The sexiest monitors on planet earth

[belzybob]

Well, I've just started research on my very first studio monitors. I've read Tweak's guide on the subject and searched the internet till I was blue in the face.
I've checked out almost every thing I can think of. I decided on a pair, then changed my mind a hundred times.
Then I found them, when I saw them my heart just melted.
I could'nt concentrate at work today and can't stop thinking about them.

It's going to be difficult for me over the next two or three weeks while I try to conjure up some cash. And I know that sleeping at night is going to be hard.

They are the KRK V4 series 2. Does anyone agree with me that they are the most gorgeous, stunningly beautiful monitors ever created in history.

The craftmanship, the suttle, yet smooth curves on the corners, the alluring yellow woofer, the cutest sweetest little soft dome tweeter......mmmmmmmm.

I don't care what they do, I don't care what they cost, I don't care, I just don't care. Oh please................

[motulover]

Looks are not the main concern in studio monitors.

[ez2001]

............not only look good... they are sound great toooooo!!!!!

great selection!!!

[belzybob]

I hear what you're saying motolover man.......but you obviously haven't seen them.

[belzybob]

Hey ez, have you got them........oh please tell me more.

[Blue Bear Sound]

errrrmm... *choke* ... right.....

KRKs are ok, but certainly don't hold a candle to ADAM, B&W, Genelec, and a number of other top-end studio monitors....

[jar4ever]

Yeah, B&W's are way sexier, that why all the pros use them.

[THE CACA MAN]

Well, I've just started research on my very first studio monitors. I've read Tweak's guide on the subject and searched the internet till I was blue in the face.
I've checked out almost every thing I can think of. I decided on a pair, then changed my mind a hundred times.
Then I found them, when I saw them my heart just melted.
I could'nt concentrate at work today and can't stop thinking about them.

It's going to be difficult for me over the next two or three weeks while I try to conjure up some cash. And I know that sleeping at night is going to be hard.

They are the KRK V4 series 2. Does anyone agree with me that they are the most gorgeous, stunningly beautiful monitors ever created in history.

The craftmanship, the suttle, yet smooth curves on the corners, the alluring yellow woofer, the cutest sweetest little soft dome tweeter......mmmmmmmm.

I don't care what they do, I don't care what they cost, I don't care, I just don't care. Oh please................

YOU, SIR, HAVE PROBLEMS.

[motulover]

I hear what you're saying motolover man.......but you obviously haven't seen them.

Yes, I have. I don't see the point of being so hyped up. There are "better looking" monitors than the V4's.

[ScanMan413]

sexy? nahhhh- THESE are sexay!!
http://harmankardon.com/large.aspx?Displayname=SOUNDSTICKSII&prod=SOUNDSTICKSII&cat=MME&sType=C&ImgName=SOUNDSTICKSII.jpg&Region=USA&Country=US&Language=ENG




(and yes I know they are not studio monitors- but they ARE cool! )

[Nick_godin]

You want to talk sexy, and quality on top of that ...B & W Nautilus

[hellodan]

whoa... *speechless*...

*looks at cheap RP-5s....

[MASSIVE Mastering]

See, I use B&W Nautilus 802's... They don't look anything like the "snail" Nautilus.

Personally, I'm kind of glad about that.

If I had way too much cash and a giant entertainment room, I'd consider the snails. Otherwise, I just can't look at them without thinking of French cuisine.

[belzybob]

Sorry about last night guys, I just saw the KRK's and was overcome with emotion.

I've read all your posts and appreciate your comments.

I checked out the ADAM monitors suggested by Blue Bear and I have to admit that the small ADAM Artist's are easily better looking than the KRK's.
But way over my budget.

Sometimes life can be so cruel.

When buying gear, I accept that quality should be a major factor, but to me,
looks are also important.

Im still going for the KRK's but, I will always dream about the ADAM's now.

I'm feeling sad now

[nanashiwanderer]

KRKs are ok, but certainly don't hold a candle to ADAM, B&W, Genelec, and a number of other top-end studio monitors....

