Hello fellow folks, I am about to buy my first reference monitor and audio interface around 1-2 weeks. I am gonna start from bottom so i am interested in entry level gear at the moment. I am tired working from headphones and laptop interface. I do not any intention about recording sound. Just for mixing and mastering purposes only. Maybe a bit recording for fun that's all. I have few options already, but your precious opinions are welcome. I am dealing with any kind of music so i am expecting balanced performance from my setup like not low end focused or mid etc.


As Reference Monitors my research history:

- M-Audio AV-32
-Presonus Eris E3.5
-Mackie Cr3 or Cr3-X.


As an Audio Interface my research history:

- Focusrite Scarlett Solo Gen 3 USB
-Behringer UMC202HD
-Steinberg UR 12

 

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?pages/Audio_DAC_Performance_Index/
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?pages/SpeakerTestData/

 

From your list, I would choose Eris & Scarlett

The UR-12 model is a no go for me with only RCA line outs. yukk. The Behringer...no.

 

I like the Scarlett range, I'm thinking of getting a 4i4 soon to replace my 1st gen 2i4. I would definitely go for Presonus here, the preamps are far better than the other two

 

Do yourself a favour and don't buy crap. Yamaha HS8 (7 and 5 are not good) are good for the money. And since you are not going to record anything, you don't need external audio interface...

 

how about room size? if he has small room, i think HS8 will be too much for him

 

Very nice database!

I've never heard or seen steinberg's interface, i think i will consider scalrett too

yes, probably i will buy them. Eris sounds ok to me, actually i find them very pleased compared to my budget.

I found one pair of hs50m's in my range. But without interface, the projects had higher sample rate than my built-in soundcard gonna be still ok for me? I do not know the answer and that's the reason i am buying audio interface

 

Rectangle room, about 4m x 2.5m (did not measure but close to it).

Correction: More like 5 meters x 2.5 meters.

 

Performance will depend mainly on your CPU, not on a magical "soundcard".

HS50 and HS5 etc are crap for the money.
If you have small room, get IK multimedia iloud mtm, they are something like budget genelecs.

 

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but that's just not possible with 3'' or 3,5''. Even 5'' or 6'' are too small. There're a very few exceptions for 6,5'' but you'll need 8'' at least for that purpose. Best bang for the buck are atm Tannoy Gold 8, AFAIK.
I'd rather buy used 8'' than new smaller ones.

 

Last edited: Oct 12, 2020

ilouds are totally in my range if i ignore the interface. I will isten to comparisons to see iloud's performance. Thank you!

 

I'd suggest spending a little more and get Presonus Eris E5

 

I'm so sorry to hear that I thought I could manage it at least a year with some 4.5" pair. It's not end of the world i guess i can afford tannoy gold 8 with a bit more patient.

 

Looks interesting at first sight, but a bunch of real audio interfaces are missing and if you select Studio Monitors they have only 17 listed from around 100 - 3000$.

 

At your price point, as far as audio interfaces go, I would choose based on audio driver stability and specs (TRS, XLR, DI, HP). The Scarlett ticks the boxes for the $$$. For a bit more, I would look at a MOTU M2 or M4 for sure.

 

Yes, everyone likes scarlett in budget range. It's nice deal, probably i will get them too.

 

I got a pair of jbl 306p mkii and they are really good!

 

Go with this (and you get a set of midi i/o)....
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/M2--motu-m2-2x2-usb-c-audio-interface

 

Do not skimp on reference monitors. You will use them for pleasure listening as well as work. I like Presonus interfaces, have two. Hard to beat Mackie speakers for the price, though. I own some Mackie Thumps and they sound great for the price (live sound and stage monitors), but I've never heard their reference monitors.

 

great thing about Tannoy Gold series is the coaxial design, it helps to minimize uneven room reflections and shifts in sound overall,
I got bigger Kali IN-8's for the similar reason, and difference compared to "traditional" Eris E8 was night&day difference