The 9 Best Studio Monitors of 2022
Studio Monitor – Buying Guide, Opinions and Analysis
The studio monitor can output a cleaner sound from your mixes, including effects, real musical instruments, samples, etc. That is why most music producers use this type of self-powered speakers. On this occasion, we recommend some models such as the M-Audio BX4, which have a power of 120 W, which may be enough for home studio, podcasting, streaming, and gaming. In addition, they have 4.5-inch drivers and Bass Reflex design, for greater depth in the bass. Other speakers that could help you are the Presonus Eris E3.5, as they have 3.5-inch drivers and equalization controls on the back to adjust bass and treble.
The 9 Best Studio Monitors – Opinions 2022
On the Internet there are many models of monitors, so it is difficult to choose the most suitable for yourself. However, in this article we present a list of the best studio monitors of 2022, to make your search easier and faster.
1. M-Audio BX4 Pair Studio Monitors Speakers
If you are looking for the best studio monitor, check out this model: M-Audio BX4. The package includes 2 self-powered monitors with 4.5-inch drivers, being useful for home recording studios, gaming and device amplification (phones, tablets, MP3 players, etc.).
Also, these monitors have a power of 120 W and equalization through the rotary buttons High and Low. In this way, you can enjoy cleaner sounds in your mixes, games or other multimedia projects.
Another aspect that stands out in these speakers is that they have 2 1/4-inch inputs and 2 RCA (red and white), to connect external equipment. They also have headphone output and auxiliary input. The latter will serve to connect external devices (phones, MP3, tablets, etc.) via 3.5 mm auxiliary cable.
In the next section we will explain some positive and negative aspects of these active monitors.
Pros
Enclosure: Enclosures are made from MDF and have a small hole in the back for better bass reflection.
Equalization: Its High and Low equalization controls allow you to adjust the sound to your liking.
Inputs: They have a 3.5mm input on the front and 1/4 inputs on the back. They also have a stereo RCA input, which increases compatibility with other devices.
Cons
Overheating: The speakers get a bit warm with use, which could be a nuisance for some people.
2. Presonus ERISE3.5 Studio Monitor
Many users wonder which is the best studio monitor, so this time we present the Presonus Eris E3.5. These active loudspeakers for music production offer a clear and balanced sound, with possibilities to adjust both bass and treble. So if you want more bass, all you need to do is turn the Low control on the back of the left speaker.
Also, these monitors have a volume control on the front, being much more practical to listen to your mixes. Also, on the front of the left speaker you will find a 3.5mm auxiliary input and headphone output.
Each speaker has a 25W amplifier, for a total of 50W, which makes for powerful sound despite being small and convenient to install.
These are some of the cheapest speakers out there, so they might be useful for beginners or home recording studios.
Pros
Power: The speakers have a total power of 50 W (25 W for each). This means that they offer a loud sound to hear the details of your mixes well.
Versatility: They are versatile speakers, since they are used for home studio, gaming, DJs and varied multimedia content.
Size: Its drivers are only 3.5 inches in diameter and the boxes are small, so they fit on any desktop.
Cons
Bass: The bass is heard, but you will not be able to appreciate very low frequencies, since they are quite compact monitors.
3. Alesis Elevate 5 MKII Pair of Desktop Speakers
These speakers have 80W of power, so they offer a louder volume. In addition, it has 5-inch drivers, which are recommended for a better appreciation of low frequencies in your mixes. Likewise, if you want more punch on these types of frequencies, you can use the Bass Boost switch.
In addition to this, these active monitors have 1/4-inch L and R jack inputs, as well as stereo RCA. Similarly, on the front they have a 3.5 mm output for headphones and volume control, which will provide you with greater comfort.
Likewise, on the front they come with 2 holes, for greater clarity in the bass. Also, it should be noted that each side has a 1-inch tweeter, which makes it possible for you to clearly hear the treble of your mixes.
It may be the best studio monitor of the moment, so we invite you to read its main pros and cons below.
Pros
Size: These speakers have 5-inch woofers and 1-inch tweeters, as well as 80W of overall power, delivering balanced, high-definition sound.
Enclosures: The enclosures are made of wood and each speaker has 2 holes for excellent bass reflection inside.
Inputs: Behind the right speaker there are 2 1/4-inch jack inputs and 2 RCA (white and red).
Cons
EQ: It would be nice if they had EQ controls on the back. You will have to equalize from the DAW program for music production.
4. Behringer MS16 Studio Monitors 16W 80Hz
These are stereo monitors with 4-inch woofers and high-definition tweeters. In addition, they have 16 W of total power (8 W each side). In this way, it serves to get started in music production or video design.
Also, you should know that these monitors have a volume control on the front of the left speaker. They even have an equalization system for bass and treble next to the volume button.
