Best Studio Monitors - Your Detailed Buyer's Guide

Last Updated: October-17-2018 It was all change at the top of our main monitors chart, as we removed a few of the older models and replaced them with some new popular monitors. These inclusions comprised three higher-end models in the Neumann KH 120 A, the PreSonus Sceptre S8 and the Yamaha HS8. A more affordable model from KRK – the RP8G3-NA – also arrived, as did a cool compact monitoring set, the IK Multimedia iLoud.

Making ground in the music industry takes a lot of effort. Sure, you need raw talent, patience, enthusiasm and a good ear for detail, but you equally need a range of specialized tools to give you a clear view of your mixes from all angles. Of all the gear found in an average studio, studio monitors are undoubtedly one of the most important pieces. In this article we are going to highlight ten of the best monitors on the market in all price ranges, before taking a closer look at monitors and how to get the best out of them. Let’s get started!

Top 10 Studio Monitor Speakers

What are Monitor Speakers?

Before we take a look at how to buy and how to get the best out of your monitors, it’s probably worth defining what exactly monitoring speakers are. It can be a little confusing, especially to complete beginners, as a studio monitor can look like your average bookshelf speaker – however, their purpose is completely different. So, what are they? Let’s begin by looking at making music. Creating good music is only half the battle. Making good music sound good on every system out there is the real test of a great producer! This means achieving the same results on a home Hi-Fi system as a car stereo, as consumer headphones, and as a massive nightclub. Why is this an issue? Ultimately it all comes down to speaker bias and how they were set up from the factory. For example, some speakers and headphones are really bass heavy. In affordable systems, manufacturers sometimes like to loosen up the low-end because it gives the sound a bit more girth, while possibly masking deficiencies in other portions of the frequency range. At the other end of the spectrum we have more expensive systems, where each speaker may contain several drivers, each tasked with handling a specific band of the frequency range. Creating a piece of music that will sound good on both budget and premium speakers is not as easy as it seems. This is where studio monitors come in. Look at them as a testing rig. These speakers will be as neutral as possible with a transparency of sound that allows a producer to really hear the nuances of their music, and know exactly how it will sound on a variety of different setups and what needs fixing.

Transparency and Monitoring

These days, ‘transparency’ has become a bit of an abstract term. It gets tossed around without much explanation. An easy way to explain transparency is to use a simple graph. Your vertical axis is measured in decibels (in other words, volume), while the horizontal axis represents the frequency range. To your left will be the lowest frequency that the speaker can reproduce, while the right side is the highest. These types of graphs are made by placing a microphone next to the speaker and recording the output. If we take a standard set of bookshelf speakers and perform this test, chances are you’ll see a positive curve in the lower frequencies, which then dips as it reaches the mids, before spiking again in the trebles. This tells you which frequencies are louder, and which ones are not pushed as hard. With studio monitors, all you want to see is a flat line from the lowest possible frequency to the highest one. That type of flat output is what we consider the definition of transparency, as every portion of the frequency range is represented equally. In practice, having the entire frequency range reproduced at roughly the same volume allows you to notice even the smallest flaws in your mix – such as an instrument that is too loud or too quiet. This is why some beginners, who have never experienced monitoring speakers and such transparency, may conclude that their brand-new monitors simply don’t sound right. However, being so transparent and neutral, proper monitoring speakers often come across as a little bland. Rest assured, this is exactly what they are supposed to sound like – there is no thumping bass, nor those screaming highs. Getting used to this flatness takes some time, however, you will truly appreciate this transparency the moment you finish your first mix and it sounds great wherever it is played.

Power and Power Management

Many people associate power measured in watts with volume. However, power impacts so many other things, which are far more important. Before we get onto this area, let’s take a look at how power is supplied to the speakers. There are two types to note – active and passive units. Active speakers are those that have a built-in amplifier, meaning that they require no external amplification. Passive speakers are the complete opposite. In order to run these, you will have to purchase a standalone amp. In 2018, active monitors are more or less the norm. These speakers will vary in terms of how many power amps are included per cabinet. Generally speaking, cheaper models will only have a single amp to push both transducers. As you begin moving into the higher end of the market, you will find dedicated amplifiers for each transducer. Having a pair of dedicated amps will result in more definition and transparency in the sound, as each amp only has to drive a single transducer. Of course, you can also find high-end tri-amp speakers, with individual amps powering high, mid and low frequencies. Returning to power – if you have a small home studio, 20 watts of power will get you more than enough volume. However, going with a more powerful set is still beneficial as the extra wattage will give you more headroom. This translates to how far you can push the speaker before it starts distorting – having more power will result in less distortion and a clearer, more detailed sound.

