Studio Monitor Review Pt. 2: Mid-Priced - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro.
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
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Hey friends,
as promised, here is our second part of the studio monitor review with Vintage King. This time, we're comparing mid-prices studio monitors ranging from $1500 - $5000 a pair. We reviewed the following speakers:
1. Adam aX7 ($1500): vintageking.com...
2. Focal CMS65 ($1600): vintageking.com...
3. Focal Solo 6 ($2700): vintageking.com...
4. Oceanway Pro 2A ($3500): vintageking.com...
5. PMC twotwo.6 (Save $500: $4500 for a limited time): vintageking.com...
I hope you enjoy the review and it helps you to pick a great set of speakers for your home studio!
Have a marvellous time recording and mixing,
Warren
Produce Like A Pro is a website which features great tips to help the beginning recordist make incredible sounding home recordings on a budget.
Alex is such a class act! And Warren always marvelous!
“PMC can do it all”.. this justified my purchase for the twotwo 6’s. Thank you for this video! There aren’t many reviews out there for the twotwo series.
Awesome! Since you mentioned having 2 pairs of speakers, I'll share my weird experiences with that (with speakers in this price range).
I mixed a live recording (with audience) of a jazz trio, with some incredible challenges. That was done in a studio that had 2 pairs of speakers: passive, midrange-heavy and kind of harsh sounding Tannoys on the one hand and active, boomy Dynaudios with a silky top end on the other hand. In addition to the challenges that were inherent to the trio and the recording, I had a very hard time getting the sound and balance I was chasing on both speakers. Except for the last 10% of the mix, it felt like I was chasing my own tail.
On the other hand, I had some experience with Focal CMS 65 speakers, and while I was unimpressed at first, I later realized how confident I could be with EQ moves, compression and other processing. The imaging (both stereo and depth of field)was really good. I wasn't second-guessing myself and the results translated beautifully. I also felt these speakers would be a good reference during the tracking stage.
In short, I think that - for me at least - the several speakers route is a good thing but the choice of speakers is essential. For me, I would first get a pair that I'm comfortable with, that would allow me to work with confidence. Then I would get speakers that would allow me to judge specific and critical areas: bottom end, midrange. Those would probably be sealed cabinet designs because of the time-domain element.
Anyways, thanks Warren and VK for this enlightening review!
This is one of the best general audio talks I've heard. You guys are both awesome.
Adam a7x with the 8sub gives me exactly what I need. Just love them. Not that I wouldn't upgrade if I could but the Adams are _amazing_ bang for the buck. Used to mix on HS8s, they're also good speakers for their money but they're not really competitors to the a7xs, miles difference. Love this video, fair comparison and perfect for going from starter to midrange. Thumbs up.
Such an intelligent video. I’ve had Event monitors for 11 years, and recently decided to upgrade to Focals even before watching this, but listening to you guys much smarter than I kept me for the whole video. Thank you very much.
That you ever so much Elias for your great comment!!
Add me to the voice of people still waiting for part three. I'd love to hear what you think of the lower mid to entry level range of monitors.
Nice comment on the NS10's, they used to be actually affordable, now since they are so prolific, their (perceived) value has gone WAAAY up. I was prolly the luckiest guy ever and bought my NS10M pair from a thrift store for $40 FOR THE PAIR! The helper I asked to hook them up had no clue what thy really were, he thought they were just every day bookshelf speakers. Needless to say I was STOKED!!!
Those pmc speakers just sound wonderful even through the mic.
Dude! I love your channel,I think that is best the channel for music producers!
I been waitting for your sub $1000 studio monitor review,any plan when you gong to do that?
Sub $1000 and sub $500 would be great
Great video Warren! Sadly I was told Alex is not at vintage king anymore. He was my sales rep for a while. Awesome guy!
Hi 81awesomeness, I didn't know that! That must have just happened! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Adam audio sounds awesome for its price point. Totally agree. The PMCs are the best overall among them but it's at US$5k.
Hi Warren when can we expect part 3? Really found this useful as I'm looking to upgrade my studio monitors.
I'm hoping I can organise to very soon! Thanks ever so much for the great comment! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
@@Producelikeapro What happen to part 3?
