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KRK VXT8
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carl.schutte
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
35
Posted : May 30, 2010 18:49:40
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Hi
I couldn't seem to find any comments about the KRK VXT8 monitors... what are your thoughts?
I was originally going to buy the KRK RP8 G2, as it seems like really good bang-for-buck.
I'm by no means a professional producer - I'm just a hobby enthusiast - although I would one day like to be doing live production at psytrance parties.
I've listened to the following monitors:
Alesis M1Active MKII (Had unnaturally big bass)
Yamaha HS80 (I'm not a fan of the NS10 sound)
So I decided to settle on the Rokits, but yesterday I compared them to the VXT8s.
Wow! It was like the frequency range of the RP8 was completely squashed compared to the VXT8.
There's amazing spatial separation in the highs on the VXT8, the bass sounded balanced in comparison to the highs.
I found the bass on the RP8s to sound quite heavy, but perhaps that's because the highs were also a bit flat.
Mids on the VXT8 sounded great too. I listened to some piano and could really hear the harmonics. I listened to a snare with reverb and could hear the reverb tailing off right to the last detail - when I listened to the snare on the RP8, it sound dead as if it had no reverb at all!
Vocals sounded great on the VXT8 too - they had a lot of depth - they sounded very 3 dimensional. The RP8 was just lacking something when compared to the VXT8.
I didn't expect the difference to be this big, but it really was like night and day.
Thus I'm surprised that I have barely seen the VXT8 monitors mentioned here. Perhaps my untrained ears are looking for the wrong things?
My only concern now is that I'm buying a monitor that's somewhat above my production skill level. I can very easily afford the RP8... I'm going to have to sacrifice a bit to afford the VXT8, but it can be done.
I know the ADAM A7 monitors get mentioned often, but there's nowhere here in Cape Town where I can demo them - at least nowhere I know of. I'd be extremely hesitant to buy monitors I've never heard.
So, currently my options are this:
Buy the RP8s - save my money for when my skills have improved and grow my skills with these speakers whilst learning their imperfections.
Buy the VXT8s - sacrifice a bit and buy a monitor that a bit above my skill level, but knowing that I won't need to upgrade any time soon as they have few imperfections.
OK... now let me what you guys think!  |
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Axis Mundi
Axis Mundi
Started Topics :
75
Posts :
1848
Posted : May 30, 2010 19:25
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This is what I have (although I bought mine new):
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/KRK-Rokit-Powered-6-G2-Limited-Edition-Studio-Monitor-Red?sku=502747#used
The reason I went with the limited edition is because they were selling them $50 cheaper per speaker than the default edition of the same model... lol.
Overall, I'm very happy with them as they were certainly an upgrade over what I was using and were worth the money. I've never used your alternative there, just speaking for the rokits.
I've been told by people more knowledgeable than I that it really doesn't matter much which monitor within a certain price bracket you go with as they all utilize similar technology.
As for the thing about high frequencies you mentioned, there is a knob on the back of each one that allows you to boost the highs so it doesn't sound so squashed.
Overall, they are very powerful and I have to keep them at low volumes to keep them tolerable in my bedroom studio. The overall output would be sufficient to make a house party sound good.
If you are a beginner, I'd recommend getting the rokits and saving some money to upgrade other gear, since I infer from your post that either model of monitor would be an upgrade for you.
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carl.schutte
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
35
Posted : May 30, 2010 19:33
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Indeed - I'm currently using Sennheiser HD25 headphones with my Sony hifi.
So yes... both will be a significant upgrade. |
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orange
Fat Data
Started Topics :
154
Posts :
3918
Posted : May 30, 2010 20:10
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weird for me to say ( i never liked a single krk model )
but those sound very nice... thats why i would never bought them.
they tend to be so sweet and gentle that i feel that i have a couple of speakers that try to impress me very much.. to the extend of lying to me!
it make me think when auditioned that they need a very well treated room to work ok.
better get adam a7 or dynaudio bm5a ( i got bm5a ) even without listening to them.
these 2 monitors you know that you didnt go wrong...  http://www.landmark-recordings.com/
http://soundcloud.com/kymamusic |
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piko_bianko
Oxya
Started Topics :
57
Posts :
974
Posted : May 30, 2010 21:25
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@ carl:
you are 100% right. everything sounds great in vxts.
i've owned KRK vxt6 for 6-8 months and i made the worst mixes possible.
as Orange said, VXTs are lying to you. they sound incredibly nice and sweet. always...
on the other hand, i've listened to really interesting mixes made on VXTs... random ? i don't know.
extreme |
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carl.schutte
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
35
Posted : May 30, 2010 23:55
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Thanks guys, but now I'm really confused...
I saw a frequency response graph of the VXT8 and it looked pretty flat:
http://www.proaudioreview.com/oldcontentimages/t.9387_i.02_krksystemsbenchtest.jpg
Now I actually have no idea what I'm supposed to be listening for when I audition monitors? If they sound good then that's actually a bad thing?
So if I had to listen to ADAM A7 or Dynaudio Acoustics BM5A MKII, they would actually sound terrible, but that's exactly what I'm looking for?
If I'm supposed to be looking for a monitor that makes music sound terrible then how do I tell the difference between a really cheap monitor and a really expensive one?
What I'm saying is, surely the cheap monitor will also make the music sound terrible...
I'm truly confused by this... I'm not trying to make this sound like a joke... I simply don't understand how I'm supposed to make an informed decision.
Please help!  |
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orange
Fat Data
Started Topics :
154
Posts :
3918
Posted : May 31, 2010 01:44
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if you want to get something that after the music you made on them sounds pretty much the same in other sound systems get something industry standart.. adam, dynaudio are the 2 for me.
specially when you dont know how to listen to monitors before you buy them.
all in all you will get better resoltes with the krk over some lame headfones but these are monitors that need alot of getting used to before you achieve good resolts..
if i was you i would get the dynaudio bm5a.. no they dont sound terrible they sound very good.. but if a mix is bad they will deffinetly let you know!
http://www.landmark-recordings.com/
http://soundcloud.com/kymamusic |
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carl.schutte
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
35
Posted : May 31, 2010 07:15
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Ah thanks - now it's starting to make sense!
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carl.schutte
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
35
Posted : May 31, 2010 08:55
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So what we're really looking for is a monitor that is revealing.
A monitor can sound good, but not necessarily be revealing... we want one that is both.
Phew, that's not an easy thing for a novice to audition!
This brings me to another question... are certain monitors better suited to psytrance? |
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orange
Fat Data
Started Topics :
154
Posts :
3918
Posted : May 31, 2010 16:54
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carl.schutte
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
35
Posted : May 31, 2010 22:56
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OK, so I may have found a Dynaudio distributor here in South Africa.
So you'd recommend the BM5A?
What about the BM6A?
Does the BM6A just go 5Hz lower?
One last thing, since I've learnt that monitors should sound good but also be revealing...
Was my initial impression of the HS80M monitors perhaps somewhat incorrect?
How appropriate would these be for psytrance? |
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orange
Fat Data
Started Topics :
154
Posts :
3918
Posted : Jun 1, 2010 00:09
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