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Okay, I am Taking the Pro Audio Plunge

Over the last year, I’ve read seemingly countless anecdotes about how pro audio gear can trounce alleged “HiFi” brands of the usual suspects, dollar-for-dollar. I am talking Pro Audio brands the likes of Neumann, Genelec, Adam and ATC Pro. 
Some allege that models from these brands represent the true state-of-the-art in speaker design. I mean, say what you want about ASR and their implicit bias, but how can you ignore reviews such as this?:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/neumann-kh-310a-review-powered-monitor.17723/
 

I felt compelled to test this theory to the best of my ability, and within my means. Thusly, I purchased the Neumann KH310 monitors to test at home.

So what do you believe I might expect when these are compared to my Satori Helios Textremes and modest Parasound A21? I plan to listen at “mid-field” distances. 

Regards

 

 

helomech
alb59
16 posts
 

I forgot to mention the speakers and subs are controlled by a JL Audio CR-1 crossover which helps very much.  Good luck!

 

helomech OP
2,021 posts
 

5k for that Neumann sterility and and you may just get bored, its for a mastering engineer....better to cancel it.

Get this unpowered jbl srx835. It is a speaker for music enjoyment and a good entry point. Check the measurements on its spec sheet at link below.

You can get a open box pair for around 2500 dollars or so.

To make it look good, take the ugly grille off. Paint the cabinet a dark red or a pearl white or something..

Run it passive with your audiophile amps and dacs. Set all the biases aside and give it a honest listen. Once you realize what it is capable of, biamp it with a analog active crossover, and take it up another notch.

https://jblpro.com/en-US/products/srx835

This is probably closer to what I want. Good find. Thanks!

 


 

 

helomech OP
2,021 posts
 


They may be better, but I choose the Entry series for my home.  I saw many good reviews for the ATC SCM 40 and its accuracy.  Their Mid 75mm ATC Soft Dome is the most incredible midrange driver I have ever heard.  They are incredible accurate, I continue to hear new items in recordings listened to for decades. Crazy things such as distinct guitar picks or fingers, and more so, bass fingers resulting in immediate beautiful sound.    Touching the drums with one's hands is another.  With a sealed base design, they are extremely tight and mesh perfectly with my sealed pair of JL Audio F113 V2. I love tight deep base. The blending and separation of the bass drum and guitar become intriguing.  

I haven’t heard the SCM 40. I auditioned the 19v2 and found it was good but seemingly lacked bass for its size. I have been close to purchasing the SCM 40s a number of times, but my current speakers are flatter in response by a good margin, so I am wary of going that route. 

I didn’t know all their Pro models are designed for nearfield, so that helps. Thanks. 
 

 

 

 

 

helomech OP
2,021 posts
 

With further research I have found an intriguing contender that uses Radian drivers:

https://eaw.com/products/mkc120/#features

 

deep_333
2,462 posts
 

If coaxial's your thing, here are a couple of other candidates as well, pro tannoys (you'd need a sub).

12 inch

https://www.tannoy.com/product.html?modelCode=0312-ANL

15 inch

https://www.tannoy.com/product.html?modelCode=0312-ANR

 

@helomech wrote

With further research I have found an intriguing contender that uses Radian drivers:

https://eaw.com/products/mkc120/#features

 

 

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