@@tilamz6 got snapped a little while back
Hey Warren! I've enjoyed your reviews and analysis immensely. I'm glad to hear you stress the importance of listening to your mixes and final masters on many different playback systems. I use Adam A7x for my initial mixes and soundscaping and then move to PMC IB2s driven by Bryston 14B amp in an acoustically treated sound room which is well balanced. The PMC IB2s are so transparent and revealing, with immense power, that I can hear any weaknesses immediately. I also listen on 1992 Bang & Olufsen Beosystem 2500, a mid 90's Sony Walkman (haha), several different garden variety computer speakers and sub $300 desktop speakers, and in my car! This process has improved my listening skills, and really gives me confidence in the sound I've created. Thanks for sharing your experience! I dig people who are always questioning and re-evaluating their views and approach to sound, life. cooking, love...whatever. Stay curious!
Hi Greg, wow that's a fantastic comment! Yes, agreed, I have NO fixed ideas about what we do! Everything is constantly changing and evolving, I see channels saying that modelling mics can't work and now every professional I know is coming around to them! Bang & Olufsen have always made amazing equipment! A Walkmen will give you a great perspective! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hey you want an idea? Start a "Monitor Modeling Impulse response Monitors" that would do ANY or a select catch of standard Monitors The NS 10's Genlec JBL… or new ones that could be upgrades as they become standards; likely the Adams & Focal Barefoot… like the Modeling Mic from Slate. Roland did it years ago but it didn't take off. If I do get a new set of monitors i think it will be those Adam x7's.
Wow Watchman4u! What an interesting idea! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Modelling mics in the digital world...I never thought it could happen! Nevertheless, I'll never give up my AKG C12 microphones! Bought them from AKG Canada when they sponsored a recording I did of the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra in 1989 (I think?) and I couldn't live without them.
Hi Greg, yes things are moving really rapidly to say the least! Yes, the C12, is a wonderful sounding mic indeed! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I always come to videos like this to listen to music quality, it even sounds good on my phone speakers when it is recorded from proper speakers.
It's very helpful to hear these side by side. Even though we don't get a fully accurate perspective from a video, we can definitely hear the character difference well enough to point us to a much more informed decision than the videos where they just talk do.
I truly believe the difference is in the acoustic technology used. The PMC is a transmission line bass enclosure. All of the other speakers are a bass reflex design. If they would put the PMC against another transmission line, compression labyrinth horn, or even a standard bass horn that they would be comparable in the low end. The aforementioned technologies work with the room, not against it like a bass reflex enclosure with front loaded ports.
I tried the Adams and didn’t care for them. They were a bit pronounced in the upper-mids and so I found myself fighting them. I also tried the Focal Alpha 65s and liked them fine but they were also a bit hyped in the upper mids. Went to the Focal Solo6 BE and found my monitors. They give me absolutely dead-accurate frequency response from low bass through airy highs, and I simply get mixes that translate well much faster. Don’t forget, the “right” monitors depend on your ears, your room, and your experience. Best is to test a few out. It costs a bit to pay shipping to and fro, but you’ll end up knowing what works for you and why. Great video as always!
I love my new Adam a8x Monitors. A great upgrade from my Alesis Monitor Ones I had for 20 years...
Fantastic to hear luvaluvaproductions! Congrats!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I've been thinking about the ribbon tweeter I bet it's less ear fatigue or it seems it would be a smooth top end.
Hi Watchman4u, yes, a lot of people love the ribbon tweeters! They really do have a great top end! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Abolutely, you're right. Great to work with for hours
Fantastic! Thanks very much for your insight! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Wow these guys are on my level of audio nerd. What intelligent, informative and knowledgeable people. Amazing video! Keep up the great sound geeking!
Warren, started writing and recording songs on my phone last summer, 30+ on my channel. Your videos helped me decide on a Peluso P87 and now monitors. Thanks for all your help.
Hi Richard, I am very glad to be able to help!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Warren!
I’ve viewed your “high” and “mid” priced monitor reviews and I must say you and Alex have done a brilliant job, as always!
In both categories the PMCs just sound amazing. Their sense of depth is something like the energy you get from a really big speaker. Those frequencies are present, but tighter on Genelecs. Perhaps I feel a bit more excitement or energy from the PMCs, but sort of in a rock music or live tracking sense. It seems that they would give a good sense of room mic placement.
Anyway, I haven’t been as impressed by a speaker that’s new to me for a while and these are incredible.
