Need help deciding between two sets of monitor speakers

[BrokenGravity]

These monitors just went on sale.  Which is just fantastic for my budget.  Need help deciding which one would be best for the Helix!

 

Maudio BX8 D3 Crimson:

https://www.guitarcenter.com/M-Audio/BX8-D3-Crimson-Powered-Studio-Reference-Monitor.gc

 

Maudio BX8 Graphite:

https://www.guitarcenter.com/M-Audio/BX8-Graphite-8-Powered-Studio-Monitor.gc?rNtt=m audio bx8&index=2

 

Your guys thoughts on these?  Pro's / Cons? Anyone have experience using these monitors?

 

Aside from power, 80W on the Crimson and 150W on the Graphite, they're very similar.  Graphite has a Bi-amplified (80 LF, 70 HF) design which I honestly have no idea if that is good or bad in relation to Helix output.  

 

Thank you.

[DunedinDragon]

I don't own either but the specs on the BX8 graphite would drive me toward that one.  In both cases you're dealing with rear bass reflex speakers which means their performance will be very dependent on their placement near walls.  The BX8 grafite has more flexibility in this regard as it has the capability to select and optimize different placements such as wide, narrow, or offset from corners which could be quite useful.  Additionally the bi-amp design of the BX8 graphite should provide for a more consistent crossover between the low and high frequency tuning of the speaker than would the single amp design of the BX8 DW Crimson.  The Graphite should be about twice the power of the Crimson because you add to two bi-amps together to get the overall level of wattage.

 

[rd2rk]

From the M-Audio website, here's the specs for the "carbon" (BX8):

 

https://www.m-audio.com/products/view3/bx8-carbon

 

And the D3:

 

https://www.m-audio.com/bx8d3

 

They're both bi-amped - 70/60 for the Carbon and 80/70 for the D3.

The D3 is the "latest greatest" and may have slightly better overall specs than the Carbon, but otherwise the features appear to be the same.

As near as I can tell, the HF/LF speakers are identical. It's hard to tell from the official specs, as they are stated differently, but if the speakers are actually different, M-Audio is not really stressing that. They are also not providing frequency charts for either.

 

I'd go with the "latest greatest". You might try calling their customer service/pre-sales info line (if they have such) and try to nail them down about the actual differences in the speakers. Good luck with that.

 

For playing your Helix through in your bedroom and as a home recording starter mixing solution either would probably be fine but, again, I'd go with the "latest greatest".

 

 

[BrokenGravity]

@DunedinDragon Thanks for the response and knowledge.  I didn't see that the graphite had placement optimization.

 

@rd2rk  M-Audio's Carbon bx8 are different from both the Crimson (which is the bx8 d3 with the speakers painted red) and the bx8 graphite.  M-Audio's website isn't really set up well and there doesn't appear to be a info page dedicated to either Crimson or Graphite variations of the BX8 on M-Audios website.  

[rsvette12]

This is what I have - they are great and with the extras a highly recommend - reviews are off the charts - I dont play guitar thru it - only for backing tracks - youtube  etc.

 

My Helix LT is my sound card so speakers pipe into helix with provided xlr cables - cables to JBL Nanopatch then out to Helix - handy volume controller on Nanopatch

 

4 xlr cables provided in the kit

 

The kit works great if your hooking up to a helix floor unit - thats why I recommend getting the JBL controller and cables and foam pads for speakers to sit on

 

My guitar goes thru Alto 310'S from helix floor

 

These kalis sound amazing

 

https://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-KAA-LP6-PK?src=D1307BNGHAMS0000&scid=scbplpKAA+LP6+PK&sc_intid=KAA+LP6+PK&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SC Shopping - %24100 - %24500&utm_term=1100505516373&utm_content=Shopping - 100-500