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M-Audio BX8 Powered Monitors

Bi-amplified. Magnetically shielded.

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
           9 out of 10
Features:
           9 out of 10
Quality:
           8 out of 10
Value:
           9 out of 10
I Want It:
           8 out of 10
Sound:
           8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
           5 out of 10
Support:
           8 out of 10
 
 

"DATELINE: Chicago - Guy buys powered monitors that are pretty cool and not too expensive. Does mixing and mastering that transl"

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
Value:
          9 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
Support:
          8 out of 10
User: a customer from johnscrip.com
Submitted: 9/1/2003
Location: Chicago, IL, USA

 

 
Feature:
WIth the controls on the panel (Low cutoff, High cut, mid/presence boost, Acoustic Space control) you'd have a hard time finding a room that you couldn't tune these to fairly accurately. The "Acoustic Space" adjustment can be deceiving - READ THE MANUAL CAREFULLY as that switch SHELVES frequencies ABOVE the lower mids (500-900Hz). Once read and understood, the adjustments are simple and effective. The high cut helps a bit with the "harshness" in the highs, but that seems to be subsiding over time as the units are breaking in. On a more mundane note, the power cables supplied could be longer...

Quality:
I did have a minor problem with my #2 monitor - After listening to them for the first time, I noticed something "crooked" in the low end. I ran a sweep from 40-120Hz and found that the #2 woofer was a bit... "flabby" sounding at around 65Hz. A quick check of the woofer found no flaws, but a replacement is on the way. Other than that, the fit & finish are pretty flawless. I suppose they're "attractive" (which doesn't really concern me) and clients always "ooh" and "ahh" the pretty blue power lights, which now act as my "night light" in the suite (I never power them down except for rare occasions). For the bucks, they're not too shabby at all.

Value:
As mentioned, these are "afterthought" monitors for me - I was looking for some inexpensive, powered reference monitors that were pretty flat just for A/B purposes. That being said, these are some pretty decent sounding squares. For the money, I haven't heard much of anything that can approach the cost vs. sound quality of these monitors. I didn't pay "retail" for them, but I certainly wouldn't feel cheated if I did.

Sound:
Nice and FLAT. I own a mastering suite, so I'm normally NOT looking for flat - However, I occasionally come across a situation where flat reference monitors come in handy. The BX8's do a fine job. I have to say, I originally had them mounted in my "B" mid-field postion and I was not happy. After moving them to the "B" near-field position (I removed my old "B" set that I never used anyway), I was very happy with the sound. Highs are just a whisker harsh, but I've definitely heard worse at several times the price point. SMOOTH lows WAY DOWN (however, see "Quality" remarks below). ALSO, the clarity improves greatly once they're properly warmed up. Not a big problem for me, as I never power them down anymore anyway. Top volume is just plain dangerous, and everything stays pretty clear at ridiculous levels.

Support:
On the woofer issue, I informed them of it and it's being handled to my satisfaction. Without getting into details, they seemed prety easy to deal with. I'm looking forward to my "R" sounding as good as my "L" ASAFP.

Overall:
Solid construction, good sound, nice crankablity, fantastic price point, and pretty blue lights. What more could anyone ask for?

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"MONITOR SPEAKERS YOU CAN EVEN GIG WITH (NO KIDDING)"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          8 out of 10
I Want It:
          9 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          5 out of 10
Submitted: 11/12/2004

 

 
Feature:
Aaah yes, "features" ... Well, this is something that is often overlooked in monitor speakers. These speakers have an internal power supply and are switchable between (110/220 Volts). This can be extremely useful depending on "where" you travel. Another thing I especially like is the flexibility insofar as connectivity, e.g. you can use either XLR (balanaced) or TRS (balanced/unbalanced) cables. I also like the "Acoustic Space" setting which can shape the sound depending on placement near walls, ambience, etc. There is even a degree of "equalization" capable using the "low cutoff" "mid-range" and "high freq" adjustments. I mean, what more could you want insofar as features ??

Quality:
I will have to research finding some type of carry case to keep them "safe" while travelling. Nonetheless, I have travelled extensively with them and they're rock solid. In other words, they can take a bang or two without so much as a scratch or problem in functionality. I wouldn't recommend dropping them, but they're not delicate and seem quite "heavy duty". I've had them for almost 9 months now without any problem at all. Here's the ultimate expression of satisfaction ... I would (and probably will once I have the money) buy another pair. That's how much I like these speakers.

Value:
They're not the cheapest speakers. But I think they're worth ever penny spent. I would definately buy another pair and plan on doing this in the future to get more of a surround sound speaker setup going on.

Desirability:
I spent a long time researching the product before making the purchase. I don't purchase on "looks" but rather quality and functionality. I would recommend the Studiophile BX8 speakers to anyone interested in a high-power speaker that accurately expresses sound while allowing adjustment for speaker placement and ambience (important factors to consider when recording).

