Small monitors w decent bass for tabletop setup?

[popvulture]

So...

I was thinking it'd be fun to have a little tabletop setup with a mixer and some small powered monitors. I'm not looking to be too serious with the monitors in terms of clinical accuracy or anything, just would be nice to have some with a decent thump. I'd be running an Analog Rytm and some synth bass, so just whatever could handle those well would work...

Any thoughts for doing something like that at a decent price? Something like the Yamaha NS5 would be cool, or the Audioengine A5+... but both of those run at like 400 a pair. Never have tried the latter's A2+, which is significantly cheaper but also smaller.

[OddKnowledge]

i have a pair of KRK Rokit 6 G2s that are pretty awesome and have good bass response.

[spacelordmother]

Likewise with my M-Audio BX5a's, and I know there's a couple other people on ILF who love them too.

[popvulture]

Yes! Thank y'all! Looking up both now...

[tremolo3]

The Yamahas HS80 had such a great bass without sounding boomy like the KRKs I've tried, forgot the exact model though.

I use some old Yorkville YSM1 with a Hafler power amp and bass is tight and punchy but not as big as the ones in the Yamahas, but it's a 6.5" driver. I wish I could get rid of this setup and buy some powered monitors lol.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

if not using for recording or main reference, i would go w/ one of those 2.1 (two speakers one sub) setups if thump (bass) was my main concern.
they are pretty cheap these days too.

i use my girls old logitech 2.1 as a second reference to my monitors. i think it has a 6" sub.
its not anything fancy, and it works and sounds great for full range response.
i check my mixes on them and sometimes use them when i don't turn my monitors or computer on but want to jam.

almost any studio monitors u will hear the bass or maybe more low-mid/bass range,
but u won't feel it like u would w/ a sub. even a small sub.

[popvulture]

I've got a pair of Dynaudio BM5As in my studio/office, and they sound fucking great... awesome bass, really detailed overall. I'd have a second pair of them if I could.

I really like the HS80s/HS8s I've played with... they're huge though. I wonder how the HS5s sound, definitely tempting. Once again though, a bit too pricey. This little setup would be in a different place in my house, where I could lay out a bunch of pedals or whatever and not make a mess of my desk that I use for design stuff all the time. Sometimes I also have scaled back band practice over here, so it'd be nice to be able to plug in a couple synthy things and be loud enough to play at chill practice levels.

The smaller Yamahas are probably the most tempting. Hmm maybe I'll have some luck on Craigslist...

[popvulture]

Ah Sherm yeah that reminds me of an old Altec Lansing set I used to have. Good idea...

[codetocontra]

I was thinking about speakers too. A friend of mine, quasi-audiophile but practical, recommended the JBL LSR305s. $300 for a set, though they were on sale once (around Xmas?) for like $200. Also considering the Audioengine A5+ with an S8 sub down the road. Maybe. Ideally these speakers would serve my future upgrade turntable, my recording and tabletop setups.

[manymanyhaha]

Concur with jbl lsr305. I have those plus Neumann KH120 and have used several others and the jbl lsr305s are fantastic monitors for cheap.

[waltdogg]

yamaha hs5 or h50. basically the same speakers, smaller 50 watts each aith 5" drivers and horns

[popvulture]

I meant to say HS5 in the first post... they do seem like one of the best options, and can probably find em used pretty easily.

The A5+ might be a serious contender due to their ability to pair very well with a turntable, so I could repurpose them for a bedroom setup if I needed to. The Yamahas would probaby sound great in that situation too, tbh.

the $400 on either of those is still holding me back, but they seem like the best options. Need to hold out for some good used ones that have been well cared for.

[actual]

I have Adam F7's and I'm pretty pleased with those. I still want better ones, but they're really good for what they are. The bass goes pretty low, so I figure the bass in the F5's would be "decent". They're a bit more expensive than the Yamaha's, but you can probably find some used. At least consider them

[popvulture]

Oh damn, didn't realize Adam had a line that affordable.

[rustywire]

Concur with jbl lsr305. I have those plus Neumann KH120 and have used several others and the jbl lsr305s are fantastic monitors for cheap.