The Best Studio Monitors For Mixing And Mastering

In this guide we’ll take a look at some the best studio monitors for mixing and mastering in the home studio.

Quick answer: the Yamaha HS5 and KRK G4 speakers offers the best value for money, while the Mackie CR Series CR3 the cheapest you can get without without compromising on quality.

But if you’re looking top-notch, the Adam Audio A7X will do for all your monitoring, mixing, and mastering requirements.

If this is you first time buying studio monitors, take a look at the buying guide and FAQ section, where you’ll find the best information on all you need to know about studio monitors, and how to find the best one to buy. We attempt to bring these choices down to a simple buying decision.

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Best Studio Monitor Speakers

1. Mackie CR-X Series

2. Behringer Truth B1030A

3. Kali Audio LP-6, LP-8

4. KRK Rokit Series G4

5. ADAM Audio T5V, T7V

6. Yamaha HS5

7. PreSonus Eris E44

8. JBL 308P MKII 8”

9. IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors

10. Focal Alpha 65, 50, and 80

11. PreSonus Sceptre S6

12. Neumann KH 120 A

13. Adam Audio A7X

14. Adam Audio A77X

15. Focal Twin6 Be

Find other studio gear here:

Monitor Cables, Monitor Controller, Headphones, Laptops, Computers, USB Mixers

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Mackie CR-X Series

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Mackie is perhaps better known for its mixing consoles than its monitor speakers, but the company has more than proven its capability in the sound reproduction department. Like the best brands, Mackie monitors offers something for everyone at any price point, with its speakers delivering impressive performance and outstanding value for the money.

With the CR-X Series, Mackie aims to pull away from the pack and make a serious dent in the monitor speaker market. The series was recently expanded to include the CR3-X 3, CR4-X 4, and CR5-X 5 models, which feature 3”, 4”, and 5” woofers respectively. If you need pro-quality sound at a bedroom studio budget, the CR-X is worth a close look.

Features and specs

The CR Series combines sleek looks and a modern design that will fit nicely into any studio. The all-wood cabinets house premium polypropylene-coated woofers and ferrofluid-cooled silk-dome tweeters for optimum warmth and resonance. The use of specially-designed waveguides ensures consistent sound reproduction across the entire frequency range, regardless of where you set the volume. Driving the components are state-of-the-art amplifiers that have ample headroom for maximum clarity and punch.

The CRs have a power switch-volume knob combo on the brushed-metal front panel for easy level control. There is even a switch at the rear that lets you specify from which side you could control the volume.

If you need to quickly switch to headphones for tracking or to check something in the mix, you can plug them in right at the front of the unit. You also get a range of input options at the rear, including standard ¼”, RCA, and 1/8” aux in.

What others are saying

The CR-X Series seems to attract an equal percentage of home studio owners and pros. Although many professionals use them as secondary monitors, there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of people in either camp who rely solely on them for mixing and monitoring. Some users do find that the CR-Xs color the sound somewhat and that the frequency response isn’t as flat as one would hope for critical listening applications such as mixing or mastering. Nevertheless, many users find that it is entirely possible to crank out good mixes with the CR-X Series after their ears have gotten used to the speakers’ sonic character.

Bottom-line

The Mackie CR-X Series is a good step up for those looking to upgrade from multimedia speakers. If you can live with the less-than-flat frequency response and the slightly colored sound, they might just find a welcome spot in your studio. In any case, the CR-Xs make a great secondary pair of monitors and a more than satisfactory primary monitoring solution.

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Behringer Truth B1030A and B1031A

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Before Behringer turned the synth world upside down with its reproductions of classic synthesizer designs, the company had already made a name for itself in the pro and consumer audio markets. Although quality control issues hounded the company at the outset, it has since bounced back and established a reputation for decent quality products at budget-friendly prices. The Behringer Truth line of monitors is one example, quickly finding favor among musicians and producers the world over. While more discriminating users continue to gravitate toward higher-end offerings, those with more modest finances will find that the Truths offer close to similar performance at a much lower cost.

Features and specs

The two most popular products in the Truth line are the B1030A and B1031A. Both share many of the same features: bi-amped digital amplification, room compensation, and silk-dome tweeters. But while the B1031A has an 8” Kevlar woofer, the B1030A has a 5” woofer in a more compact enclosure.

The B1031As have a crossover frequency at 2.5kHz. The woofers are driven by a 100-watt amplifier, while the tweeters are driven by a 50-watt amplifier. The Kevlar gives the woofers strength and durability, which results in tighter and more focused bass response. With this design, you have to push the speakers really hard before you begin to detect a hint of distortion.

Like the best monitors, the B1031As have a wide and pleasing sweet spot. Even if you don’t sit in precisely the same spot while mixing, you will get a reasonably accurate image of your audio material.

The Truths also have rocker switches for adjusting high and low frequencies and proximity. Although you will want to keep the settings neutral in most cases, the availability of these options will enable you to compensate for a less than optimal listening environment.

What others are saying

Users find that the Truths work very well with a wide range of audio material. Unlike other speakers that sound great only with bass-heavy music, the Truths have a neutral character that makes them suitable for more traditional forms as well.

The B1031A does have a satisfying thump at the bottom end and even the lower mid-range is rich and smooth. However, the low end is cut off at 35Hz, which makes them less suited for dance and hip hop production.

Bottom-line

Behringer has clearly knocked it out of the park with the Truths. Even those that have shied away from the brand in the past have to grudgingly admit that these are very decent monitors for the price. If you are going to have anything Behringer in your studio, it might as well be the B1031As.

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Kali Audio LP-6 & LP-8

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Kali Audio isn’t quite as well known as the other brands in this roundup. But a quick look at the spec sheets for the LP-6 and the LP-8 suggests that the company may have something special to offer the audio production community. The “LP” in the name stands for “Lone Pine”, which offers a hint of the natural and untarnished sound you will get from the series.

Turn the LPs on and you get a full and rich sound with every detail of your music coming through with depth and clarity. Many monitor speakers promise accurate frequency response, but you will find that Kali Audio LPs actually deliver on that promise.

Features and specs

Much of the LPs clarity and superb imaging is due to the Imaging Waveguide, which provides an amazingly detailed 3-D soundstage from a stereo speaker source. With this feature, you can easily pick out the individual elements of your mix, no matter how dense your productions get.

Low-end reproduction is clean and punchy due to the LPs’ large magnet and voice coil. These components are larger than those you will see in other speakers at this price range, which greatly increases the range and detail of the low end. The low-noise port tube also helps improve the bass projection of your mixes.

Like the best studio speakers, the LP-8 doesn’t have to be cranked up to sound good. Even so, you can get sufficient volume for most home studios and control rooms, with the speakers capable of 85 dB continuous output at 2.8 meters.

