quote:

Originally posted by tommyj1112:
Has anyone had a chance to compare these directly with the Event Studio Precision 8's? I'm trying to decide between these two great sounding monitors, but haven't been able to listen to them in the same space to accurately compare them.

Thanks!

Yes, I compared them side by side for short time. I listened to all types of music and went back and forth many times.

In short, the Dynaudios have more depth and dimension; they are more natural sounding to me.

The P8s are more extended in all frequency ranges to my ears. They seem a bit forward in comparison and a have a tad of sizzle.

Without any doubt, I preferred the Dynaudios.
They seem truer and not fatiguing in any way and are simply a joy to monitor with.

Recently got an interesting email from a client who has a pair of American-version Mackie 824's, [ The 824's we compared in studio shootout were Chinese-made. ] and bought a pair of BM5A's not too long ago.

What he has to say is interesting, to say the least.

quote:

Dear Dot,

Thanks so much for recommending the Dynaudio BM5A monitors.I set them up last night and did my a/b test today (comparing with my Mackie HR824's (American version). I used my favorite reference CD's, Donald Fagen's "Nightfly" and Mark Cohn's "The Rainy Season". I was expecting a subtle difference between the 2 different monitors. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry (Mark is such a great writer), I was spellbound by the detail. First of all, I`ve heard most folks say "The 824`s have more low end". Fair enough, I thought, but my A/B told me that the BM5A low end was tight and focused, warm and sweet. By comparison, the 824`s sounded scattered and mushy. To be fair I must say that my room is small (meticulously sound treated) and maybe the 824`s need to be "pumped" to deliver the aforementioned detail. Moving on, the midrange detail provided so much clarity! It made my entire body relax. OK, reference monitors are supposed to be revealing, not comfortable. Once again, fair enough. Well, the BM5A's cover that statement with ease. I no longer have to go "ear fishing" to gather translation detail. THANKS DOT!

Sincerely,

Andy

I finally got to hear the BM5A monitors. I've been using the BM6 passives, with a Hafler P3000, for some time. The BM5As were nice, very nice. I didn't get to try them side by side, and would like to.

I'm moving up from the Behringer Truth's so this topic is of great interest to me, and I was already looking at the dynaudio BM5A's. the only thing that concerns me is that they are only 100 watts. I don't quite turn my behringer truth's up all the way, maybe 3/4 sometimes, but what concerns me is that some amps distort at loud volumes, so if I have 50 by 50 BM5a's with a total of 100, maybe I really only have 40 watts on each or so of good listening volume. I am in a home studio environment but periodically I do love to LISTEN LOUD!

But the truth's stink and the BM5a's sound great. I forgot to test for loudness when I heard them at a GC, but then again I WAS at a GC so how could you really hear the details to see if they were distorting... at any rate, can people turn these things up loud without noticeable performance drop, I will probably push these things near the max quite frequently... do you think that will be a problem? I don't think I can afford the BM6a's and I'm getting a great deal of $800 new shiped for the BM6s

Just got a pair of BM5A's yesterday and mixed a session on them today. I'd previously been mixing on a pair of Tannoy Reveal passives which I generally liked pretty well. The Dynaudios were a fair bit more detailed than the Reveals and it was much easier to discern frequencies all up and down the spectrum with them. After a 5 hour mix session (with no breaks ) I had no ear fatigue at all - much different than the Tannoys.

The 5A's had a more detailed and solid low end than the Reveals, probably due in part to the larger bass driver, but I could still hear and feel an extended low end that was real nice. I thought about the 6A's as well but, honestly, the 50W 5A's are more than enough for my room. You wanna listen loud? No problem with these boxes at all.

Overall, great monitors and a pleasure to mix on.

What are your opinions on the BM5A's versus KRK v8 s (series II)? I have V8's, and a freind has BM5A's and I want to see if our observations match up with anyone elses.

nerogtr, I had a pair of V8's and really liked KRK. The V8's will play louder. If I was going for knock-down drag out volume in the control room - like you might want with some hip-hop and rock sessions – then I might go with V8's. But that's really more in a sound-reinforcement capacity in the studio rather than monitoring.

