best bookshelf speakers

[Mash]

T just ordered a pair of HR824mkII for the kitchen. And they come with amps.

http://www.mackie.com/products/hrmk2series/design.html

One seller's details:

http://www.wwbw.com/Search/Default.a...l=1&src=mackie

You have many choices, from $180 each to $650 each, and they all have amps &, I believe, speaker feedback control:

http://www.wwbw.com/Mackie-MR5-Activ...-i1386321.wwbw
http://www.wwbw.com/Mackie-MR8-Refer...-i1512401.wwbw
http://www.wwbw.com/Mackie-HR624mk2-...-i1598068.wwbw
http://www.wwbw.com/Mackie-HR624mk2-...-i1512402.wwbw
http://www.wwbw.com/Mackie-HR824mk2-...-i1512403.wwbw

You can also check zZounds. Musician's Friend may be sold out. Music123 has new [but only one HR824 mint condition used for $515].

[atomicAdam]

T just ordered a pair of HR824mkII for the kitchen. And they come with amps.

http://www.mackie.com/products/hrmk2series/design.html

.

Mackie - like the guitar amps/pa systems maker?

[Feanor]

T just ordered a pair of HR824mkII for the kitchen. And they come with amps.

http://www.mackie.com/products/hrmk2series/design.html

One seller's details:

http://www.wwbw.com/Search/Default.a...l=1&src=mackie

You have many choices, from $180 each to $650 each, and they all have amps &, I believe, speaker feedback control:

...

Good choice I suspect, Mash. Studio monitors are a potentially excellent -- but usually overlooked -- option.

Not only do they have built-in amps with custom tuned crossovers, but often they have "accoustic space" settings that ease placement issues. Also, they typically can handle lots and power, and they use controlled dispersion, and/or anti-defraction front panel designs. If there's a problem, it's that studio monitors are designed more for accuracy than for euphonics, and a lot of people "can't handle the true".

The Mackie HR825Mk2's look very convincing.

[Mash]

I use A.R.T. Tube MP Studio units for volume control, etc. Yep- "Tube" as in vacuum tubes. Sneaky, right? You can find A.R.T. at zZounds, Music123, Musician's Friend, Woodwind & Brasswind, etc.

I have not yet used A.R.T. Tube MP Studio units with the TV Mackies. When we want music in the bedroom (No smart comments!) I usually switch to the Jolida/Magnepan/Velodyne SS setup. But not always.....

Yes, Adam- Mackie makes pro gear.

Your comments are right on the mark, Mr. Feanor. THE hr824 HAVE 3 SETTINGS JUST FOR PLACEMENT W/R/T WALLS AND CORNERS.

I would note that the Mackies are easy to live with for the long term. I plan to replace the HR824's in the kitchen with a pair of HR824mk2 units. Theh I plan on working up an all-HR824 surround for the bedroom...... unless I decide to use those HR824's on the patio, but this is not likely because they are too good to risk any weather exposure.

[Mash]

I use A.R.T. Tube MP Studio units for volume control, etc. Yep- "Tube" as in vacuum tubes. Sneaky, right? You can find A.R.T. at zZounds, Music123, Musician's Friend, Woodwind & Brasswind, etc.

I have not yet used A.R.T. Tube MP Studio units with the TV Mackies. I have a pair of MP Studios on hand but I am not (yet) using them. When we want music in the bedroom (No smart comments!) I usually switch to the Jolida/Magnepan/Velodyne-SS setup. But not always.....

Yes, Adam- Mackie makes pro gear.

Your comments are right on the mark, Mr. Feanor. For example, the HR824 have 3 settings just to compensate for placement w/r/t walls & corners.

I would note that I have found the Mackies easy to live with for the long term. I plan to replace the HR824's in the kitchen with a pair of HR824mk2 units. Then I plan on working up an all-HR824 surround for the bedroom...... unless I decide to use those HR824's on the patio, but this is not likely because they are too good to risk any weather exposure.

