This is for remote recording nearby my home. Max drive is two hours or so. I record with a Tascam model 16 and was thinking it would be nice to just have monitors on the desk i bring instead of my Kali 8 inch monitors and monitor stands. Not sure if I should go for a PA system or just those IK Multimedia iLoud speakers, or something else? It’s mostly for listen back with the group after recording so it’s not playing an integral role. I perform the actual mix in my mix room at my home afterwards. Everyone has separate headphones they can use for recording if they'd prefer but it's nice pumping up everyone after recording and playing back some tracks.

Thanks!

I prefer my Beyer dt900 pro x headphones for this duty. Hauling monitors is a pain, and can fool you depending on the space you’re in, which is not a problem with good flat headphones.

I get what the OP is saying. I take along one or two of the little self-powered Fostex speakers, Fostex 6301NB, sometimes when I am in a space backstage. I never use them to represent a mix or to do critical listen but more to have some sense of what is happening on stage without needing to wear my phones all day. Sometimes just one from the mono output on my panel just for me, or sometimes a stereo pair that can do a quick playback for the musos after the show. I have been surprised by the nice reaction that I get letting the folks hear a bit of their performance right after the come off stage. They are frequently jazzed and the vibe back stage is really cool. Not technical, but maybe a benefit to the day.

These things are small and reasonably light weight. Two of them fit in a small Pelican along with AC cords and short XLR jumpers. Easy.

Oh, and they even sound okay.

D.

I use the IK Multimedia iLoud one box dual mono 1/8”stereo input
They sound nice and balanced and is small

My on-the-road monitors are the diminutive PreSonus Eris 3.5: good sound at a bargain price. As jnorman says, you can never totally trust monitor speakers in ever-changing, always-untreated green rooms, so I rely primarily on have my headphones. But it is nice to have location monitors to help with assessing the stereo image, for playback for the musos, and just to give your ears a break from the cans.

imo the choice of gear should depend on what gets the job done with minimum fuss, maximum efficiency, fits your needs and meets the client's expectations.



[i carry a speaker processor (lake), a single small monitor with a digital input (k+h, genelec or fostex), a headphone amp with a crossfeed matrix (spl or grace design) and a pair of cans (mostly beyer) to most every gig but there are occasions in which this won't get me far so i happily plug into the pa system to move a bit of air and impress the client...]

Got the fostex and going to be taking just a single speaker with me. Thanks everyone!

I'm considering Iloud micro as pair of portable speakers,
but to be used mainly as monitors FOR THE MUSICIANS while recording:
I mainly do location recordings of ensembles all in one room and if leakage, as often is, doesn't constitute a problem for which headphones are required I find monitors to work better, keeping the feel of live recording and its positive effect on the performance.
The Ilouds seem to be a perfect option in terms of portability and quality, just the 2m 4 pin cable might be a bit short but could be made longer with an extra female-male cable,
rca-minijack can also be upgraded..
Anyone having thoughts on whether this is a good move?

I guess the most important thing about bringing along a speaker(s) is to decide what they are for? Are you doing a live mix (like for air or streaming) from a separate room? Are you doing confidence playback checks? Do the players want to do serious critical playbacks onsite? Do you have a producorial (or etc) "backfield" that wants to hear the recording as it's being laid down live (and has the mojo in this situation to demand that)?