What others are saying

The LP-8 is obviously the one to go for if you need to fill up a good sized control room. But even the LP-6 has earned its share of fans, many of whom were impressed at its exceptional value. For many users, the LP-6s are easily the best studio monitors for mixing and mastering in the $500-and-below segment, outperforming speakers that cost many times as much.

The LP-8 is even better by most accounts, delivering superb performance at a price that appeals to project studio owners. Like the LP-6, the LP-8 punches well above its weight, delivering comparable performance to many higher-end speakers.

Bottom-line

Those looking for their first set of ‘serious’ studio monitors could do much worse than the Kali Audio LP-6 and LP-8. Boasting of outstanding clarity, depth, and detail, they are much more than a starter set of speakers. For the money, you could hardly do better than the LP-6 and LP-8.

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KRK Rokit Series G4

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Those yellow woofer speakers have become somewhat ubiquitous on the home studio front over the past two decades. Chances are you’ve even seen a pair of these at your local commercial recording facility–they’re pretty hard to miss. Even pro users have come to realize just how useful these are as a secondary set of monitors or even as their main standbys. With the G4 (Generation 4) lineup, KRK offers a reengineered and redesigned version of what has made Rokits such a popular choice among home recording hobbyists and production professionals all over the world.

Features and specs

Most studio monitors are designed for flat frequency response, which helps ensure more accurate mixes that effectively translate to a variety of playback settings. In testing out the Rokit 7 G4 ourselves, we sound found them as flat as they needed to be for typical audio production and mixing. But they also have a DSP-based graphic EQ section that  compensated for our listening environment. With no less than 25 settings and an onboard LCD display, this Rokit G4 has a lot more versatility than your average studio monitors.

Of course, all that wouldn’t matter if the G4s don’t sound good by themselves. The good news is that that they have a low resonance enclosure matched with a front port that enhances the accuracy of the low-end while ensuring punch and clarity. The speaker cones are even mounted on high-density Iso-foam that minimizes vibrations for optimal sound reproduction. And like the best monitor speakers, the G4s do present excellent imaging and sound staging with a sufficiently wide sweet spot.

What others are saying

Although KRK Rokits for music production can be considered “budget” monitors, it’s pretty telling how many pros and semi-pros proudly feature them in their setups. One of the few sets of monitor speakers that bridge the divide between excellent sound and great value, they could easily serve as an alternative monitoring system in conjunction with higher-end speakers.

The even flat response makes the G4 a popular choice among demanding mix engineers. But the built-in room correction feature makes it even more versatile monitoring pair that works with a wide variety of listening environments. For critical listening as well as for tracking, G4s deliver consistently reliable performance.

Bottom-line

KRK Rokit Series G4s are great choices for up-and-coming producers on a budget. Even when you move up to a more accurate and neutral set, you will still have plenty of use for the G4 for less demanding applications and a second set of ‘ears’. Highly recommended for beginners and semi-pros alike.

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ADAM Audio T5V/T7V

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ADAM Audio hasn’t been around as long as the other companies whose products are featured in this roundup, having only made its debut in 1999. In its relatively short existence however, the company has built up quite a reputation among the pro audio set. With a range of quality monitoring solutions that stand apart from most other models on the market, ADAM Audio monitors have become the overwhelming choice among discriminating audio professionals.

The T5V and T7V offer more of the same qualities that make ADAM’s A7X monitors so revered. Along with the premium build and world-class features, you also get the signature transparency and pristine sound reproduction thatis the ADAM Audio trademark.

Features and specs

The T-Series is ADAM Audio’s answer to the demand for a more affordable alternative to the company’s higher-priced offerings. The line includes the T5V and the T7V, which share the same features apart from the different woofer sizes: 5” for the T5V and 7” for the T7V. Both are 2-way active designs with polypropylene low-frequency drivers. In the case of the T7V, this design allows for a full and satisfying low end that goes down to 39Hz. High-end reproduction is equally impressive, with the tweeters going up to 25kHz–pretty much unheard of in monitors at this price.

The T7V and the T5V offers more than just range. The tweeter has a remarkably broad and uniform character due to the same High Frequency Propagation (HPS) waveguide used in the company’s much more expensive S-Series monitors. This feature gives the ‘T’ speakers a much wider sweet spot than you would expect from models in this price range.

What others are saying

As expected, the Ts garnered quite a bit of praise for its premium quality at a project studio-friendly price. While most users didn’t go so far as to say that these speakers measure up to the AX7s, many did feel that they deliver exceptional value for the money. The detailed high-end and rich, satisfying bass impressed even experienced studio professionals, and many quickly adopted them as their primary set of monitors after a few listens.

Some diehard AX7 users did find that the Ts aren’t quite as detailed at higher volume levels. But they did sound just fine at more moderate levels, and for the price, no one was complaining about the minuscule difference.

Bottom-line

The T series is a great way to get that trademark ADAM Audio quality at a third of the price of the AX7s. For many of the most discriminating audio professionals, these are almost unbelievably good for the price. For the rest of us, they are practically a no-brainer if you need a good set of quality monitors.

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Yamaha HS5

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The Yamaha HS5 studio monitor is a professional speaker for critical listening that comes at an affordable budget. These monitors are very good, with lots of positive reviews from professional users, as well home studio owners. The ideal user is any kind of music producer or mixing engineer who wants the most honest sound they can get for the money, with flat and unhyped frequency response. The result: the Yamaha HS5 will ensure that your mixing translate well, no matter where you play your mixdowns, whether in the car, or on your cheap stereo. For that reason, these are one of the best studio monitors for mixing and mastering.

The Yamaha HS5 is a powered bi-amplified monitor, with a 5 inch low frequency woofer cone, and a 1 inch high frequency tweeter dome. You can get a frequency response of 54Hz to 30kHz, and maximum power output of 70 watts per speaker (140 W total). The crossover frequency is at 2 kHz. With Room and High Trim controls, you can trim low and high frequencies to suite the room you place them in, or contour high frequency response. For instance, attenuating the low frequencies to respond well to being place next to walls that may otherwise lead to unnatural bass sounds.

This HS5 is a modern monitor that was created as an update to the Yamaha NS10 (great article on the history of them at Sound On Sound). The NS10 is always referenced as highly rated studio monitors. Particularly because they sound so flat that it was borderline unpleasant. If you can get a good mix on them, your music will sound good anywhere. They were discontinued (the NS10 dates all the way back to the 1980s, and could be found many pro audio studios since then) and Yamaha made the HS50M instead to as a replacement for them. But being faced by competition, Yamaha decided to improve the design, try for a flatter frequency response, improved the bi-amp, make a tighter low end for more powerful bass, and a larger tweeter for more accurate highs.

