Steelbones
Member
A lot is made of tube/valve amplification in terms of getting good guitar tone.
But over the years I've found that the nature of the speaker enclosures that I've used, has been at least as important as the type of amp I've used.
Both the quality and sensitivity of the speakers has a massive bearing on your eventual tone.
Anyone else have an opinion?
I dont know enough about it to say anything for sure
but I know what I like, and I like my bass amp for guitar more than my guitar amp :P
I figured it was the speaker or something, but it is a smaller space in which the speaker is in. I think thats what ou mean
Yeah. A simple A/B test people can do is compare the Vox AC30's, first the one with the normal speakers, then the one with the AlNiCo speakers. It's an awesome difference, the AlNiCo one is so much more crisp and responsive.
Steelbones
Member
Well there are a lot of variables with a speaker enclosures, most of which I don't really understand myself.
But I'm with you in as much as I know what I like.
When I talk about sensitivity I'm talking about how much the magnets in the speaker react to any given input strength.
By and large you want higher sensitivity for clean sounds, and lower sensitivity for driven sounds.
I just 'found' an old 4x12 cab with four Celestion 30 watt speakers...the guy says I can have it for $200 (a steal) and I want it! Unfortunately, the next $200 I get has to go towards a new bass cab. Damn bad timing.
Hey BT (and you other guys of course!): you seem like quite the expert.. some guy is offering to sell me some monitors from a brand I've never heard of and can't quite find online, called "Sound Research". Supposedly it's an american brand, and given the price of the pair it would be a good bargain. I've yet to go check them out (just talked to the guy online), but then I guess I'll hear if they're good or not. The other thing about them is that they're passive, so I'd need an amplifier..
Steelbones
Member
^ Post up the exact name and model number of the monitors so we can look them up, or post us a link to some comprehensive technical data on them.
Once we know more of the specifications we'll be better able to advise. :)
That's the problem, I don't have the technical specs.. he just said they were old, and sounded nice still, so I wondered if anyone had heard of this brand.. Maybe I'll just have to go ahead and use my ears :-P
Well, passive monitors are iffy.
On the one hand you get them for cheap, and can then upgrade the monitors and speakers separately. On the other hand, they'll have less fidelity than most middle/high end active monitors since those have built-in amplifiers tuned to each driver (mid/tweeter).
In my personal opinion passive monitors aren't worth it.
As for an amplifier if you're really liking those things, I saw a Peavey CS-800S 2x600w amplifier here for 45k isk: http://tonabudin.is/notadmixmagnbox.htm
There's also a very nice pair of LEM PFM 12.2 active speakers (150w) there for 65k. Not sure if they're meant for monitoring.
Yeah... the annoying thing is basically that I just need some good, clean sound... and well, if the monitors are a cheap 10k, and I spend 40+ on an amplifier.. then I could just as well get a good pair of active monitors, and have less to worry about..
Well, get a pair of M-Audio BX5a monitors. That's what I have, you might remember you were with me when I got them.
They're 30k each. 60k for the pair.
Steelbones
Member
Well I've had a look around the net for Sound Research Speakers, and I can't turn anything up either.
I disagree that passive monitors don't have the fidelity of active ones. I can actually make a few technical arguments against the fidelity of active monitors.
But in general what you want for monitoring is speakers with a high dB-sensitivity, that's where you get your hi-fi from.
steinn: I recommend you disregard everything I say if Steelbones contradicts me ;))
Are these studio monitors or stage monitors? I'm guessing studio monitors...
Not familiar with this brand, since I don't have the funds to shop for studio gear these days. My favorite (and what I personally used to use) are the Yamaha NS-10 nearfield monitors. That and a Crown 200 watt per side power amp.
The Yamahas are pretty much an industry standard, but they've been discontinued. Unfortunately, I discovered this right after one of my woofers died, so now I have no 'good'(i.e. flat response) monitors.
These days we've got an old set of ESS studio monitors from the mid 70's. they sound pretty good and I used to use them for cutting room playback (so the band wouldn't have to drop everything and come into the control room between each take)
When I get the studio back up here I'm gonna have to drop some bucks on a new set of something...don't know just what yet.
I like,how this thread went from guitar amp speakers to studio monitors...
Steelbones, care to elaborate on the specs/differences of the following, and what characteristics are desirable in each?
(I know you can do it):
Guitar amp speakers
Bass amp speakers
Home stereo speakers
Recording Studio monitors
...oh, and what the Hell...car stereo speakers too.
yeah I'm with BT on this, come on Bones :D
Steelbones
Member
^ Right.........
It's currently 9:45pm, and I'm drinking a beer called Alba that's 7.5% by volume, and I fully intend to drink more.
I'll get around to the nitty gritty later.
...and THAT'S pretty much all you ever need to know about speakers!
ooooooooooooooh ok, makes sense
THANKS BONES!
Steelbones
Member
^ Bastards........
Hahah :D
Hahaha... I'll keep my eyes peeled and focused on this thread =D
And btw Henrý, yeah I remember those, and I have been thinking of getting the BX5a's or similar ones, but decided to hijack this thread first :P
You must log in to post.
