Finally got decent speakers (With pics)

**dj_stick** · Sep 6, 2006, 08:28 AM

Many of you regulars probably know i'm into sound and music in a big way… so you'll probably understand my excitement at my latest purchase

Alesis M1 Active 620 Studio Monitors

After listening to a few select CDs and vinyl, I can tell you these monitors sound far better than my old multimedia ones, and I know you guys love photos so here you go:

One on its own:

My "studio" setup

Comparison shot w/ my old speaker

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Sep 6, 2006, 07:35 PM

your walls look like your computer room is a closet?

thomasabarnes · Sep 6, 2006, 08:41 PM

Nice DJ!! Congratulations!

Vikingod · Sep 6, 2006, 08:52 PM

I would have figured if anyone in this place had great speakers, it would have been you dj. Those do look pretty rockin, congrats.

Judas · Sep 6, 2006, 09:51 PM

what wattage are those? (not the RMS wattage, i hate that rating)

**dj_stick** · Sep 6, 2006, 11:25 PM

the RMS wattage is the only one that counts, it's 100w RMS biamped per speaker, so i think it's 25/75 split between the cones

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiGBrOwNPimpsta

your walls look like your computer room is a closet?

yeah my room is tiny, so we modified the plans when the house was built - where my computer is was supposed to be a linen closet opening from the other side

Judas · Sep 7, 2006, 12:54 AM

I've made a huge post but lost it due to being slapped with the ip ban stick again.

I find the RMS Wattage rating system is quite terrible, i'm not sure what the old wattage rating system was, but my guad, 160 watt amplifier back in the day seems to drive a hell of alot better sound and clarity then these pos 800 watt amps today, not to mention the speakers rating, 25 watt bb's that spit out a better audiable sound then some of the 300 watters..

And i haven't found a older wattage rating system... so i'm confused on how it's changed from then to now?

**dj_stick** · Sep 7, 2006, 01:14 AM

i think you're a bit confused - the only other rating is the peak (maximum) output - so the rating would appear higher than it really is
(100W RMS would be about 141W PMPO)
sounds like you've just heard some really crappy newer amps when compared to the older ones, and as for speaker ratings, that's just how much power they can handle before before distorting - though again it sounds like the newer ones you've heard are pretty crappy

EDIT: RMS is a pretty good measurement, i mean we use it for our AC power - and sound is an AC signal. What the RMS measurement actually shows is the "average" level between no signal and the peak (remember AC goes up and down, and crosses the 0V point regularly)

And also the scale is logarythmic - to get an increase of 3dB (the smallest increment that the human ear can differentiate) you need to double the output power, so if you were listening to your old 160w amp, and it was decent quality, I wouldn't be surprised if it sounded better than some of the crap on the market today

Judas · Sep 7, 2006, 01:58 AM

15 grand system vs that 160 watt amp and 2 200/75/15 (low/mid/high) and 2 200/50 (low/high).

The 15 grand system has a little over 1600 watts, with 4 sets of speakers all 3 sets of 125 watt (mids) and 25 watt highs.

Now you'd figure that system would be able to fill a VERY VERY large room clearly enough that reguardless of where you are, you'd be able hear it albite not amazingly clear. Where as that poor old 1976 ish Baycrest 160 watt Applifier would be struggling to even make it half way passed the dance floor let alone somewhat outside. Yet it did.

That little sucker is amazing, and the name brand on it isn't even a "name of names" brand, combined with a much older system.

ATM, and IMO, i find yamaha spits out the best low wattage and high wattage amps, combined with Sound Accoustic shelf/cabinet speakers, they are great. (for cheap)

I just find that majority of the products today have a high wattage rating, but can't seem to live up to it in comparison to the older stuff.

pr0digal jenius · Sep 7, 2006, 05:16 AM

Today they advertise the peak wattage, and I believe they used to advertise RMS...so that may be where you're coming from.

Example: a 1000 watt system "today" [peak watts] would be the same as about a 581 watt system "back in the day" [RMS watts]

Necrosis · Sep 7, 2006, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

15 grand system vs that 160 watt amp and 2 200/75/15 (low/mid/high) and 2 200/50 (low/high).

The 15 grand system has a little over 1600 watts, with 4 sets of speakers all 3 sets of 125 watt (mids) and 25 watt highs.

