M-Audio BX8a

I’ve had these monitors for over a year now and they are still going strong. I’d definatly recommend them to anyone looking into getting monitors in the $500 and under range.

The build quality rivals all other monitors in the price range, and the fact that they still seem stable as ever proves that. They have been through all the accidental really loud blasts of noise, young cousins poking at their cones, and being re-situated numerous times without their sound or structure changing at all.

SOUNDS

I am quite please with the sound of the Bx8a’s. The 8’’ drivers give enough bass for me in most of my hip hop related productions, and it was easy for me to learn the way the bass would translate to say, a a pair of 12’’ in a car. I’ve heard people say that the Bx8a’s don’t have a flat response, just like every monitor, but I know that they are very easy for me to create mixes that do well on all types of playback systems after working with them for about a year.

Easily connected using XLR or TRS cables I hooked them up to my M-audio FastTrack and loved what I heard. Once I put pads underneath of them to keep the bass from resonating on my table they became even more accurate. The only problem I have with them is that they have a slight hiss in the tweeters. Never enough to both me, as I can’t really hear it when I’m standing a foot and a half away but it’s still there.

OVERALL OPINION

I would never switch these monitors out for another pair in this price range, the only way I’m upgrading is if I’m spending a grand or more. The Bx8a’s are defiantly a good choice in the price range.

Speakers who have a good head, active, powerful, 2-way: serious-mdium 1Hp and 1 other for acute, cut to 2kHz frequency drives (ae). Hp serious 8 inches Kevlar and txeeter silk (quite common at this time), medium filters, nice amps.
I use them for mixing but they are impractical for the control (to prefer a good headset) and mastering is not their strong point.
It comes in TRS or XLR, volume knob behind as the Power button, bass reflex event has the rear and front loupiote tmoin under the tweeter. I put 7 because of the low reflex and the active part situea inside the enclosure and not to the xtrieur, I'll explain after.

SONORITS

Drawing on my ears and spectral measurements I have performed: The answer is not in frquence hot, it gives bcp too serious, rson to 100 Hz and a little above. Moreover, they are not really very accurate, in fact, the bass-RFLEX sends us the wave rear of the membranne This is nice for the frquence rsonnance, even if the sudden it the boost (we do not seek an answer to the base plate?), but outside of that it provides frquence everywhere phase perturbations. This is not the only dsavantage the bass RFLEX: the active part is fixed the interior of the enclosure and postcards vibrate in the interior, providing a noise is clearly hear very little at the wind. Moreover, as the cards vibrate, this provides the electronic stress and thus disturbs the quality of the amplifacation signal. To do so would remdier has silicone to cards for empcher vibrate but it would very difficult to rparation. Personally, I bouch winds with Socks ball. This hinders much the wave rear, modre vibration rtablie a little precision. Actually it is more down to as low level so the spectrum but it's prcis and then one that would work Hp 20Hz 2000Hz really flat .... I ask to hear.
However treble are not bad (even if the connection is badly chosen frequency drives (2channels require), the image is stro nice too, dynamics quite remarkable for a speaker of this size, ca dcoiffe very quickly and it's punchy !!
I svre because my experiences have shown me what it is that real flat speakers but all the same very well for this price.

NOTICE GLOBAL

I have them for about a year, I like their punch, the solidity of the design, but very attractive price gain has to be closed pregnant is why I dplore the event bass -reflex the postcards that vibrate, the connection frequency drives badly chosen (between 1kHz and 4kHz not touch, it's very important frequencies).
I have purchased because it fit my means but I aurrais prfr the era can be a little more dear speakers (Mackies or yamaha) qualitprix the report is one of the strengths of these speakers. I will not stay long on these speakers, 3-way is needed if we want a good answer, my next speaker will be closed (not so bass-RFLEX no phase disturbance ds serious but demand Hp sturdy and able to withstand heavy pressure in the interior of the box), the amplifier section will extrieure the box for preventing vibrations. I am demanding but after an internship ds real mastering studio where the listen system is king certain truths necessary ... I think therefore make my next speaker following the characteristics num res as do bcp master studios, and avoid at all costs the systems genelecs !!!! These speakers are well ds first tps but the real qualities is elsewhere ...

At the time of my choice, around 2004, I compared all the models available in the store. These were the most expensive (450 €, they dropped a lot since then), but they were spraying others: powerful sound, light, big bass and fine treble, quite the opposite of his other cardboard models presented. I wanted the first monitors to improve my level of musical production in electronic music. I have never regretted my choice.

SOUNDS

I have a certain perspective on the BX8a because I had three other models since. So I can tell you that the BX8a are flattering in the bass. It told me many times when I used them, and regularly was told that my mixes lacked bass to my surprise. When you finish your mix on your BX8a, consider adding 2 or 3dB bass (fast compared to the time relative to Event Opal and Dynaudio BM6A MKII, in both cases, good 2 dB difference on low) .
Apart from that, the curve is relatively reliable BX8a. I note a slight hollow in the upper medium, which makes up the silky and pleasant spectrum BX8a if you compare with other models, you will feel that others will howl in your ears for this reason. However, none of my mixes at the time did pose a serious defect in the upper midrange so far.
The stereo image is very correct, no problems on that side.
Dynamic side, there on the other hand I did not say good. All mix I made above now appear too little compressed, my sound seemed dry. I tend to always add dynamics to a sharp sound, it was not necessary. Do not try at all costs to reveal incisive transients on BX8a, you will improve anything. This is the criterion for improvement of this model, but do not go so far as to conclude that the dynamics is not respected, it's just not 100% perfect what ...

OVERALL OPINION

I used BX8a from 2004 to 2010, they allowed me to sign on a number of labels (including a major). They are well enough to start, do not underestimate these monitors.
Today, I no longer used for production. However, I could never bring myself to sell them, because I still love. Their sound is powerful, we face full of cum, the bass is deep, the highs are clear, it is a pleasure to listen to his favorite music on. Five colleagues who heard me at the time I was mixing it chose to buy the same model, that's how their sound is mesmerizing.
I had other models from: Prodipe Pro Ribbon 8 (sold quickly because I've never been able to do on the acute ribbons, I was mixing my treble as a badger), and Dynaudio BM6A MKII and Event Opal (after long hesitation with Focal Twin) today, necessarily, for anything I would separate me from my Opal, so I can not say if I would do this choice, conditions have changed. Yet the BX8a remain for me the monitors that have the most pleasant of all the models I've heard (yes, the higher the range of speakers, the sound is clear and forgives nothing, so the sound will not seem pleasant but rather horrible to mediocre mix). You just accept to take BX8a for what they are: excellent monitors to leave his first prods, knowing that your mix will seem to have more bass than it actually was and that it will compress a little more than what you looks perfect on BX8a.
If you are looking for first monitors: go ahead, will accompany the BX8a few years and you will get good results without ear fatigue, for a low price, and you will be proud to listen to your mix on to your friends as the sound is punchy and clean. If you want monitors in order to have a large loyal to replace your speakers or your hi-fi multimedia speakers, they are ideal. If you are looking for microscopes for his mastering: put another 1000 € aside to take a beefier model, BX8a not suffice.