What are the best studio monitors?
One of the most essential tools for any home studio is a high-quality pair of studio monitors.
Whether you’re mixing, mastering, or simply producing the intro of a track, a good set of monitors will give you a clear and authentic audio signal for you to properly craft your sound.
Regular laptop speakers and low-quality bookshelf speakers are helpful for referencing your mix on a more average sound system — after all, if your track doesn’t sound good on an iPhone, it needs more work. But when it comes down to giving your sound a clean, high-quality audio signal, there is really no comparison.
For example, imagine you’re standing in front of a huge fifteen-foot tall painting in an art museum: you can see every brushstroke, texture, color, and tiny detail. Now, imagine looking at a low-quality. JPEG of the same painting on a phone. That’s the difference between working on music with quality monitors versus laptop speakers.
Most bedroom producers know the value of studio monitors, but the issue comes down to affordability. Many state-of-the-art monitors can easily extend into thousands of dollars. But the good news is that there are cheap studio monitors that will do the job well enough to ensure your music sounds professional.
In this article, we will break down the best studio monitors for every budget to help you decide which monitors are right for you. But before we get into actual products, let’s talk about a few important things to consider before you buy a new set of monitors.
Treating your room
This step is often overlooked by many producers. You can have the nicest high-end speakers, but if your room isn’t properly treated, it may not really make that much of a difference.
Think of a professional studio: people spend thousands just treating the room alone, and that doesn’t include the cost of recording equipment. That doesn’t mean you need to spend thousands, but ideally, your room should be as neutral and isolated as possible.
Whether you purchase acoustic foam blocks or create your own DIY sound frames, it’s key to get your room treated so it works with you, not against you. Depending on the shape and layout of your room, you will also need to find the best spot to position your speakers.
The size of your monitors
In general, the bigger your monitors are, the more power they will have. This might seem like an obvious reason to buy the biggest monitors you can afford, but you might not actually need all that power.
Depending on the size of your workstation and room, you may not need the biggest speakers. In fact, if your speakers are too big for your room, it can overload the space. Measure your workstation and room before buying to be sure you select the right size and power.
Studio monitor stands and foam isolation pads
When purchasing a pair of monitors, you will likely need either studio monitor stands or some foam isolation pads. The speaker stands will be best if you have the proper space.
However, if you’re planning on simply placing your speakers on your desk, foam isolation pads will help treat the sound of your space.
The placement of your speakers
There’s nothing inherently wrong with tossing a pair of speakers on a bookshelf or your desk, but going back to treating your room, you want them to be set up as best as possible to give you a clear signal.
You want to make sure you’re placing the right monitor at the right distance from you for your room. For example, nearfield monitors will be best if placed closer to your ears, which works well in most home studios. Alternatively, midfield monitors are best when placed further away for a bigger room.
The best budget studio monitors
Now it’s time to talk about actual products. You’ve probably heard of the classic brands: ADAM, Yamaha, KRK, Focal, Mackie, Presonus, Genelec, Dynaudio, Neumann, etc. People will argue to death about which products are superior, but the truth is, it really comes down to musical genre, personal preference, and your price range.
While equipment quality is highly subjective, we believe these monitors to be the most trusted and most exciting.
Under $300
If you’re just starting out and simply looking for the best budget studio monitors, there are options. Cheap studio monitors can still pack quite a punch, if used right. Typically, those just starting out with producing will seek a budget-friendly option.
Here are our recommended picks under $300:
- Presonus 3.5s
- Average Price: $99.95 (Pair)
- Power rating: 25 Watt
- Link: Amazon
- IK Multimedia iLoud Micro
- Average Price: $299.99 (Pair)
- Power rating: 50 Watt
- Link: Sweetwater
- M-Audio BX5-D3
- Average Price: $149 (Single)
- Power rating: 100 Watt
- Link: Guitar Center
- JBL One Series 104
- Average Price: $179 (Pair)
- Power rating: 60 Watt
- Link: Sweetwater
- Alesis Elevate 5 MKII
- Average Price: $129 (Pair)
- Power rating: 40 Watt
- Link: Sweetwater
Under $600
If you’re willing to flesh out a bit more cash, there are serious benefits to boosting your budget for higher quality. These likely won’t break the bank, but they do come with a more intermediate price tag.
For the producer looking to take things past the beginner phase into more serious territory, here are our top picks for under $600.
- Yamaha HS5
- Average Price: $199.99 (Single)
- Power rating: 70 Watt
- Link: Amazon
- JBL 308P MKII
- Average Price: $249 (Single)
- Power rating: 112 Watt
- Link: Sweetwater
- KRK ROKIT8G4 KRK 8″
- Average Price: $298 (Single)
- Power rating: 203 Watt
- Link: Amazon
- ADAM Audio T5V 5
- Average Price: $199 (Single)
- Power rating: 50 Watt
- Link: Sweetwater
- Focal Alpha 50
- Average Price: $299 (Single)
- Power rating: 55 Watt
- Link: Sweetwater
Under $1,000
As we move into this higher price range, the quality of the speaker will become much more pronounced. New frequencies will be available, and a more clear audio signal will come through.
These speakers are recommended for the more advanced producer looking to invest in long-term, quality products for their home studio. Here are our top picks under $1,000:
- Yamaha HS8
- Average Price: $369 (Single)
- Power rating: 60 Watt
- Link: Amazon
- ADAM A5X
- Average Price: $499 (Single)
- Power rating: 100 Watt
- Link: Sweetwater
- KRK ROKIT 10-3 GR4
- Average Price: $499 (Single)
- Power rating: 300 Watt
- Link: Amazon
- Focal Alpha 65
- Average Price: $399 (Single)
- Power rating: 105 Watt
- Link: Sweetwater
- Mackie XR624
- Average Price: $299 (Single)
- Power rating: 160 Watt
- Link: Amazon
Above $1,000
These high-end monitors will transform your bedroom studio into something akin to a state-of-the-art studio. While the price tags for these speakers run quite high, they are a worthy investment for any musician looking to create the ultimate home studio.
Here are our top picks for the best of the best monitors in the $1,000+ range.
- Hedd Type 07
- Average Price: $399 (Single)
- Power rating: 200 Watt
- Link: B&H
- Dynaudio Lyd 48
- Average Price: $1,149 (Single)
- Power rating: 105 Watt
- Link: Sweetwater
- Neumann KH 120
- Average Price: $399 (Single)
- Power rating: 180 Watt
- Link: Sweetwater
- Focal Shape 65
- Average Price: $999 (Single)
- Power rating: 105 Watt
- Link: Sweetwater
- Genelec 8030c
- Average Price: $695 (Single)
- Power rating: 100 Watt
- Link: B&H
Conclusion
A high-quality pair of studio monitors are a must for any home studio, and they don’t have to cost a fortune to make a difference in your music.
Our best advice beyond this list is to see if your local music hardware store has multiple speakers where you can test your music. Be sure that you’re not just testing your own beats, though. Play reference tracks from your favorite artists, too.
Which studio monitors do you use? Which model did we leave off that we should consider?
