At 05:19 11.06.03 -0400, you wrote: Hi - i´m studiing tonmeister. My first tip: spend money on room acoustics. (record a sinus-sweep and screen it. any omni will do.) this point is more important than what speakers you use, because speakers sound different in different rooms. You need a D/A-converter with balanced output and active monitors. active monitors have tech. advantages vs. the combination amp/passive speaker. i would go for gaithain speakers (all modells, 2000 - 5000 EUR), but this is matter of tast. tannoy reveal cost about 250 $. i dont recomend ANY genelec speakers or yamaha. i personally like reveal a lot, for me there is no competition in this price range. most important is that you get no 'bad surprise' when listening to your mix on hi-end monitors. even if reveal don´t sound so spectacular, you will have no such surprise with them. reserve most of your money for mics. what thing are you going to record? HTH, urban