[FinalSight]

I was previously looking in the sub $200 range for a set of speakers, but due to some Xmas cash from family (merry christmas / happy holidays to you all btw), I'm upping my order a little bit. Amazon has some sales going, and of course I'll look around for better prices if I can, but the new speakers in my range seem to be:

M-Audio Studiophile BX5a Deluxe - $245
Mackie MR5 MR5 Reference Monitor - 2x $159 ~ $320
Yamaha HS 50M - 2x $130 = $260
KRK RP5 - $300

I was really leaning towards the mackie's, but a google search yielded several posts of people saying they preferred the sound of the Yamaha's or of the KRK's. Both of which are cheaper, so this threw me off a bit and now I don't know what I want. Can anyone with a little more experience lend a hand?

 

[CANiSLAYu]

I haven't listened to any of these, but just to make you more confused I'll throw some others out there:

Swan M200MkII
Audioengine | A5 Bookshelf Speakers (Black) | A5B | B&H Photo

Just two more options to muddy it up a bit more for you. I ended up going with Audioengine A2's because I wanted cheaper and smaller, but you have all the usual suspects that people recommended in the same general price range. I think it boils down to what you listen to and which one you find more visually appealing. For example I was really intrigued by the Swan's, but I just don't like the wood look.

I bet you some would say to get something cheaper like the M-Audios and add a sub: Parts-Express.com:*Dayton SUB-80 8" HT Series 80 Watt Powered Subwoofer | Dayton SUB-80 subwoofer sub powered sub SUB-80 home theater 5.1 7.1 surround bass LFE Theaters110308 gifts1117 cyber121 WinningSubwoofers gift2009

I think you should mention what you'll mainly be listening to and those who have auditioned multiple sets can give you better input.

 

[.Sup]

Yamaha HS 50M are not very good for music listening.

 

[jonhapimp]

I heard alot of good things about the Mackie MR5 MR5 Reference Monitor and KRK RP5
I'm going to get the KRK RP5 based on what reviews and recommendations i've heard.
you can get the KRK for 240 shipped here
KRK RP5G2 Two Way Active Powered Monitor/ Singal

 

[.Sup]

KRK's really are amazing.

 

[InFn-0]

The Swan M200MKII's look phenomenal!!!

 

[jonhapimp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by InFn-0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Swan M200MKII's look phenomenal!!!

they are gargantuan though, i'm not sure how they compare to the A5s

 

[Romulus1]

I haven't had a chance to listen to the Mackies (which showed up a lot in my research) but I'm very happy with the KRK G2 Rokit 6"'s that I bought.

From what I've read a lot of the difference between the Mackies and KRK's is just personal preference. I picked the KRK's because they were cheaper and they had been redesign (G2) and I have no regrets.

 

[Souji]

Quote:

Yamaha HS 50M are not very good for music listening.

IMO I thought that the Yamaha's performed very well for music listening.
 
The clarity of the mids and highs are very accurate. I enjoyed listening to them.

 

[Kawai_man]

Forget the Swans and the audioengines
 
Go with the
 
Mackie MR'5
BX5a
 
and add the:  JBL2325p and Tapco S'5  to youre list
 
these monitors are the prpbably best designed monitors with the best parts in their price range.