Discontinued Roland DS-series monitors. Edirol alternatives perhaps?

[Super 8]

Hi! I've been trying in vain (for what seems like the longest time here in the UK!) to procure some Roland DS-series monitor speakers (90A/50A/30A). They're discontinued and just never seem to come up secondhand on the usual classified sites. Can anybody point me in the right direction or suggest any equivalent digital monitor speakers made by other manufacturers that will achieve the same results as the above mentioned Roland models? (Along with decent nearfield monitoring - I currently mix on headphones - I am wanting to avail of the Speaker Modelling feature on the BR1600 & the manual recommends to use said Roland DS speakers which I can't find anywhere!)

[Farrell Jackson]

Check out the KRK Rockit 5s. I've had mine for several years and they are still going strong.

Farrell

[64Guitars]

I think the reason Roland recommends the DS series (other than the obvious marketing reason) is that they have a digital input which can be connected directly to the BR-1600's Digital Output. So you should look for a pair of accurate near field monitors that have a coaxial digital input.

One possibility is the Behringer MS40. I've never heard them so I can't offer a personal recommendation, but the description on the company's website sounds like they'd do the job. And the price is good at just £124 for a pair.

http://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Loudspeaker-Systems/Multimedia-Speakers/MS40/p/P0384

http://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Behringer-MS40-Digital-Monitor-Speakers/6TR

https://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_ms40_multimedia_lautsprecher.htm


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yep6l7EYlSc

One complication in using an alternative to the DS series is that the BR-1600's speaker modelling has an Output Speaker setting with only 3 choices: DS-90A, DS-50A, and DS-30A (see page 127). I have no idea which setting you should use if you're not using one of those DS series speakers.

If I were you, I'd contact Roland tech support and ask them which speakers they recommend to get the most out of the BR-1600's speaker modelling feature now that the DS series is discontinued and which Output Speaker setting to use.

[Super 8]

Thanks for the suggestions folks but yes, you've hit the nail on the head 64G, were I to invest in an alternative pair of digital monitoring speakers, which setting from the 3 choices given in the manual would I use?

One complication in using an alternative to the DS series is that the BR-1600's speaker modelling has an Output Speaker setting with only 3 choices: DS-90A, DS-50A, and DS-30A (see page 127). I have no idea which setting you should use if you're not using one of those DS series speakers.

I think the time has come to contact Roland tech support on this one! I'll endeavour to report back and let you know how I go on. Wish me luck!

[alfstone]

Again, I agree with 64Gtrs. AFAIK, the Behringer is the only digital-input monitor actually available.

Some other monitors have a wireless Bluetooth input, instead.

Alfredo

[Super 8]

Thanks Alfredo. I had the opportunity to try the Behringer MS20 monitors a while back and wasn't at all impressed by them (really tinny sounding IMO). If a Roland DS pair don't come up (I have an ongoing eBay search set up) I guess I'll just stick with my trusty ol' Yamahas.

[alfstone]

Thanks Alfredo. I had the opportunity to try the Behringer MS20 monitors a while back and wasn't at all impressed by them (really tinny sounding IMO). If a Roland DS pair don't come up (I have an ongoing eBay search set up) I guess I'll just stick with my trusty ol' Yamahas.

...and I agree with you! 

I have both of them: Edirol MA-10D for the PC and a couple of old, little Yamaha MSP3 for the iMac. And even if I often change my audio equipment, I can tell you that I have absolutely NO intention to change these monitors.

Alfredo

[Blooby]

I have heard great things about the KRK's and see them in videos/pictures of pro studios pretty often (probably for secondary listens but nevertheless).

Good luck with your search.

Blooby