What Yamaha gave us is the the HS series. In this guide, I’ve featured the HS5, but there are also 5.6 and 8 inch version as well (available at the same link). The HS5 then are regarded as excellent monitor pairs to for critical listening. On their own, if you can get your music sounding good on these, you can get your music sounding good on anything. If something is wrong, they will let you know, and might not be very nice. But on these you can at least find out where things go wrong quality, and fix them instead of guesswork and theoretical audio engineering applications. That said, they don’t sound as unpleasant as the 80s original, so you wouldn’t have to suffer from fatigue. But the ultra-flat response ensures that what you are mixing is truly professional.

Bottom-line, the Yamaha HS5 is great for music producers and engineers alike. If you produce music, but want to do your own mixes and even masters, a pair of these is the best affordable option for you. Otherwise, if they are great on any kind of music you want to make, mix, or record.

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PreSonus Eris E44

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The PreSonus Eris E series studio monitors are a line of high quality profession studio monitors designed to be as true and flat as possible, while remaining comfortably affordable. For that reason, they are very popular and highly rated among those who’ve used them. In the line, there are many buying options: 3.5, 4.5, 5, and 8 inch variations, plus two horizontal versions that offer an extended frequency response. In this guide, we’re taking a look at the PreSonus Eris E44 studio monitor, which is an affordable, dual woofer configuration that gives you four powerful woofers in one pair.

The PreSonus Eris E44 studio monitor is a bi-amped, 2-way powered studio monitor speaker, that has two low frequency drivers and one high frequency driver. The low frequency drivers are 4.5 inch custom-woven Kevlar woofers both, with the potential to extend all the way down to 55 Hz. The positive benefits of the dual midwoofer configuration is that you get a wider stereo field. Despite being a near-field monitor, this offers you one of the largest stereo image in this class, and for this price range.

(note: I was initially confused as to whether these would be considered a 3-way, because of the fact that there are actually 3 drivers in the monitor design. I realized that it is truly a 2-way system because, even though there are 3 speakers in one box, the speakers are identical midwoofers spitting out the same frequency range.)

The high frequency driver is a 1.25 inch silk-dome tweeter that can reproduce smooth high frequencies going all the way up to 22 kHz, without causing any listening fatigue. The combination of all three drivers equals to maximum power output of 90W. Slap two of these together, and what you’ll have is 180 watts of power.

The PreSonus Eris E44 studio monitor is considered the answer to the “poor home studio” sound. We are familiar with this, listening to demos by producers can give you a fairly accurate idea of what level of equipment they are working with. The PreSonus Eris E44 studio monitor is really “cheap,” if you consider cheap to be 100 or 200 dollars for a single monitor, but they provide a sound that can give you results akin to a high end recording studio. Hence, the ideal user would be a home studio owner who’s looking for an unfatiguing studio monitor that sounds good, honest, flat, and translate well across other speakers. This could be record producers and beat makers/composers of any kind of music, as well as recording and mixing engineers.

The design is very well done, in my opinion. They look processional, but they are also still beautiful. If your creative space is a little more on the “chic” side, these could certainly find a home. And if not, they don’t look so outlandish that they beg more visual attention than sonic satisfaction. The enclosure is of a ported designed, and made of a vinyl laminate. Like practically any other studio monitor, the woofers are exposed, displaying their beautiful woven Kevlars. And the front facing bass ports mean you have less issues with their placement in a room with running the risk of an unnatural bass sound.

Bottom-line, these are great studio monitor speakers for the money. They pretty much fall in a happy middle of cost and quality, unflattering honesty and great sound. It’s not expensive, yet not cheap. And it certainly will help

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JBL 308P MKII 8”

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The JBL 308P MKII 8” studio monitor  is the latest in JBL’s celebrated 3 Series, which made waves in the audio world by offering unparalleled quality and versatility at an affordable price. This latest incarnation now features an 8” woofer for enhanced bass reproduction. The trademark 3 Series clarity, detail, and precise imaging are still present, along with the superior dynamic range that made the earlier models such popular choices among studio, film, and broadcast professionals the world over.

The MkII represents a significant improvement over earlier JBL speakers in many ways. It now has a sleek and modern design, and the transducers themselves have been improved for enhanced sound quality and transparency.

The 308P MKII boasts of the innovative Image Control Waveguide technology, which was developed for the company’s high-end M2 Master Reference Monitor. This particular feature gives the 308P MKII outstanding depth and detail, which really come to the fore when mixing.

Image Control Waveguide provides a seamless transition between the monitor’s low- and high-frequency transducers, resulting in a pleasing soundstage with precision imaging. You will find that the 308P MKII has a very broad sweet spot and a frequency response that is remarkably neutral. You therefore get a clear and precise representation of your audio, with details revealed in startling clarity even during off-axis monitoring.

Bottom end reproduction is clearer and more accurate than ever due to the long-throw 8-inch woofer and JBL’s own Slip Stream low-frequency port. Bass is deep and tight, while the highs are crisp and present without being too harsh.

The 308P MkII features dual-integrated Class D power amplifiers that are designed specifically for each transducer. Features such as the Boundary EQ and the 3-position HF Trim switch enable you to compensate for any listening environment.

Some of the 308P MKII’s more enthusiastic users have no qualms about proclaiming these as the best studio monitors in this price range. The clear and accurate sound reproduction has made quite a few fans among music producers and film audio engineers, and they are even widely used in home entertainment systems.

Some users did feel that the 308P MKIIs aren’t the absolute best in terms of clarity and neutral frequency response. Nevertheless, most seem to feel that they have a pleasing sonic quality to them, without the tinny character associated with most home entertainment speakers. Others also feel that the bass tends to be a bit muddy when boosted, although this isn’t a sentiment shared by most users.

Bottom-line, at the price that the 308P MKII’s are going for, you would be hard-pressed to find a more versatile and capable set of monitors. The frequency response is reasonably flat and neutral, and you could only hope to get significantly better performance by spending a lot more money. As it is, the JBL 308P MKII 8”s are a worthy addition to the respectable JBL 3 Series.

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IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors

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From IK Multimedia come the iLoud Micro Monitors, which promise transparency, high headroom, and zero coloration–basically everything that you want in studio monitor speakers. The interesting thing is that the iLouds actually deliver, with a performance and feature set that you would expect to find only in speakers costing several hundred dollars more.

iLoud Micro Monitors are ideally suited for home and small studio owners who have to work with less-than-ideal monitoring environments. With these speakers, you can crank out some pretty decent mixes even when working within the limitations of your studio space.