Sound:
Excellent (I mean truly excellent) sound ... Completely adjustable depending on speaker placement. More than enough power, e.g. they can get loud (without loosing any clarity). Here, let me say it straight out ... I bought these monitors to use with my recording equipment (Yamaha AW16G-CD) and they accurately express the recorded sound. But now (after 8 months) I don't even play through my Marshall Amplifier anymore. I just use these monitor speakers (even for gigs). So even though they were never really intended to be used as a PA system (so-to-say). They offer true sound representation and more than enough power that I'm using them in this dual capacity and they're superior to my amplifier. This is a true statement.

Support:
I simply have never had to use the support and can not comment on something which I have no experience with. I hope I never have to use "support" since most of the time, the support is often less than expected. But you never know ...

Overall:
Somehow I feel that I'm repeating myself. These speakers kick ass. So much so, that they have replaced my Marshall Amplifier and speaker cabinet. They're smaller, easier to carry to gigs (yea, I even use them as PA speakers at gigs) and the sound quality is superior. You can feel the sound (get me). And it's clear even at higher volumes. To be honest, I've never had to go "full" power on the volume. They easily fill a small room (20' x 30') or hall (50' x 50') without problem. And as I mentioned, I would definately buy another pair. That says a lot since I'm rather prudent with my money (you should be too). And therein, you can't go wrong here.

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"Great monitors for a low price"

Overall:
          9 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          9 out of 10
I Want It:
          9 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from thefreesite.com
Submitted: 5/2/2005
Style of Music: Hip-Hop
Musical Experience: Producer/Beatmaker, Emcee, Composer
Location: Richmond, VA

 

 
Feature:
The acoustic space switches are a nice touch, although I haven't had to bother adjusting anything on my monitors. They give a clear, flat response as is, and that's what I'm looking for.

Quality:
These are made very well. I really like the weight of the monitors, they seem very durable.

Value:
Definetely worth it at 399.00.

Desirability:
The blue light on the front is aesthetically pleasing, and the overall look of them is nice with the black and silver color scheme.

Sound:
I've owned these monitors for a while now and they've been nothing short of excellent as far as I'm concerned. I'm hearing more throughout my mixes than I ever did before, and everything stands out and is very crisp. Listening to my favorite music now is more of a treat since everything is so well defined. The one minor gripe I have is that the hi-end can be a little harsh now and then, but this doesn't ever detract from the overall great sound.

Support:
M-Audio was great the one time I had to use them. I had lost a power cord when I moved and needed another, so I contacted them and they sent me a new one for free in a couple days.

Overall:
These monitors will stay in my arsenal. Eventually I will get better, more expensive ones, but for now, these do a great job.

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"It has it all, price, performance, flexibility. Hard to beat."

Overall:
          9 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          9 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          7 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from msn.com
Submitted: 10/29/2004
Style of Music: Alternative, Techno, Jazz, New Age, Experimental
Musical Experience: Active Musician & Producer.
Location: Martinez CA USA

 

 
Feature:
Good set of rear options including balanced XLR inputs.

Quality:
Pretty good, no real issues with anything -- a little cheesy looking but I care about audio quality not looks.

Value:
double the price and I would still buy them.

Desirability:
Not a looker, but who cares about looks.

Sound:
Sky Blue 2.1 setup sounds a little better but at $500 more. The idiot that gave the M-Audio BX8 a bad review obviously is clueless (probably works for Mackie) and wasn't capable of making the appropriate adjust to crossover settings on the back of the monitors. There is NO other speaker that can compare in the $1000 or less price range. The Mackie H8's and H6' are aweful compared to these -- what happened to Mackie speakers, they used to sound good?

Support:
No repairs, no worries.

Overall:
Nothing is perfect, but these are close. Suggest you ignore any reviewers that use "nooob" as that is a clear indication of someone that spends too much time surfing and not enough time producing music. Internet ghetto lingo I guess.

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"Incredible bang for the buck."

Overall:
          9 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from hotmail.com
Submitted: 5/7/2004
Style of Music: Techno
Location: Los Angeles CA

 

 
Feature:
All of the adjustments on the back are useful, and they come with everything you need. Also, I was able to cut back on the high end without negatively effecting the rest of the sound, or my mixes.

Quality:
Feels very good, although I wouldn't want to bang them around too much. They don't have the kind of finish that hides blemishes.

Value:
These sound as good as any monitor for less than $1,000.

Desirability:
The blue lights look damn cool in a dark studio.

Sound:
They have a great open quality and are very bright...a little too bright, and a lot of bass, very deep and not too boomy. For the price, they are awesome. The field is excellent, but they do produce ear fatigue quicker than my KRK's.

Support:
I have always had excellent experiences with M-Audio's Technical Support. They are some of the best in the business, friendly, knowledgable, and free.

Overall:
I will stick with these for a long time. All my mixes on these speakers have transfered very well to other systems, and they sound good. Don't get me wrong, they're not Genelecs, but they are only $500.

