Best studio monitors: Powerful playback options

Other than the room you’re working in and how well it’s treated, studio monitors are one of the best investments to make for your recording setup. And when it comes to the best studio monitors, more expensive means better. Better sound, better build quality, better features.

That’s not to say that monitors under $1,000 can’t and don’t sound great. But the monitors here offer some next-gen features like onboard DSP for room calibration, EQ, and three-way or two-way switch for making sure your mixes sound great on any playback system. 

Let’s run down some of the best studio monitors and why they’re worth a listen.

Best studio monitors overall: JBL 708P

JBL makes some of the best speaker designs in the world, and these 8” nearfields are no different. They’re versatile and a great choice for music production, film, even broadcast.

They use a special JBL driver that uses their Control Waveguide to provide fantastic dynamic range, detail, accuracy, and sonic imaging. And if you’re working in a less than ideal acoustic environment there’s 12 bands of on-board room EQ and delay to help compensate. 

If you work in film/TV post production, the 8-band User EQ corrects issues that occur if you place them behind a screen.

Analog and digital inputs are available with included sample rate converters up to 192kHz. This means no matter what type of gear you’re working with or how you have it routed they will more than likely be able to integrate. 

Best DSP-powered studio monitors: Neumann KH 120 II

It’s becoming more common to see DSP in all kinds of audio gear and monitors are no exception. These 245 watt active, two-way studio monitors are powered by a 5.25″ woofer, and 1″ tweeter in a bass reflex cabinet that provides extended low end response.

The DSP offers linear-phase crossovers and room-adaptive alignment through Neumann’s MA 1 Automatic Alignment System. This lets you easily calibrate it to your unique room design to get the best sound possible, especially when used in conjunction with room treatment like bass traps and diffusers.

At around $1,000 per piece (usually sold in pairs) they’re definitely a higher price point. But the convenience of the DSP lets you use them in any sort of space, and Neumann’s commitment to quality is one of the best in the industry.

Best three-way powered studio monitors: ADAM Audio A77H 7”

Most studio monitors have two drivers – a woofer for the low end and a tweeter to handle the highs. A three-way monitor has an additional driver to cover the midrange.

The A77H has two 7” woofers, midrange driver, and Adam Audio’s X-ART tweeter that accurately reproduces all frequencies.

This is another model that includes DSP so you can tune them to the room. A rotatable HPS waveguide lets you orient each speaker in vertical or horizontal positioning without losing any clarity.

They’re designed with the future in mind, and through an ethernet connection you can add on additional filters and voicings. This makes them a great choice if you’re worried about having to upgrade as time goes on.

Best powered studio monitors: Barefoot Sound Footprint01

This pair of active 8″ 3-way powered monitors have some of the most sophisticated design features you’ll find in studio monitors.

The tweeter has an active, 3-way, dual-ring radiator design with a 4-inch aluminum cone midrange driver. Opposing 8-inch Dual-Force subwoofers reproduce clean bass frequencies down to 36Hz.

Acoustic focus in the center of the cabinet stays optimal because the midrange driver is positioned above the tweeter.

The coolest feature is that they include Barefoot Sound’s MEME (Multi Emphasis Monitor Emulation) technology. It lets you reference your mixes through models of other popular monitor models like the ever popular Yamaha NS10s and consumer playback systems like laptop and mobile device speakers. This saves you budget, studio space, and speeds up your workflow.

Barefoot Sound’s Footprint01s are a great alternative to their more sophisticated models like the MasterStacks and MicroMains. They’re designed for users with smaller studios that still want the revered sound of Barefoots.

At just under $5,000 for the pair they’re still pricey but an excellent investment in high-end monitors.

Best 10” studio monitors: Dynaudio Acoustics BM15A

These are unique in that they are considered “mid-to-near-field” monitors. This means they work at either distance. Full-range response has extended low end through the 10” woofer, which makes those hard to tame bass frequencies more accurate.

It’s outfitted with Dynaudio Acoustic’s ESOTEC soft dome tweeter that offers 1000 watts of headroom. The crossover is electronic phase-aligned and feeds signal into two discrete MOSEFT amps.

As far as how they sound, they’re punchy with a full frequency reproduction and great transient response. The circuit includes a protection element to prevent any damage to the drivers when if you crank them.

The BM15A doesn’t offer any fancy features like DSP or EQ, but if you need monitors that sound great across the entire spectrum, have plenty of punch, and a great low end these affordable studio monitors are for you.