Another feature that we can highlight is that it has a 3.5 mm output for headphones and a 1/4-inch input where you can directly connect a microphone. Similarly, they have stereo RCA input to connect the computer or the external sound card of your home studio.
If you still don’t know which studio monitor to buy to get started in music production or simply watch movies and listen to music, this pair of speakers could be useful.
Pros
Power: With a total power of 16 W, it is capable of giving you a pleasant and, above all, clear sound experience.
Size: The woofers measure 4 inches and the cabinets are compact, so they won’t take up much space in your home studio.
Controls: In the same monitors you will find equalization controls for bass and treble, as well as volume.
Cons
Bass: Bass may distort on some songs, so we recommend not turning the front bass control all the way down.
5. Pioneer DJ DM-40 Studio Monitors
These are two active monitors with 4-inch woofers and 3/4-inch tweeters with DECO technology. The latter will help project the high-pitched sounds of your mixes in all directions, thus receiving much more immersive 3D audio.
In addition, these speakers are easy to install and use, you just have to connect the stereo RCA cable that comes from your mixer or external sound card.
Similarly, we mentioned that the design of the monitors includes holes in the front. Therefore, the reflection of sound inside the boxes is reduced.
On the other hand, it should be noted that they have a power of 35 W, thanks to their class AB amplifiers. This is enough to fill a home studio or any room in the home with music.
Pioneer might be the best studio monitor brand for DJs as they are a company with a lot of experience in making DJ gear.
Pros
Power: Its 35 W power is capable of offering adequate volume for small rooms or halls.
Size: The drivers are 4 inches and their tweeters provide high definition in all directions.
Design: The curved design of its front offers clear sound at any volume level.
Cons
Microphone: It does not have a port to directly connect a microphone through a 1/4 “jack, which could be a disadvantage.
6. Edifier R1280DB Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers Optical Input
These are one of the most complete monitors on the list, since they have Bluetooth and various inputs, 1 optical, 2 stereo RCA and 1 coaxial. In addition, the package includes a very practical remote control to activate the Bluetooth function and connect your phone or tablet.
Also, it should be noted that each speaker has 21 W, for a total of 42 W. This power is enough to listen to music in any space at home or work.
Likewise, we inform you that the monitors have equalization controls, to adjust the bass and treble according to the need of the moment. Even next to these controls you will find the rotary volume button and a small LED light, the latter changes color depending on the function that the monitors are fulfilling.
In the following lines we will talk about the most important positive and negative qualities of these monitors.
Pros
Power: These speakers have a power of 42 W, which is useful for various spaces in the home, office, living room, room, etc.
Size: Its drivers are 4 inches, so they are not very large and fit on any desktop.
Connectivity: These monitors have Bluetooth and also offer coaxial, RCA and optical connection.
Cons
Distortion: If you turn up all the bass control on some songs it could distort.
7. Hercules DJMonitor 32 2 active monitor speakers
Perhaps it is the best value for money studio monitor, because, although it is one of the cheapest, it has an adequate power of 30 W (15 each speaker), reaching a maximum of 60 W. In this way, you can play your mixes at a suitable volume, to fix small musical details.
On the back there is a traditional stereo RCA input, which is useful for connecting your audio card, DJ controller, phone, tablet, mixer, computer or other equipment.
On the other hand, it should be noted that the woofers are 7.6 cm and it also has good quality tweeters for a clearer sound. In the same way, it has a design designed to better project the sound, with two holes to optimize low frequencies. Likewise, the boxes are made with 6 mm MDF, being quite resistant and durable.
Below, we summarize the main positive and negative aspects of the Hercules DJMonitor 32 monitors.
Pros
Power: Each speaker is 15 W, for about 30 W, however, both monitors reach 60 W maximum.
Drivers: The drivers are 7.6 mm in diameter and are protected by a robust MDF case.
Volume: In the same monitors you will find the volume control, to raise or lower according to the requirements of the moment.
Cons
Distortion: The speakers distort a bit without the need to connect or play anything.
8. Mackie CR Series CR4 LTD Creative Reference Multimedia Monitors
If you are looking for home studio speakers that are easy to install, we recommend this model. Simply, you need to connect it to the audio card, turn it on and start listening to some mix. Of course, you also have to connect the passive speaker, but you do that with a simple cable.
In addition, its woofers are 4 inches and have a total power of 50 W. In this sense, it will serve to fill an average-sized studio or room with music. Also, they have a volume control on the speakers themselves, for your convenience when mixing tracks.
Likewise, we inform you that they have a fairly wide frequency range, from 70 Hz to 20 kHz. In other words, you will be able to hear a good balance between highs, mids and lows, something very important for music production mixes or DJs.
In the following section we present the most outstanding advantages and disadvantages of these active speakers for home studio.
Pros
Power: Thanks to its 50 W power you can play your tracks with an adequate volume.
