I own now

[SpankingVanillaice]

I did get the BX5a monitors but I didn't like them since they had subsonic filiter which makes it so no bass under 56hz comes out. I decided to get the Roland DS-30A monitors which sound alot better they are bi-amped too. Also they have tone controls so I can adjust the sound unlike the BX5a can. I did notice that even it says it goes only down to 78hz that since it doesn't have the filiter it can make sounds lower than that. I did see the graph for the DS-30A and it does have lower bass but the DB goes down the lower it is.


Here is the owners manual for the Roland DS-30A bi-amped monitors that I own now.



http://lib.roland.co.jp/manual/en/dl_06-10002/DS-30A_e2.pdf



Here are some details and specs.


http://www.roland.com/products/en/DS-30A/index.html

[SpankingVanillaice]

Another good feature I have on my new DS-30A is that it has digitial inputs and Analog inputs too. So I can connect using coaxial and optical. For analog I can connect using XLR connector or 1/4" TRS phone jack.

[Feanor]

Another good feature I have on my new DS-30A is that it has digitial inputs and Analog inputs too. So I can connect using coaxial and optical. For analog I can connect using XLR connector or 1/4" TRS phone jack.

You do seem to have gone through quite a few different active speakers. Do you feel you're getting closer to what you really want?

By the way if you want a really nice pair of active speakers, I suggest you save up you pennys for a pair of these Genelec 1038B's (http://www.genelecusa.com/products/3-way-monitors/1038b/); they'd be a step up from the Rolands.

[bobsticks]

Pris: Must get lonely here J. F.

Sebastian: Mmm... Not really. I make friends. They're toys. My friends are toys. I make them. It's a hobby. I'm a genetic designer. Do you know what that is?

[blackraven]

Whats the deal with active speakers? Why not spend your money on a decent pair of speakers? What are you looking for SVI?

[E-Stat]

I did get the BX5a monitors but I didn't like them since they had subsonic filiter which makes it so no bass under 56hz comes out.
It seems to me that bass performance is important to you. If that's the case, I suggest you reconsider the goal. There's no magic to producing good bass, but it involves moving lots of air. You're not likely going to be able to do that with any speaker having a 5" woofer unless you EQ the crap out of them (like the Bose 901) and accept the consequences.

I think it's time you consider a speaker with a 10" woofer (like an old Advent) or multiple 6" or 7" drivers at the very least to be able to deliver good bass response.

rw

[basite]

what E- stat said...

get a pair of advents, and a good vintage integrated. You will not want other speakers anymore for quite a while :)

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[jrhymeammo]

This guy is really good at what he does.


I did notice that even it says it goes only down to 78hz that since it doesn't have the filiter it can make sounds lower than that.

That is just too good. No amateur can just pull that line out of his ass, unless you know a thing or two about audio. I think I'll even give him a greenie.

JRA

[SpankingVanillaice]

Well I wanted a bookshelf speaker that is compac as possible and that makes good bass and the reason why I don't just buy speakers without amp is because I don't have a receiver or anything since I sold them all on E-bay long time agao. So I need speakers that are powered so I don't need a receiver or amp. But there was a speaker that was smaller then mine and it sounded amazing it has very clear bright highs and good low bass for it's size. I listened to the M-Audio AV 30 monitors at Best Buy and they were soo good I was thinking to return the DS-30A and get the AV 30 monitors. Since I don't really hear any difference if the speakers are bi-amped or single amp. I think the single amp with crossover will play great if the speakers are small plus I will save alot of money for these AV 30 since they only cost $130 for a pair. I just want the smallest speakers that will make studio clear sound and good impressive low bass for it's size so I can show off with my friends and my boyfriend how small studio monitor speakers can be.


These are the AV 40 but only difference from the AV 40 and 30 is that the 30 uses a 3in woofer instead of 4in which is very cool and compac and portable even.



http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/StudiophileAV40-main.html

[jrhymeammo]

So how do you have them hooked up in your system?

[SpankingVanillaice]

Using RCA cord that that has red and white coverts to 3.5mm male headphone jack. Or XLR on one end of cord and 3.5mm male headphone jack on other end.

[SpankingVanillaice]

Then I just plug it to my PC or my portable MD player etc. It's very easy when you have active monitors.

[Feanor]

Well I wanted a bookshelf speaker that is compac as possible and that makes good bass and the reason why I don't just buy speakers without amp is because I don't have a receiver or anything since I sold them all on E-bay long time agao. So I need speakers that are powered so I don't need a receiver or amp. ...