Agree with you there... b&W is on my list, of first buys when i get back to bama I'll say this if i had 500$ and had to get active monitors KRK V4s would be one of the first things i'd look at, way before i look at the RP8,

However to the user belzybob. Wharfedale diamond 8.2 and an new rotel RB-1050 are in your price range of 500$. A used Hafler TA series and B&W 601 DMIII is about 600$ as well both monitors would be a step up from the V4 (I'd probably rather have these then a lot of the stuff in 700-900$ range like the Yamaha HS80M, or Mackie HR624.) The active diamond 8.2 according to pros however (I own passives) are compromised by the fact they are active.

[AFK]

You want to talk sexy, and quality on top of that ...B & W Nautilus

okay, i'm pretty sure we can say that this is unbeatable now lol. holy crap, those look friggin amazing.

does the shape of the speakers in anyway ruin fidelity though?

[gibong]

There's a science to the madness. The B&W Nautilus is a Terminated Transmission Line box:

http://www.t-linespeakers.org/classics/index.html


Here is a pic of a prototype from B&W:




You want to make your own?
http://audio-nirvana.fortunecity.net/pa ... sdoitg.htm

[MASSIVE Mastering]

does the shape of the speakers in anyway ruin fidelity though?

In the case of that unit, it's the *reason* for the fidelity. B&W has arguably the most advanced technology and minds in the industry. If it isn't going to add to "perfection," they generally don't do it.

[mechanism]

I remember seeing the B&W nautilus on the internet about 10 years ago. I would love listen to them. But I doubt there is even a pair of them in my country.

[jar4ever]

Even the rounded edges you were talking about on the KRKs are there for an acoustical reason (something about reflections from 90 degree corners being bad, I think). The shape of those plastic molded Genelecs are that way because of acoustics also.

Gibong, that design looks insane. I'm sure it sounds awesome, but you'd have to explain them to everyone that comes in.

[motulover]

Wow...totally jaw dropping

[Norkamus]

The B&W nautilus looks like a fender (the vehicle kind) off of something from the 50's.

Norkamus

[gibong]

Even the rounded edges you were talking about on the KRKs are there for an acoustical reason (something about reflections from 90 degree corners being bad, I think). The shape of those plastic molded Genelecs are that way because of acoustics also.

Gibong, that design looks insane. I'm sure it sounds awesome, but you'd have to explain them to everyone that comes in.

Speaker designers round off the corners to reduce diffraction which causes interference losses, imaging problems, etc:
(from Art Ludwig)


(That DIY Nautilus was built by Alfonso de Rojas.)

Transmission Line box designs have the same goals that the more common ported boxes do: extend the bass response down below the actual response of the bass driver. If the box is well designed, the resonance of the box when "added" with the response of the speakers should result in a flat response with the "knee" much lower than the bass driver is actually capable.

I can think of some design reasons why the Nautilus design is successful:

o The rounded corners reduce diffraction as described above;
o That spiral design results in a physically smaller box than if you use an 'unfolded' or in this case 'uncoiled' Transmission line.
o It reduces unwanted reflections: regular box speakers will reflect mid-highs from the back of the box right back out to the listener resulting in uneven response - the spiral shape directs reflections down the spiral instead of right back out. You can see how that would work in that first photo (which BTW is an actual Nautilus prototype photographed at the Bowers and Wilkin plant).
o And large flat planes on a regular box will act as diaphragms which resonate at unwanted and unpredictable frequencies - the spiral shape does not have any large flat planes.

That's my theory, anyway, and I'm sticking to it

[motulover]

It looks like the destructive pattern between the green and blue lines are being overlapped on the edges with the red and black lines. That'll give out a fuzzy image of the sound, I believe.

[Dib]

http://www.sawonline.com/licensees_beolab_gallery.shtml

I think these are pretty sweet too... they look like those japanese karma fountain things.