Event 20/20

[King Cheung]

Hi, all,
I own a pair of Event 20/20, which I purchased many years ago, and I like them.
Now that I have a new studio and need another pair of monitor, I found out no more Event 20/20, and the new model is call Opal.
Any ideas? Are they as good as 20/20?
If not, any other suggestions for a pair of audio monitor for sound mixing?
Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[David W. Jones]

Well you can certainly get higher end, but I have been very pleased with how well mixes on my JBL LSR 4328P monitors translate. Adding a sub really helped fill out the sound making it a real close translation to a sound stage. Having used the 20/20s before, I can say the 4328 is a very welcome step up.

All the Best!

 

[King Cheung]

Thanks, David.
Based on your suggestion, I found out JBL LSR6328P seems very interesting, particularly with its RMC.
Yet, at the same time, it seems that Genelec 8050A is a very nice choice, though it's slightly more expensive than JBL one.
Any thoughts and/or experience from the fellows in here?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

I also have the Event 20/20's which I consider the best bang for the buck in near-field monitors. The last studio I set up, I used the Mackie self amplified monitors and like them quite a bit, not quite as smooth as the Events, but you should give them a listen.

Cheers - #19

 

[Robert Frank]

Thanks, David.
Based on your suggestion, I found out JBL LSR6328P seems very interesting, particularly with its RMC.
Yet, at the same time, it seems that Genelec 8050A is a very nice choice, though it's slightly more expensive than JBL one.
Any thoughts and/or experience from the fellows in here?
Thanks in advance.

I have a pair of Dynaudio BM15a's that I've been using for years. Excellent low end down to 30hz making a subwoofer an option, not a necessity. I've used many earlier Genelec monitors, 1030a, 1031a etc and found the metal dome tweeters fatiguing to my ears. Same thing with earlier JBL's with the titanium tweeters.

I'm not up to speed with current models but the Genelec 8050A has a metal dome tweeter. For long sessions it may matter to your ears more than you think.

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

(snip) I've used many earlier Genelec monitors, 1030a, 1031a etc and found the metal dome tweeters fatiguing to my ears. Same thing with earlier JBL's with the titanium tweeters.(snip)

Totally agree. The Genelecs and some of the other pro monitors may have impressive specs in the higher frequencies but there is a harshness to them that you may learn to hate. With near-field type monitors its a particularly salient point. Over the years I have learned to identify that hard edge in the upper register while auditioning speakers. For mixing I like a very neutral monitor that reveals changes in pitch, EQ and ambient influences readily. If a speaker is too "bright" then I find it hard to discriminate some subtleties. YMMV.

Cheers - #19

 

[Morning Glory]

Dynaudio BM15A is my drug of choice. The 6As will do in a smaller space.

My first critical monitors were Tannoys. Great for the price. a full sound without being too loud. But truly, if you have the space and the budget, you'll never regret the Dynaudio 15As. NEVER!


Okay, okay, YMMV.

 

[Rick Burnett]

I have used Genelec, Tannoy, Mackie and KLH but I can say without question that the ADAM A7 near field monitors I use now are absolutely the best I have heard for the price.

They are about $1k a set and I added the Sub8 to them. This was the first set of speakers that I could CLEARLY hear a difference of 1/2 a dB made in a room that wasn't treated the best.

For me, it's the tweeter on these that is so amazing. Also, they were MUCH easier to tune, as their response was much flatter than the Tannoy Active Reveals I used last.

I use this software when I am tuning my room:

http://www.supermegaultragroovy.com/products/FuzzMeasure/

It is REALLY good.

 

[Robert Frank]

I have used Genelec, Tannoy, Mackie and KLH but I can say without question that the ADAM A7 near field monitors I use now are absolutely the best I have heard for the price.

They are about $1k a set and I added the Sub8 to them. This was the first set of speakers that I could CLEARLY hear a difference of 1/2 a dB made in a room that wasn't treated the best.