I seems to me that active speakers have certain advantages, and if I were out to build a HT or even a multi-channel music system from scratch, I'd give them serious consideration.

For example, these Behringer B3031A (http://www.behringer.com/B3031A/index.cfm?lang=eng)'s look pretty good to me. They have the specific advantage of built-in frequency and room-position compensation.

[jrhymeammo]

that you have this displayed on your site:

http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/imgad?id=CITz4IbWgoTEOhDYBRhaMggT4jrP1sJqPA


jra

[johnny p]

I have a feeling if SVI had a receiver or sub that had controls to adjust the frequency, he'd spend the next 20 years trying to find utopia.

Are you looking for speakers that sound good to you, or you trying to maximize the "on-Paper" performance?

[Rich-n-Texas]

Really, he's just looking for speakers for his computer.

[SpankingVanillaice]

I forgot to ask this but if something goes wrong with the DS-30A monitors since it's a discontinued model will they still be able to support and fit them? Since I think I should get back the M-Audios since those are not discontinued monitors. Also I did notice that from listening to them for a while that the Rolands have not really low good clear bass as the M-Audios do so I think I should get the BX5a back. The DS-30A monitors have a bass that sounds like a normal stereos speakers but the mids and highs are good.

[johnny p]

We're all victims of this cruel joke.

[Luvin Da Blues]

We're all victims of this cruel joke.

Oh, I don't know about cruel...I think it's hilarious. :lol:

[SpankingVanillaice]

On Craigs List I' am trying to sell the BX5a since I still really want those compac AV 30 monitors. I hope someone will buy them soon. Plus the AV 30 are the latest model they sell right now.

[jrhymeammo]

Dude, get one of these.

http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/promedia-gmx-a-2-1.aspx

They are rated 30 hz - 20k hz. They should be powerful enough for 99% of listeners.


JRA

[blackraven]

Why dont you buy one of those 2ch Sherwood audio receivers at 100wpc (for sale $79-100 at CC) and get a pair of infinity primus 162's for $99 each from crutchfield. That would sound better than anything your lookiing at!

[basite]

On Craigs List I' am trying to sell the BX5a since I still really want those compac AV 30 monitors. I hope someone will buy them soon. Plus the AV 30 are the latest model they sell right now.


so? why do you want the AV30's? because they're small????

you like bass, that's the last thing you'll ever get out those TINY AV30's. my pc speakers have bigger drivers in them!, and they crap out at a 100 hz or so (without the sub), definately, don't get the AV30's. Keep the BX5a's.

[johnny p]

http://omaha.craigslist.org/ele/540138989.html

You should buy those :) !!!!!

[SpankingVanillaice]

Well I have listened to the AV 30 at Best Buy and they do sound really clear and the highs are very bright. But yes the bass won't go as deep since they are small but I like the bright highs they make since then I can hear every high spec on my music. The BX5a I have now isn't as bright but I guess maybe it's because it's a larger speaker.

[SpankingVanillaice]

http://omaha.craigslist.org/ele/540138989.html

You should buy those :) !!!!!LOL those are my monitors I' am trying to sell.

[SpankingVanillaice]

But do you really guys still think I should keep my BX5a? There are some good reviews for the AV series like the AV 40. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AV40/reviews/#anchor

[SpankingVanillaice]

so? why do you want the AV30's? because they're small????

you like bass, that's the last thing you'll ever get out those TINY AV30's. my pc speakers have bigger drivers in them!, and they crap out at a 100 hz or so (without the sub), definately, don't get the AV30's. Keep the BX5a's.Well it actualy goes from 90hz to 20kHz and they are 30 watts total which is actualy pretty impressive for its size and is sorta loud since I use to have a 14 watt from Edirol that was the MA-7A they did go pretty loud in my bedroom. Yes I like the small size since it fits anywere in my room but do you really still think I should keep the BX5a? Since the highs on the AV 30 is alot more brighter and clear I think when I listened to them but it might be because they are a smaller speaker.

[SpankingVanillaice]

The other reason I like the AV 30 is they are cute and small meaing don't look bulky at all. But do you guys still really think I should keep the BX5a??? Right now they aren't many reviews for the AV series since they just came out 5 months agao but so far the reviews seems to be very good.

[johnny p]

I think whatever you buy you'll be selling in 3 months to buy something new, continuing the cycle so 5 years down the road you'll still be saying " I can't afford $100 for a receiver and $200 for speakers" when if you have just saved the cash and quit changing your speakers every other week, you'd have Martin Logans by now!