Not sure whether I’d prefer the .6 or .8 for my room, but Vintage King has a used pair of .8s for $5,400 so...
Thanks so much for all you do.
Cheers,
Tim
Thanks Warren, I would love to see a video comparing quality entry-level monitors (Yamaha HS8, KRK ROKITs, Mackie Mk3s, Adam T7Vs, Behringer 2031s, Presonus Eris E8s, Elacs, ect).
I'm watching this on my phone, and I'm not a professional or producer. But I can clearly hear a massive EQ difference with the PMC. To me it sounds like a dip around 2 to 5k, compared to all the other speakers. This can add a lot of depth to the sound, but lack in upper midrange clarity. It could also be the higher dispersion characteristics of the PMC - perhaps the woofer has a much lower crossover point. Also, looking at the speaker materials the PMC looks to be either paper or poly woofer and silk dome tweeter, where all the rest look like composite or metal woofer(or ceramic?) with metal or ribbon tweeters (except that big one using a soft some). These materials are typically stiffer and act more like a piston and if done correctly offer much more upper end detail. Paper and silk typically sounds like it has more depth in this region, as they are a bit more damped and less stiff as metal or composites. My overall impression of this video is they are essentially picking what EQ and speaker material they like listening to, which I find very interesting and correlates to extensive diy speaker building I have done for listening purposes. If I were to build a speaker for mixing, in theory I would look to build them like the others (not like the PMC) as they should help to separate out details but hey theory can be different to practice!
White shirt: such a nice guy, so polite, so good, love him
This is an awesome video! So many of us can benefit from this comparison! Thanks Warren!
Thanks very much Classy Touch Music! I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
The PMC sound the best even listening via UA-cam in HD. Thanks.
Part 3 please, Include "the ones"
Bloody useful video - thank you! Great to hear your experience on talking about these. I'm tempted by the A7Xs
My good friend has been mixing on a pair of Mackie speakers for ever he has a few Grammys several gold and platinum albums ...his take is in time you will know your speakers...and the mix...and that's that...but I do appreciate all the info and warren and vintage king are such a great resource ☯️🕉❤️🙏🏼
Agreed 100%!! I’ve been using my Genelec 1032’s forever! However, I am finally changing it up and buying the latest ones for my studio! I’ve heard them and love the extra depth they have!
How about a video reviewing monitors for different genres? For instance, monitors best for classical orchestral sample library mockups and film music, monitors best for hip-hop, EDM and other bass heavy music, and monitors best for rock and pop. That might be an interesting series. Thanks.
Hi Steve, agreed! Great idea!!
Dr. Who used a Studiomaster P7 in the phone booth. It was a really big 975 yr old studio that he went through time and recorded 975 albums of different generations of man in their natural habitat. There are recordings of Mozart and Beethoven and an all time line all star band recorded and the tapes are hidden at Abbey Road in the BBC vault, using a Studiomaster P7 and Adats.
Love the PMC monitors! I met you the same day you all recorded this segment! Nice meeting you Warren.
Hi Brandon Wattz thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed the video! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing many thanks Warren
Would love to stop by your studio and provide a live vocal, the next time you demo a new preamp or mic ! 👌🏽
Wish we could see the Amphions....seems like they're the popular monitor at the moment and your descriptions/input is fantastic.
I love nerding out on stuff like this. Is Alex actually Clark Kent? He seems like a really cool guy.
Please definitely do the passive speaker shoot-out with the Amphions etc! This is super useful stuff. Even though we're just hearing the speakers through the presenter mics, the frequency responses are remarkably noticeable.
Hi Joe, I agree! I realise that white a few people like you are able to hear the differences even through the mics!
Nice to see the A7X's getting some praise. My first "real" speakers after upgrading from the Alesis M1 actives I used for donkey's years.
Fantastic! Thanks for the great comment! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I made that exact transition. The M1 actives to A7x. Looking for a new pair of monitors as I don’t have the room to keep these monitors. Need to find something of equal quality or better but in a smaller frame. Going to be tough!
Listening through your mics and, at my end, through Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pros (which are smiley faced in their response:)) I could hear the somewhat stark difference in the mids between the PMCs and Oceanways: to my ears the Oceanways had a (more enhanced, as you politely put it) coloured and objectionable mid. Personally, I wasn't convinced (at all) by Alex's spin on the Oceanway's sound.
