Studio Monitors for Podxt, so many to pick from...

[BluesGuyJ]

Hey guys,

I need to get my hands on a studio monitor to play my Podxt through for at home practice. I know of the Atomic Reactor, but I don't want to spend that much money. I am looking at spending at max $250 and I need a good reccomendation. I looked on MF.com and they have dozens of monitors within my price range, but which one should I go for. I really don't know a whole lot about studio monitors, I just know they're the best setup for me right now. I'd like them to have ample power but most of all to not color the tone of the Podxt.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Studio Monitors for Podxt, so many to pick from...

For that price, it's hard to beat the M-Audio BX5's... but then again, I wouldn't expect much at all from monitors in that price range.

 

[iekobrid]

Re: Studio Monitors for Podxt, so many to pick from...

A few weeks ago a friend and I tried out every powered monitor the Sam Ash in Union NJ had on display. In the under-$400 category, the clear winner was the Fostex PM-5 (or was it the PM-1?). The other brands (M-Audio, Samson, etc.) all had positive qualities at first blush, but rapidly lead to listening fatigue. Only the Fostex set was pleasant to the ear for long stretches of time, and they seemed to have more even, balanced output without any of the frequency peaks or valleys some of the other brands had.

The Fostex was out of stock that day, otherwise I'd own a pair now. I'd like to try the Roland DS5 set before making a final decision, though. Also, we were testing them for use as studio mixing monitors, so your mileage may certainly vary when running an XT direct.

The past couple years I've run my XT into the effect return of an all-tube Ampeg VL-503 1x12" combo that I impulse bought on super-duper clearance 10 or so years ago and never liked the internal sounds of. The XT sounds phenomenal through it, but only the effect return. Running it into the instrument input on the front is crap. For that matter, plugging anything but a Pod 2.0 or XT into any jack on that amp is crap. Even Line 6's AM4 and DM4 make me cringe. Getting off topic...

I'd love to know just what the deal is with that amp. A couple months ago I had a "well DUH" moment and realized that the main difference between running the Pods into it and running all my other gear (Line 6 stomps, Yamaha DG rack preamp, Tubeworks 9002 rack preamp, Hafler T3 rack preamp, etc.) into it was that all the Pod patches I used included the amp/mic modelling function. I tried the XT into the Ampeg with the A.I.R. turned off, and sure enough: crap. On a hunch, I dusted off an old ADA Microcab speaker simulator and tried it between my equally dusty rack preamps and the Ampeg: 1000% improvement. Night and day.

So it's almost like the combo is eq'd more for use as a keyboard or vocal PA than a guitar amp (which it most certainly was meant to be). Running an external preamp device without speaker modelling into the Ampeg simply doesn't sound like, well, a guitar amp. I really really do NOT get it.

Sorry for detouring your thread.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Studio Monitors for Podxt, so many to pick from...

If you don't mind doing away with stereo, get a keyboard amp. Plenty of power, won't color the sound, and you can use it live. I tried my XT through a 100w Yorkville keyboard amp with a 12" speaker, and was very impressed, slightly less so with the 50w 10" model.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Studio Monitors for Podxt, so many to pick from...

Thanks for the info man, big help!

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Studio Monitors for Podxt, so many to pick from...

nEar 05's about $200.00 and better than the M-Audio's imo.