Everything you need to start playing immediately comes in one box. Save yourself the hassle and save some money while you're at it. br br When it comes to mixing, honesty is the key. You don't want studio monitors that sound great all the time because once you take that mix into your car or home stereo it will sound completely different. In the same vein if your monitors are made to emphasize the bass response, then you will mix the bass too low. Accuracy is crucial, and the Yamaha HS5's continue in the tradition of the industry respected NS 10's, the best / worst sounding monitors (worst because you'll hear the good AND bad in your mix!). The 2-way bass reflex bi-amplification is what makes most electric and sonic sense. Bi-amplification means that separate power amplifiers are used to drive the low-mid and high frequency speaker units, which eliminates any phase anomalies and lets both speakers perform at optimum levels. This in turn gives you the transparency and clarity you desire for your mix. The drivers used in the HS series monitors deliver superb audio performance that is enhanced by a sophisticated mounting system. A mathematical arrangement of screws and a specially designed mounting ring eliminates unwanted vibration and resonance, which lets the speaker realize its full sonic potential, without distortion or coloration. Another great feature that you will hear but won't see are the extra-large magnets. Used with a state of the art circuit design these magnets provide powerful, yet tightly controlled flux field that gives you an especially smooth response and dynamics over a wider range of frequencies.