Kapo_Polenton said:Around 300-350$ for the pair depending on which ones I go for. These would likely be 6 or 8 inch speakers though I am not sure if i really need the 8 inch given the size of the room.
Given your price range, I'd definitely go with a six speaker and maybe a five inch speaker (and later add a sub).
Kapo_Polenton said:As long as they are clear and flat response, I think that is key isn't it?
The gentlest way I can put it is that "Flat Response" is marketing nonsense. If I could spend $350 dollars and purchase monitors that performed as well as $5k monitors, I'd be thrilled. But the reality is that budget priced monitors don't provide the sonic detail that more expensive monitors can provide.
Now, that doesn't mean that you can't get a good mix that translates well, but it makes it far more difficult to do so because the speakers aren't capable of providing the type of detail available on higher end products.
If I were in your position, I'd also look at Tannoy, Event and M-Audio 5" - 6" monitors with the idea of adding a sub at a later date. It doesn't have to be a massive sub or even a "studio" sub. Just an 8"+ plus sub with a frequency crossover and volume knob to balance with your monitors for better bottom end clarity.
Generally speaking, mids and highs aren't a major issue when mixing, it's the 300hz and below range that can cause major issues.
Good luck!