For me, it's the tweeter on these that is so amazing. Also, they were MUCH easier to tune, as their response was much flatter than the Tannoy Active Reveals I used last.

I use this software when I am tuning my room:

http://www.supermegaultragroovy.com/products/FuzzMeasure/

It is REALLY good.

Those ADAM's are great! The folded ribbon tweeters give you a sweet spot that is very wide! I would buy them if I didn't already have my Dynaudio's.

I use Spectrafoo from Metric-Halo for spectral analysis of audio: http://www.mhlabs.com/metric_halo/products/foo/

I use multiple Metric-Halo audio interfaces and was one of those audio engineers who pre-ordered the 2882+DSP interface. I currently use the ULN-8 as my go-to audio interface.

Much like RED, Metric-Halo has continuously improved their hardware with FREE firmware and software updates, and recently released an additional DSP expansion upgrade.

This is what they had to say about it:

"In 2001 we introduced the Mobile I/O 2882 and called it “Future Proof”. Seven years later, while the competition has obsoleted multiple generations of products, the 2882 is still arguably the best FireWire interface available on the market. In 2003, we released the ULN-2, with the finest preamps available in any interface, then or now. With the release of the 2d Card and v.5, we deliver yet again on our commitment to making “Future Proof” products that stand the test of time.

 

[Robert Frank]

Dynaudio BM15A is my drug of choice. The 6As will do in a smaller space.

My first critical monitors were Tannoys. Great for the price. a full sound without being too loud. But truly, if you have the space and the budget, you'll never regret the Dynaudio 15As. NEVER!


Okay, okay, YMMV.

Haha... another fan! There are certain things I've bought over the years that still make me smile. The Dynaudio still deliver that smile for me, every time I hear them!

 

[Rick Burnett]

I've heard the Dynaudio's before at a ProTools demonstration I attended, so while not hearing them in a studio context, they did in fact sound good. The tweeters were definitely my distinguishing factor when I bought the ADAMs. When I was shopping for something better than the Tannoy's, my sales rep at Sweetwater said "Look, you will not hear another better speaker at $1k than the ADAMs. In fact, have a look at the next speaker up from them in their set. I'll tell you what, I will ship them to you, you try them out and if you don't like them, I'LL pay for the shipping back!"

He was right. For bottom end, they were lacking, but this is true of all speakers with this size speaker. Once I fixed that, it was like magic. It's sad too because when I listen to stuff on ANY other speaker systems (like cars, house stereo, theatres, etc) it's just not the same.

Metric-Halo certainly makes some good looking stuff! For audio interfaces, for acoustic material I use an Apogee Rosetta 200. For ProTools I use a Digirack3 and for everything else (like all my synths) I use two Motu 896HDs. For mobile recording I have a Prosonus firebox.

I think I have a lot of IO!

 

[Robert Frank]

Now that I have a new studio and need another pair of monitor, I found out no more Event 20/20, and the new model is call Opal.

Does Event only have the Opal monitor now? I remember the 20/20's were offered in active and passive versions, and that there were other Event products.

I like the looks of the Opal and at $3000 Event has moved up into the high-end monitor market. I'd be curious to hear more about them.

What kind of audio work are you planning for? Audio-for-video, music tracking and mixing, audio mastering?

 

[King Cheung]

I have used Genelec, Tannoy, Mackie and KLH but I can say without question that the ADAM A7 near field monitors I use now are absolutely the best I have heard for the price.

They are about $1k a set and I added the Sub8 to them. This was the first set of speakers that I could CLEARLY hear a difference of 1/2 a dB made in a room that wasn't treated the best.

For me, it's the tweeter on these that is so amazing. Also, they were MUCH easier to tune, as their response was much flatter than the Tannoy Active Reveals I used last.

I use this software when I am tuning my room:

http://www.supermegaultragroovy.com/products/FuzzMeasure/

It is REALLY good.

Nice recommendation, Rick.
I found out a lot of positive reviews on A7. Particularly with the price tag, it is very attractive!
Thanks.

