Cheapest DJing/Production monitors and headphones

NPM5’s … See Phil’s review and you know it all 🙂

http://www.digitaldjtips.com/2012/06/review-video-numark-npm5-studio-monitor-system/

As has been said many times over, you get what you pay for in speakers. So if you want cheap/low-end, you will be sacrificing something in the category sound quality, power, build quality, etx.

Check out the alternatives Phil suggests in his article. If you want something better your best buy (in my opinion) would be a set of KRK RP5 G2’s. They will at least cost each what a set of NPM5’s or M-Audio’s would cost you.

Another thing is that I personally can’t listen long time to studio monitors if I am not editing or something. They are just too brutally honest for just listening to music or practicing DJ-ing. I get tired quickly.

I haven’t tried the AKG 44’s, but looking at the price tag, I am assuming low-end too. That doesn’t mean they are not good, but you really want something decent for producing I think. I use a set of Sennheiser HD25-II cans for mixing/editing. They are excellent (and the somewhat standard choice in the live sound/recording industry) but easily cost 6 time what an AKG 44 costs.

Good luck with your choice & greetinx,
C.

I agree with Chuck.
I even would go as far as that the monitors you use for production, their placement and their quality are crucial to the sound your production will have…
This is why I use my KRK (which are good) Rockit for DJing rehearsals, but I use some quite expensive Adams for production.
Nobody will take you serious production wise if your sound is not good and there is a huge difference in production quality when heard over a good system. While it may not make a difference on 9 bucks earbuds, some songs will sound like they came from an old Nintendo when heard over the right speakers. And anyone you will send your tape/CD/upload to will have the speakers to notice.
Unless of course you only do this for yourself and as a hobby, then everything that sounds good for yourself will be OK.

Yep, it is an acquired skill. Actually my last hearing test (two years ago) shows a pretty steep drop from 14KHz upwards. Old age setting in on top of too much loud music in my younger days I am afraid.

The point is that I don’t hear the highs too well anymore. The odd thing though when I mix, I get it right. The risk is that you start EQ-ing in more highs (because you can’t hear them as well), but apparently I have trained my brain/ears to what sound “good” and I can reproduce that despite the fact that I have trouble in the high range.

In other words, although I hear something different than a younger person with good ears, we can both have the same definition of “good” sound.

One of the things to do is try solvege or ear training CD’s. They will help you train to recognize frequencies and chords.

Greetinx,
C.

Uhm … nope … it is more that if you train your ears you’ll be able to tell if you have good monitors :-).

ElMuppet, post: 40553, member: 10300 wrote: I have a question at this point. Why not KRK RP6 G2’s instead (you advice were 5inch) They don’t lack the low end and cost 20€ more ea. (at least where I live)

They are 50 euro more ea. here. And with the 5’s already being double of the Numarks …

Nick Powers, post: 40556, member: 2466 wrote: Could you just get one monitor?

Sure you can buy just one monitor, but producing in mono is not advisable.

Listen, go with what you can afford. I think Phil’s advice on the M-Audio’s is pretty solid. They are priced realistically. Then just start cranking out tunes. Keep saving up while you are producing and one day you’ll have enough in the piggy bank to buy some nice Adams, Focals or whatever.

Most important is to get started.

Greetinx,
C.