Desktop Monitors for PC video-editing
 

Hey guys... I just bought a new quad-core video editing workstation and one of the things I sprang for that I really like so far is the M-Audio Delta1010LT sound card. The problem is that I am still using my old $20 harman/kardon computers speakers to do my audio work on. Yes, yes... I know.. shame on me.

But now that I have some leftover cash lying around... I want to spring a little bit and get some decent desktop monitors for video editing and VO work.

My budget is 200 dollars (no more than that) and these are the monitors I have come across thus far in my studies. Was wondering if any of you guys had any opinions on these:

1) Edirol / Roland MA-15D - Two Way, 15 Watt Compact Powered Monitors in Natural Wood Finish with 4" Woofer and Digital Input - Pair
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=381548&is=REG

2) M-Audio DX4 - Active Desktop Monitor Speakers (Pair)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

3) Behringer MS40 - 2-Way 40-Watt 24-bit/192kHz Hybrid Nearfield Monitors - Pair
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

4) Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System (3-Piece)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1051384267922

Numbers #1-3 are studio monitors while #4 are actual computer monitors. Since I have digital outputs on my M-Audio Delta1010LT sound card... I thought it would be best to get actual studio monitors... am I correct? Thanks for any help and suggestions. I look forward to your help. Take care.

im using 6 berhinger Truths and a Sony Sub.. this would be beynd the budget youve mentioned, but i cant fault the berhinger's

If you can afford the Yamaha MS80's or above, id say go for it, coz if u can make it sound good on these, u make it sound good on almost anything..

Hey guys... I think I am going to go with the Edirol MA-15D's... the price suits me the best and I figure it is cheap enough I can always upgrade at a later time...

On a side note... Since my soundcard supports digital S/PDIF outs.... I now need to purchase S/PDIF coax cable. Looking on B&H... I notice that a 6' S/PDIF RCA cables range from as little as $10 up to around $50. The difference is in all this "gold plating" and fancyness of the cable. Does all this jazz really make a difference in the quality of sound or is it all a bunch of junk that is to try to make you to spend more money?

For instance... this 6' S/PDIF RCA cable at B&H costs $50:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

... yet I can get the same thing for $12.50 (still gold-plated):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

What the heck makes one so much more than the other??? Thanks for your help!

IMHO Monster cable and other "audiophile" brands are 90% marketing hype. Hosa is a good reliable manufacturer of cable assemblies etc and I would be very surprised if you'd find any functional difference between those two cables. That's not to say always buy the cheapest - there's a certain level below which inferior materials, poor manufacturing QA, substandard shielding etc start to enter into the picture and products like the more expensive 'Star-Quad' microphone cables are definitely better than the cheap stuff. But products from the the major manufacturers of professional gear like Beldon, Mogami, Canare, Hosa, Neutric, etc are perfectly fine and so with those two examples, save your money.

Did you notice that only the M-Audio monitors lack bass/treble knobs?

Forgive me my lack of knowledge, but if you adjust bass or treble in the monitors by an unknown amount, then how do you make sure that your edited sound track sounds good on other peoples systems? First you do an unknown adjustment to the frequency response, and then you make it sound good on your setup... The result might sound a little different on your neighbours set.

Disclaimer: Don't expect me to know anything. I don't ;) The Edirols might still be very good, and certainly better than "pc speakers" - but what about the "reference" part?

Ralf's point is spot-on.
you don't want the ability to easily tweak frequencies in the monitor. If they can be tweaked, it generally is a small pot with recessed controls, so that once set, they're set. This is generally done with an RTA as part of the setup. Shifting your speaks from anything but "flat" is a bad move. Kinda like trying to color correct on an uncalibrated television monitor.