 

[King Cheung]

Dynaudio BM15A is my drug of choice. The 6As will do in a smaller space.

My first critical monitors were Tannoys. Great for the price. a full sound without being too loud. But truly, if you have the space and the budget, you'll never regret the Dynaudio 15As. NEVER!


Okay, okay, YMMV.

Thanks, Morning and Robert for recommending BM15A.
By the way, I realized that Dynaudio has a series called Air. It is twice the price of BM series. Any ideas?
Thanks.

 

[King Cheung]

Does Event only have the Opal monitor now? I remember the 20/20's were offered in active and passive versions, and that there were other Event products.

I like the looks of the Opal and at $3000 Event has moved up into the high-end monitor market. I'd be curious to hear more about them.

What kind of audio work are you planning for? Audio-for-video, music tracking and mixing, audio mastering?

Thanks, Robert.
I mainly use the monitor to mix my sound tracks for documentary and short fiction films.
Yes, it seems that Event has only Opal, at least, on their homepage.
I don't know how Opal sounds. I am very curious because to be honest, I like 20/20 a lot and wants to know how much "better" Opal can do.
Thanks.

 

[King Cheung]

Robert and Rick,
I am not familiar with the analysis tools that you both mention. Are they similar to JBL's RMC™, which stands for Room Mode Correction providing electronic control of room modes.
Thanks.

 

[King Cheung]

I also have the Event 20/20's which I consider the best bang for the buck in near-field monitors. The last studio I set up, I used the Mackie self amplified monitors and like them quite a bit, not quite as smooth as the Events, but you should give them a listen.

Cheers - #19

Yeah, Blair, it is truly best bang for the buck, and I have no idea why they stop making it any more.
Thanks.

 

[Rick Burnett]

Robert and Rick,
I am not familiar with the analysis tools that you both mention. Are they similar to JBL's RMC™, which stands for Room Mode Correction providing electronic control of room modes.
Thanks.

No problem on the recommendation, if you can find a place that carries the A7s, I recommend go having a listen with some audio you know VERY WELL. That's what I did (ie, listen to music I know, since they were shipped to me).

Pertaining to the software I mention, it's for doing FFT analysis of pink or white noise in a room. It's not designed to correct the sound, but to show you were you are having problems in the room OR the response of the speakers. It also offers smoothing to help cull down the data a bit and make it a little easier to digest.

I use it to test for relative flatness in a room. Although anyone will tell you, trying to make it perfect flat is EXTREMELY difficult and also not recommended. (If you've ever worked in an anechoic chamber, you'd know immediately what I am talking about).

While there are a few different systems for balancing the response, I don't like adding filters into the mix on the monitoring. I've use zero phase parametric eqs to balance out the audio, however, I felt it still sounded better not passing through the digital EQ I was using.

That said, if you have a mobile rig or no control over the room, these tools are FANTASTIC for getting the best you can under your limitations of change.

 

[King Cheung]

No problem on the recommendation, if you can find a place that carries the A7s, I recommend go having a listen with some audio you know VERY WELL. That's what I did (ie, listen to music I know, since they were shipped to me).

Pertaining to the software I mention, it's for doing FFT analysis of pink or white noise in a room. It's not designed to correct the sound, but to show you were you are having problems in the room OR the response of the speakers. It also offers smoothing to help cull down the data a bit and make it a little easier to digest.

I use it to test for relative flatness in a room. Although anyone will tell you, trying to make it perfect flat is EXTREMELY difficult and also not recommended. (If you've ever worked in an anechoic chamber, you'd know immediately what I am talking about).

While there are a few different systems for balancing the response, I don't like adding filters into the mix on the monitoring. I've use zero phase parametric eqs to balance out the audio, however, I felt it still sounded better not passing through the digital EQ I was using.

That said, if you have a mobile rig or no control over the room, these tools are FANTASTIC for getting the best you can under your limitations of change.

nice advices, Rick. Thanks a lot!

 

[Jim Hoffman]

Heavy price tag... But check out Barefoot speakers for fun.