Drivers: The drivers are 4 inches in size and the boxes are compact in size, so they won’t take up a lot of space on your studio or desk.
Basses: On the back they include holes for the exit and entrance of air, which also improves the sound inside.
Cons
Input: It is missing that it also has an optical input, to be able to connect other devices that way (console, Blu-ray, external sound card, DVD, etc.).
9. YAMAHA HS5 Studio Monitor
It is a nearfield monitor with a 5-inch woofer and technology that reduces noise production. In addition, this active speaker for home studio has a maximum power of 70 W, which is enough for environments of different dimensions.
Yamaha’s HS Series features this clear-sounding, flat-response monitor for enhanced album mixing and mastering in the recording studio. We also mentioned that the monitor comes with a Room Control switch to compensate for the exaggerated bass. Likewise, it has the High Trim control, to improve the responses with respect to high frequencies.
In addition to this, you should know that its tweeter is one inch, which also improves the treble response, reaching a frequency range of up to 30 kHz. We even inform you that this speaker reaches low frequencies of 54 Hz.
It is not easy to find a speaker that suits your needs, so we present the pros and cons of the Yamaha HS5, it may be the one you need now.
Pros
Power: Its maximum power is 70 W and the woofers are 5 inches in diameter.
Settings: It has High Trim and Room Control switches, which will help you improve the bass and treble sounds if necessary.
Inputs: The monitor has an XLR and a 1/4″ input, so you can use whichever you want.
Cons
Output: A headphone output port is missing, however, this does not affect the sound quality that the speaker emits.
Shopping guide
To correctly choose a studio monitor you must know its most important characteristics. For that reason, we have prepared this guide for you to buy the best studio monitor. Our goal is to help you choose the monitor that suits you best.
Power
If you are doing a comparison of studio monitors, you should not forget to review this aspect. The power of the monitors greatly influences the volume of the sound. We recommend choosing a pair of 40W monitors if you have a large, soundproof studio. On the other hand, if your studio is smaller and you don’t have the area adequately soundproofed, you’ll be fine with a pair of 20W monitors, for a total of 40W. Also, a few 30W monitors (15W each), but this depends on the brand and model, because some don’t sound good for mixing tracks with a DAW program.
Before asking yourself how much a certain model of monitors costs, it is best to check the power, since this often influences the price. That is, if the monitors have a lot of power, they may be more expensive. Either way, check out various options online, you might find a good, cheap model, as there are so many monitors on the market today.
Size
The size of the monitors has to do with the space you have on the table in your studio. If you have a controller, external sound card, headphones, and microphone stand on the table, you’ll need to buy 3- or 4-inch monitors.
In case you do not want to sacrifice the size of the speakers or simply need large ones for better bass projection, you can purchase 5-inch monitors, which are a fairly acceptable standard size. And in order not to complicate yourself with space, you can install large monitors on the wall, as long as they have the ventilation hole in front or that you at least place them a little away from the wall. If you cover the holes with the wall the sound gets worse.
equalization
One of the most important aspects of studio monitors is equalization. Some speaker models come with two equalization bands, to adjust the bass (Bass) and treble (High).
Normally, these speakers have mid woofers, for that reason, it is not common that you find a control in the equalization called “Mid” (middle). In other words, adding Mid to a monitor would be a waste of time and money in manufacturing. For that reason, don’t worry if the monitor you want lacks that third band of equalization for the mids.
On the other hand, regarding the equalization of the monitors, you should know that there are more options. In fact, some monitors come with switches on the back to increase or decrease treble and bass. These switches are different from rotary controls in that they have fixed EQ levels. In contrast, traditional rotary knobs (with potentiometers) progressively increase or decrease the level.
One way to recognize these switches is when you see the following words next to them, Boost, High Cut, Bass Boost, Low Cut, High Trim, etc.
inputs and outputs
Monitor inputs should be varied, so you have various connection modes, RCA, XLR, 3.5mm aux, 1/4 inch and optical audio port.
You’re probably not going to use all the inputs, but it’s still important to check this out. For example, if you are used to connecting your Blu-ray through the optical port, you should make sure that the monitor model has that input. Also, the 3.5mm auxiliary input that some studio monitors have is quite handy for when you want to amplify your phone and hear the music you have stored on it with greater clarity or volume.
On the other hand, the outputs are almost always for the headphones and the second speaker. We explain to you. The main speaker normally comes with the amplifier inside, but the second one does not, the latter is a passive speaker. So this output should have the words Output Speaker or something similar.
Ergonomics
Finally, it is important to review the comfort of the monitors. For example, they should have a volume control, preferably on the front. If the monitors have this volume button behind it, it will be more inconvenient to adjust it. Imagine that you are going to adjust the volume several times in the same recording day, it would be best if its respective button was on the front. Also, it is important that the 3.5mm auxiliary input, as well as microphone inputs and headphone output are on the front of the monitors.