I also think the PMCs sounded the least coloured in the mids. When you switched between thr PMC and the Solo 6's the 6's sounded to introduce a cuppy sound to the vocals compared to the PMCs.
I agree about the Adams, to me they and the PMC sounded quite similar, neither having an objectionable midrange.
Thanks for your great comment David! Yes, many of my friends whose work I respect use PMCs! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing! Many thanks Warren
Really cool review - I have been mixing since 2007 on the A7 (first generation) and the reasons mentioned for liking them were the very reasons I selected them - most traditional tweeters fatigue my ears very quickly, and I really couldn't find anything else at that price point that I could mix on all day. That said - I also got very frustrated at why I felt like I could dial in the relationship very quickly between the kick and bass in a live setting, but would end up agonizing over them endlessly in the studio, until I realized that I was "feeling" the relationship in a live mixing situation. Once I realized that - I got a sub ASAP. My best friend has a pair of the Barefoot M27, and I really feel like I can mix on my set-up and his with very similar results, and everything translates very well.
Great evaluations guys. Love the conversations.
Happy Birthday Warren
Not for a few weeks!
Thank you for your review, can't wait for Part 3, the affordable ones for home use!!! I've checked last weekend the Yammi's HS7 (punchy mids) and HS8 (powerful bass), for recording bass, and I can't decide ;)
Warren, excellent review!! I'm running the Adam A7X as my mains and love them and trust them , They have been in several rooms and sat perfect for me every time but also I reference with my NS10s powered with Samson servo , I still cannot let go.....I wish our UK music stores were more like yours!!! You're doing a Marvellous job!!!!!
warren thank you so much for this video, besides the idea of comparing speakers.. I'd learn so much about freq and how they affect the feel when listening. Sorry if my english is bad.
The odd part is, I heard exactly what you pointed out about the monitors just by hearing it through your talking mics, here on UA-cam. You can hear the difference big time.
Love these vids... looking forward to pt3!
Thanks very much!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
So here's my dilemma. I'm shopping for my first pair of monitors. These shootout / reviews are great but how does one go about choosing the right pair of speakers. I could be wrong but I don't think it's like picking up and playing several guitars for example until you know which one feels and sounds just right. Thank you for another great video Warren
I think you can't go wrong if you buy something with good reputation, not the low budget bottom end. And you will love it. Like a first car. The problem is when you already know, to change or step up without paying 5x more.
@@peterpixo Thank you so much for chiming in. A lot has happened since my original post (3 yrs actually) I decided to purchase a pair of Focal monitors. The Solo6 BE to be more precise. So far I am absolutely loving them. Very accurate. Have a safe and wonderful Friday.
was that a Doctor Who reference?
Yes sir! Please reach out to support@producelikeapro.com, so we can send you your discount! Haha fun
Is the dicount only for pop screens, or can I use it for a sonic screwdriver as well? XD
Haha nice! My son has two sonic screwdrivers! He's a huge fan! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Of it's Dr Who..Warren even got the same haircut as the Tenant doctor :D
Haha Nice! I loved David Tennant's Dr Who! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I would have liked to see some Dynaudio mixed in here. I know that Vintage King carries Dynaudio. Why not add a LYD 7 or LYD 48 to the demo? It's very hard to find comparisons with Dynaudio like you can with the ADAMS and Focal monitors.
really helpful. I want to upgrade from my JBL lsr 305, so thats exactly what I need right now!
Great stuff Daily Drum Lesson! Glad to be able to help!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
How would the Adam A5X compare to the Adam A7X. Big difference? Anyone?
Great vid. I know it's only a mic that we are hearing the monitors in but the Adams were slightly out of their depth. The snare seemed to disappear compared to the 3 speaker switch. You mentioned the sub $1000 test coming up. Perhaps the Adams should be in that one.
Thanks very much for your comment! I am excited to do a sub $1,000 Monitor test! We need to get a huge selection of them to try! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Brilliant! Thank you once again, Warren!
For part 3 I implore you to include the Equator Audio D5 or D8. I've put them up against monitors that are 10 times the price, and the hold up!
Stu
This video helped me choose! PMCs! Thanks warren!
As someone currently looking at the ADAM A5X, this was a helpful review. The A5X only goes down to 50 Hz, whereas the A7X goes down to 42. But otherwise, they seem to be very similar.