Now you'd figure that system would be able to fill a VERY VERY large room clearly enough that reguardless of where you are, you'd be able hear it albite not amazingly clear. Where as that poor old 1976 ish Baycrest 160 watt Applifier would be struggling to even make it half way passed the dance floor let alone somewhat outside. Yet it did.

That little sucker is amazing, and the name brand on it isn't even a "name of names" brand, combined with a much older system.

ATM, and IMO, i find yamaha spits out the best low wattage and high wattage amps, combined with Sound Accoustic shelf/cabinet speakers, they are great. (for cheap)

I just find that majority of the products today have a high wattage rating, but can't seem to live up to it in comparison to the older stuff.

LOL, someone's never owned a Carver.

merry · Sep 7, 2006, 12:18 PM

Tsk tsk:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pmpo

merry · Sep 7, 2006, 12:21 PM

DJ_Stick: I have been contemplating for a while buying the M-Audio LX4 2.1, available here (I'm always out of cash when they're in stock and viceversa).

How do you think they would compare to yours?

**dj_stick** · Sep 7, 2006, 12:37 PM

depends on your purpose - they would suit a small project studio quite well…

you'll probably get more low end with that sub unit than I would, but i have a feeling my 620's may have a little more clarity

my advice is to listen to them if you can… and make a decision then

mtsaint · Sep 7, 2006, 12:41 PM

yes good sound is key i ended up purchasing a logitech THX certified sound system the kind that has a SUB box as the head unit. overall satisfied. somehow i do remeber the amp's being louder as a kid but thats probably becuase im going deaf from all the super load ampage

mtsaint · Sep 7, 2006, 12:43 PM

Dj_stick whats your favorite music to listen. i like the ambient sound Hip HOp and the occasional METAL. is amon tobin breakbeat or ambient he is good stuff

merry · Sep 7, 2006, 12:44 PM

Thanks.

The listening part is tricky, for me at least. Speakers never sound the same in the shop and at home, and maybe I get a bit intimidated/confused just before buying.

I won't be doing any studio work

But the kind of music I'm into requires clarity, and my aging Yamahas (almost 10 years old now) are well below my needs...

Hope I see some Alesis in a shop around here.

Thanks again, and enjoy your new speakers

**dj_stick** · Sep 7, 2006, 01:33 PM

my alesis have a RRP of around AUD$1300… so they may be a little expensive (though i got mine for AUD$700) and are probably overkill for listening purposes…

those m-audio should do the trick for you

oh and mtsaint: i normally listen to/produce hard/tech/acid trance

Zardon · Sep 7, 2006, 04:03 PM

great speakers DJ, I hope a review is forthcoming

riles9262 · Sep 7, 2006, 08:53 PM

Awesome speakers. I bet they sound primo...and I hope a review of them is coming too.

**dj_stick** · Sep 8, 2006, 12:39 PM

hmm i just might have to do one then

can't argue with a man who has an avatar like that

pr0digal jenius · Sep 8, 2006, 08:01 PM

well, you could, but yer head might end up on a chain dangling from the avatar's genitals...liek whoever those 2 other poor tarts were

riles9262 · Sep 9, 2006, 04:41 PM

I forgot to ask. What do you have driving those speakers? I'm interested to know if you really need a good receiver to get crisp, strong sound, or if the speakers are good enough to kind of make up for a crappy receiver on their own.

**dj_stick** · Sep 9, 2006, 11:54 PM

these speakers are active, with built two built in amplifiers per speaker, so there's no need to drive it with a seperate receiver/amp like you do with passive speakers (in fact doing so will kill them)

i'm running them from the "monitor" output of my mixer, which is generally fed by the computer input - i use the mixer for level control

Necrosis · Sep 10, 2006, 01:25 AM

Hey DJ what do you think of the Swan M200's?

**dj_stick** · Sep 10, 2006, 02:06 AM

looking at the newegg page… interesting design, though i have a feeling they're more for hobbyists than professionals

the angled front suggests they're designed to be placed on a desk, not at ear level like the accepted standard.
Also unbalanced cabling and single amp (it seems) driving both monitors the response won't be as flat as you'd ideally want it.

But without hearing them, for the price they seem like quite capable computer speakers, probably better than most of the multimedia offerings from CL, logitech etc

Necrosis · Sep 10, 2006, 02:23 AM

I was thinking about using them for my speakers at work. I wouldn't be using them for more than anything than listening.