How to Correctly Position Studio Monitor

One of the most overlooked aspects when working with speakers – especially monitoring speakers – is proper positioning. Unlike standard bookshelf speakers, more often than not studio monitors are ‘nearfield’. This means that they produce the best results when the user is just a meter or two away from the speaker (i.e. ‘near’). The further away you are, the less definition you’ll have. So, when you are sitting this close to the speaker, you will need to have them set up correctly for optimal sound. Thankfully, positioning the speakers is not that complicated if you follow a set of simple rules:

• Firstly, ensure the speakers are level with your head and aimed at you. Imagine that a laser beam is shooting from the center of those drivers. You want the beam from each cabinet to be pointed at your head.
• Next, ensure that the two speakers and your head form an equidistant triangle. This will allow the sound waves from each speaker to reach you without conflict. If you set the speakers too close or too far apart, the sound will become skewed.
• Another thing to keep in mind when positioning the speakers is the distance from the walls. Most pairs feature bass reflex ports, which are either on the back panel or the front side of the speaker. The issue with bass frequencies is that they propagate in all directions. With rear-firing bass ports, having them too close to a wall will result in those low frequencies bouncing off the wall and back at you. It is therefore recommended that you keep at least 2ft between a reflex port and the wall.

Dealing with Room Acoustics and Standing Waves

Following on from the important topic of positioning is the equally important topic of room acoustics and standing waves. Every room, no matter what size or shape, will affect the performance of your speakers. This is mainly due to the nature of sound waves and how they move through space. Every wave has a length, with higher frequency wavelengths being shorter and lower frequency wavelengths being longer. High frequencies are usually not an issue, since even the smallest studio will usually be longer than the length of those waves. However, as you start going lower in frequency (usually below 300Hz), you will reach a point where the wave is the same length as your room and begins to reflect back. In short, a standing wave emphasizes one specific frequency, meaning you will hear this wave prominently as the reflections reinforce each other. Naturally, this annoying occurrence impacts the quality of the audio and your ability to do your job. So how do you fix standing waves? The best way to tackle this is to place your speakers along the longest wall you have and leave at least three or more feet between the back of the speakers and the wall. If your speaker features room acoustic settings, you can tune the speaker to the size and shape of your room and cut the offending frequency. This can help eliminate the problem of standing waves.

Selecting the Right Set of Monitor Speakers

Now that we know what monitors are, what they do and how they work, let’s talk a bit about selecting the right monitors for you. Of course, finding the perfect pair for you will rely on a several factors. In this section we will help you determine what exactly you should be looking for! Budget Figuring out how much money to spend on a set of monitoring speakers is one of those decisions that might trouble you for a while (although don’t lose any sleep over it!). You can spend anything from under $100 to well over $3,000 on a pair of speakers, but your current skill, your aspirations and your budget will determine what you should spend. If you are just starting out, buying something in the affordable region – from under $200 right up to around $500 – will be a good call. Even having something under $100 is better than not having monitoring speakers. Ultimately, even the cheapest pair of monitors will fare much better than a great set of bookshelf speakers for a producer who cares about how their music really sounds. Spending anything over $500 for a beginner will probably be overkill until you can really start to appreciate the nuances that higher-end speakers can expose. Learn on something decent that won’t ruin your bank account and you can always upgrade later. Size Drawing some conclusions from our earlier discussion, finding the right size of speakers is imperative if you want to get the best bang for your buck. However, determining the right size for you relies on a lot of guesswork! Ultimately it is important to consider the space you will be filling with these speakers. If it’s a small studio (around the size of a standard bedroom for example), don’t fall into the common trap of going for the largest set you can afford. In these scenarios, having smaller drivers – no more than around 5” – will give you the sharpest, most defined sound. A bigger studio, such as a basement, will require larger drivers of around 8”. Brands As with any audio equipment – from electric guitars to microphones – there is an element of brand snobbery and brand loyalty among many producers. Of course, when it comes to monitoring speakers, we’d all love to have a set of high-end ATCs or Focals, but that doesn’t mean falling short of these won’t land you with a seriously good sound. Thankfully for the bargain hunters and those on a budget, more and more manufacturers are expanding their lineups to include more affordable models. The key takeaway here is to not dive straight for the first brand you know, especially if you are a beginner. If you are new to audio equipment, you may not have heard of brands such as Mackie or PreSonus, but they deliver some excellent budget options alongside their high-end lines. Can Headphones Be Used Instead of Monitors? This is a great question and one that pops up frequently. The short answer is no – monitoring headphones can’t replace a good set of monitors. Even with open-back headphones that have great definition and an awesome sound stage, you still won’t achieve same results as monitors. Even if your studio lacks proper isolation, or you mix at home and just can’t have the music blasting out the speakers, we still suggest going with monitors at a very low volume. However, headphones are still an awesome tool that certainly do have their place in mixing! In general, it is recommended to mix music on monitors first and then go over the mix again with headphones, as a safety net, to pick up on things you may have missed. You may be surprised at what listening in a different way can expose. Ultimately ‘Speakers vs. Headphones’ is the wrong way of looking at things. It’s not an either/or situation, rather a ‘both’ situation – where using one to complement the other delivers the best results. We have an extensive guide on studio headphones, so be sure to take a look after you have settled on your speakers!

The Final Word

We hope we have reinforced the importance of studio monitors for professional and enthusiast producers, engineers and critical listeners of all kinds. We also hope we have answered some of your questions about monitoring speakers. There is a lot more to learn, and there are plenty of articles and videos out there from which to learn specific aspects. Whether you are on a tight budget, or you are looking for something a bit higher on the ladder, the models we have mentioned should have given you some inspiration, but take your time with your decision. You will hopefully end up with the best monitors for your setup, which will prove a powerful studio partner for years to come!