You would not regret the Adam A7x - I have a pair and they whoop the Genelec equivalent in my humble...
Very nice Warren!
Im searching for a good pair of 2 way-spearks. The Focal Solo 6 has a good reviews about it, but i've got what you said, and I dont know yet heheh.
Im using a pair of Dynaudio BM6a MkII, did you ever hear with those monitors? I would like to hear your opinion about those.
Thank You!
the cross over points make a big difference, and the electronics in the power amps... just a matter of taste and budget.
Dear Warren-You produced the high and mid range monitors. When will you complete the low price monitors review you suggested in the video?
Definitely need to check Genelec 8040b, adam a77x , Eve audio , Dynaudio LYD and BM series , they all almost in one price range. Thank you for your amazing work )
Hi Vad! Definitely you are correct! Thanks for the extra insight! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Warren! In the low-priced range monitor review I would like to see the JBL LSR-305 Vs. the Focal Alpha 50. Thank you and greetings from Colombia!
Alex is such a cool guy! And he knows what he is talking about.
Hi Friends, How about checking Dynaudio LYD8 with other in Part 2 ?
Warren thanks for yall that you do, the interviews, mixing videos, and the philosophy! Big fan of the Channel now for awhile. I write on here with questions constantly and never say how I appreciate it to have my questions answered. So thank you ! Speaking of questions I have one lol I have a rock instrumental that sounds great in stereo but in mono on phone speakers you cant hardly hear the guitars that is panned hard left and right. What should I do?
Wow thanks ever so much Jon! I really appreciate it! Great question! It's sounds like there might be some phase cancellation going on with your guitars! Just solo the guitars only, go into mono, flip the polarity of one channel, do they come back louder? If so problem solved! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Very useful! Happy Birthday Warren :D
My choise is Adam7X and Genelec 8040! Thanks you very much for this video!
Interenting! Do You use both, Adams and Genelecs? Can You describe or compare them. Iam thinking about Genelec 8040 also, but still not sure... I do not have chance to listen and compate them. Thanks.
THIS is how you do a monitor shootout! Thanks Warren.
Woop! Marvellous monitoring man!
Thanks very much TradeMarc! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
on my own Adam A7X more detail than Focal Solo 6. How Do You Think? ;)
Hi Юрий Лазарев, great question! I think that if the Adam A7X sounds better to you then that's the best solution! I strongly believe it's about taste, go with what works best for you! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Юрий Лазарев, I like better Adams, too. Focal... too much mids, sounds like they have radio effect on...Maybe focal twins -Yes, much better sound.
You are absolutely right!
Can't wait for Part 3!
Thanks Ati! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Great video Warren....!
Would love to see some Presonus Sceptre's S6/S8's if possible.
Loving these videos
Thanks,
C
Warren, not certain if you caught it or not, but Mark Knopfler just posted a short 11 minute tour of his studio. Seems it has won Studio of the Year. I know I've mentioned it before, but it would be a wonderful vid if you ever got back across the pond.
Hi northof50now wow! I would love to see his studio! That would be amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing many thanks Warren
There were comparison rooms above all good Hi-fi showrooms from early seventies already explaining these phenomena. I would describe those Low bass extensions as Brown. Raw Umber\Golden Brown. Thank you again for an excellent video. Hand held mikes? Really Warren. I await part 3 please mike it much better though.
Thanks for another great review! I too have monitored on Genelec's for many many years, but lately I've been feeling a need to change.It seems like what's out there now can give more depth and detail, Curious on your thoughts of going from Genelec's to Focal's. Also, did you vary the listening levels? Seems like a comfortable level for you in the room but I'm curious how each pair would react with another + or - 15 db?
Very, very interested in seeing the comparison between the ATC SCM20PLS, ProAc's and the Amphion's that Alex mentioned doing. Thanks for the vids
The a7x and pmc are voiced very similar. I would love to get a pair of the pmc's.
It would be really nice if you could also check some monitors like adam a77x, focal twin6 be, or eve sc307 which all have a better bass response, more power and more detailed mid-range. In my opinion adam a77x are unbelievable and they also have very good price. In my country I think they are about 1800$ or maybe less for a pair. Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to try focal twin 6be but people say that the diference with adam a77x is not that big except focal has better stereo imaging but weaker bass response. As an alternative for a7x I think adam f7 are really close to them and iven 50% cheaper. Also thank you for this great video and keep doing great work.