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"loud, fairly accurate and CHEAP... OH MY so cheap"

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          7 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          8 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
Support:
          8 out of 10
User: a customer from hotmail.com
Submitted: 8/6/2004
Style of Music: DRUM and BASS
Location: Melbourne, VIC AUS

 

 
Feature:
The Acoustic space settings are useful. They provide the flexibility needed to (almost) properly set them up and receive accurate sound. least useful would be the 'mid presence' acoustic space switch, which adds about 2-3 dbs to the mid range. I feel that there is no need for this in any acoustic situation as the mids are already slightly over emphasised as it stands with out the 'presence'.

Quality:
Made in China.... hmm... to save costs... other than the origin (and reputation of origin in manufacturing), these speakers seem quite solid, and after 2 months of use.. they are still working:) that says something.

Value:
10 / 10 for value... cheap and effective!!!!

Desirability:
the blue lights seduced me :) the slightly angled front also has appeal. Also the black encasing and blue LEDs suits my 'studio', so i am bias with my sex rating :)

Sound:
These speakers rock, except the high are a tad harsh and mids a little compressed. Other than that, these are perfect for nasty Drum and Bass producing. Considering the price, they are also a decent pair of 'throw around' speakers. These CRANK!!!! watchout for neighbours!!! I havn't been able to turn them up over 50% yet due to the SPL !!!!

Support:
yet to deal with their support infrastructure...

Overall:
Probably 2 years as they are only a cheap temporary solution to proper audio monitoring... Serious audio fanatics should probably look up the spectrum a bit, say dynaudioacoustics BM15A's etc.

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"Boom for the Buck!"

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          8 out of 10
Quality:
          6 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          8 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
Support:
          6 out of 10
User: a customer from yahoo.com
Submitted: 7/10/2003
Style of Music: Drum'n'Bass, Abstract OrganiX
Location: Seattle,WA USA

 

 
Feature:
Accoustical environments vary, so it is important for speakers to be able to cater to your personl enviornment. The BX8's can do just that- and you can also cutoff its lows and highs to your need.

Quality:
Well this is where this product has its issues, again it might just be my luck, but I had to exchange individual bx8's because on 2 brand new pairs each pair had a flawed speaker. One, had a hum, the other had a mysterious rattle in the sub port. They could have matched the speakers a little more accurately too. But on the flip side, they look and feel like 10 quality! I just found it extremely inconvenient to have to swap out "a" speaker to get the right pair. I love the sound so much though that I'm willing to be flexible and understanding though!

Value:
I've heard tons of speakers, truths, hr824's, 20/20's, V8's and more... None of the above can reproduce the 37hz low end of a sine wave like the bx8's. Now obviously some of the previously mentioned are in another league but the BX8's cant be touched at a street price of 479

Sound:
Great Sound! For $500 I was impressed! They are a little harsh in the high end of things( but it could just be my overly sensative ears) A Bass Junkie will appreciate the 37hz lowend response which is a lower bass than many subwoofers put out.

Support:
Have not dealt with M-Audio, Only one concern is that if for some reason I needed to use the 1 year factory warrenty, I'd have to pay for the to and fro. shipping- Not cool. I really hope they have "authorized dealers where I live"

Overall:
I'll dig these till they keel over, or until I start makin serious$$$!

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"Works for me."

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          8 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
Value:
          8 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
User: a customer from hotmail.com
Submitted: 6/2/2005
Style of Music: Jazz, Gosple R&B
Musical Experience: Active Musician, Recording Engineer, Band Director, Producer
Location: Up State NY

 

 
Feature:
The filters are useful for adjusting the speakers to the work space.

Quality:
Seem to be made sturdy enough. Look great.

Value:
Paid a nice price for them. So far I am Pleased with them. The recording projects I am working on are in Contemp Gosple, and Jazz so my demands are always different.

Sound:
The instruments recorded sound like what was played. No color added or removed to speak of.

Support:
Haven't had to use them.

Overall:
I will have them for a while although I may swap them out for a surround system. but even at that I can find a good use for them.

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M-Audio BX8 Monitors Customer Review

Overall:
          9 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Submitted: 10/17/2003

 

 
Sound:
very crisp and tight sounding with good imaging and bass response..best buy for the money!

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"M-audio BX8 die, break, and stop working repeatedly"

Overall:
          2 out of 10
Features:
          5 out of 10
Quality:
          1 out of 10
Value:
          1 out of 10
I Want It:
          1 out of 10
Sound:
          5 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          5 out of 10
Support:
          2 out of 10
Submitted: 10/8/2009

 

 
Feature:
Basic features you would expect in any standard studio monitor.

Quality:
I've had a set for a couple years now and each monitor has died. The first time under warranty. The second time not. These monitors are unreliable. I've taken extraordinary care of them and have never pushed them. For a professional product to repeatedly stop working within a couple years speaks to the poor quality of product. Watch out: these speakers break easily: They will die on you.

Sound:
They sound acceptable, when working.

Support:
Everyone knows that M-audio's support is lacking all around.

Overall:
Decent performance when working, the problem is, they will not work for long. I've read that this is also true for the newer versions of the BX8s.

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