5 best studio monitors in 2020
Introduction
Studio monitors are probably the most important piece of studio equipment when you are trying to achieve perfect sound. Finding the best studio monitors can be a tough pick with so many monitors on the market. Before we jump into our list of the best studio monitors in 2020 I’ll give you a scenario:
You’ve spent hours after hours mixing your track and made sure every frequency is sitting perfectly in the mix. You run over to your friends house and it sounds like crap through his speakers. You listen to the mix in the car and it doesn’t sound anything like it did in your own home studio. This is where studio monitors come handy. They are designed to deliver a flat and uncolored sound (unlike hi-fi speakers that are meant to sound good with any sound and in any space, often enhancing bass and treble in the process. With the best studio monitors, you’ll get a purer and cleaner sound for more accurate mixing!
So before we dive into our list of the best studio monitors on the market, there are some things to consider!
Studio monitors vs regular loudspeakers
Studio monitors
- Designed to keep all frequencies flat
- Wider frequency response
- Custom amplifier built-in
- Built for short distances
Regular loudspeakers
- Designed to boost and enhance frequencies
- Often requires an external power source
- Built for long distances
Find the best studio monitors – buying advice
Purchasing a pair of studio monitors is an important step for making better mixes. Studio monitors come in all different shapes , types, sizes and features to fit your mixing space or your home studio. Most common monitors will cost you $250-$350 a pair which could be a lot for many home producers. If you are looking to upgrade your existing studio setup I would start by looking at better studio monitors. Sure, you can have the best studio monitors available and your mix still sounds like crap. But at least you will be able to hear the mix in its pure form and make changes accordingly.
Compatibility
Before you decide which studio monitors to buy you should look at your audio interface to see what options you have. Some monitors have XLR inputs so if you have a standard interface with ¼” inputs you’ll need a converter.
Active or passive monitors
There are two main types of studio monitors: active and passive. Active monitors have a built-in amplifier so you don’t have to deal with extra gear. Passive monitors require an external amplifier. In my opinion the best studio monitors today are active because the built-in amplifier matches the speakers. With passive monitors you’ll have to find an amplifier that matches your passive speakers which could be a headache. It’s worth mentioning that every senior music producer within the recording industry started with passive monitors but I believe they have been outdated in favor of passive monitors. To sum up, I recommend going with active monitors so you get an internal amplifier that is specifically matched with the speakers!
Studio monitor size
Many believe that bigger studio monitors are better but that’s not always the case. The size of your room should determine the size of your studio monitors. For home studios the best studio monitors are probably a pair of near-fields. Near-field monitors can be placed on your studio desk and the sizes vary between 5-8 inches. If you are producing in a bigger room you should probably go for a pair of 6-8 inches monitors. If there is no acoustic treatment in your studio low frequencies tend to be hard to control. A rule of thumb is the smaller the room, the smaller the studio monitor. If you already have bigger studio monitors in a fairly small room you should consider buying bass traps instead of smaller monitors.
Power wattage
The wattage of studio monitors doesn’t only impact your maximum volume. The best studio monitors also have a higher-wattage set because it gives a richer and more detailed sound across a wider dynamic range. Cheaper monitors tend to have a lower wattage which could cause distortion on higher and lower frequencies. Higher wattage studio monitors can handle a higher output and still deliver a clear sound. Another thing to keep in mind is the size of your home studio (I’ll talk more about size below). Most home studios are fairly small and normally don’t require studio monitors with higher wattage. When you are looking for the best studio monitors for your bedroom studio, 50 watts is a good starting point!
Positioning the monitors
Truth be told, it doesn’t matter if you buy the best studio monitors if they are not positioned well. A pair of near-field monitors should be placed approximately 3-6 ft (1-2 metres) away when listening. If you have your studio setup in a bigger room you should try positioning the monitors at least 6 ft from the walls. If they are placed too close to the walls you will have a problem with lower frequencies bouncing and make the sound boomy. It’s also a good idea to invest in a pair of speaker stands to keep your monitors a couple of feet from the ground.
What about separate subwoofers?
Adding a separate subwoofer to your studio setup will give you a more accurate low-end. Depending on what music you’re producing this could give you the best results when mixing. Even the best studio monitors can distort bass notes if the output is too high. If you’re producing bass-heavy dance music or rock you’ll want your setup to reproduce low-end sounds accurately. Before buying a separate subwoofer you will need to make sure you have space in your home studio. Placing a subwoofer against a wall will make the bass notes sound louder than they are which could lead you to mixing them to quiet.
Review: 5 best studio monitors available
Review
