Re: OT: New Edit suite - Recomended Audio Monitors?

Not sure why you would avoid an amp. They can be very useful. For example you can have the monitor outputs from various decks or cameras and use the amp switching to check both FCP and the machines directly. Very handy if you just want to check audio on a tape without having to use capture to monitor back via the card. Your amp may have a radio to listen to during interminable rendering. It might also have a Dolby decoder to check your DVDs. Most modern amps even allow you to have video follow audio either via composite or S-video inputs & outputs. They can also allow you to have multiple outputs of video & audio if you are recording a VHS & DVD whilst doing a playout to digi beta. In fact, I can't think of a reason to only have self powered speakers in an edit suite.

Also if you have the computer in the same room, a pair of headphones is the cheapest way to have quality monitoring and exclude noise and bad acoustics.