Recording is no longer a massive project that can only be done at professional studio with a $$$ price tag, thanks to modern technology, many people can now record their own gig at home, learning how to home record is the toughest part, the second toughest? Choosing the best equipment for you home studio! A home studio can be setup with different combination of microphone, preamps, compressors, etc., But monitors are probably the most important part of any set-up because they tell you what your mix sounds like. And in this article, we will help you find the best monitor speaker for you next home studio!
Yamaha HS5 Powered Studio Monitor
Yamaha has long been hailed as an industry leader when it comes to monitoring, with their well-respected HS80 monitors and legendary NS10s. The Yamaha HS5 are the smallest speakers in the HS line, but they hit way above their weight class. In fact, there’s not much out there that is as flat and accurate in this price range.
Their footprint is a very nice and compact 6.7” x 8.7”, with a single speaker weighing 11.7 lbs. If you opt for the HS8 big brother, you’re looking at a 9.8” x 13.1” footprint. The Yamaha HS5 is certainly a better fit for smaller rooms and studio spaces.
KRK RP5G3 Studio Monitor
KRK’s ROKIT G3 (Generation 3) powered studio monitor series offers professional performance and accuracy for recording, mixing, mastering and playback. The ROKIT 5 G3 includes a 5″ glass-Aramid composite woofer and 1” soft-dome tweeter for extended frequency response from 45Hz-35kHz with maximum vocal clarity and bass performance.
The proprietary bi-amped, class A/B amplifier delivers SPL up to 106dB & multiple input connections ensure the 5-G3 will easily integrate into most system setups. With the introduction of the new ROKIT4 and Rokit 10-3 KRK complements the existing Generation 3 line up and expands the legacy of performance ROKIT’s have become known for.
Yamaha HS8 Studio Monitor, Black
As HS5’s bigger brother, Yamaha HS8 has everything HS5 can offer, but stronger! The Yamaha HS8 active studio monitor will help you make better-sounding recordings. Yamaha’s nearfield monitors with their iconic white-coned woofers have been ubiquitous in top studios worldwide ever since the original NS-10s hit the scene in the late ’70s.
Yamaha (never content to rest on its laurels) has continuously developed and perfected the design, resulting in HS series monitors with newly designed bi-amplified drivers and scientifically ported enclosures that deliver amazing accuracy and vanishingly low coloration. Don’t mix in the dark. Nail what you’re after, without the guesswork, with Yamaha’s HS8.
JBL Professional 305P MkII
The next-generation 3 series MkII powered studio monitors makes legendary JBL performance available to every studio. With the revolutionary JBL Image Control Waveguide and refined transducers, the 305P MkII offers stunning detail, precise imaging, a wide sweet spot, and impressive dynamic range that enhances the mix capabilities of any modern workspace.
Sporting a sleek, modern design and leveraging patented technologies derived from the JBL 7 Series and M2 Master Reference Monitors, the 305P MkII delivers outstanding performance and an enjoyable mix experience at an accessible price.
PreSonus Eris E5 2-Way Active Studio Monitor
When it’s time to upgrade to serious 2-way professional studio monitors, you’re ready for the Eris E5. With Kevlar low frequency transducers, low-mass silk-dome tweeters, responsive Class AB amplification, and professional acoustic-adjustment controls, the compact Eris E5 represents an outstanding value in its class.
It includes RF shielding, current-output limiting, over-temperature protection, and subsonic protection, and unlike comparably priced studio monitors, it has controls for simulating different listening environments and flattening frequency response to enable accurate mixing.
Mackie CR5BT – 5″ Multimedia Monitors with Bluetooth
Mackie CR5BT 5″ Multimedia Monitors with Bluetooth are designed for multimedia, with Bluetooth streaming that delivers ultimate flexibility for media creators and music lovers. Featuring 50 watts of power and premium transducers, CR5BT delivers rich sound with deep bass response perfect for producers and musicians.
Choose which side of your desk gets the volume knob with CR’s speaker placement switch and take advantage of convenient front-panel features like a dedicated headphone output with level control. With Mackie Creative Reference monitors, you get professional sound quality and features in smart designs perfect for work, play and everything in between.
Audioengine A5 Plus Classic Bookshelf Speakers
Audioengine‘s make of their studio monitors are great and we definitely recommend going with one of their models. These have been compared against almost every popular monitor out there, so we figured it was for a reason. Featuring a decent frequency response from 50 to 22 kHz, the most eye-popping quality is their 150-watts per speaker.
If you’re looking for power grab these because they also have very clear sounds in terms of both low and high frequencies (despite the 3/4″ tweeter — they can get away with 1/4″ in our opinion). The A5+ Powered Speakers are bookshelf speakers with sound that can fill any room. No network setup, passwords to enter, or buttons to push.
Adam Audio A7X Powered Studio Monitor
The A7X is ADAM Audio’s best selling nearfield monitor. It is one of the most balanced and versatile speakers currently on the market. The X-ART tweeter produces detailed, uncompressed highs and upper mids without being tiring over long listening periods. Despite its compact housing, the bass response is powerful and precise.
The tweeter is driven by a 50 Watt A/B amplifier and the bass/mid-woofer by a 100 Watt PWM amplifier. This achieves a very clean and nuanced reproduction of the midrange frequencies with a seamless transition in the crossover from the 7″ woofer, which operates in the range of 42 Hz to 2.5 kHz, towards the X-ART tweeter.
