15 best studio monitors

One of Pioneer Corporation's most affordable products. At least when it comes to sets consisting of two studio monitors. This speaker system cannot be called as loud as possible, since its rated power does not exceed 21 watts. But this is the only parameter to which you can seriously find fault. The purity of the sound should please almost every buyer. Especially if the monitors are purchased for installation on the street to notify about store promotions. Or if they will be placed within the home studio.

Acoustics are available in two colors. And you will also find a similar number of stripes. The phase inverter port is located in the front part here. The bass is quite deep, though not very loud. A nice addition is the headphone jack.

What makes the Mackie CR3 good is its ease of maintenance. 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. Bass may be lacking in some cases, but this is a common problem with small monitors. The device will be enough for the voice acting of rooms up to 25 squares. Works great with DFX Audio Enhancer.Comes with foam pads.

The instruction is printed in 4 languages, however, without Russian. The main controls are located on the main speaker, as are the auxiliary jacks. There is a button to swap monitors. According to customer reviews, the CR3 model has a clear sound, high volume in the near field (60-80 cm) and a good bundle, which will be an excellent budget solution when creating a home recording studio.

The model is the most affordable in the model range of its line. Its main advantage is the presence of image control waveguide technology, which helps to control sound in different planes. The package includes documentation, soft adhesive feet and a power cable. The speaker is a 2-way active near field monitor and was designed completely from scratch. The lower frequency driver is 5 inches, has rich deep bass and plays up to 43 Hz according to the specification. This is an impressive figure for such dimensions.

The 1" neodymium dome tweeter delivers a 24kHz range, which is beyond human hearing. The drivers are equipped with class D amplifiers, 141 watts. The phase inverter is located at the back, so it is undesirable to put the LSR305 close to the wall. There are also connectors for connecting and the main control elements. Buyers in their reviews note convenient dimensions, ease of installation, connection and dismantling, as well as high-quality assembly.

A very nice outwardly column belonging to the active type. Its main purpose is indicated by a large number of connectors located on the back wall. In particular, there is even a balanced input here. In the same place is the volume control. This is perhaps the only drawback - not everyone wants to look for it somewhere behind a studio monitor. In fairness, adjusting the volume level in this way is now very rare. It is curious that there is also a voltage switch here. This makes the column versatile. Recall that in the USA 120 V comes from the outlet, and in some other countries too.

If we talk about the sound component, then the power of this satellite is 50 watts. As expected, it is two-way. Bass and mids are handled by a 100mm driver. In the upper part, a tweeter is traditionally located, the diameter of which is 19 mm. As a result, the speaker produces sound in the range from 56 Hz to 48 kHz. Its pressure can reach 101 dB. The 7-kilogram weight partly testifies to the solid components located inside. It is strange that at the same time the manufacturer became generous only with a standard one-year warranty.

As a subsidiary, Axelvox did not lose their creativity by launching the PM-5A 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 recording studios, multimedia workstations, keyboard monitoring and video production.

Unlike competitors in its price segment, this model is distinguished by a non-standard material of execution - wood. The phase inverter is located in front, which provides excellent sound quality. The built-in amplifiers have plenty of headroom, and the woofers and tweeters provide a flat frequency response. On the rear cover of the main speaker are connectors for balanced and unbalanced connections. Frequency adjustments and signal management are located there.

A home studio requires a special approach to equipment settings. In this case, we have an embedded processor controlled from a distance using a smartphone or any other device with a wireless connection. This has become the main feature of the model, along with a total power of 180 watts. The power is exactly the total, since each speaker is connected to a separate class D amplifier.

The body of the monitor is composite, which means it is lightweight and durable at the same time. The design is bass-reflex with a 4-inch woofer and a long-throw cone made of the same composite.The total weight of the system is only 3.4 kilograms, which is also an advantage. You can place the monitor directly against the wall, and this factor is very important, since the home studio most often has limited space. However, the equipment is also suitable for a full-fledged recording or post-production studio, that is, the instrument is universal and adapts itself to the space in which it is placed.

