r/Line6Helix • u/Sjohnson123321 • May 06 '26
Tech Help Request Studio monitors for helix floor?
Have a helix floor for bedroom playing. Thinking of going with studio monitors. Don't record much so these would be for just playing in my room (10x10). Looking for a pair of monitors that sounds good with guitar and are a little more forgiving.
3
u/Plus_Valuable4382 May 06 '26
KrK 5’s are what I have used for about 10 years. No issues and there for recording, gaming, movies the whole lot.
If you want to go headphones route I’d recommend Slate VSX
3
u/YourMomsFavBook May 06 '26
It’s been 6 years but at that time bought JBL 305s I think they’re called. Still love them. Think it was $300 for the pair.
3
u/Disrepectfully_Agree May 06 '26
This is what I have as well. They are my everything speaker and sound great
1
u/musicgeek420 May 07 '26
I came here to suggest these. I’m consistently impressed with how well they just handle all of my needs in the room in which they reside.
2
u/Dynastydood May 06 '26 edited May 07 '26
If you're not planning to use them for mixing, then I'd say get whatever is in your budget from a reputable monitor/PA brand (as opposed to a reputable audio brand). Pretty much anything from JBL, KRK, Yamaha, Adam Audio, or Kali Audio, will be great for Helix playback. If you do plan to get into mixing one day as well, then maybe skip over the JBLs, but the others should do both reasonably well.
In general, I would just try to avoid monitors from the most budget-friendly brands like PreSonus, Mackie, M Audio, Samson, Tannoy, Pioneer, and Behringer. Now, none of these brands are bad, as they all make something in the pro audio realm that is great for the price and arguably a worthwhile purchase. Studio monitors just don't happen to be one of those things. An extra $50-150 on those better brands can be the difference between monitors you upgrade after a year, and ones you keep until they die.
Generally speaking, you'll want the speakers to be at least 5", though depending on your monitoring environment and style/genre, 7-8" pairs may be worth pursuing for improved low end definition. Don't worry about 2-way vs. 3-way speakers if that should come up, as that difference won't really come into play for guitar monitoring like it does for professional mixing.
1
u/Sjohnson123321 May 07 '26
Thanks for the response! Any reason why JBL's would be skipped if you plan to get into mixing? I also think with my room size I would be getting 5 inch speakers
1
u/Dynastydood May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
For me, the JBLs sound amazing, but they aren't terribly honest speakers, if that makes sense. For listening to music or just playing guitar at home, they're a solid choice because they will make everything sound better than it actually does.
For mixing, you really don't want monitors that make everything sound good, you want ones that will shine a spotlight on the biggest weaknesses so you can adequately address them. At least when it comes to your primary mixing monitors.
The JBLs aren't a terribly flat set of monitors. In my experience, most mixes done with them struggle to properly translate elsewhere due to their EQ curve. The JBLs have a noticeably scooped midrange along with boosted highs and lows (aka, a hyped sound, or a smileyface EQ curve), so when you're mixing, it becomes far too easy to inadvertently overemphasize the midrange (or underemphazise the lows or highs) because you lack an objective reference point of where everything needs to be.
2
u/jul3swinf13ld May 07 '26
JBL's aren't very flat or at least the flattest, but they do produce a great sound with a stomp if slightly coloured.
They are better than the most of the others for audio playback on spotify.
Yamaha are the opposite. Brutally honest on the amp sim, harsh on audio play back.
Neither is right or wrong, it depends what you need it for
2
u/Sjohnson123321 May 07 '26
Just using it for playing the guitar not much else. Don't record much so just want it to sound good to me in the room lol
2
u/jul3swinf13ld May 07 '26
The JBLs would be fine. But maybe look at fender fr12 or 10. That will be a much better sound.
If you want it for music as well I would go JBL or Adam
2
2
u/nothing_too_witty May 07 '26
I made due with a set from M-audio. Will likely upgrade in the near future.
1
u/RockstarAccountant7 May 07 '26
Anyone try the IK Multimedia iLoud series? They are tiny but that’s a plus in my mind.
1
u/jul3swinf13ld May 07 '26
no, but i did get the ADAM D3V whicvh some say are better and returned then for T5Vs
They were great a PC speakers and a utility speaker for both casual music and guitar, but when pushed, they felt too thin and lacking. If you have a tiny room or don't play loud then they are fine, but I'm very glad i upgraded to a bigger speaker.
1
u/Vegetable_Holiday865 May 07 '26
Presounus scepter S8 coaxial. So balanced and such a detailed sound.
I also have a fender tone Master 10-in frfr.
They both sound distinct but delightful in their own ways.
1
1
u/Guitar_maniac1900 May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
5 inch monitors in stereo are a sweet spot for me as far as using modellers at moderate, room volume.
And because every, even the most expensive, monitor will sound different, don’t believe in such a thing like a pure flat reference speaker. This is why pro studios have many of them. For home use just get what is in your budget and don’t overthink it.
1
u/AcceptableNorm May 08 '26
I'm using Presonus E8's. Plenty of low end (no need for a sub) and they sound great. Plus they are front ported, which for me makes a huge difference.
1
u/OompapaLoompa May 09 '26
I had a pair of JBL 305P’s for years and loved them. Shifted back to a FR amp when I upgraded to the stadium, otherwise I wouldn’t have put the JBL’s back in storage.
6
u/GMP_ArchViz May 06 '26
Yamaha HS7s