I went from using similar-sized compact stereo system speakers to these and right away I heard the "studio mix" - tighter bass and sweeter high's (a tech cliche but its true!) No additional knobs required, everything's built in to respond true to the specs stated. Especially effective with my Boss DR-670 drum machine. As Samson states, the seperation of instruments via frequencies and EQ tweak on my digital 16-track is clear and makes for a mix that doesn't lie. My only gripe: my studio is a square room with vaulted cielings, a few bits of foam and hard fiberboard. Acoustics can ruin a perfect score!

I like the volume knobs that "click" in at 12:00 (always turn speakers on at 0db!!!!) You can go louder, but that's not what near-fields are for y'all!

Just follow the manual's "sweet spot" reference for how you sit and placement of speakers, use 1/4 inch (as opposed to RCA) set at 12:00 and life is good!

I love the "flat matte black" finish. They are constructed to withstand at least a F-2 Hurricane.

So far so good!

I love the laser-like blue l.e.d. "on" indicator. Fusion drive is powered up for interstellar sound travel

active musician

New Millenium Metal

These speakers sound very nice. They are definitely seeing much use in my studio, and they are small and look cool. The reality is, do they sound better than Genelecs...or Mackies...probably not, but they are very usable, and they're just like anything else, you have to learn how they sound to get the most out of them. For 219.99, you can't beat it, and they are loud!! Buy them, you'll like them, that is, unless you are used to 1300.00 monitoring systems.

Well they look cool, they have balanced 1/4 inch, and unbalanced RCA, and of course they have power amps. Just about what you would hope to get in active studio monitors. They are vented well, and they seem nicely flat in response, so uummm way to go.

very nice quality, nice weight, pretty sturdy, I would drop them or knock them around in the backseat of your car of course.

great value.

???????????????don't know

well since I have it...it gets a 10 for wanting it!!

none specifically

the only way to get better sound out of monitors this size is to spend at least $200 more but, if you are willing to spend that much you wouldn't be looking to get something this size. Nice flat sound nothing exagerated which is crutial for getting good mixes.

not many features but who needs them. Most features on monitors result in inacurate mixes. very straightforward build.

they sound great never too harsh for long listening. I won't be blasting these monitors at stupid levels so they should last long enough until I can upgrade. However, they don't sound stressed when turned up. I'll always keep these though.

I am a hip-hop producer. I was mixing on computer speakers before, what a diference monitors make. I'm getting much better mixes now. Good size and color and, for the price they sound perfect. Much better than Event tr5. A must buy for hip-hop production on a budget!!

I would buy two more pairs.

producer

rap, r&b, world

I purchased these for use with a laptop DAW setup using Sonar / M audio Ozone and these 50a Samsons. I was suspicious about the sound due to their titanium dome tweeters, but purchased them due to OK reviews and a great discounted price. Unfortunately my fears came true. During playback of various mixes of various genres of music I find the overall sound is lacking in detail and harsh in the treble. They are fine for playback of solo instruments (eg playing a synth through) or playing back a guitar through a preamp processor but that's about it.

The little rubber feet are a nice touch.

Overall the fit and finish is excellent. They look great! It's such a shame. Samson have done a great job of designing and building these little things, except, alas, the drivers. I don't feel that the woofer will stand up to a whole lot of punishment and I can see the tweeter blowing soon if I were to push the volume up with a guitar belting out through them during recording/monitoring. They have any overload protection or thermal cut off protection. They get very very hot and that kinda worries me. If they had built in protection, then for the price I would probably keep them.

For the price that I paid, they may come in useful for something, but at the regular price I would spend another 50 - 100 bucks and get something that will really last. Find something around 300 with Kevlar drivers, silk dome tweeters and thermal / overload protection.

Grade 5 because I have not dealt with support. I see that they have a three year warranty, that's encouraging at least.

Mutton dressed up as lamb.

Hobbyist.

Blues/Rock/Acoustic

Ok...I will keep it REAL. Well after i just got these from UPS, I opened them up and read the manual thorughly first. Then i hooked them up to my m-audio fast track. Well they worked the first 15 mins with "ok" sound then guess what??!!! There was this loud noise!!! like some radio frequency or something(it was not a hum)!!! The sound was so so very loud. I thought it was coming from my protools. i shut off protools in the middle of my project, but the sound still did not stop!!! i shut of my computer and audio interface directly from the power outlet, but the sound was still there and getting louder!!! I then turned down the volume of my monitors both left and right but the sound was still there...and then i finnally found out it was coming from the left monitor!!! i mean i acutually turned the volume completely down and went as far as to unplug the 1/4 cable from the input but the radio frequency kind of sound was still there and louder!!! the sound is like some kind of phone signal gone bad!!! Then i finnally turned off my left monitor and FINAALLY the sound went BUT WAIT!!! it did not just turn off as soon as i shut it off...the sound went away but slowly!!! MAN!!! that was a seriously bad experience for somebody in the first fifteen minutes of using it!!! and mind you i am no rookie...I have been doing this stuff for 8 years so i know quite a lot about montiors and this one was a BAD BAD experience. I dont trust this company no more!! those monitors could have made me deaf!! Literally!! And dont think i had the montiors turned up all the way...coz i had them actually on 12 o'clock(thats 0db)!!!NOW thats some BAD SOUND!!!

Not many features..just a volume knob

I would say they were easy to hook up atleast

Read what i wrote about in the Sound section...youll know why i gave it a "1-the worst" for sound.

I really dont think that this product should be sold for $200 seriously...i mean ZZOUNDS not even sell this dangerous item. Comon ZOUNDS you guys have such nice products but this one is LETHAL!!!

Well the support was ok i mean all they ssaid really was return it.

The product obviously has a lot of appeal thats why i bought it but mind you the quality and sound is lethal(in a bad way) literrally!!

Recording Engineer, Active Musician, Singer

Hiphop, Techno, Rock, Pop

The Sound is very captivating and no words can describe its truthful deliverance of music and playback. Its 'WOW'! No more,No Less. You pay for what you get, its good.

Could have volume knob in front to better control.

Easy to use.

Its value for money. For USD200, you get a lot better quality than the expensive counterpart monitors in the Pro-market.

A+ for its value.

Think not needed yet.

I got it then.

Recording Engineer

Pop

iT SOUNDS great! I love the quality, it has a nice sound to it. Love it

not many features but i don't need alot

Press a button turn it on, flip the switch turn it back off....

The audio quality is really good, it sounds nice, it's execellent and real pure.

It's a real good value, because there good speakers

Samson's good

Well it goes awesome with my alesis 8hd keyboard, it sounds awesome too, i have it and i really like it.

The sound is true and flat. I owned a pair of Alesis M1 that suck in the mix department compared to the 50a's. When mixing, you don't want speaker's that makes your music to good- you want them to be accurate. The 50A's are super accurate for mixing in the bedroom and they translate well on hifi speakers. The Samson 120a is amust if you get the 50A's, and its great at handling to lows....Get the 50A's and the 120a, save some money, and buy some Sonex or Auralex foam and you mixes will sound better than anything you done so far...Accuracy is the key

Accurate not Hyped

ALL

the sound is flat, but kind of poor and lack of details.

horrible

I'm not positive about support, but if those monitors don't work after purchase...it's a big question.

They look good, but they don't work...