One big difference in favor of the Dynaudio's is that they're much more neutral, and will allow for monitoring at moderate levels without ear fatique - which is not at all true of the V8's. The imagery and detail is easily superior on the Dyn's. I think because of that the BM5A's can be used effectively at lower dB levels than other monitors in their class.

I still think V8's can be a good choice. Especially if you want something more industrial and like to crank it up. But then again, that'd be a good way to wind up damaging your hearing in the long run.

Before the BM5A's were released, the KRK V8's were the monitors I recommended in the $1K price range. But after the BM5A's came out - we've found they so completely dominated any other monitor in their class - that they're now the only monitor I recommend in that price range.

Dot:

I agree with you on all of your points regarding the KRK's vs the BM5A's. I've been A/Bing them this weekend, and the BM5A's actually made me learn something about my V8's. What I thought was a lack of bass on the V8's seems to really just be a harsh midrange that prevents me from getting the speakers loud enough to produce enough low end for my taste. I find the BM5A's to be much less fatiguing, and they allow me to mix and monitor accurately at a more moderate volume (essential in a dorm room environment haha). The stereo imaging is beyond words on the BM5A's, while the V8's are "ok". I think I am going to run a setup with both sets of monitors, primarily mixing on the BM5A's, and using the V8's for a louder reference (bands like to hear their stuff loud haha) and as a "second opinion" on mixes.

I'm in the position where I'm looking to getting new monitors too.

I've always known how wonderful Dynaudio's can be, as a good friend of mine uses the BM15A's and the sound always blew me away with its non-fatuiging detail and transient punch.

I can't afford anything like those (nor would they work as well in my smaller room) so was thinking my only choice would be the Mackies, as everyone raves about them in their price bracket.

Having read this thread however, it makes me wonder if they're over-hyped. I've heard the 824's and was really impressed BUT, I haven't heard the 824's side by side with the dynaudios. It could well be that a pair of say BM6A's woulda blown them out the water playing the same tracks in the same acoustic space.

So I'm steering towards the Dynaudio's again. I've auditioned the BM15A's, the mackie 824's and 624's myself, but never the BM5A's or 6A's.

I'm fully intending to check em out at a music store but in the meantime. Which of the two would you recommend?

The newer (but smaller with less power) 5's, or the more expensive, larger cabinet (but without the new air cabinet design and possibly older compenents) 6's?.

Has anyone A-B'ed these two directly side by side to make a good comparison?

Regards

Laurence

laurence-
it's right here, in the 2nd post of the thread.....

and welcome.

Thanks Gonzo,

I'd noticed that but it mostly just expressed the difference between the other monitors and the BM5A.

Regarding the paragraph:

quote:

The 6A's sounded near to the 5A's until we turned up the 6A's louder. That's when the 100W amps showed the 6A's to have more horsepower. But for the small size control room the 5A's more than do the job.

When it says 'near' what does that mean. Near as in almost as good or, vice versa?

I'm very interested to hear how these 2 compare at the lower volume levels, whether those 100W MOSFET amps in the BM6A offer any more and/or tighter control at the lower levels over the BM5A

quote:

I'm very interested to hear how these 2 compare at the lower volume levels, whether those 100W MOSFET amps in the BM6A offer any more and/or tighter control at the lower levels over the BM5A

I own the BM5A's. I don't own the 6A's, so maybe I can't really help, but I will say this...

1. I'm pretty sure I've heard (maybe it was this thread, but I think it was elsewhere too) that the 6A's don't really "do" bass better, just louder. (I may be overstating what I've read, but you get the point.)

2. The BM5A's have plenty of bass for me, in my small room (12' x 17'). Mind you, my previous monitors were some very thin Event TR-5's, so I might not have the best "ears" for the bass you need.

3. I like Dot's advice on this: get the BM5A's (unless your room size obvious demands the BM6A's), and if they don't give you enough bass or loudness, switch 'em out for the BM6A's. Seems like a wise path to me.

Peace,
Fox

I'm using Event ASP8's, and I adore them.

