Monitors / Monitoring

What are your opinions on having a subwoofer in the studio? I recently demoed the Blue Sky Media Desk 2.1 system and I was very impressed by its quality and its price...

Is it best to use table-top stands, floor stands or wall brackets to mount my speakers? I have Mackie HR624s, which are not ported, so does it matter if they're positioned close to the wall? SOS Forum Post

I understand the benefit of having 'limited-range' monitors alongside full-range monitors so that you can hear what your mixes will sound like on small domestic hi-fi systems. But what advantage is there in buying these monitors for £250, when a cheap pair of hi-fi speakers can cost as little as £30?

I'd like to know more about the difference between monitor designs that feature ports and those that do not. How do they differ in terms of sound and performance?

How much distance should there be between my monitors and should they face straight forward or be angled toward the listener? Also, as my monitors will be placed against a wall, should some acoustic foam be placed directly behind or between them?

I want to add a subwoofer to my monitoring system, but how do I work out where to place it in the room?

I'm considering the purchase of two sets of headphones: the AKG K240DF (flat response) for mixing, and the K271 (coloured response) for musicians to wear when monitoring their own signal, giving them the best sound for inspiration and encouragement. Would these models be suitable for these applications?

I produce electronic dance music. Much of the time I work with headphones on, to help me focus on detailed sounds in repetitive loops. However, I often notice that when I switch to listening on speakers (to check the actual mix and so on) the track seems a bit faster. What could be the cause?