Features and specs

Each of the iLoud Micro Monitors houses Class D dual amplifiers that pump out a combined 50 watts of power to the 3/4” silk-dome tweeter and the 3” composite material woofer. This ultra-efficient design results in superb low-end reproduction and loads of headroom.

Amazingly, the iLouds’ low-end response goes all the way down to 55Hz. This is pretty impressive for such a small set of speakers, although we’re quite certain that the large-flaring front-firing bass reflex ports have a little to do with that as well. Stereo imaging is superb, which is another pleasant surprise given the iLouds’ modest dimensions.

What all these features and specs add up to is smooth and detailed treble, an open and focused midrange, and a surprisingly chunky and tight low end. Don’t let the iLoud Micro Monitor’s minuscule appearance fool you: this is a surprisingly great-sounding set of speakers in a compact form.

What others are saying

The iLoud Micro Monitors proved to be a revelation for many users who were previously skeptical of their performance. They are especially suitable for mix situations that require something that sits between headphones and full-sized speakers. Some users did wish for a headphone jack for quick checking of bass parts. On the whole however, the iLoud Micro Monitors delivered as promised, serving as a useful and surprisingly capable monitoring solution for home and project studios.

Bottom-line

As small as they are, the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors aren’t ‘toys’ by any means. The sound they put out is startlingly crisp and clear, with a richness and depth that belie their size. Of course, you’re never gonna get chest-thumping bass out of speakers this small. But if you are looking for a solid and reliable set of monitors to fit onto a crowded desktop, these might just be the best options available on the market.

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Focal Alpha 65/50/80

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Focal is another respected brand in the studio monitoring arena, with a name that is virtually synonymous with high-end pro audio. Like a select few other companies, Focal is what the pros turn to for mission critical monitoring and mixing. The Alpha 65, 50, and 80 are some of the most impressive in the Focal stable, providing unparalleled clarity and accuracy with a wide variety of sonic material. In fact, these speakers are among the very few that sound great with virtually any type of music, from traditional instrumental to cutting-edge electronic and everything in between.

Features and specs

Right off the bat, the Focal Alphas make a strong impression with their extended frequency response and extremely precise sonic imaging. The Alpha 65 combines a 6.5” woofer and a 1” tweeter, which are driven by 70-watt and 35-watt amplifiers respectively, for a total of 105 watts. The amps are high-current Class AB designs, with oversized power supplies that ensure optimal transient response and dynamics. Frequency response ranges from 40Hz to 22kHz, which is pretty impressive for fairly modest-sized speakers.

All the speakers in the Alpha line crank out a good amount of volume, but the 65 is especially impressive in this regard. Capable of putting out 106dB SPL at a distance of one meter, the Focal Alpha 65 is more than loud enough for any studio application.

The Alphas also have a handy standby mode, which automatically turns off the amplifiers when no audio signal is detected for 30 minutes. As soon as you route audio through the speakers, the system will automatically start back up again.

What others are saying

Most users of the Focal Alphas were immediately impressed at the depth and realism of the audio material being monitored. Every element of the mix could be picked up clearly, even when buried in layers of instruments and orchestrations. More than just clarity, users could also easily make out the positions of each individual instrument in the sound stage.

Those working with bass-heavy music were especially gratified with the Focal Alpha 65’s low end reproduction. Kick drums and basses were big, bold, and powerful, with a satisfying weight and authority. The mids and treble were clear and open as well, revealing details in the mix that would have been buried with other speakers.

Bottom-line

Focal Alpha 65s are rich, detailed, and extremely well-balanced, with a huge sweet spot that you could drive a truck through. Some users of Focal’s higher-priced models do feel that the Alphas don’t sound quite as smooth in the top end. However, most producers and mix engineers that have tried them find them perfectly suitable for mixing and mastering.

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PreSonus Sceptre S6

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The PreSonus Sceptre S6 studio monitor is a coaxial monitor speaker released as the company’s next generation monitor system. It includes some improvements and new features upon an already high quality system, like a dual-core processor, DSP, acoustic-adjustment controls facilitated by 32-bit, 96kHz audio processing, and advanced Temporal Equalization technology. The result is perhaps the best high resolution panoramic soundstage and detail for the money, even if you’re home studio is a somewhat less-than-ideal setup. For that reason, these monitor speakers can be found in the homes and studios of serious home studio owners.

The PreSonus Sceptre S6 studio monitor is a powered 2-way monitor system. The drivers are bi-amplified, with a 6.5 inch low frequency driver with a bass extension of 42 Hz. The high frequency driver is a 1 inch tweeter horn, coaxially positioned in the center of the low frequency driver’s woofer axis. This has a high frequency extension of 23,000 Hz. The coaxial positioning has some really great benefits. But the best reason is that you have a wider “listening sweet spot,” as both drivers are pushing frequencies at you from the same position.

The maximum output for the PreSonus Sceptre S6 studio monitor is 180 watts (90 watts for the low frequency driver, 90 watts for the high frequency driver). But when you use them as a pair, you have a massive 360 watts. This means very good monitoring levels can be achieved at louder volumes, making it a great choice if you do any mixing and mastering in your studio. You can configure the monitor to suit your space as well. The PreSonus Sceptre S6 studio monitor has Acoustic-tuning controls which let you tune your monitors to your room. You can also utilize the “CoActual” technology for DSP time-correction to fit your space.

The coaxial design affords a compact arrangement for PreSonus Sceptre S6 studio monitor a well, giving it more room for PreSonus to place the bass port at the front. The bass port position makes it easier to mount this monitor in a small room, where a wall or corner nearby would otherwise compromise the sound quality. The design is also quite beautiful, in my opinion, as it has a modern, unassuming, professional look to it. It is all black, with just a blue light that shows you the PreSonus logo when the monitor is active.

Bottom-line, the PreSonus Sceptre S6 studio monitor is a great sound design and mixing tool for your home studio. In the word of one pro-audio customer, it sounds like “magic.” It has a truly professional sound that is neither unpleasant, nor inaccurate. It is credited with a large and deep sound, with a full lower-end, allowing you to accurately mix your bass without any guesswork. Expect it handle all you need for recording, creating, sound designing, mixing, and mastering.

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Neumann KH 120

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The Neumann KH 120 studio monitor is a mastering-grade monitor speaker system. You may be familiar with Neumann as the maker of some of the highest quality microphones. So you can expect that the same level of engineering and precision from the German manufacturer was put into these great studio monitors. As nearfield studio monitors, they are particularly good for any studio application, whether you plan on recording, mixing, mastering, or doing any broadcasting or any kind of post-production work where good audio quality is paramount, upfront and personal in your workflow.

