I need speakers for mastering; any recommendations?

[Steve Hoffman]

My two year manufacturers loan is up.

I'm using the wonderful Venture Excellence III's downstairs in my listening room so I need something for the studio...

Any recommendations? I can't hear everything out there and what little I hear at the trade shows usually are in rooms that are less than optimal sounding. If you know of something groovy for me, post here, please.

Oh, very important:
Bass must go down to 40 without subwoofer.

They have to be VERY HIGH QUALITY with good resolution capable of revealing little sonic nuances in the music.

Most speaker makers I've spoken to recently have been slow to get off the dime; I've had many nibbles but no actual bites. I need something now; projects are lining up. I wanted a pair of those nifty British Harbeth 40's but they are not being made right now.

To manufacturers I can promise a review here and possibly elsewhere on the speakers plus full credit for their use via album credit for a long term loan....

Any thoughts?

[Metralla]

Jim Ricketts?

[Steve Hoffman]

There is a speaker named after my friend Jim? Cool!

[Metralla]

I was going to recommend the Hoffman Excelsiors but I figured you'd get tired of a pair of speakers with your name on the front. ;)

[SamS]

Is it obnoxious to recommend speakers that I own?

Truthfully, I don't think you'd go wrong with B&Ws Nautilus 802D's. They're used in the mixing/mastering studio at Lucasfilm, IIRC at Abbey Road, and I'm sure many other studio environments.

Also, I think you said you used the older 802s (similar to current "D" offering) at Marcussen Mastering to do the Donovan Storyteller SACD. And boy did that one turn out amazing :righton:

Not to mention, I think B&W would be rather accomodating getting you a pair ASAP.

Basically, the top end B&W models have stood the test of time in recording studios for decades. I believe they meet your requirements for accuracy and bass extension, so it would be a matter of your personal taste.

Linky (http://www.bwspeakers.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.models/label/Model%20802D)

There's also the Nautilus 801D with 15" woofer if the room acoustics can support it.

[Jay F]

I was going to suggest B&W's 800 line, too. I had a pair of Matrix 805s once, and found them too revealing, but others said they were just showing me what was on my discs. Maybe this is what you want.

[andyinstal]

KEF Reference 107.....If you can find a pair.

[PMC7027]

Barry Diament uses Magnepan 3.6s. I recommend the 20.1s.

You might also want to try the Wilson Maxx 2s.

[Kent Teffeteller]

Hi Steve,

How about trying the B & W DM 801 speakers or Tannoy Reveals. Both are superb and accurate.

[Jamie Tate]

B&W 802s and 801s are very nice. Almost bought a pair for myself.

I also hear a lot of good things about Egglestons. (http://www.egglestonworks.com/Products.htm) The guys at Sony mastering use them (Rob LoVerde, Joe Palmaccio, etc..) Bob Ludwig uses them as his main speakers. Sony used them to demo DSD. I haven't heard them in an accurate room so I can't speak from personal experience but they get lots of nice reviews from some golden ears.

[TONEPUB]

I'm not gettin in the middle of this one...

:)

[Jamie Tate]

I also really like the sound of THESE (http://www.pmcloudspeaker.com/bb5.html) PMC speakers. Master Mix uses them and they always sound amazing.

[Jay F]

You should understand, Steve, that I'm only recommending the B&W 800 speakers for mastering. I hated what they revealed and sold them at a loss. I couldn't live with them.

[J.A.W.]

I'm apparently swimming against the current here, but I would not recommend high-end B&W speakers. The ones I've heard accentuated the high and low ends too much to my ears. I don't remember which models they were, but they were at or at least near the top of B&W's current range - and very expensive...

[mtodde]

Check the Lipinski's...I believe they go that low.

[MartinV56]

Hi Steve, oldies but good, BBC LS3/5a
Best regards, Martin

[Jamie Tate]

Check the Lipinski's...I believe they go that low.

I've been hearing a lot abut them lately. The rep is down the street from me. I should check them out.

[oxenholme]

KEF Reference 107.....If you can find a pair.

They do indeed go down VERY low, but I suspect their top end might be a little fierce. Mine died a death when the power amp went wrong, sending through enough juice to burn out the bass drivers.

I replaced them with Monitor Audio Gold Reference 60s. They have fabulous sound, go down to 28Hz, they sound truly remarkable on cathedral organ, on harpsichord, on piano, on just about everything that I've put through them - vinyl, reel to reel, SACD, DVD Audio.

They're brill and highly recommended. :)

[Sneaky Pete]

I know you're aware of them but I still love my Legacies. How about the modest signature III (admittedly biased opinon)

[crispynz1]

ATC. Here is a link to a list of some of their clients.

http://www.atc.gb.net/client_list.html

[Joe Nino-Hernes]

Hey Steve,

I would consider giving the Harbeth Monitor 30's a spin. Or if you want a 3 way, the Super HL5. You allready know we can get those immediately.

[Joe Nino-Hernes]

I'm apparently swimming against the current here, but I would not recommend high-end B&W speakers. The ones I've heard accentuated the high and low ends too much to my ears. I don't remember which models they were, but they were at or at least near the top of B&W's current range - and very expensive...

I agree. I find current B&W bright and lacking bass. Same with ATC. Another thing about ATC, we have them here at Columbia. They have this weird spike around 3k. Drives me mad!

[MichaelR]

AVI Gravitrons ?? Certainly loved by the PMC / BBC / Harbeth school.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct99/articles/av1.htm

or get Duntechs, they're from Adelaide - so they must be good ..

maybe an Ipod...... :)

regards

Michael

[Vinyl-Addict]

Hey Steve,

I would consider giving the Harbeth Monitor 30's a spin. Or if you want a 3 way, the Super HL5. You allready know we can get those immediately.

Joe, Unfortunately the M30's don't go low enough. Steve, who said the M40's aren't being made right now? Fidelis is the N. American distributor, perhaps they have a pair they could loan you.

[Joe Nino-Hernes]

Joe, Unfortunately the M30's don't go low enough. Steve, who said the M40's aren't being made right now? Fidelis is the N. American distributor, perhaps they have a pair they could loan you.

They are -3dB at 50. The super HL5's are -3dB at 40. Fidelis is out of the monitor 40's.