If you're looking for a powerful studio monitor and only the budget version is being considered, be sure to take a look at this product. This is a near field device at the most attractive price. Not the lowest, but fully justified by the technical characteristics.

The rated power of the monitor is 150 watts at a sound pressure level of 114 decibels at a distance of one meter. The device is equipped with an 8-inch subwoofer mounted on a rubber suspension with a temperature coil. This eliminates extraneous noise as much as possible while listening and expands the sound zone. The frequency range of the device is from 37 to 22,000 Hertz. An impressive result for such a compact form factor. With it, your home studio will not lack sound. In addition, this brand is highly praised on specialized resources, but they make a small allowance for the fact that this is still a budget option, and it simply does not make sense to demand more from it.

PreSonus has been producing all kinds of audio equipment for many years, including those used for professional purposes. Therefore, one should not be surprised that even relatively inexpensive studio monitors distributed under this brand are able to please with a rich sound picture. Although it is felt that the manufacturer tried to save money. This is noticeable in the low-frequency emitter, the diameter of which does not reach the cherished 100 mm. But on the other hand, the tweeter works perfectly, the main part of which is made of silk.

These speakers should be connected to a computer equipped with a good sound card. Only in this case you will get the maximum possible from them. Judging by the reviews, the monitors turned out to be very loud. This is also evidenced by the characteristics declared by the American manufacturer: the maximum power reaches 50 W, and the sound pressure can be 100 dB. Interestingly, this model received a variety of protection against interference. In the kit you will find not only the speakers themselves, but also several cables. The rubber feet are not forgotten either.

This column has a very nice design. The German manufacturer managed to achieve this only due to the yellow inserts that the emitters are endowed with here. However, this model is not bought because of its appearance. Everyone knows that KRK produces only such products, the sound quality of which cannot be faulted. So this column in this regard does not cause any complaints. But you will have to pay a lot - for the price indicated above, only one monitor is offered, and you will most likely need a second one.

KRK Rokit 5 G4 is a two-way speaker. Unlike competitors in the same price segment, it produces a sound whose range starts from 43 Hz. This was achieved through the introduction of a 127 mm Kevlar woofer. The 25mm tweeter is made of the same material. And 55-watt power allows you to enjoy extremely high volume. The manufacturer claims that the sound pressure can reach 104 dB, and it makes no sense not to believe him. You can also note the presence of a class D amplifier inside. Buyers write in their reviews about the display, thanks to which it is convenient to use the built-in DSP equalizer.

The main advantage of these monitors is excellent “readability” both at medium and high frequencies without background noise. The tweeter is covered with a special grill that protects against mechanical damage. When turned on, a light indicator lights up on the front to indicate the start of the workflow. A massive radiator comes out from the inside. This indicates analog amplification, and the power supply is already assembled on the board. The assembly of parts is very neat, all connections are carefully sealed, which is evidence of a conscientious approach to the assembly of the budget segment.

Separate bi-amped amplification with LM-3886 final amplifiers will not leave any music lover indifferent, as they have become iconic for audio cooks. Buyers in their reviews praise the excellent assembly, a good high and low frequency equalizer and a good panorama in width.

The Genelec 8040B is a versatile system that can work as a studio monitor or as a home theater speaker. System power - 180 watts. It is provided by two independent amplifiers of 90 watts each. The speakers are two-way, consisting of a 6.5-inch woofer and a 0.75-inch tweeter. The diffuser is located on the rear wall, which gives powerful bass sound without the use of a subwoofer.

Several patented technologies are used in the design of this model. For example, a special aluminum alloy from which the case is made. By weight, it is almost the same as MDF and composite, but much denser. And the cast form completely eliminates the appearance of extraneous noise after prolonged use. The DCW system is also used here, which is responsible for the interaction of the waveguide and amplifier. Even the stand is designed specifically for these speakers and has a patent. And of the shortcomings, if you can call them that, there is only the price. However, a high-quality studio monitor is rarely a budget monitor, especially when it comes to a top manufacturer.