Hi Warren, you've got a render error @39:43-40:31. The video resumes, but in between those timestamps it's paused. Just thought you might want to know.
Enjoying the Vintage King videos Sir!
Hi Adrian, argh that's annoying! Thanks for letting me know! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
What about the a8x I’m torn between the a7x and a8x. Almost double the price of an inch and a half and a bit more bottom end. I’m doing dance music. I
I like this episode. Very informative.
Thanks Angelo! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Was a pt3 - low budget - ever get made. I'm guessing some of these second hand are in the range now?
Warren,
I am wondering if you noticed a problem I found on the Focals that I encountered several years ago when I was doing a monitor shootout. The issue was in the crossover which had a nasty time domain issue. When I was listening to them I couldn't shake this weird midrange (2K to 3K) smearing happening. I decided to run some sine sweeps through them and measure the frequency response using an Earthworks M30. The frequency plots looked great and were close to their spec but when I looked at the Waterfall plots you could see a lot of ringing around the crossover frequency. Funny enough I was comparing them against the original ADAMs A7s and a pair of Genelec 8030s. The Adams and Genelecs had the same clean midrange and the Focals did not. I was a little confused since I knew the Focals were highly regarded and very popular. The sales guy I was dealing with was really pushing them hard. I bring this all up because, even through the mics, I could hear the weird midrange in the Focals when compared to the Adams and PMCs.
Hi Eric, that's an extremely interesting point! I would love to test them and hear that for myself! I do wonder if it was a problem they've fixed? People LOVE the Focals! Many incredible mixers I know use them! I'm Genelec fan, but I really appreciate the hug amount incredible speakers that are now available! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Eric. Can I ask a wee question? I have presonus eris 4.5 monitors and I'm pretty new to recording. When I'm mixing on the eris 4.5, I always hear nasty "squeeling" frequencies when I sweep through 2k to 4k, no matter what I've recorded. I always spend ages trying to notch them out. Do you think this can be a problem with my monitors? I use an akg 414s, shure 57, sontronics stc10 for mics and vstis but I always hear bad stuff in the 2k to 4k range..
Hot Tin Roof, that is a really tough question to answer as I have no experience with the presonus monitors and also don't know what type of music or content you are working with. While I don't have a problem with inexpensive speakers, my guess would be it's the presonus monitors that are causing you trouble. There could be a number of reasons why, they have Kevlar cones I think which can have some weird mid range issues due to the cross hatch pattern causing internal resonances in the cone, there could be a resonance in the tweeter from the backplate or cone that rings out too much, the crossover could be too resonant which would cause a problem too, the coupling of the speakers to the waveguide can cause frequency notches which can throw things off. These are all hypothetical issues as again I don't really know much about those speakers. Presonus makes really nice products and these issues are things that any speaker manufacturer has to deal with so it's not an inditement on them. I might suggest getting a really nice set of headphones, like in the 200 to 350 range, to cross reference against as you can get a fantastic sound for a lot less money than buying studio monitors and since they are only one speaker per ear you don't have any "crossover" issues to deal with. There are other problems with mixing on headphones but that's for another discussion. That being said I would recommend upgrading your monitors when you can afford to. The Adams are really fantastic and as warren eluded to, and I feel as well, you get a huge bang for the buck since they sound a lot more "expensive" then they are. I hope this helps and let me know if I can answer any more questions.
Hi Alex, awesome and useful video! Did you ever review the JBL LSR 308? Any link? I'd be very curious to know your opinion about. Thanks!
I’m a little late stumbling on this review but much appreciated just the same. Curious as to why Vintage King no longer handle PMC?
I am interested to see your review of Yamaha hs80 new version and scepter s8 ...I think these 2 are very much overlooked.
Yes, I agree! I have to try those monitors out sooner rather than later! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi! What about the comparison for passive speakers, can't wait to see it? :) I think ProAc's should be paired with Bryston amp (as this is almost standard combination in most studios), to do fair in comparison with Amphions and their belonging amps.
Interesting! I have focal solo6, I'm most used to different genelecs and yamaha HS8. I looove the focals, since getting these I find my mixes translating waaay better to other systems. Probably going to upgrade to their bigger speakers in a couple of years.
