10 best studio monitors

Each studio in which groups are recorded or electronic music is created needs studio monitors. This is the most important studio equipment. Unlike conventional speakers, monitors give a very clear and correct sound. If you made a mistake while recording, you will immediately identify it. In addition, they provide a stereo field for a better sound background.

Monitors are a very individual thing. There is no such thing - some speakers are better than others. It all depends on your taste and the space in which you work. The style of music greatly influences the choice of monitors, but there are a couple of things that need to be taken into account:

• The size. Usually it is 5, 6 or 8 inches. There are 4 and 7, but not so many;
• The parameters of your room. When working in a small room, it makes no sense to put big speakers, otherwise they just crush you with their sound;
• In home and many professional studios they work with near-field monitors, that is, they should be placed next to each other, and not on the other side of the room;
• When installing, create an equilateral triangle to achieve high-quality sound.

We have selected for you the TOP-10 best studio and budget monitors in 2018.

Top 10 best studio monitors

10 Mackie cr3

The good things about Mackie CR3 are that they are easy to maintain. They are convenient for both mixing and listening to music. The compositions processed in them will require minor adjustments in other systems, the music sounds neat. In some cases, there may not be enough bass, but this is a typical problem for small-sized monitors. The device is enough for the voice of rooms up to 25 squares. Works great with DFX Audio Enhancer. Included are foam lining. The instruction is printed in 4 languages, however, without Russian. The main controls are located on the main speaker, as are the additional connectors. There is a button to swap monitors.

According to customers, the CR3 model has clear sound, high loudness in the near field (60-80 cm) and a good bundle that will be an excellent budget solution when creating a home recording studio.

9 Pioneer S-DJ50X

Oh, those pioneers! Model S-DJ50X managed to beat many competitors and received a due position in our rating. It is a 5-inch speakers, although 6 and 8 inch models are available. The main feature of the model is its technical bias in listening and mixing electronic music. It is perfect for noisy home parties in small rooms. If you have problems in the form of interference, pay attention to what the equipment is connected to, as the monitors are somewhat capricious in this regard. It is especially not recommended to connect them to one filter. Delivery set except the speaker includes another power cable. Despite the quality assembly, in some batches there may be problems with the joints in the front plastic part.

Despite this, the product received positive customer reviews, marking excellent bass, small size.

8 BEHRINGER Truth B1030A

It is difficult to pronounce the name of these monitors, but even harder to remember the whole list of their merits. These reference monitors, for home or professional sound studio, are based on 5.25 inch Kevlar subwoofers. They have class A-B amplifiers with active protection. 50 watts are used to power the subwoofer and 25 watts for the high frequency. The combination of ultra-high-resolution one-inch silk twitter with a long-stroke 5.25 inches woofer and a Kevlar diffuser will help create a paradise for a true connoisseur of music.

The latest technology has helped to divide the bands in such a way that they clearly separated the signals for low / high-altitude dynamics. Otherwise, unnecessary frequencies are sifted out, thanks to which the music is recorded / played without unnecessary background noise. In the back of the case there is a phase inverter, input interfaces, a level adjustment knob of ± 6 dB, and more.

7 Adam A3X

Among all models presented in the top, the A3X are among the most compact, but their sound parameters are able to impress the most sophisticated listeners. They are also famous for their crystal sound at high frequencies. With their purchase will be satisfied as amateurs listen to music at home, and professionals who need compact solutions. The weight of each monitor is 4.6 kg. The monitors used amplifiers A-B class, totally having about 50 watts per channel. The woofer size is 4.5 inches, not 3, as many might think from the name. The maximum sound pressure is about 90 dB. The frequency range from 60 Hz to 30 kHz. Expanding the lower part of the spectrum is not difficult, just add a subwoofer to the setup, reaching the bottom bar of 32 Hz.

Monitors are connected via balanced / unbalanced inputs, in addition there is the possibility of connecting monitors via the Stereo Link system.

6 Yamaha hs5

Version HS5 has become the younger brother of the acclaimed model HS7, having received from it all the advantages and disadvantages. Engineers Yamaha applied the achievements of many years of production of the piano, connecting three planes of the body at an angle of 45 degrees, which they said improves the density of the bass. On the matte coating, in addition to dust, no other traces of pollution will be visible. The rounded edges create a feeling of solidity, the monitor is heavy, the assembly as a whole is very high quality and reliable. For mounting on the wall or mounting on racks, a special version with the index I is produced, having 4 holes for these purposes. The low-frequency driver is the calling card of the entire HS series. The exact material from which the speaker is made is difficult to say, but most of all it looks like polypropylene or just plastic.