The “KH” in the name means “Klein+Hummel,” a German company very much associated with high quality, professional grade monitoring. It was acquired by Neumann, and result is their KH 120 model. WIth it, you get a 2-way bi-amplified powered studio monitor, with a long-throw composite-sandwich 5.25 inch low frequency woofer that has a bass extension all the way down to 52 Hz. The high frequency driver is a 1 inch titanium-fabric dome tweeter that can extend all the way up to 21,000 kHz, without causing listening fatigue. The KH 120’s frequency response is considered smooth and natural, with an incredible bass that is surprising for the compact size, which is very detailed and revealing.

The Neumann KH 120 studio monitor is a special favorite among producers, mixing engineers, and mastering engineers for its clinical precision. They provide a flat and clean sound that is not fatiguing (like the Yamaha NS10). Yet at the same time, they don’t “flatter” your music so much like a KRK. For that reason, they make very good monitors for polishing your mixes and providing good masters. Expect one of the most accurate sound you can get from a studio monitor at this price. Making EQing decisions are easy with the KH 120 because everything is so revealing. A pair of these monitors also take the guessworSceptrek out your stereo imagining and designing your soundstage. In addition to that, if you are monitoring in a less than ideal studio environment, the “Elliptical Mathematically Modelled Dispersion” (MMD) waveguide technology will help smooth out any off-axis responses. The Neumann KH 120 studio monitor doesn’t disappoint (in my research) any of the people who has tried, tested, and bought them.

The design is also practical. The bass ports are faced at the front, to make mounting the Neumann KH 120 studio monitor easy. There are 4-position trimming controls on the back that allow you to contour the low, middle, and high frequencies based on the your acoustic environment. It is in a sturdy all black, painted aluminum cabinet, with anthracite finish. Everything is black, except for the logo. These makes these monitors really hide out of site, and not as fancy as a few other monitors may be.

Bottom-line, the Neumann KH 120 studio monitor is ideal for you if you want a pair of high quality monitors that can do it all. Tracking, mastering, mixing, broadcasting, etc. This is the industry standard, so you can’t go wrong with that.

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Adam Audio A7X

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The Adam Audio A7X studio monitor is a professional-grade monitor speaker that’s one of the most recommended and reviewed among users in forums online. It has a compact design that makes it very suitable for a small home studio setup, with a few useful controls to contour the sound to your critical listening preferences. But perhaps one of the most impressive aspects about these monitors is that, despite their size, they are powerful, with powerful yet accurate bass extension. But it’s not just a bass heavy monitor, it’s well balanced, and accurate, making it an excellent choice for any kind of sound designing, mixing, mastering, as well as beat making and recording projects.

The Adam Audio A7X studio monitor  uses a bi-amplified system to drive the woofer and tweeter. It’s a 2-way configuration with a maximum output of 150 Watts (that’s 300 Watts for the pair). The 7 inch low frequency woofer is made of carbon fiber composite of rohacell and glass fiber. The woofer can give you powerful and accurate bass extension all the way down to 42 Hz. The high frequency driver is an X-ART ribbon tweeter, with a high-end extension of an amazingly high 50 kHz, one of the highest on this list. This super high frequency extension makes these monitors great for working on orchestral and acoustic music, as well as mixing drum cymbals since there will be so much of those higher harmonics being reproduced.

At the front of the Adam Audio A7X studio monitor are monitor controls, one for tweeter, the other for main volume. Plus you have the ability to attenuate the high and low frequencies with the high/low shelf controls. The bass ports are found at the front, which accentuates the fact that these monitors are designed for a small space. You wouldn’t have much difficulty mounting this in your room, as the bass ports won’t cause any unnatural bass effects from being placed in a corner or near a wall. Only main downside is that the cabinet is not shielded from electromagnetic interference, so you would have to keep that in mind.

The Adam Audio A7X studio monitor is one of the most highly praised monitors by users, and certainly one of the best for money. They are described as highly accurate, clean, and clear, with a massive sound stage. For that reason, the ideal user is anyone from a sound designer, to a mastering engineer. The only negative thing that I could find was that they are sometimes considered a little “bright” in some applications. But this is often the result of the fact that the tweeters on the A7X are so responsive and accurate that the surprising amount of responsiveness in the high-end may give the impression of brightness to the untrained ear. Expect the bass to be very accurate as well. It doesn’t go sub-bass level low, but the accuracy of the low end will be able to catch any inconsistencies in your bass mixes.

In terms of sound, they are not “ugly” nor unpleasant, despite the fact that they have a very flat and accurate response. But they will make low quality recordings and improperly mixed music sound ugly (like MP3s). And that’s exactly what you want from the best studio monitors for mixing and mastering — a stern, uncompromising clarity of a disciplined schoolmaster that will steer you in the correct direction, and reward you for your good results.

Bottom-line, the Adam Audio A7X studio monitor is a great choice that definitely will not disappoint you. If you can get over the lack of a shield, what you get is one of the most truly accurate sounding monitors specifically designed for any aspect of music production there is, in a compact size for a small production space.

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Adam Audio Single A77X

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The Adam Audio A77X studio monitor is a near and mid-field dual woofer monitor speaker system, with a sub bass extension, tri-amplified design, and a horizontal orientation, all which gives you one of the best stereo images you can get from a monitor for this money. It has one of the best stereo imaging of it class, with a very cool monitor specification that splits the frequency range for better crossover accuracy (more on that soon). It was created using state of the art technology, with German handmade material. These speakers were designed specifically for people who want to get detailed mixes and masters, without any second guesses in their work.

The Adam Audio A77X studio monitor uses 3 drivers per monitor, with a 2.5-way system. The arrangement of the monitor system makes it that one monitor accurately reproduces the “left” channel, and the other monitor the “right.” So a careful purchase of a “right-left” pair is essential. The low frequency drivers are dual 7 inch woofers, both of them extend all the way to 38 Hz for sub bass monitoring. However, at 400 Hz, one of the woofers fades out and the other woofer continues the midrange up to 3,000 Hz. The purpose of this is to prevent interferences and phase cancellations in the critical midrange frequencies. For this reason, the monitor is consider a 2.5-way system instead of 2. It also uses an X-ART high frequency 1 inch ribbon tweeter that drives up to 50,000 Hz. The result is a very wide frequency range spread suitable for all sorts of sound design and critical listening.

The Adam Audio A77X studio monitor is driven by tri-amplification, with each driver having its own dedicated amplifier. The maximum output then is 225 watts, or 450 watts total for the pair. The materials used are high class. The woofer cone is made out of a carbon fiber composite of rohacell and glass. The bass ports are placed at the front as well, which help to make mounting the speaker monitor in a treated room (idea) without any hassle. The design is also beautiful and professional, in my opinion.