**dj_stick** · Sep 10, 2006, 03:13 AM

that sounds perfect then - the angled cones mean that when placed at average desk height the sound should be aimed directly at your ears, or close enough to

Lowfat · Sep 12, 2006, 03:20 AM

They look like good speakers.. So i was browsing there site, and i noticed they have a set of speakers that look identical to Logitech Z680s... Anyone know if logitech makes them or is Alesis the actual speaker manufacturer?

**dj_stick** · Sep 12, 2006, 03:40 AM

heh you're right… interesting

Sep 6, 2006, 07:35 PM	#2
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,717 Rep Power: 107 System Specs	your walls look like your computer room is a closet? __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard

Sep 6, 2006, 08:41 PM	#3
thomasabarnes Long Time ***** Friend Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,375 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Nice DJ!! Congratulations! __________________ May a song always touch you in a positive way. SONAR X1D Expanded, Windows 7 Pro 64Bit, MOTU UltraLite MK3, 150 GB HDD, 250 GB HDD, 1 TB x2 HDD 7200 rpm My Music Production: Top 40, Contemporary Christian, Pop/Rock, Decent Rap, Inspirationals, and Children Songs

Sep 7, 2006, 12:18 PM	#12
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	Tsk tsk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pmpo __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Sep 7, 2006, 12:21 PM	#13
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	DJ_Stick: I have been contemplating for a while buying the M-Audio LX4 2.1, available here (I'm always out of cash when they're in stock and viceversa). How do you think they would compare to yours? __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Sep 7, 2006, 12:44 PM	#17
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	Thanks. The listening part is tricky, for me at least. Speakers never sound the same in the shop and at home, and maybe I get a bit intimidated/confused just before buying. I won't be doing any studio work But the kind of music I'm into requires clarity, and my aging Yamahas (almost 10 years old now) are well below my needs... Hope I see some Alesis in a shop around here. Thanks again, and enjoy your new speakers __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Sep 6, 2006, 08:52 PM	#4
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	I would have figured if anyone in this place had great speakers, it would have been you dj. Those do look pretty rockin, congrats.

Sep 7, 2006, 05:16 AM	#10
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	Today they advertise the peak wattage, and I believe they used to advertise RMS...so that may be where you're coming from. Example: a 1000 watt system "today" [peak watts] would be the same as about a 581 watt system "back in the day" [RMS watts]

Sep 7, 2006, 12:41 PM	#15
mtsaint DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 257 Rep Power: 0	yes good sound is key i ended up purchasing a logitech THX certified sound system the kind that has a SUB box as the head unit. overall satisfied. somehow i do remeber the amp's being louder as a kid but thats probably becuase im going deaf from all the super load ampage

Sep 7, 2006, 12:43 PM	#16
mtsaint DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 257 Rep Power: 0	Dj_stick whats your favorite music to listen. i like the ambient sound Hip HOp and the occasional METAL. is amon tobin breakbeat or ambient he is good stuff

Sep 7, 2006, 04:03 PM	#19
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	great speakers DJ, I hope a review is forthcoming

Sep 7, 2006, 08:53 PM	#20
riles9262 Driverheaven brewmaster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,842 Rep Power: 72 System Specs	Awesome speakers. I bet they sound primo...and I hope a review of them is coming too. __________________ A beer a day keeps the doctor away.

Sep 8, 2006, 08:01 PM	#22
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	well, you could, but yer head might end up on a chain dangling from the avatar's genitals...liek whoever those 2 other poor tarts were

Sep 9, 2006, 04:41 PM	#23
riles9262 Driverheaven brewmaster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,842 Rep Power: 72 System Specs	I forgot to ask. What do you have driving those speakers? I'm interested to know if you really need a good receiver to get crisp, strong sound, or if the speakers are good enough to kind of make up for a crappy receiver on their own. __________________ A beer a day keeps the doctor away.

Sep 10, 2006, 01:25 AM	#25
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Hey DJ what do you think of the Swan M200's?

Sep 10, 2006, 02:23 AM	#27
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	I was thinking about using them for my speakers at work. I wouldn't be using them for more than anything than listening.

Sep 12, 2006, 03:20 AM	#29
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	They look like good speakers.. So i was browsing there site, and i noticed they have a set of speakers that look identical to Logitech Z680s... Anyone know if logitech makes them or is Alesis the actual speaker manufacturer? __________________