I really like the little Dyn's. They sound superbly neutral. I don't feel like I'm listening to a speaker. The Dyn's stay out of the way.

My ASP8's blow me away everyday. Plus they are stunning to the eye. Black piano finish with a little green LED below the woofer.

I suffer zero ear fatigue with these ASP8's. The only time my ears get tired is when I'm cranking up my '61 SG through my Ampeg.

Allen

How can you tell bewteen the 2 BM5A's?? They are both listed as BM5A's?? The new one is sub-catagorized as compact. But who knows which one they are getting other than the specs. The former has a larger woofer and goes down to 50hz 6.9 " woof, and compact goes to 55hz 5.7" woof no?
I bet many retailers are selling the BM5A compact as the BM5A???????
Also, I've heard many people say the dyns are
hard to work in the mids, resulting in some odd translation issues.
sorry if I sound negative, but I want the full review monty since I'm strongly considering the Dyn's (non compact). Has anyone compared them with Event PS8's?
T

quote:

Originally posted by Dot:
Before the BM5A's were released, the KRK V8's were the monitors I recommended in the $1K price range. But after the BM5A's came out - we've found they so completely dominated any other monitor in their class - that they're now the only monitor I recommend in that price range.

Does that include ADAM P11A and Gen 8030-8040, which I am also considering?

How close to a wall can the Dyns be placed? I need to place the speakers really close so the rear port may be a problem with these...

quote:

Originally posted by ole:
How close to a wall can the Dyns be placed? I need to place the speakers really close so the rear port may be a problem with these...

Hi Ole,

FWIW I had the exact same concerns.

Mine are no more than 2 feet (probably less) from a plaster wall.

After tweaking the various tilt switches I'm having no problems at all adjusting to the bottom end. Oddly enough, the bottom seems to translate better than was the case on my old Genelec 1030s.

OK, update:

Went to turnkeys shop at the weekend and had a good listen to several monitors with different styles of music.

Before hand I had noticed on threads that people seemed to fall into one of two camps regarding the 2 dynaudio monitors. Some preferred what they describe as a more accurate mid-range of the 5A's, others expressing a more fuller and pleasent sound of 6A's. I went into the shop with the mindset that the 5A's were gonna sound just as good as the more expensive 6A's

The shop assistants personal preference was Genelec 8040A. My impression, a very lush sweet lovely sound.. and thats exactly why I didn't like it, too sweet, too misleading, and i felt like i wasn't being told whats going on in the middle, or anywhere tbh. I got the feeling my tracks would sound flat on other systems using those.

..onto the 5A's. Ok now we're talking proper accurate sharp detail, but non-fatuiging. stereo image not as good. perhaps a slightly thin sound but all in all good stuff.

..now the 6A's. I was suprised, for me, the 6A's are much much better than the 5's. I very much fall into the camp of feeling the 6's have a more controlled fuller meatier sound that I would much rather work with, and that if I bought the 5's, i would be turning down its mid-range setting to compensate anyways.

Those 100W MOSFET amps in the older 6 just hold things together much tighter and deeper, even at much lower volumes, which is important to me

Listened to a few others, they just didn't compare and aren't even worth mentioning...

My final decision, spend the extra few hundred, am going with the 6A's

How much do monitors (and other audio products) vary?

I mean, does one 6A sound just like another?

I've just bought some 5A's, and they are fantastic. Way "thicker" sounding than the Event TS-5's I had. But I joke to myself: hmmm, perhaps I got a bum pair of 5A's, and I just imagine that this "thicker" sound is better than the Events. In reality, the Events were "truer," and the flawed 5A's I happened to get are setting me on the wrong course.

...this, my friends/enemies...is how a true paranoid thinks.

The Dyns need a break in period. At least it is need for the 6a's. check out the manual.

T

quote:

Originally posted by tonio:
The Dyns need a break in period. At least it is need for the 6a's. check out the manual.

T

That is very true.

In fact, mine sounded like crap initially, and I found that they did not really start to open up for at least twice as long as the recommended burn-in period. But once they did burn in, I was very happy mixing on them.