The general consensus is that the Adam Audio A77X studio monitor is amazing. What makes it amazing is the level of detail that this can give you. The ribbon tweeters are fast and will produce every high frequency you want to hear in your audio, particularly if you work of orchestra and acoustic music. The low frequency drivers take you all the way down to where you need to monitor your bass and kick with accuracy. Because of the configuration it offers a near to mid-field listening range. What you have then is a massive soundstage, meaning that the Adam Audio A77X studio monitor will fill your room with sound as if they were objects hovering in space. This is the detail of the sonic precision that these speakers offer. And that’s why they are so coveted among mastering and mixing engineers. On top of that, they are certainly not unpleasant to listen to. A bad or mediocre mix will punish your ears, but you will know exactly what compression or EQing does not work, and fix them without any guesswork on your part. The result is a smooth and clear sound that you can take pleasure in working with.

Bottom-line, the Adam Audio A77X studio monitor is, again, another great studio monitor speaker. It costs some money, but if you can afford it, it will be worth it and will not disappoint. They are suitable for any genre, though sound designers, mixing, and especially mastering engineers will benefit the most from this system.

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Focal Twin6 Be

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The Focal Twin6 studio monitor is a near to mid field professional-grade speaker system with a horizontal orientation and a uniform 40 Hz – 40 kHz frequency response. These one of the most popular high end studio monitors on the market, and are, in fact Focal’s best selling speakers. Most people who are “in the know” know about these Focals, so a true “best studio monitor speakers” guide would be incomplete without at least one Focal, with the most popular one making this list. Those who buy these are primarily professional and enthusiast home studio owners looking for uncompromising sound reproduction. Particularly when it comes to sound design, mixing, and mastering work. There are a few audiophiles too who love these.

The Focal Twin6 studio monitor is a 3 way studio monitor. It features two 6.5 inch woofers and one tweeter. The woofers are split into mid range and sub bass, driving 150 watts of power each, and the tweeter driving 100 watts. (Total power output for the pair is 800 watts). The woofers are a “W” composite sandwich cone, giving clear and transparent bass frequencies all the way down to 40 Hz. The high frequencies are driving by a Hallmark-Focal inverted-dome Beryllium tweeter, which can extend all the way up to 40,000 Hz. The Focal Twin6 studio monitor also features a potentiometer for adjusting the tweeter and woofer levels, a voltage selector, and input-sensitivity selector. It also has an transducer shielding using cancellation magnets.

Unique to the Focal Twin6 studio monitor is the 3-way design that enables a more neutral midrange. And this is what makes them excellent for mixing in particularly. Those who have used it have found the bass frequencies to be highly articulate and accurate. There isn’t any hyping involved, just a smooth and honest bassline that translates well. The high frequencies are also very impressive and detailed, lots of precision will cut away any guess work in your workflow. That said, these monitor do not sound “bad,” users find that they are a pleasure to work with, providing a rewarding experience that pays for itself in the end in terms of money and also time it takes to get your mixes to sound right.

The design of the monitors are beautiful, in my opinion. The exposed gray woofers, and inverted cone are pleasing to the eye. The cabinet has a dark natural red veneer finish, with a black body. It doesn’t look like just another pair on studio equipment in your room, but also a piece of elegant professional furniture. For that reason, these monitors also find a home in many audiophile living rooms. Plus it’s understated, with smoothed out corners that really give these a nice soft touch in a studio. Who says professional studio monitors can’t be attractive?

Bottom-line, Focal Twin6 studio monitor are one of the best studio monitors for mixing and mastering on the planet. If you can afford them, get them. They work for practically any application, pre or pro production, film, mixing, mastering, composing, beat making, sound designing.

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Studio Monitor Speakers Buyer’s Guide

In your equipment line-up, you have the following…

1. your studio microphone, which provides you with the ears to your DAW for recording and arranging your instruments and vocalists. After that is…
2. your digital audio workstation, the bit of software which brings all your sounds together to be arranged into your musical masterpiece…
3. software which you cannot run without a good laptop or computer.
4. Then, you can’t leave out your audio interface. The little device that ties everything together so your equipment can communicate with each other.

And with all that gear, you would not be able to hear a single thing. Why?

Well we’re yet to discuss another essential piece of gear…

The studio monitor speaker

Just like every other piece of equipment in your home studio, the choice of monitor makes a difference in how good your music will sound.

Also just like every other piece of equipment in your studio, there are different types of monitors, suitable for what you want to accomplish in your recording, mixing, mastering, and music production, as well as what your budget is…

So in this guide, we’ll investigate the best studio monitors for mixing and mastering. And we’ll choose from the brands and products that are most recommended.

Before we get into the list, though, let’s discuss what you should be looking for when purchasing a studio monitor…

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Choosing the Best Studio Monitor Speakers

What is a studio monitor?

To the uninitiated, a “monitor” may refer to the display device you hook up to your computer so you can interface with its GUI. In the pro audio world, however, when we speak of a “monitor,” we are referring to a type of speaker that allows you to listen, in other words, “monitor” your recordings, performances, and song arrangements.

A monitor also enables musicians on stage to hear themselves separately from the sounds coming from other instruments and the environment. But for the purpose of this post, we are talking about “studio monitor speakers.”

Studio Monitor vs Consumer Speakers

What makes a studio monitor special is that it is designed to give an honest representation of your music and recordings as much as possible.

Consumer grade speakers, from audiophile speakers to budget stereo speakers, are all designed to make whatever is being played through them sound “good.” That means that the manufacturer specifically designs their speakers for the purpose of boosting certain areas of the speaker’s frequency bandwidth to make them sound either “brighter,” “crispier,” “deeper,” “rounder,” and so on.

The unfortunate result in using these kinds of speakers to monitor your studio recordings and music production, is that it will have a negative effect on how you’re able to mix and balance your songs.

A good studio monitor speaker has what is called a “flat frequency response.” This means neither bass, treble,  nor any other frequency within the mid-range will be boosted or attenuated. You are then able to mix and master your music knowing that what you are hearing is the most honest sound.

If it can sound good on a pair of studio monitor speakers, it will sound good wherever else you play your mixes–guaranteed.

In short:

You purchase a pair of studio monitors when you want do “critical listening,” while consumer monitor speakers are designed for “relaxed listening.”

A caveat…

If you’ve never used studio monitors before, when you receive your first pair, chances are that what you hear will, to you, will sound “worse” than the consumer speakers you are used to.

Do not worry about this…

Your ears have not become accustomed to the transparent sound of studio monitors. You’ve become accustomed, instead, to the boosts in the bass and treble, which in consumer speakers give the erroneous effect of “high-definition” and “power.”

Also, you may need a “break in” time of up to 80 hours to get your monitor speakers to start working the way they should. So don’t be discouraged.

