Best Bang for Your Buck FRFR

[jw3571]

Can someone guide me to a great pair of powered FRFR monitors that won't break the bank? I think the most I'd want to spend is $600 for a pair. I've looked at the KRK Rockit's that are fairly priced or the Behringers. This will be used with the Axe FX II. I'm assuming you can spend in this range and still have it sound fantastic. If I really have to spend more let me know. This will only be used in my basement so I wouldn't think I'd need anything that hugely powered. I want to sound good at low volumes but still be able to somewhat crank it when I want to. What size woofer is generally recommended for guitar use like this? Is 5 inch too small?

[Stratman68]

Can someone guide me to a great pair of powered FRFR monitors that won't break the bank? I think the most I'd want to spend is $600 for a pair. I've looked at the KRK Rockit's that are fairly priced or the Behringers. This will be used with the Axe FX II. I'm assuming you can spend in this range and still have it sound fantastic. If I really have to spend more let me know. This will only be used in my basement so I wouldn't think I'd need anything that hugely powered. I want to sound good at low volumes but still be able to somewhat crank it when I want to. What size woofer is generally recommended for guitar use like this? Is 5 inch too small?

I have been using my Mackie HR6214MKII's for a long time in my home studio. Bought them as B-Stock from MF 2 years ago, $350 each-never any issues. They have a 6.5" woofer. I did buy some QSC K10's, but they aren't so much for the axe as they are for my one man gig type of crap. 5" would probably be OK if you got some killers, but not for the price. I sure would look for B-stock at MF or Music 123, etc before I spent the same amount on Behringers. Just MHO

[Glen Sorrentino]

I use a 2.1 Roland CM220 which are recently released and sound awesome for about 700 i believe. Backing tracks, drums and guitar all sound killer. I was using a pair of Focal 6be's with recoil stabilizers for 2500$ and quite honestly, The Rolands for bedroom/basement use kick some serious *** and sound better. My friends who are guitar techs agree and are often blown away. Had them for almost 6-8 months and find no need to keep looking. Hope this helps.

[MaxTwang]

Hello Music has the 5" Yamaha HS50M for $298 (pair, $100 off MAP) and 8" HS80M for $498 (pair, $200 off MAP).

[franklantern]

I second the studio monitor idea. The Mackies sound much better than the QSC's. Of course you need to be positioned since they are near field. If you arent going to be hauling them around or need to push alot of air studio monitors sound great. I would spend as much as I could on the monitors since they will be creating all those juicy sounds you have spent hours dialing in.

[kmanick]

the Yamaha 8" HS80M monitors are great.
I have the KRK rokit 8's and I really like them for use with the Axe FX.
I haven't really done a lot of mixing with them yet so I don't know how good they will be for that
but for jamming and practicing thru they're great.
I think 5" is too small , I had 5's to start with and I did not like them.

[scruffydoo]

I've been blown away with the Alto TS115A 15" PA speakers, can't imagine anything else getting near it in that price range, 10's and 12's are also getting good reviews. 100% better than the rokits I was using.

[antcarrier]

If you're only going to be using this to amplify the axe, I'd recommend looking at a better single speaker rather than buying a pair of not so great ones. The axe can only sound as good as the speaker its played through.

[jw3571]

How is the sound 1 speaker? I guess the cab i'm currently using is only speaker and it sounds good. Is two monitors better?All the ones mentioned seem like great options. So many good options, it's going to be tough to narrow down. I guess i'm looking for the fullest sound at any volume.

[antcarrier]

1 great monitor will sound better than 2 good ones unless you specifically need it to run in stereo. If its purely for guitar use and not also for studio monitoring or something else, I would highly recommend getting only 1 speaker at that price point.

[jw3571]

If I go the 1 speaker rout in that ballpark what do you recommend?

[boltrecords]

I think the atomic powered cabs sound great. You can probably pick one up for below your budget.
I have a mint one ill sell you if you're interested. I'm only selling because I'm upgrading to the rcf which id highly recommend but it's a lot more dough.

[Sixstring]

Can someone guide me to a great pair of powered FRFR monitors that won't break the bank? I think the most I'd want to spend is $600 for a pair. I've looked at the KRK Rockit's that are fairly priced or the Behringers. This will be used with the Axe FX II. I'm assuming you can spend in this range and still have it sound fantastic. If I really have to spend more let me know. This will only be used in my basement so I wouldn't think I'd need anything that hugely powered. I want to sound good at low volumes but still be able to somewhat crank it when I want to. What size woofer is generally recommended for guitar use like this? Is 5 inch too small?

You need to define this one as everyone's definition is different. Most near field studio monitors are not ment to be cranked. Also are you planning on playing to tracks? Bass and Kick will not be very prominent without a sub with a typical low to mid budget 5" near field. I would if at all possible try to demo everything in your price range wether it be a Studio monitor or an powered FR cab like the Atomic, Alto, Mackie etc...

[Glen Sorrentino]

The problem with any satellite monitors, near fields, stereo set-ups is unless you have a large speaker your lows from the Axe Fx II will never be given justice. To get good lows require a big speaker and a lot of wattage. Good luck finding this for cheap. Adding a subwoofer to an existing system is a royal pain unless it was made for your system and can usually if done right run a bundle on your wallet. I'll keep the Rolands 2.1 system which was dirt cheap for the quality. Yes, they can crank up to scary volumes and hang with it and remain killer. I took my axe II into the music store when i bought these, plugged in, cranked it up ....and an audience came a circling!

[Kriig]

I really like the Yamaha HS80 in the pricerange. For studio/homeuse, of course.

[mitch]

+1 on the Yamaha HS80. I much prefer it over the KRK Rockit 8's (gen2) I had previously. IMHO the rockit8 was mud city and the enclosure made creaking and buzzing noises too.

[jw3571]

Just from looking at specs and reviews I'm kind of sold on the Yamaha HS80's. Do I really need the sub though? When I say cranked I don't mean as loud as you probably think. Really just a nice playing volume. My 1 watt marshall amp is too loud when it's fully cranked just for comparison.

[ScornEmperor]

I've used a pair of Yamaha HS50 monitors for almost two years with an Axe-FX Ultra. They've served me well as in-home monitors for the Axe-FX. I haven't used the sub, but I ordered it just a bit ago as an upgrade to my setup. I figure it's worth doing this before considering buying a more expensive power amp solution. If you want bang for your buck, you're probably going to be fine with the HS80s. I love listening to music on them. They seem to bring out good quality sound on the Axe-FX, although honestly I don't have a huge range of experience to compare to other solutions. They are an affordable and effective starting point.

I should get the sub by Friday, so I can post what I think of it when I drop it into my setup.

[79_limited]

Nothing and I mean nothing touches these in this price range and i have used many monitors over various price ranges. I also agree the Yamaha's are good but these are better.

Equator D5 5.25" Coaxial Studio Monitors w/ Internal DSP for Matched Output and Accurate Voicing. Under 300 Per Pair.

For $300 you could get these monitors and still have $$$ left over to buy 1 Atomic Active wedge or cabinet. You will love this combo.

[Thomas-Hawk]

Hey 79, these look interesting! I can't say that I've seen many studio monitors in coaxial format. I'm not a studio monitor expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I can't recall seeing any other coaxial monitors like this. Perhaps that's why they sound so good? Only thing that would concern me is the size of the woofer. Would seem a bit small for down-tuned metal chugga-chugga type stuff. Do you have any experience with them in that type of situation?