Which Genelec models you have used before? Would like to know about Genelec 8040 vs Focal Solo 6. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions?
I speak english no much. i listen well. but, Adam tweeter isn't a ribbon. It's a kind of dynamic transducer called ART -air motion transformer- patent by Adam. A very good invention
I'm curious about the Eve Audio, they seem very well priced. I bought the Focal Solo6 and didn't regret my decision but never had a chance to compare them to the Eve Audio. Thanks a lot for this video Warren (btw, where is the Trent Reznor Studio Tour? Ahahah).
this sounds really weird but the difference in sound is lights out even when listening to the video on airpods. you can just tell the difference it’s crazy
Based on this demo, I believe the Adams A77XL speakers would have given the PMC's a good run-- at about half the price. I realize the driver count would not match the other speakers, but think the cost was a better fit. Warren, I believe Tim Pierce uses the A77 in his home studio.
Hi northof50now, that's a great point! Yes I do believe Tim has those speakers and loves them! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I got the chance to compare Focal Solo 6, Genelec 8050 and EMES Black TV HR active (coax) at my home. I like the Focal tweeter, but lowmids are a little bit washy. I know the SM9, brutal but out of my price range....
Genelecs too big for my room.
EMES have blown me away with that 3D Sound, so much depth. Now I have the EMES with a Sub and I love it, coax power \m/
I think Genelec 8040 would have been a better comparison?
I love my Neumann KH 80 DSP
Sorry, but: “there is a lot of 2k and 3k is going on....“ (Ocean Way Audio). Maybe the mix is too 2k and 3k!!! I´ve purchased the OWA Pro 2 A - I´ve owned Neumann, Focal, Genelec etc. and I was shocked how good the Pro 2 A are! Never had this control over vocals and how they´re sitting in the mix etc.! I 100% convinced!!!!
That makes no sense. If the mix itself was 2k and 3k heavy, it would remain heavy in all the other speakers also. That’s the whole point of the shootout. He was only hearing the boosted mid/highs in the Ocean Ways. Additionally, Warren was the mix engineer on this track! He knows the track inside out and knows it isn’t 2k and 3k heavy.
Now i want those speaker stands. Where can i find them? wow, 6 speakers on 1 stand!. Nice video!
Haha definitely! Where do we find them?
@@Producelikeapro i think they are the Sound Anchors ADJ3 speaker stands, wow.
I'm having trouble finding that sub-$1000 monitor shootout. Am I going crazy?
Interesting monitor "shoot-out" of very well-known and respected models. BUT: 1) I was disappointed that there were obvious overall level changes between speakers. there was NOT a similar or close-to-equal average overall SPL when changing betwee speaker pairs as near as I could hear. (I believe there's more going on here re: mis-balanced comparative loudness -- punch?-- than low bass extension). 2) The presenter did not realize that the CMS 65 has a 6.5" woofer-mid driver. NOT less than 6" as he said. (The name CMS 65 kinda gives that one away.). 2b) If the CMS 65s weren't adjusted for the room -- as the other models presumably were? -- WHY NOT? Looking, forward to more reviews of law-end speakers and comparisons with classic models still in wide usage. Tannoys anyone?
Is it because you need to buy 975 pieces of gear to finally be satisfied!? Thanks for the monitor vids! Great for a beginner like me. Will you be doing any mic pre vids in future? I would love to see 2-pre, 4-pre and multi-pre round-ups from Produce Like A Pro!
Hi Hot Tin Roof haha yes! Actually it's a reference to Dr Who! Glad the video was able to help! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing many thanks Warren
I can't find the part 3 of this reviews, is there a part 3? :(
Are the focal CMS 65 speakers sufficient enough for mixing hip hop music with deep bass?
Hey Warren. What's your max db level for calibration purposes in your studio ? I have a 14x12 space and set max at about 82db. Thanks for your commitment to spreading the word 💡
It's crazy, but you can recognise the voicing of the speakers, even when recorded through the interview microphones. And
the 3-dimensionality of the pmcs.
You have a good ear Vik!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
interesting watching in 2021. talking about adamax7 being a good deal for $1500. here in the uk they are more like £400 each and a fair bit lower in price than all those super duper others in this comparison. seems like adams are a good deal comparatively for a first set of something pro quality.