[johnny p]

I can hear every high spec on my music..

What type of music do you listen to?

[Rich-n-Texas]

I hate it when my niece comes over and says my house is "cute".

[johnny p]

In the pictures he has a box of Kleenex next to his computer speakers........ I wouldn't touch those with a 10 foot pole.

[basite]

Well it actualy goes from 90hz to 20kHz and they are 30 watts total which is actualy pretty impressive for its size and is sorta loud since I use to have a 14 watt from Edirol that was the MA-7A they did go pretty loud in my bedroom. Yes I like the small size since it fits anywere in my room but do you really still think I should keep the BX5a? Since the highs on the AV 30 is alot more brighter and clear I think when I listened to them but it might be because they are a smaller speaker.


90 hz isn't something to brag about. I'm pretty sure all the 'bass' you hear, is all just a big 100hz peak.

keep the BX5a's.

watts are irrelevant. if I dump 30 watts in those av30's with my amp, the speakers will literally blow up. even if I put 10 watts in them they would blow up.

and if you want your speakers to sound brighter, then just adjust the highs on the tone controls (or with a EQ on your pc), you can do that. You cannot make the tiny AV30's put out bass. you simply can't. you can adjust the bass on the eq and on the tone controls, but all that will happen is that the 100hz tones will become louder. No bass wil magically appear.

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[noddin0ff]

You can accomplish a lot with bass reproduction if you pay attention to room placement. The room features can act like a sounding board to bring out the bass response. How are you placing them?

[SpankingVanillaice]

Well I also actualy like the new design and looks of the AV series they look very cool and fansy. My BX5a looks dull and nothin special. Plus they are alot bigger and not compac at all. I do have to say that when you put your ears close to the monitors they have alot of deep low bass that normaly comes out of a bigger monitor. When you are away from it though you won't hear as much deep bass but it really actualy goes lower then 90 hz when you are close to them.

[SpankingVanillaice]

Here are the two monitors as you see the AV looks cooler and impressive.

BX5a
http://www.m-audio.com/layout/imgview.php?i=/images/en/callouts/big/bx5a_focus_big.jpg

AV 30
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat13506&type=page&skuId=8452747&productId=1183767507654&defurl=false&h=387

[N. Abstentia]

I can't believe I read this whole thread. That's 10 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

And WHY THE HELL IS ALFALFA IN YOUR AVATAR?????

[N. Abstentia]

http://www.actwin.com/toaph/life/rascals/alfalfa2.jpg

http://www.chuckamuck.com/ebay/alf.jpg


Uncanny!

[johnny p]

ha!!! You got that right!

[basite]

Here are the two monitors as you see the AV looks cooler and impressive.

BX5a
http://www.m-audio.com/layout/imgview.php?i=/images/en/callouts/big/bx5a_focus_big.jpg

AV 30
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat13506&type=page&skuId=8452747&productId=1183767507654&defurl=false&h=387


the AV looks smaller and cheaper, that's what it does...

[SpankingVanillaice]

But don't forget I like small monitors since they are compac and cute and also lighter weight.

[johnny p]

I think you should get those, and then experiment with different speaker wire..... that should keep you busy until 2009

[basite]

But don't forget I like small monitors since they are compac and cute and also lighter weight.


you said they looked cooler and impressive.

impressive = something that impresses you, small things don't impress me unless they are microscopic, which I don't want with speakers.

and now you're saying you find them cute? cute and impressive are completely different things.
you know, little kittens are cute, crappy tiny plastic speakers are not.


And I don't understand why you want light weight speakers (well, light weight would be wrong, better would be 'almost no weight at all'), a good speaker needs to be of considerable size and weight.

[SpankingVanillaice]

The AV series acutaly are not made of plastic at all they are made of MDF which is a very good enclosure for speakers. If you read the specs you will see how good the AV series are. Also Edirol MA-7A and MA-15D monitors use MDF wood enclosures to you know. So none are made of plastic. Basicaly M-Audio tries there best to make high end monitors that are portable and compac too. They don't just make big monitors the best they also make small ones great too.

[N. Abstentia]

The AV series acutaly are not made of plastic at all they are made of MDF which is a very good enclosure for speakers. If you read the specs you will see how good the AV series are.

If reading a spec sheet is how you judge the sound quality of a speaker, you're screwed from the get go. You'll probably never own a good sounding speaker. Sad, really.