Ben Carey

Hi all, excuse the off topic thread, but I felt like I needed to get some advice from the Max crowd in addition to my trawling of pro-audio message boards.

I'm in the market for my first pair of near-field monitors. I have whittled my choices down to either the M-Audio Bx5a's or the Yamaha HS50M's... considering my budget constraints. I've never used near-field monitors before, and do the majority of my work using my Sennheiser HD595 headphones or a crappy home hi-fi system.

I was quite sold on the M-Audios until I went into an audio shop and was warned against these relatively inexpensive monitors (and was promptly advised to look at the Genelec 8020's at three times the price!). The Yamaha's were another set recommended to me. I see that the almost standard criteria for a good pair of monitors speakers is a relatively flat frequency response... although I have also heard that the Yamaha's - apparently boasting this attribute - can sound quite harsh and unpleasant.

This guy in the store mentioned that I would soon be looking to upgrade from the M-Audios if I chose them as they wouldn't translate as accurately to other systems as something like the Genelecs or the Yamaha's if I was mixing off them.

Any advice, suggestions or experience with these monitors or getting into monitoring for the first time is welcome.

I was quite sold on the M-Audios until I went into an audio shop and was warned against these relatively inexpensive monitors (and was promptly advised to look at the Genelec 8020's at three times the price!). The Yamaha's were another set recommended to me. I see that the almost standard criteria for a good pair of monitors speakers is a relatively flat frequency response... although I have also heard that the Yamaha's - apparently boasting this attribute - can sound quite harsh and unpleasant. 

studio-monitors-yamaha-hs50ms-vs-m-audio-bx5as

The Yamaha HS monitors are amazing. I did a lot of comparison shopping and they sound well beyond their price point, and beat out anything I heard at up to double their retail. Nice configuration options, super flat/accurate sound, and can sound great as listening speakers, too. Highly recommended.

I work from Sennheiser HD-600 headphones and mixdown on these monitors. I have two pairs of these (one at work one at home). I have had them for about three years, transported them quite a bit, and they've been solid. I've even taken them to some smaller gigs to use as monitors, and run them as the main speakers for smaller art gallery openings and basement parties.

These are very, very flat. If it sounds good on these, they'll sound good anywhere. One thing to note is that it's important to read the setup guide and adjust the settings on your monitors according to where they're placed in the room.

If someone claimed that they sounded harsh, they likely had the high or mids boosted at close range. Generally, if you run all the settings in the back at "0", keep the monitors at least three feet from anything (walls, bookshelves, etc), make a 5 - 6 foot triangle consisting yourself and each monitor, you're gold. Kind of goes for any monitor setup, really.

The Yamaha HS monitors are amazing.  I did a lot of comparison shopping and they sound well beyond their price point, and beat out anything I heard at up to double their retail.  Nice configuration options, super flat/accurate sound, and can sound great as listening speakers, too.  Highly recommended.

I work from Sennheiser HD-600 headphones and mixdown on these monitors.  I have two pairs of these (one at work one at home).  I have had them for about three years, transported them quite a bit, and they've been solid.  I've even taken them to some smaller gigs to use as monitors, and run them as the main speakers for smaller art gallery openings and basement parties.

These are very, very flat.  If it sounds good on these, they'll sound good anywhere.  One thing to note is that it's important to read the setup guide and adjust the settings on your monitors according to where they're placed in the room.

If someone claimed that they sounded harsh, they likely had the high or mids boosted at close range.  Generally, if you run all the settings in the back at "0", keep the monitors at least three feet from anything (walls, bookshelves, etc), make a 5 - 6 foot triangle consisting yourself and each monitor, you're gold.  Kind of goes for any monitor setup, really.


Let's Go Outside wrote on Wed, 22 July 2009 11:15

The Yamaha HS monitors are amazing. .. . .. I've even taken them to some smaller gigs to use as monitors, and run them as the main speakers for smaller art gallery openings and basement parties.

Me too, great product, amazing price point for quality. 

I like the tweeters on these better than the old NS-10 we used as studio monitors oh, so many years ago...softer, more open sound, and they don't seem to burn out like so many old ones did.

In fact, I feel safe taking the HS monitors to gigs, and as much as I love my (much more expensive) Event monitors, I would not take them to a gig, ever.

Let's Go Outside wrote on Wed, 22 July 2009 11:15The Yamaha HS monitors are amazing.  .. . ..  I've even taken them to some smaller gigs to use as monitors, and run them as the main speakers for smaller art gallery openings and basement parties.

Me too, great product, amazing price point for quality. 
I like the tweeters on these better than the old NS-10 we used as studio monitors oh, so many years ago...softer, more open sound, and they don't seem to burn out like so many old ones did.
In fact, I feel safe taking the HS monitors to gigs, and as much as I love my (much more expensive) Event monitors, I would not take them to a gig, ever.

I bought the HS-50M's and thought the low frequency response was somewhat lacking. After a few days I upgraded to the HS-80's and have been extremely happy with them ever since. I think the price of the 80's went down to $299 each recently, I would highly recommend the HS-80's. I got to A/B them against some much higher priced monitors and still thought they sounded the best.

Find a music store where you can listen to as many different monitors as possible. Both Genelec and Mackie recently came out with lower priced models that seem to be getting good reviews.

I bought the HS-50M's and thought the low frequency response was somewhat lacking. After a few days I upgraded to the HS-80's and have been extremely happy with them ever since. I think the price of the 80's went down to $299 each recently, I would highly recommend the HS-80's. I got to A/B them against some much higher priced monitors and still thought they sounded the best. 

Find a music store where you can listen to as many different monitors as possible. Both Genelec and Mackie recently came out with lower priced models that seem to be getting good reviews.


Oh, right, I was going to mention that. If you go with the 5" ones, you should supplement with a tiny sub (not the HS sub -- that's overkill). My friend has the 8" ones and they're all you need.

Oh, right, I was going to mention that.  If you go with the 5" ones, you should supplement with a tiny sub (not the HS sub -- that's overkill).  My friend has the 8" ones and they're all you need.


Thanks guys for your responses that's a lot of help.. I thought that the Yamaha's would be getting the thumbs up.. interesting not to hear any thoughts on the Bx5a's however.. I guess they're really not what I should be going for. (??)

Thanks for the advice on room placement too I'll definitely think hard about this when I'm placing monitors in my home studio.

Thanks guys for your responses that's a lot of help.. I thought that the Yamaha's would be getting the thumbs up.. interesting not to hear any thoughts on the Bx5a's however.. I guess they're really not what I should be going for. (??) 

Thanks for the advice on room placement too I'll definitely think hard about this when I'm placing monitors in my home studio.


Studio Monitors - Yamaha HS50M's vs M-Audio Bx5a's