I was suggested to get some literal crappy speakers to use for my mixdowns instead of a Mixcube or Auratone Super Sound Cube. I currently have a Steinberg UR22mkII interface going into my Rokit 6s, but I realized that they are not worth much since I do not have proper room treatment. I'd rather use a crappy speaker, headphones, my car, and my phone for reference. How would I connect a crappy generic speaker to my interface? and which one should I get that would be good to mix on that could connect to it at all?

 

I think it's simple.
Use:
jack 6,3 stereo male - jack 3,5 stereo male cable to headphones out in interface
or alternatively to this jack 3,5 stereo male - jack 3,5 stereo male and jack 6,3 stereo adapter
or second option
2 x jack 6,3 mono male - jack 3,5 stereo male cable to the back line output L/R

 

2 x jack 6,3 mono male - jack 3,5 stereo male cable




jack 6,3 stereo adapter




jack 3,5 stereo male - jack 3,5 stereo male cable




jack 6,3 stereo male - jack 3,5 stereo male cable

 

You're already done.

No, but you connect any other (active) speakers just the same way. It's just that it doesn't make much sense imho. Every crappy speaker sounds different in terms of crappiness. It won't give you much value. Maybe you could "optimize" a mix to exactly your speakers, but it would still sound bad on other cheap speakers.
The idea was to get "good" crappy speakers, i.e. at least midrange hi-fi, to get an idea on how it would translate on a usual home setup. That's why the NS10 became so famous.
The Auratone Cubes are again something different. They are used to spotlight balance issues in the mids, but not as the main (or only) monitors.

If you have really bad room acoustics, use (additionally) headphones and maybe something like Beyerdynamic's Virtual Studio or a similar plug-in for another helpful reference in which to check your mix.

 

Are there any you would recommend that would fit the budget of around 150$?

 

I'm not sure you'd actually achieve better mixes by using crappier monitors than the Rokits. If you want bad stereo home hifi speakers, you'll need to pair them with an amplifier, which allowing for your budget is also going to be crappy. Just because your room isn't treated that doesn't mean bad gear will sound good in a bad room.

 

I meant, it's what people did "back in the days". Today, it's not relevant anymore, because hi-fi speakers are much better now than they were in the '70s and additionally more music is consumed with headphones.

 

"I mix with Auratone 5C Super-Sound-Cubes the little powerhouse speakers. They tell me exactly what will be in the grooves. You hear it all with Auratone!" - Quincy Jones

Lol, Avontones?Auratones are not crappy, they're just small.

 

Unless you are in mixing in a tiled bathroom, the Rokits you have are perfectly adequate near field monitors. Keep them "near" you, (with your head and the monitors forming an equilateral triangle) with the volume at a low level so you reduce reflections from walls. Also try and keep them away from walls. Hang some curtains, drapes, whatever you can find on walls. Behind the speakers or behind where you sit. Anywhere will stop some sound from bouncing in a linear way and cause a standing wave. But this won't be a big problem if the volume is low. Don't spend long sessions trying to mix at high volume.
You aren't going to get better mixes from cheap unpowered speakers just as you aren't going to get better mixes from your phone. There is no rule that says bad speakers deliver good mixes.

 

I think there's confusion over the Auratones sounding bad, which they don't, they're just made to replicate smaller playback devices but with the same accuracy as a full size monitor.

 

This is contradictory.

Good monitors are good to mix on, bad monitors...

You would even benefit from buying 8'' near fields because the low and mid freqs would translate better.

 

The Auratones are used a lot to make mix decisions in the mid and hi mid range.