That said, you won’t be hearing any special tweaking by the manufacturers of the studio monitors. You’ll hear a flat sound which will be transparent enough for you to spot any blemishes in your mix.

Now, let’s discuss the types of monitor speakers out there…

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Types of Studio Monitors

Just like studio microphones, there will be different types of monitors to choose from. And it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself on some of the fundamentals of what a home studio monitor is before you buy one…

Speaker Size

The size of the speakers is one of the first considerations in what kind of studio monitor to get. When we talk about speaker size, what we are referring to is the size of the “woofer.” They come in various sizes, but each has different advantages that you need to consider for your type of music.

Larger woofers, like 7 inches and up, provide a better frequency response in the bass and lower frequencies. If you know that you will be mixing and mastering music that requires lots of powerful bass and kick to mix, it’s a good idea to go with something 7 inches or higher.

Then are the more common woofer sizes from 5 inches to 6 inches. These are great if the genre of music you’re recording or mixing is not as bass heavy or intensive. Also, a smaller woofer size means a general cheaper monitor. You can get these, and later add a “subwoofer” for more bass when necessary.

Speaker Power

The power in loudness in studio monitors, and all other speakers for that matter, are measured in “watts.” Having a significant amount of wattage in your speakers output is important. Not because you want to turn it all the way up and disturb the neighborhood’s cat, but because having enough headroom allows for clear and transparent monitoring of your songs when the music is driving loud.

Also, you won’t blow out your speakers when you get those accidental loud pops and glitches that can happen from time to time in a home studio, especially when switching gears or changing settings.

2-Way vs 3-Way

Some studio monitor speakers are configured as either 2-way or 3-way systems. This simply means the amount of drivers they have per channel (left/right) that are covering different separate segments of the monitor’s frequency response.

In a 2-way system, there will be a speaker for high-end, and one for mid-to-low end. This is the most popular option. They are the cheapest, but you can get some high-end variants of this.

In most 3-way systems, an additional larger driver is used to push the bass and even the sub bass frequencies. This has it’s obvious benefits that you have a dedicated subwoofer already, and may not need to add another one.

The benefit of have a 2-way, though, is that there is less chance of a “frequency crossover” — the point where the drivers overlap in frequency response, and the resulting potential interference they can cause. In 3-way systems, there will inevitably be more frequency crossover between the low and mid frequencies, meaning that you’d have to be cognizant of that while mixing and mastering.

However, the benefit of a 3-way system is that you may not need to add a subwoofer. While a 3-way system will have some crossover effect, the manufacturer is aware of this and designs the speakers in accord. Adding a subwoofer to a 2-way system may require testing, trial and error, and some research on your part to get the “perfect match” to your 2-way pair.

Passive vs Active

This is one of the most important things to consider and should not be missed. Studio monitors come as either active or passive. Passive means that monitors need to be powered by an external amplifier in order for them to work. This is like your regular speakers that you plug into your stereo.

On the other hand, active monitors come with their own built in amplifiers, meaning they don’t need external amplification, and the amplifiers are specially designed for the speakers themselves.

In this list, all of the choices I’ve presented to you are active monitors. They are the most popular to choose from because they don’t require you to search for amplifiers to match with speakers to get the best results.

Frequency response

I referenced this earlier, and probably should have placed this at the beginning. It is another very important consideration.

Frequency response refers to how the speakers will be able to transmit sound across the frequency range.

To illustrate, most human hearing has a “frequency response” of 20 Hz to 20 kHz (20,000 Hz). That means our ears “respond” to frequencies as low as 20 Hz, which is perceived as a low rumbling sound that is more felt than heard. Our ears can also respond to frequencies as high as 20 kHz, which is so high in pitch it’s practically on the verge of silence.

A monitor’s frequency response is just the same. The specs of a monitor will say, for instance, that it has the “frequency response” or 40 Hz to 35 Hz, or 32 Hz to 21 kHz.

How does this factor into your decision?

Naturally, if you know that you will be working with a lot of bass heavy music, you need monitors that will be able to respond to the lowest frequencies. The lower, the better.

If you need a lot of clarity in the upper harmonics for acoustically rich music, like orchestra music, film score, or for our drum cymbals, a frequency response above 20 kHz and higher will provide pristine clarity to help you in your mixing decisions. You’d be able to catch and reign in stray frequencies much better.

Monitor Range

There are three major monitor ranges:

1. Nearfield
2. Midfield
3. Farfield

These terms refer to the monitor speaker’s ideal listening range. If you are in a small to medium sized room, near and midfield monitors are the best for you. Nearfield monitors provide accurate listening even in a room that needs better acoustic treatment because the sound coming from them interact minimally with your room’s space. Hence this is the best option for “bedroom producer” types.

Even in larger rooms, nearfield monitors also serve the added benefit giving an engineer or producer a “second opinion” from another set of monitors.

Farfield monitors work best in larger rooms, especially rooms that have been acoustically treated. These monitors interact more with your rooms acoustic space, so you get a feel for how your music sounds within a space.

Without getting too technical, midfield monitors offer the best of both worlds. You get a large sound stage and stereo image, and large listening sweetspot, and you don’t need a very large room for them to work well in.

This guide only covers nearfields and midfields, as that would generally be the options both available to purchase online, as well as what you most likely need.

Buying the Perfect Monitor Speakers

Since recording and producing music is your business, getting a good pair of monitors is not going to be something you want to scrimp. You can get some for cheap, sure, but you will eventually pay the price in quality.

Here’s a general price guide:

When it comes to a pair of monitor speakers for under 500 dollars, you will need to make a compromise:

1. do you want “great sounding” monitor speakers? or,
2. do you want “truthful sounding” monitor speakers?

This kind of compromise may not necessary be an unadvantageous thing for you.

If your concern is with mixing and engineering your tracks, then you should get “truthful sounding speakers.” You may not like them for hours of listening, but at least your music will translate well no matter where they are played.

If your concern is with remaining enthusiastic and inspired while making beats or compositions for hours on end, then get the ones that will “sound great.” They will encourage hours of music making enjoyment, while still remaining flat and accurate.

Studio monitors that cost 1000 dollars and up for a pair will not compromise. They will both “sound great” and “sound truthful” at once. And they hence tend to be the industry standard choice among engineers and producers who work professionally for long hours both creating, and engineering audio.

Pair vs Single

Keep in mind as well that you want to purchase a “pair” of studio monitors. Many of monitors in this post consist of singles. This means you’ll need to add two items to your cart before you purchase. Sometimes, sellers will provide buying options on their site for buying a “pair” instead of 2, which offers a reduction in price. So watch out for that option if you see it in the pages from the links I provided.

Of course, you can always get a single if that’s what you’re looking for.

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FAQ

Are studio monitors necessary?

