|   What Are "Monitors"? How are they different from "Speakers"? | HEDLEYLAMARR
Jul 26, 2002 3:27 PM | | I've had this question for awhile now, can't seem to find an answer easily. |
| re: What Are "Monitors"? How are they different from "Speakers"? | ariaslives
Jul 26, 2002 7:39 PM | | I think that Monitor is a type of speaker jusk like planar, floorstanding, and bookshelf. Monitors, I believe, were developed out of speakers that were used by broadcasting stations to monitor their productions. They are usually stand mount and do not carry as much bass as the floorstanding...probably because bass can cloud the mid and high ends if not carefully watched. These have always been my favorite type of speakers because of their truthful tonal reproduction...less coloration than floors but greater soundstaging than bookshelfs. Actually, there are bookshelf minimonitors but I don't know how that works into the equation. Look up the history of LS3/5a. That should explain it alot better than I can. |
| re: What Are "Monitors"? How are they different from "Speakers"? | RGA
Jul 27, 2002 1:33 PM | | It's more of a marketing term than anything. I owne Hitachi digital monitors...meaningless term...just a speaker like any other speaker.
Generally a monitor is another name for standmount which is another name for bookshelf.
In PMC's(Professional Monitor Company) case it is reserved to these speakers that are used in recording studios. Their speakers use Transmission Line design - here's an example http://www.pmcloudspeaker.com/tb1sf.htm
Just a standmount speaker though you'll notice their floorstanders are also called monitors. :-) |
| re: What Are "Monitors"? How are they different from "Speakers"? | Derek416
Jul 29, 2002 6:31 AM | | Reduced to a marketing term now, a "monitor" was originally a studio speaker with an ultra flat response (ideally) used for playback, mixing and mastering. |
| re: What Are "Monitors"? How are they different from "Speakers"? | HEDLEYLAMARR
Jul 29, 2002 8:04 PM | | Thanks for the various replies. Going by what you've said, isn't it interesting what the other respondent said about:
"They are usually stand mount and do not carry as much bass as the floorstanding...probably because bass can cloud the mid and high ends if not carefully watched. These have always been my favorite type of speakers because of their truthful tonal reproduction...less coloration than floors but greater soundstaging than bookshelfs."
I mean, this would mean then that somehow the quest for a flatter response had led to less-bass being in monitors (though this is a simplification?). I've noticed that some speakers are called "monitors" and others are not, and while it has seemed to not be clearly consistent, it has seemed as though the monitors seem generally small-to-midsized, not any of the larger floor standers (that I'm aware).
Now that bookshelf speakers and other smaller speakers are so widespread, I guess there's confusion, but I'd take a "monitor" still as something intended more for this accurate or flat reproduction that you mention. |
| re: What Are "Monitors"? How are they different from "Speakers"? | RGA
Jul 29, 2002 10:40 PM | | The problem is though that one person's idea of flat response with another is very different. I had brand new $60.00 Hitachi monitors. The B&W N801 is not really said to be a monitor yet it is. It is the speaker that all music from Abbey Road records is recorded to.
PMC is also a monitor company because they are used in recording studios. None of this means they are necessarily better speakers for an audiophile...though B&W and PMC are...along with Bryston amplifiers.
All that said accuracy should not in my opinion be the goal of an audiophile. Since accuracy in audio is a relative term. If the original recording was made to the sound of the N801 or the PMC TB2 then as soon as you buy a different speaker you've dumped accuracy out the window...especially when you factor in the room acoustics change...(your house vs the Recording studio) I've heard speakers sound wildly wildly different yet I've liked them every bit as much as one another. They are both not accurate.
People out there have tube amps driving Electrostats to horns...others listen to vinyl. The electronics here is not as accurate frequency response wise, but can be much more enjoyale to listen to. Which doesn't mean you want to necessarily chuck flat frequency...but then I never look at specs or measurements...I used to...but I usually bought worse sounding gear...great on paper though. |
| re: What Are "Monitors"? How are they different from "Speakers"? | HEDLEYLAMARR
Aug 3, 2002 8:39 AM | | Thanks again: I'm glad I asked this question, as I got several educational responses.
HL |
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