Monitors in 2021

[rmccam]

Hi Everyone,

I did a search for this but there didn't seem to be anything recent.

I'm wondering what monitors people are using for their home (premix) studios?

In the past I've done mostly commercial work and lower budget films but I did some work for HBO in Atmos and it has me thinking of moving in that direction. My thought was to upgrade my 5.1 monitoring system to something that could be expanded to Atmos. Obviously the idea is to have a setup where the mixes translate — to a stage, if needed — but could possibly also allow for Dolby certification down the road.

My room is mid-sized and I'm currently using Focal CMS 65s in the front and CMS 50s in the rear with a Dynaudio sub. I like the Focals but I don't know if they'd qualify as being full-range speakers (though I can't remember what the strict qualifier is for that)... they're pretty bass-light.

I'm not overly concerned about price... I'd like to try out some different options at several price points.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Ryan

[BScout]

I believe the Dolby ATMOS HT certification program has been retired. (Nice way of saying they gave up on it.) You can follow the guidelines but I wouldn't stress on it since they don't do it anymore.

As for possible speakers: JBL 7 series and Meyer Sound UPJ series have worked well to theater/cinema translation. If your room is big enough (and more $$), Meyer Acheron series and JBL Cinema series

[rmccam]

Thanks for the reply, BScout.

That's good to know about the certification. I'm sort of surprised about that, to be honest, but I guess Atmos is just getting so ubiquitous now that it would have been tough to maintain.

And thanks for the recommendations on speakers. Much appreciated.

I'm open to other suggestions if anyone else has other monitors worth trying.

[JFreak]

I have always used Genelecs, but I am biased because I'm a finn and those are made in Finland. No matter if it is stereo or surround, everywhere I go there are Genelecs.

Got my first own pair (8050) straight from factory in 2004 few months before they were released for public sale. That pair is on my live rig now, at home 7060B sub and five 8040B satellites. Pretty common setup.

And if your workflow requires a million speakers, all Genelecs sound the same on 85SPL, it is just the amount of noise you can get out of the bigger ones, and perhaps do not need a sub. But if you have a sub, it does not matter if your satellites are 8020 or 8050

[rmccam]

Thanks Janne. A friend actually uses the Genelec Ones (I think that's what they're called), for 5.1 music and loves them.

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by rmccam

Thanks Janne. A friend actually uses the Genelec Ones (I think that's what they're called), for 5.1 music and loves them.

G One is home audio, but almost as good as 8k series which are studio monitors. Difference being 8k series has very small tolerance in manufacturing and you can assume replacement speaker sounds identical to the one being replaced.

Also specs are different but truth to be told, if I ran this Genelec setup 0dFBS someone would be deaf hundred meters away so most of the time my converters feed them at -40dBFS

[ChrisMac]

Originally Posted by rmccam

Hi Everyone,

I did a search for this but there didn't seem to be anything recent.

I'm wondering what monitors people are using for their home (premix) studios?

In the past I've done mostly commercial work and lower budget films but I did some work for HBO in Atmos and it has me thinking of moving in that direction. My thought was to upgrade my 5.1 monitoring system to something that could be expanded to Atmos. Obviously the idea is to have a setup where the mixes translate — to a stage, if needed — but could possibly also allow for Dolby certification down the road.

My room is mid-sized and I'm currently using Focal CMS 65s in the front and CMS 50s in the rear with a Dynaudio sub. I like the Focals but I don't know if they'd qualify as being full-range speakers (though I can't remember what the strict qualifier is for that)... they're pretty bass-light.

I'm not overly concerned about price... I'd like to try out some different options at several price points.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Ryan

If you decide to get rid of your Focal's let me know. Looking for another setup for a small mix room

[rmccam]

Geez, I totally missed all these replies. Thanks everyone.

When I said the Genelec Ones I did mean the 8331/8341/8351, which are definitely not consumer monitors.

The shortlist is much appreciated. I'm going to try and get a few in to try out and see how it goes.

Thanks again!

Ryan

[Protone]

I built a new Dolby Atmos room lately, and did a very long shootout with Genelec "the ones" and Amphion. Worked over a month with both of them side by side (in stereo). I Have also Barefoots in my other room, and I have worked with Neumann, 1000-series Genelecs and Dynaudios before)

A guy from Genelec even came by and calibrated the monitors in my room. Amphions didn't have any calibration eq on them. Still, I preferred every aspect of Amphions over the Genelecs. I mixed faster, the results translated better, my ears hurt way less after a long day, and I smiled a LOT more while mixing!

So my new 7.2.4 setup is now all Amphion, and I am literally in heaven! These things are stunning, and as they are not too well known in audio post world (yet), I almost feel like they are my secret weapon. :) If you have a change to check them out, do...

[JFreak]

Maybe if you go from one studio to another all this comes down to what is popular in your area. Genelecs are the king here, they are everywhere. So if you have them and go to another studio that has them, you do not need to worry about difference of speakers, only that each room is slightly different obviously.

As I already said, I am biased. Genelecs all the way for me (and most places in Finland).