After spending hours to mix and master your tracks, you might end up listening to your music in the car or in a friend’s studio, only to find out that your sound system isn't up to par. This is the time when you know that you need to invest in some of the best studio monitors in the market.
Studio monitor speakers are designed to show you how the audio output looks so you can adjust it for the best results. You should invest in the best Monitor to enhance the quality of your music and improve the use of various elements in your mix. In this article, we’ll review some of the top Studio Monitors on the market and discuss the features that you should look out for when you’re shopping for the best studio monitor.
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Why Should You Trust Our Advice on Best Studio Monitors?
We know that finding the best home Studio Monitors may be a daunting task. This is why we did the Job on your behalf. We searched through various forums and read hundreds of reviews to find the most remarkable products on the market. You can check out our reviews to choose the most suitable option on the market. To be able to provide you with the most suitable options, we specified some criteria to help us compare various products on the market.
Although there are studio monitors that can cost several thousands of dollars, we made sure to include studio monitors that are reasonably priced between $500 and $1000. We believe that this is a decent amount to spend if you’re looking for a monitor for your home studio. Some of our models are more suitable for beginners while others are packed with extra features for more serious users. Regardless of your level and budget, you’ll definitely find something that works for you.
The Best Studio Monitor Reviews
Studio monitors are a game-changer that can drastically improve the quality of the sound you create in your mixing studio. Professional studios tend to spend thousands of dollars, however, this isn't necessarily applicable to 99% of people.
In this section, you’ll find some affordable and more suitable studio monitors that can make your life a lot easier.
1. KRK Studio Moniror (59107)
- Powered: Yes
- Woofer Size: 5 inches
- Frequency Range: 45Hz – 35kHz
- Total Power: 50 watts
This affordable studio monitor is an excellent choice for a beginner. It’s extremely versatile so it can be used for any style of music. You can experience a tight bass experience thanks to the lightweight glass-aramid composite.
With low-frequency adjustments, you can add more accuracy to your tunes. Your monitor comes with an option setting of +2dB KRK bass boost which is extremely popular among all worldwide music creators.
Due to their exceptional bass, these monitors are better used for electronic music. They’re solid and well-built compared to other models and allow for flexible positioning in your room or studio.
The monitor is a great buy for people who are trying to reduce their carbon footprint because it automatically shuts off after 30 minutes of standby. However, this can be a little inconvenient for someone who needs to take a break while mixing various tracks.
Bottom Line: These are excellent studio monitors, especially for beginners. They’re good value for money, although they switch off after 30 minutes of standby time.
Pros
- Affordable studio monitor for beginners
- Low-frequency adjustments for the best sound quality
- Impressive bass for electronic music
- Well-built monitors
Negatives
- They are known to turn off after 30 minutes of standby
2. Adam Audio A7X Powered Studio Monitor
- Powered: Yes
- Woofer Size: 7 inches
- Frequency Range: 42Hz – 50kHz
- Total Power: 150 watts.
This improved model appeals to music creators due to the improved 2-inch X-ART tweeter. This refers to the extended frequency response that reaches up to 50kHz. The bigger coil and amplifier work together to produce better sound quality.
There are several controls available that allow for a better audio experience. On the front panel, you can enjoy steady sounds thanks to the volume control that retains the precise volume setting independently from the power switch. While on the back panel, you’ll have a special port for the high frequencies at 4 dB and dual shelf filters for high and low frequencies at 6dB so you can enjoy impressive audio quality regardless of the type of music you’re working with.
To experience the real potential of these monitors, you might need to put them through a break-in period before they can be used to the fullest. You might not even need to attach a subwoofer to enjoy exceptional audio quality.
Although these are rather big monitors, they’re quite lightweight, giving you the option to place them wherever you are. We believe that these studio monitors will be too expensive for a beginner or a first-timer who can’t afford the price tag.
Bottom Line: If you’re serious about mixing tracks and can afford the high price tag, then we recommend that you take a look at these studio monitors. They’re designed to provide exceptional sound quality at high and low frequencies.
Pros
- Extended frequency response
- Several controls to adjust your audio output
- Lightweight monitors
- Impressive output with low and high frequencies
Negatives
- Needs a break-in period
3. Neumann KH 120 A - Active Studio Monitor
- Powered: Yes
- Woofer Size: 5.25 inches
- Frequency Range: 52Hz – 21kHz
- Total Power: 100 watts
For exceptional sound staging and imaging, this studio monitor should be on top of your shopping list. The non-resonant aluminum is compact and rugged to help improve the sound quality and eliminate cabinet-induced distortions.
Since these are still more expensive than the ones designed for beginners, they’re made to provide exceptional mid-range sound quality. However, if you’re looking for more sub-bass then it’s recommended that you complement this monitor with a proper subwoofer.
Precision is one of the best features of these monitors as they’re designed to allow for ± .5db tolerance. The back panel features controls for the bass, low-mid and treble acoustical controls so you can tailor the sound output to match your environment and focus more on your tracks.
With a wide range of input gain and output level controls, you can have an easy interface with a variety of signal sources to offer you the best experience in mixing, mastering, and broadcasting. This studio monitor is a suitable choice for someone starting their own production studio because it will allow you to enjoy exceptional acoustics for a good price.
