Product Description

One step down from the MS40, these extremely compact, super-affordable 2 x 10-Watt near field monitors feature ultra-high resolution 24-bit/192 kHz D/A converters, which let you connect digital sources directly in order to eliminate analog line-loss and hum. Connect your computer sound card, keyboard, MP3 and Mini Disc players and enjoy excellent detail and great dynamicsOptical and coaxial inputs to directly connect digital audio sources by S/PDIF interface! The built-in amplifiers offer plenty of headroom, while the powerful woofers and tweeters provide an ultra-linear frequency response. Two stereo analog inputs featuring 1/8 inch TRS and stereo RCA connectors can be used simultaneously or mixed with a digital stereo source. The speakers also feature individual volume controls for both Line inputs plus Bass and Treble EQ controls, and there is a TRS headphone connector with a front-panel auto-mute loudspeaker function. * Products mentioned herein are exclusively BEHRINGER products and are not in any way associated with and have not been approved, licensed, sponsored, endorsed, designed or manufactured (or anything else for that matter!) by anyone other than BEHRINGER. All Trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners and are not affiliated with BEHRINGER.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28 in Speakers
• Brand: Behringer
• Model: MS20
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, 34.17 pounds

Features

• Pair of 10 Watt nearfield monitors
• 24-bit 192kHz D/A converters

Customer Reviews

Ignorant But Pleased
In the past I have used hi-fi headphones and some cheap computer speakers for monitoring, but recently I've been trying to do this better and more professionally. However my budget is very small so I have to be careful about what I buy and how useful it will be.

All the recording magazines I've read say you should use proper monitors, but I couldn't understand why. Afterall, my recordings will usually be played on home hi-fis and car stereos. After upgrading to digital recording I kept having trouble getting the mix right. Firstly I purchased some better headphones (Senheisser 212 pro) and the sound was superb, but although these were great for monitoring whilst recording, when I tried to do a final mix things didn't sound so good on my hi fi or in the car. I kept having to go back and have another go whilst trying to remember what the problems were and fix them by guesswork. The problem was that the headphones seemed to boost the bass and the high frequencies so I reduced the volume of the bass guitar and cymbals/tambourine only to find that these were weak or lost by the time it was playing in my car on a Cd. Eventually I took the plunge and bought some proper monitors.

I was totally ignorant about monitors, and although I'd admired the sound from my friend's Tannoy Reveals (that are out of my price range), I had no idea how to compare the different ones available in my price range. (Magazines seem to ignore these bottom of the price range products, or just dismiss them by comparison to expensive professional ones). In the end I looked at the features and the frequency responses and chose the ones with the most features and widest frequency response that I could find, (I was particularly worried about not having a clear full bass sound) and so I bought the Behringer MS20.

I was worried that they'd sound cheap and nasty to be honest, but I thought they'd do better than what I was using. However I am really pleased with them. The advantage seems to be that they (like all studio monitors) provide a really clear sound across a very wide frequency range without adding warmth to particular frequencies. Thus you hear a very accurate reproduction of your mix.

The downside is that you hear loads of sound problems that weren't noticeable before (kick drum sounds merging and clashing with bass guitar notes, a bit of digital distortion on the vocals that had previously been hidden by the overdriven rhythm guitar, & a cymbal that was obscured behind the guitar). The upside is that hearing these problems clearly allowed me to put them right, and now the song sounds much better even on the hi-fi and in the car.

What I found good about the MS20s was the ability to alter the bass and treble tones (I left the treble at centre but reduced the bass a bit as in my room it boomed). The trick is not to use the tone controls to colour or sweeten the sound, but to attain a flat frequency response across the whole range of recorded sounds. The same speakers will sound very different in different rooms (and in different places in the same room), but I don't have much choice so it's good to be able to adjust the tones a bit to make up for my poor room. It's also good that I can have two things plugged in and have separate volume controls (this lets me check the Cd without unplugging my recorder).

As I have to pack away my equipment into a drawer each time I finish recording, I would have preferred the inputs to be on the front to make setting up quicker and easier, but at least the headphone socket, volumes and tones are on the front, and the on/off button.

The monitors are well built, look smart, and seem rugged. Also they were packed very well for transport/delivery with lots of polystyrene around them.

As I only have analogue out from my Boss BR600 recorder I can't comment on the quality of the digital inputs and their converters, but it's nice to know they are there if I need them in the future.

The best tip I can pass on is that if, like me, you can't afford a pair of monitor isolators (Auralex mopads seem to be recommended by all the magazines) stand them on some strong but slightly soft mats (I use cork wall tiles), and then tilt the front up towards your ears with a small wedge (I use a triangular piece of wood). This helps to isolate the speakers from the worktop/desk and reduces boom sounds.

Although I am still very ignorant I am learning more each time I use them and I am certainly pleased with my choice of the Behringer MS20. The only complaint I have so far is that I would have preferred a separate volume control for the headphone socket.