The lower limit before recession is 54 Hz. Dome twitter can reproduce frequencies up to 30 kHz. A wide waveguide minimizing vibrations is also used.

5 Focal Alpha 50

Despite the migration of the production of the Alpha 50 from France to the Middle Kingdom, the model did not lose its charm and the main quality - playing live music without unnecessary noise and "electronic" interference. The package includes the speakers themselves, technical documentation, cables for European and English plugs and four soft adhesive feet. The mid-range speaker size is 5 inches. The case of NDF is covered with black matte paint, and plastic lining is screwed on the sides. The low-frequency driver is made of paper using special spraying.

According to the specification wins back up to 45 Hz. A one-inch reverse aluminum dome twitter with a 22 kHz upper threshold is used as the high-frequency driver. Class A and B amplifiers of 35 and 20 W are installed for each speaker. The port of the phase inverter is not solid and is located at the front, therefore the monitor is less sensitive to location near the walls.

4 YAMAHA HS7

The main advantage of these monitors is excellent “readability” at both mid and high frequencies without background noise. Twitter is closed with a special grill that protects against mechanical damage. When you turn on the front of the indicator lights, notifying the beginning of the workflow. From the inside out a massive radiator. This indicates analog gain, and the power supply is already assembled on the board. Installation of parts is very neat, all connections are sealed carefully, which is evidence of a bona fide approach to the assembly of the budget segment. Separate amplification with bi-amping with final amplifiers LM-3886 will not leave indifferent any music lover, since they became the cult for audio culinary.

Buyers in their reviews praise the excellent assembly, a good corrector of high and low frequencies and a good panorama in width.

3 KRK ROKIT 5 G3

The third generation of KRK ROKIT wondered our top of the best budget studio monitors for a reason. Its price is equally attractive for both professionals and amateurs who dream of having a small home studio. It is great for recording, mixing, mastering and playing music. The manufacturer highlights the presence of bi-amping, class A and B amplifiers. The 5-inch composite reinforced glass woofer and one-inch dome tweeter are used in the general structure of the model. The frequency range - 45 Hz-35 kHz in the window ± 2 dB. Total power 50 watts. All major control components are located on the rear of the case.

The monitor received a large number of positive customer reviews, which indicate an increased range of reproducible frequencies, automatic shutdown 30 minutes after idle without a signal, a powerful amplifier and a low price.

2 JBL LSR305

The model is the most affordable in the model range of its line. Its main advantage is the presence of the image control waveguide technology, which helps to control sound in different planes. Package includes documentation, soft adhesive feet and power cable. The speaker is a two-way active near-field monitor and was designed entirely from scratch. The lower frequency driver is 5 inches, has rich deep bass and, according to the specification, plays up to 43 Hz. This is an impressive figure for such dimensions. Neodymium dome twitter in a size of 1 inch, provides a range of 24 kHz, which is higher than the human hearing defect. Drivers are equipped with class D amplifier, 141 watts. The phase inverter is located at the back, so it is undesirable to put it close to the LSR305 wall. There are also connectors for the connection and the main controls.

Buyers in their reviews note the convenient size, ease of installation, connection and disassembly, as well as high-quality assembly.

1 Axelvox PM-5A

Having become a subsidiary, Axelvox did not lose their creativity by launching the PM-5A model on the market. The main goal of the company is to make affordable high-quality sound at a low price, which they did. Active two-way studio monitors are perfect for studio recording, multimedia workstations, monitoring keyboard instruments and video production.

Unlike competitors of its price segment, this model is notable for non-standard material of execution - wood. Phase inverter here is located in front, which provides excellent sound quality. Built-in amplifiers have a large power reserve, and low-frequency and high-frequency speakers provide an even frequency response. On the back of the main speaker are connectors for balanced and unbalanced connection. Frequency adjustments and signal controls are also there.

Popular vote - who is the best producer of studio monitors?
We vote!

Mackie

Pioneer

BEHRINGER

Adam

Yamaha

Focal

KRK

Jbl

Axelvox

Total votes: 175

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