If you’re into deep bass, this studio monitor might not be the best option. However, it’s excellent for editing and mastering, especially if you’re looking for high-quality mid-range sounds.
Bottom Line: You’ll have access to lots of input gain and output level controls to fully customize your audio experience while mixing and mastering. Pairing them with the right subwoofers will definitely improve your studio experience.
Pros
- Non-resonant aluminum for better sound quality
- Several controls on the back panel for customizing your audio output
- Exceptional mid-range sound quality
- Suitable for a beginner
Negatives
- The bass quality isn’t impressive
4. Yamaha HS8 Powered Studio Monitor Pair with XLR-Cables Insolation Monitor PAD and Speaker Stands
- Powered: Yes
- Woofer Size: 8 inches
- Frequency Range: 38Hz to 30kHz
- Total Power: 60 watts
Yamaha has an iconic design that all music lovers are aware of and these new models add the latest technologies so you can enjoy the best mixing and mastering experience. This studio monitor comes with a unique mounting design. It decreases the vibrations for better audio quality so you can enjoy a better acoustic experience in your home studio.
For a smoother response over a wide range of frequencies, these monitors come with larger magnets. The newly developed transducers control the magnetic response for seamless transitions.
The studio monitor comes with a highly functional amplifier unit for better resolution. There are 2 response controls so you can adjust the output according to the size and shape of your studio. The studio monitor comes with cutting edge noise reduction technology.
You might need some acoustic treatment if you’re looking for better bass. However, since there are several sizes available and they’re not as expensive, every music enthusiast should think about these monitors before making a purchase.
Bottom Line: Featuring larger magnets and cutting edge noise reduction technology, this studio monitor is an excellent addition to your mixing studio.
Pros
- Unique mounting system to reduce vibrations
- Cutting edge noise reduction technology
- Highly functional amplifier unit
- Better acoustics
Negatives
- Needs some treatment to improve bass quality.
5. Mackie 8-Inch 2-way High Resolution Studio Monitor - Black (HR824mk2)
- Powered: Yes
- Woofer Size: 8.75 inches
- Frequency Range: 35Hz to 30kHz
- Total Power: 100 watts
The one-piece cast aluminum Zero Edge Baffle design guarantees the best bass with detailed lows, a full mid-range, and exceptional highs while highlighting all the details as it minimizes diffraction. This studio monitor features a special technology to minimize distortions to allow for smooth transitions between lows and highs so you can enjoy better mixes.
If you’re looking for a studio monitor that allows for a three-dimensional sound, then you should look no further. You can mount this studio monitor in multiple ways depending on your needs whether you want to enhance the low-frequency performance or to soak it up.
Thanks to the passive radiator, you can enjoy low-frequency sounds with lower distortions. The wood cabinet makes this monitor more rigid and dampens internal reflections to produce warmer sounds. Nevertheless, the sound quality might not be that impressive if your music has lots of digital elements.
Bottom Line: For deeper bass and 3-dimensional sounds, you might need to consider this studio monitor. It can be mounted in multiple ways, allowing you to create the best environment for your audio output.
Pros
- Cast aluminum design to decrease diffractions
- Wood cabinet to dampen vibrations
- Improved bass quality
- Multiple mounting options
Negatives
- Not suitable for digital music
How to Choose the Best Studio Monitor
While searching for the best studio monitor, you’re bound to come across various shapes, types, and sizes. Finding the right can be a bit tricky. Here are a few things you need to know about when choosing studio monitors.
Type of Studio Monitor
Studio monitors are either passive or active. Passive ones are simply speakers while the active or powered ones come with a built-in amplifier. They’re more desirable because you don’t have to worry about pairing your monitor with a suitable amplifier unit. This guarantees better performance.
Frequency Range of Studio Monitors
This will affect how sensitive your monitors are going to be. Some flimsy models might not be good at picking the lower frequencies, affecting the overall audio output.
Size of Studio Monitors
In simple words, big monitors or woofers produce better bass. If you’re working with bass-heavy genres, you might need to invest in a bigger studio monitor which would be more expensive.
Most beginners would still to a 5-inch or 6-inch studio monitor then add a subwoofer later on to improve the bass quality. However, if you can already afford an expensive model, then you should definitely go for one for better acoustics.
Power of Studio Monitors
This is measured in watts and explains how powerful your monitor will be. However, the wattage should be considered compared to the overall size of the speakers.
Conclusion
You don’t want to skimp on a new studio monitor. However, if you’re on a tight budget, we recommend that you take a look at the KRK Studio Moniror (59107). It’s a great choice of studio monitors for beginners and is exceptional for electronic music.
If you can splurge, it would be a good idea to check out the Adam Audio A7X Powered Studio Monitor. It features a stronger amplifier for better audio output so you can check it out if you have a bigger studio.
It’s worth mentioning that improving and boosting your studio monitor is doable if you consider several studio treatments or by simply adding a subwoofer to enjoy stronger bass. Luckily, all the names on our list are quite popular and won’t disappoint you when they’re used on their own.
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