While studio monitors may not seem necessary to the uninitiated, if you ever want to have professional quality sound you’ll have to get at least one. Studio monitors are important because due to the fact that audio can sound different between different devices. With studio monitors, you get a balanced audio that helps you hear all the little details that regular speakers won’t put off.

Most beginner music/audio producers often realize quickly that there are many pieces of equipment necessary (or recommended) in the process. Along with audio interfaces, studio monitors are one of the most important investments, and will vastly improve your sound quality. They vary in price ranges, but even a high quality speaker pales in comparison to a cheap studio monitor.

Is one studio monitor enough?

Depending on what you’re using the studio monitor for, one can be enough. That being said, there’s a reason most audio producers get multiple monitors. When you use multiple studio monitors, you surround yourself with the stereo field and get a better understanding of the smaller details.

If you’re just starting out and are on a budget, one monitor will do. Focus on getting all your pieces of equipment in line, then purchase the second monitor when you can afford to do so. Studio monitors are an essential part to the audio and music industry, so the more you have the better. The whole point of having studio monitors (aside from acting as a boosted speaker) is to hear the small details, so don’t limit yourself to just one if you want professional quality sound.

How can you connect studio monitors to a computer/laptop?

There are two ways to connect studio monitors to a computer/laptop. The first way requires a male to male TRS cable. Take on side of the TRS cable and plug it into the right or left studio monitor, then take the other side of the cable and plug it into the corresponding socket (right or left) on the audio interface in the main audio output. Plug the audio interface into the laptop/computer’s USB/Thunderbolt/Firewire socket, and you’re good to go.

The second way to plug a studio monitor into a laptop/computer requires a male TRS to male XLR cable. For this method, plug the male TRS side of the cable into the right or left studio monitor, and plug the male XLR side of the cable into the corresponding (right or left) socket on the audio interface’s XLR female socket. Then, plug the audio interface into the laptop/computer’s USB /Thunderbolt/Firewire socket, and you’re all set.

Where should you place studio monitors?

There are two ways to set up studio monitors.

The first way is a little trickier, and is only done by professional audio/music producers usually. Mount the studio monitors in the wall, with the base of the speaker at the same height of your laptop/computer. This method is much less likely to be used if you’re doing this at home.

The second way requires separate stands for every studio monitor you have. It’s important to isolate the studio monitor from your desk, since any vibration can influence the sound coming from the studio monitors. Just like the first option, the studio monitor’s base must be at the same level of the laptop/computer. Make sure your studio monitors form an equilateral triangle, or form a 60 degree angle between you and them.

Either option requires you to place the studio monitors about 10 feet from your ears for two reasons. 1) You don’t want to blow your eardrums when testing with new sounds, and 2) you need to hear the quality of the audio from a distance so your ears don’t just hear a mash of different sounds.

You can read more about speaker placement in a small room here.

How can you protect a studio monitor from getting blown?

Since studio monitors are much more durable than regular speakers, they are much harder to blow. That being said, there are a few precautions to take.

Never turn the volume on your studio monitor higher than ¾ of its capacity. Also, make sure you keep the gain on your audio input adjusted so you never overload the monitors. While it’s possible to blow the studio monitors, you’ll likely have severe pain in your ear before you ever blow them. Don’t test this theory though, since you likely don’t want to throw that money down the drain.

Lastly, prevent any feedback from the microphone. Feedback is when a microphone takes in the sound from your studio monitor and continues to play louder and louder. This is caused from the microphone playing the audio out of the monitors, and continuously repeating the cycle of recording and blaring out.

Why is my studio monitor buzzing?

There are a few reasons why studio monitors might start buzzing or ticking. One of the most obvious reasons comes from blowing out the monitor. If you play your music or audio too loud, or allow feedback for too long, you can permanently damage the studio monitor. It’s a little difficult to do that though, so the buzzing is likely cause by another source.

Always make sure you have the gain adjusted correctly, and check to ensure that you aren’t over-amplifying your DAW, audio interface, or studio monitors. A small adjustment can make a world of a difference.

Another possible cause of studio monitor buzzing is microphone feedback. Don’t leave your microphone too close to your studio monitors so you can prevent this from happening. The only other option is a software issue, or a hardware issue with your audio interface.

How to tell if a studio monitor is blown?

In many cases, a blown speaker will exhibit obvious signs of physical damage–typically a rip or tear in the speaker cone. This prevents the cone from flexing fully in response to transmitted electrical energy, resulting in an apparent buzzing sound.

In some cases, there may be no obvious sign of damage, although you can clearly hear that there is something wrong. The inability to hear certain frequencies of the audio spectrum is a clear sign that one of the speaker’s elements has malfunctioned, even though the speaker cones appear to be intact. You may also hear a rattling or a deep howling sound similar to feedback, both of which may indicate a blown speaker component.

What is conditioning?

Conditioning, or “breaking-in,” is the act of getting your studio monitors to sound right after you’ve purchased them. Because they are new, they will not sound ideal, it’s a good idea to get them broken in before you do any critical listening or mixing on them.

To condition or break in a new studio monitor, you should play pink noise for 24 to 48 hours. Pink noise is basically a mix of noises that have much lower frequencies than white noise. This allows the studio monitor to reach its peak of high and low frequencies, and breaks it in. After playing the pink noise for 24 to 48 hours, try playing multiple different styles of music with varying ranges for a few hours. Then you’re all set.

What is a passive studio monitor?

Passive studio monitors are generally equipped with passive components that split input signals into different frequency bands. Each band is then directed to a specific driver in the speaker system.

Passive monitors are typically driven by high-level signals from external amplifiers, in contrast to active studio monitors that come with built-in amplifiers. This design reduces the cost of producing passive monitors, making them generally less expensive than their active counterparts.

In addition, having the amplifier separate from the speaker also enables the mixing and matching of amplifiers and speaker combinations as desired. This makes it possible to obtain specific tonal characteristics simply by swapping amplifiers.

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Final Thoughts

This completes this guide on the best studio monitor speakers you can buy on the internet. Hopefully you would’ve found the perfect one for yourself.

In this buyer’s guide, you learned not only of the best monitors out there, but also these various types that exists, their applications, and some very useful specifications that will easy you into a more intelligence buying choice.

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How did we come to these results?

This is the result of hours and weeks of combing through the internet. We dug through forums such as Gearslutz.com, Reddit’s r/WeAreTheMusicMakers thread, product reviews, and buyer reviews from pro audio owners, as well as my own personal experience. Products were collected from Amazon and other online stores, and used user reviews, ratings, and buyer experience to tell which studio monitor offered the best satisfaction for the dollar. Compiling this with personal experience where applicable, the result is a list of top studio monitors that will not disappoint.