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Hardware question

Spat
#1

Hi,

here is my question, I would like to buy some speakers to test spat in real (and not binaural) in my studio, but here it is… my budget is a bit limited!

I do have a fireface RME 800, so I have 8 output, my questions are:

Do I have to buy 8 active speakers, or can I buy passives speakers?

If I buy a couple active-passive, can I split them as 2 different speakers? so it will be as I head 16 speakers?

Thank you for your responses,

sincerely,

Jonathan

#2

Hi Jonathan,

I’m not sure to understand precisely your expectations about the sound system you’d like. There are 2 different questions in your message:

First, I would advise you to buy a set of active speakers since you will use them as a monitoring system. An active speaker provides more precision, more neutral sound, etc…

Concerning your studio architecture, you only have 8 discrete analog outputs on your RME. That means that you will never be able to get 16 discrete channels on your sound system, so I don’t really understand why you want to use a “coupled” system in which each speaker is doubled, and each active/passive couple fed with the same signal. Moreover, in case you use a coupled setup (1 with an included 1 channel amp, the other with a 2 channels external amp able to feed 2 passive speakers), you will have big differences in the sound quality between the 2 kinds of speakers, and thus a non-homogeneous sound space.

My advice would be to buy a 8 active speakers system.

Kind regards.

Julien ALEONARD. Ircam Sound Engineer.

#3

Thank you Julien for your answers,

so what would you think of those active speakers: http://www.thomann.de/fr/kustom_ksc10mp.htm

As I said it’s for me to work on my composition studio, not to use in concert.

Or do you have any speakers to recommend?

Thank you,

Jonathan

#4

Hi Jonathan,

Be careful, these are NOT studio monitoring speakers but small speakers for PA (conference, bars, etc…).

What I would advise you is to buy Genelec, TC, Dynaudio speakers or cheaper KRK, Fostex…

Kind regards.

Julien

#5

Thank you very much for your answers, you’re helping me a lot,

So what do you think of those?

http://www.thomann.de/fr/esi_aktiv_05_b_stock.htm

And do you think I can use them for small concerts? (30 peoples)

Jonathan

 

#6

Hi,

The 5" ESI speakers can be interesting in their price range (I must admit that I always use high end models…). But in case you need to se them for small concerts, I would advise you to get the 8" model. Of course, it’s 50% more expensive but it will be a lot more polyvalent with a broader frequency response.

#7

Thank you,

you really helped me a lot

Jonathan