A studio monitor is a product that has not yet reached its perfection. Engineers are constantly experimenting and bringing something new to them. For example, in this case, PMC patented the ATL technology. This is a special system of labyrinths in the internal structure of the office. It allows you to remove resonant interference as much as possible and reveal the sound without loss. Another novelty of the model is D-Fins, which eliminates the so-called side effects that are invariably present in budget systems.

This near-field monitor features a two-way design with 6.5" drivers and a 27mm tweeter with fabric dome. The drivers are made of alloyed fiber, which makes them as strong and durable as possible. The performance of the system is provided by two independent class D amplifiers, a 100-watt low-frequency amplifier and a 65-watt high-frequency one. This is the best design for a home studio if you are willing to shell out a tidy sum for it. You can't call these monitors budgetary.

This is an expensive monitor speaker that has an extremely atypical appearance. It offers monopolar acoustic radiation. This means that this model can be placed close to the wall. And if semi-professional products are most often two-way, then here the sound is divided into three bands. At the same time, the built-in subwoofer has a huge 182 mm driver, thanks to which the depth of the bass cannot but amaze. The midrange is also capable of boasting a similar diameter. This allows it to sound as loud as possible.Theoretically, sound pressure can be increased to 120 dB! Not surprisingly, such a column is often used in concert halls. As for the high-frequency emitter, it is tape.

Of course, the 300-watt studio monitor received a built-in amplifier. It is due to him that such a loud sound is provided. It got pretty heavy. Many other structural elements did not let us down in this regard. As a result, the scale under the column will show 15 kg. This is forgivable, because the dimensions are rather big. It remains to be added that acoustics produce sound in the frequency range from 32 Hz to an incredible 50 kHz.

This is a three-way active speaker system. Each of the emitters here has a different diameter, and the power is different. Together, they all provide an exquisite sound without a hint of distortion. This is facilitated by an expensive separate class D amplifier. An interesting feature of the speaker is its ability to be placed both in a horizontal and vertical position. It also incorporates Smart Active Monitor technology. It allows the studio monitor to adapt to a particular room. This further contributes to the perfect sound.

The manufacturer sought to achieve a relatively small size. That is why he failed to please the buyer with the deepest possible bass. The frequency range here only starts at 45 Hz. However, only the organizers of the concerts will notice this. In all other cases, the bass will definitely be enough. Not to mention the high frequencies (the boundary mark is 37 kHz).If we continue reading the characteristics declared by the manufacturer, then we note the power: for the tweeter it is 36 watts, for the midrange it is similar, and for the woofer it is 72 watts. To connect audio sources, an XLR input and a digital XLR AES / EBU interface are used here. And on the back wall there are a couple of RJ45 ports. The weight of the studio monitor is 6.7 kg.

JBL is famous for its amateur products: headphones, portable speakers and other small things. And only a few suspect that she also produces professional studio monitors. The best of them is a set under the uncomplicated name JBL 4367. These speakers should be in a large hall, as they give out not only clear, but also very loud sound. Acoustics corresponds to the highest class, it belongs to the bass-reflex type, and its power is 300 watts. The bass it emits is chilling. Often it can be heard even in neighboring buildings. No wonder, because a 380 mm woofer is responsible for it. He calmly copes with the reproduction of frequencies starting from 30 Hz.

If we talk about the rest of the design elements, then two D2430K speakers, the diameter of which reaches 75 mm, are responsible for the mids and high frequencies. It is noteworthy that such expensive and heavy (scales will show 61.2 kg) acoustics are only two-way. However, even with this design, the purity of sound from JBL turned out to be almost prohibitive. This is facilitated, among other things, by special manufacturing technologies. In particular, it uses an HDI horn, lightweight polymer membranes, separate coils and magnets made of neodymium alloy, as well as special coatings.There are two knobs to adjust the sound.