Best 8” studio monitors: Fluid Audio Image 2

The Image 2 can be used in a nearfield or midfield setup. One of the coolest features is that these Class-D monitors come with built-in DSP. 

With a sonic image that’s amazingly accurate, you also get a flat frequency response and great low end extension. Room calibration is one of their built-in features, so you can dial them in to the exact needs of your room acoustics.

They’re also a two-in-one, meaning you can switch to cubemix mode. This lets you alter the low and mid ranges to simulate how they sound on devices with smaller consumer device speakers, like phones and laptops.

They’re just as good for mastering as they are for mixing, adding even more value.

Best 7” studio monitors: FOCAL Trio11 Be

If you need 7” monitors that work in either nearfield or midfield configuration you can’t go wrong with the Trio11 Be from FOCAL. They’re one of the newer companies making this type of gear, but they quickly made a reputation of creating great-sounding gear. 

They provide a neutral frequency response and precise imaging that articulate detail so you can make the best mix decisions. Using Class-G amplification on the mid-range woofer and sub, at 118dB SPL they can get loud. 

The FOCUS switchover lets you select between three-way or two-way operation. Through a separately sold footswitch you can even do it in real-time. This helps you make sure your mixes translate to any type of playback device. The mid-treble plate can be set to vertical or horizontal orientation.

On the rear you get bass, mid-bass, and treble settings to help tune them to your acoustic environment. If you need a switchable three to two-way monitor with a high output and useful included EQ options from a company known for making stellar-sounding studio monitors these deserve a listen.

Best budget 5″ studio monitors: FOCAL Shape Twin Dual

One of the best selling points of the Shape Twin Dual is its design. Featuring dual (hence the name) passive radiators, woofers with balanced bass response thanks to Flax cone technology.

An M-shaped inverted dome tweeter with a flexible sweet spot crafted from an aluminum/magnesium alloy it covers the entire frequency spectrum with detail and clarity.

There are no sound ports, so you don’t have to worry about placing it directly by the walls of your studio space. In fact, it comes with fastening mechanisms so you can mount them directly on a ceiling or wall. Fastening accessories aren’t included though.

It’s small, but mighty and is incredibly tonally balanced, so don’t let the smaller drivers turn you off. If you’re looking to add a monitor with smaller drivers to your monitoring setup, this model from FOCAL is one of the best you can get.

What to consider when buying studio monitors

Frequency response and accuracy

Studio monitors with a flat and accurate frequency response ensure what you hear is how your mix actually sounds. High-end monitors excel at revealing details across the entire frequency spectrum.

This allows you to make precise mixing decisions and reduce the frustration of having to make frequent changes for accurate playback across different listening devices.

Driver quality and design

Premium studio monitors often are built with premium driver materials like Kevlar, beryllium, or aluminum to deliver clear, accurate sound.

Consider models with separate drivers for low (subwoofer), midrange (woofer), and high frequencies (tweeter). Separate drivers for each area of the frequency spectrum ensure better clarity and sound separation.

Depth of field

Nearfield monitors are designed for close listening in smaller spaces. Midfield monitors are designed to be placed farther from the listening position. Ideally a studio would have both for reference, but nearfield monitors are the most common.

Room-tuning controls

A lot of modern monitors are designed with onboard room-tuning controls like multiband EQ switches and boundary compensation that are very useful if you’re working in a less than ideal acoustic environment.

FAQ

What is a good brand for studio monitors?

There are a lot of options when it comes to brands that manufacture the best studio monitors. Neumann, Genelec, Adam Audio, JBL, Focal, and Fluid Image are just a few top-shelf brands worth looking into.

What are the best studio monitors for mixing?

Your room plays a big part in this, especially if it’s treated. Professional and larger studios use different types and sizes for referencing. Smaller studios like songwriters might use something in the 6”-8” range. 

Field range and where you place them matters too. If you can only get one type, nearfields are probably the best for you. But having access to midfields is useful. 

Are bigger studio monitors better?

Better is subjective. Bigger studio monitors offer some advantages. A larger speaker produces more low end, notoriously the hardest part of the frequency spectrum to get right.

Ever had trouble getting your mixes to translate across different playback systems? A lot of times it’s an issue with the low end. Often times it’s the acoustics of the room you mixed it in.

Larger monitors can also be placed further from your listening position. They’re louder, and have a wider “sweet spot” in the sound than smaller models.

How much should you spend on studio monitors?

How much budget you have available is the biggest deciding factor. But you also have to consider what type of monitors you need. Different field depths each have their own pros and cons.

Obviously price is a huge factor. But models within your budget should be secondary compared to the features and benefits they provide.