[Mash]

Features of the ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp

VU Meter and switchable OPL (brickwall limiting)
Hand-selected tube
Up to 60 dB of gain
Variable input & output gain
XLR & 1/4" inputs & putputs
+48V Phantom Power & phase reversal switch
Can function as a direct box with impedance matching
________________________________
from Amazon (typical price example)

ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp by ART
Buy new: $29.99

4 new from $29.99
4 used from $23.50

Two for stereo then cost about $60.
_______________________________
from Radio Shack

1/4" Jack-to-A3M XLR Plug Adapter/Transformer Model: 274-017 | Catalog #: 274-017

Price: $18.49

A3F XLR Jack-to-1/4" Plug Adapter/Transformer Model: 274-016 | Catalog #: 274-016

Price: $19.69

Two for stereo cost about $37 - $40.
______________________________

You can see that using the ART units costs only a little more that using the adapter/transformer from RS when we need to use balanced XLR interconnects for long interconnects, in my case 50 feet long. You can use unbalanced interconnects up to .... ummm ... 25 feet IYAL.

My point is that for our audiophile projects, using pro gear can offer a better, more flexible, and a more cost-effective solution compared to using audiophile gear. Be flexible and investigate!

[Feanor]

...
My point is that for our audiophile projects, using pro gear can offer a better, more flexible, and a more cost-effective solution compared to using audiophile gear. Be flexible and investigate!

I'll buy that. For my next home theatre, (if there should ever be a next one), I'm going for a prepro with XLR outs and active studio monitors all around.

[atomicAdam]

Yes, Adam- Mackie makes pro gear.

I'm just surprised - every single thing I've ever heard out of a Mackie has sounded just awful. But I've not heard their smaller monitors - just stuff I've heard at shows. And I generally think that sound at shows is pretty awful - but Mackie's have always sounded thin like a dentist drill and harsh like a kick in the teeth.

[Mash]

We went to our one-and-only indoor 'rock' concert c1976. BS&T. I took an SPL meter along. The EQUIPMENT HUM was 80 dB. Ever listen to music with your ears covered? They damn near exceeded the max level reading capability of my SPL meter. You never know how much smarts are posessed by the people who set up sound reiforcement speakers.

The Mackie Studio Monitors are very different products compared to the sound reiforcement products which are designed for abuse. The speaker servo feedback feature in the Mackie studio monitors just about forces accurate playback. Check out the schematic on pg 18 of the HR824mk2 OM (owner'smanual).

http://www.mackie.com/products/hrmk2series/design.html

[Feanor]

We went to our one-and-only indoor 'rock' concert c1976. BS&T. I took an SPL meter along. The EQUIPMENT HUM was 80 dB. Ever listen to music with your ears covered? They damn near exceeded the max level reading capability of my SPL meter. You never know how much smarts are posessed by the people who set up sound reiforcement speakers.

The Mackie Studio Monitors are very different products compared to the sound reiforcement products which are designed for abuse. The speaker servo feedback feature in the Mackie studio monitors just about forces accurate playback. Check out the schematic on pg 18 of the HR824mk2 OM (owner'smanual).

http://www.mackie.com/products/hrmk2series/design.html

The Mackie HR825mk2's are very attractive on all accounts. However I can't seem to find the reference to "servo feedback"; is the a more specific link you can send?

[Mash]

But even the specs would not "fit":

HR824MK2_Specs[1].pdf:
Your file of 193.9 KB bytes exceeds the forum's limit of 19.5 KB for this filetype.

SOOOOO.............

1. Go To:

http://www.mackie.com/products/hrmk2series/design.html

2. On right side "Downloads" tabs, Select "Owners Manual: 824mk2"

3. Download Adobe file HR824MK2_OM[1].pdf & Open it. This is a file you cannot edit....

4, Go to Page 18, which shows the schematic "HR824mk2 Block Diagram"

5. Setting 100% magnification is suggested

6. Look at Lower right corner of schematic (just below the woofer)

7. Checkout the "Bass Control Servo Loop" circuit.
_____________________________________
=================================
8. Now Go To:

http://www.mackie.com/products/hrmk2series/design.html

9. On right side "Downloads" tabs, Select "Spec Sheet: 824mk2"
_____________________________________
From the spec sheet HR824mk2_specs[1].pdf

Low-frequency power amplifier
_____________________________________
Rated Power (at 1 kHz with 1% THD):150 watts
Rated Load Impedance: 4 ohms
Burst Power Output: 350 watts
Rated THD (1W to –1 dB of rated power): 0.1 %
Slew Rate: 35V/μS
Distortion (THD, SMPTE IMD, DIM 100): < 0.035%
Signal-to-Noise (20Hz-20kHz, unweighted, referenced to 150W into 4 ohm): > 102 dB
Cooling: Convection

===> Design: Class AB, Parametric Servo Feedback

The crossover is 1900 Hz.