefullyadrift.com/posts/home-studio-guide-get-studio-monitor-speakers/

By: Home Studio Guide: Get studio monitor speakers — Peacefully Adrift

Home Studio Guide: Get studio monitor speakers — Peacefully Adrift — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:55:49 +0000

[...] to go the Pro Tools route (yet) you might consider the PreSonus Audiobox USB, which Paul Stamatiou mentions on his studio monitor speakers article. Either of these options also includes MIDI capability, which will come in handy in your home [...]

By: John Wilkins

John Wilkins — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:21:32 +0000

I see the comment by yC. Though I was wondering if atleast the power cables come with them.

By: yC

yC — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:15:56 +0000

thanks

By: Paul Stamatiou

Paul Stamatiou — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:28:36 +0000

You’ll need to buy the cables separately, they’re not included.

By: yC

yC — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:12:54 +0000

Hey thanks for all this it really helped, i was wondering though if the chords come with it or if i have to buy them seperately?

By: BluRayKeyz

BluRayKeyz — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:03:48 +0000

I’m using some M-Audio Studiophile AV40 speakers and Grado SR-80 headphones, both with no type of amp on a macbook laptop. I do wish to get an amp but do not know which one to get. So far I am deciding on one HeadRoom Total Bithead headphone amp which also acts as an external soundcard.

By: dialashop

dialashop — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:06:43 +0000

After reading your article I just realised that if I get monitors I will have to set up my Focusrite Saffire audio interface each time. I was thinking of getting KRKs and plug them from my MacBookPro and I didn’t realise there might be noise problems. I live in a small place and to set up the audio interface every time I use the monitors might be a hassle. Athe moment I use headphones for mixing which becomes tiresome after a few hours and my ears ring.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:19:48 +0000

Hey, I have a similar set up as you ( mac book, KRK rokit monitors, presonus inspire box, acer 22″ display) , but when I plug my external display in, a loud hum noise then comes from my speakers. I was wondering if you ever had a similar problem when using your external display. thanks a bunch

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:16:43 +0000

Hey, thanks for the article. I actually have the first generation rokit 5 monitors and think they are great too. But when I hook them up to my macbook via a firewire interface, and have an external display plugged in at the same time I get a very loud hum. I saw you were using an external monitor too and maybe you had some suggestions. thanks

By: tom

tom — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:58:52 +0000

first off,

We all know that sound is what you know of it . If you are a musician you would kno w the difference . between “monitors : n comp. speakers ! I myself have sony “headphones” mdrv 7506 and believe they are sufficient for home use .
and also tannoy reveal monitors. I love powered speakers next time will be the answer for me!! thanks for the great post.