The 40 Best Studio Monitors for Your Home Studio
Studio monitors are one of the most important parts of any home studio setup.
Unless you’re tracking and mixing music exclusively on headphones, your studio monitors will be your main window into your tracks.
But there are more more monitors on the market than ever before. In this article I’ll break down the 40 best studio monitors for music production available today.
How to use the studio monitors guide
Since monitors are so crucial for mixing the price for a pair can get astronomical.
In this guide I’ll be focusing on accessible studio monitors from widely available brands.
Remember that the street prices listed here are for a single monitor only—you’ll need a pair for proper monitoring.
There are plenty of great options on this list, but choosing monitors is a very personal decision. The only way to do it right is by listening.
Once you have some ideas about which monitors are out there, see if you can hear the pair you’re considering at your local pro audio dealer.
Getting to experience the sound in person will clear up a lot of the questions you have about them.
You’ll be listening to your studio monitors for hours on end so they have to work for you!
ADAM — Yamaha — KRK — Focal — Mackie — Presonus — Genelec — Dynaudio — Neumann
ADAM
ADAM’s T series brings the same great sound quality and craftsmanship of the highly respected AX series to beginning budgets.
ADAM T5V
Street price: $199.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 4.5″
Power rating: 70 watts
ADAM T7V
Street price: $249.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 7″
Power rating: 70 watts
ADAM AX is one of the most trusted monitor lines for intermediate budgets.
The A7X has been a classic choice for small to medium mixing rooms for more than a decade now.
ADAM A3X
Street price: $349.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 4.5″
Power rating: 50 watts
ADAM A5X
Street price: $499.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 5.5″
Power rating: 100 watts
ADAM A7X
Street price: $749.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 7″
Power rating: 150 watts
Yamaha
Building on the legendary status of the classic NS-10 design, the Yamaha HS series promises the same neutral sound with modern build quality and accessible price.
Yamaha HS5
Street price: $199.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 5″
Power rating: 70 watts
Yamaha HS7
Street price: $299.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 6.5″
Power rating: 95 watts
Yamaha HS8
Street price: $349.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 8″
Power rating: 120 watts
KRK
KRK is a popular manufacturer with producers of EDM and hip-hop. The ROKIT line provides an inexpensive, effective range of monitors in all sizes.
KRK ROKIT 5 G4
Street price: $179 USD
Speaker diameter: 5″
Power rating: 55 watts
KRK ROKIT 7 G4
Street price: $239 USD
Speaker diameter: 7″
Power rating: 145 watts
KRK ROKIT 8 G4
Street price: $299 USD
Speaker diameter: 8″
Power rating: 203 watts
KRK ROKIT 10-3 GR4
Street price: $499 USD
Speaker diameter: 10″, 4.5″
Power rating: 300 watts
The V series is KRK’s premium offering. They’re a little more expensive that ROKIT models of the same size but their extra performance is worth the price!
KRK V Series 4
Street price: $499 USD
Speaker diameter: 4″
Power rating: 85 watts
KRK V Series 6
Street price: $599 USD
Speaker diameter: 6.5″
Power rating: 155 watts
KRK V Series 8
Street price: $799 USD
Speaker diameter: 4.5″
Power rating: 230 watts
Focal
French manufacturer Focal has released many well-respected monitors for mixers mixers of all skill levels.
The Shape series is their most recent design that delivers excellent fidelity at a competitive price point.
Focal Shape 40
Street price: $599 USD
Speaker diameter: 4″
Power rating: 50 watts
Focal Shape 50
Street price: $799 USD
Speaker diameter: 5″
Power rating: 85 watts
Focal’s Alpha range is accessible to even entry level budgets.
It’s hard to find such affordable offerings from a manufacturer this reputable.
Focal Alpha 50
Street price: $299 USD
Speaker diameter: 5″
Power rating: 55 watts
Focal Alpha 65
Street price: $399 USD
Speaker diameter: 6.5″
Power rating: 105 watts
Focal Alpha 80
Street price: $549 USD
Speaker diameter: 8″
Power rating: 140 watts
Mackie
Mackie’s HR824 mk2 were one of the first low-cost powered monitors to gain widespread popularity.
With great, accurate low end the HR824’s have become a classic, and the other offerings from Mackie carry on the tradition.
Mackie XR624
Street price: $399.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 6.5″
Power rating: 160 watts
Mackie HR624 mk2
Street price: $499.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 6″
Power rating: 70 watts
Mackie XR824
Street price: $499.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 8″
Power rating: 160 watts
Mackie HR624 mkII
Street price: $699.99 USD
Speaker diameter: 8.75″
Power rating: 250 watts
Presonus
Presonus has entered the studio monitor marketplace and created some effective and inexpensive offerings that are worth a look.
The Eris line is perfect for beginner engineers who want to start mixing with monitors without breaking the bank
Presonus Eris 5
Street price: $149.95 USD
Speaker diameter: 5.25″
Power rating: 80 watts
Presonus Eris 8
Street price: $249.95 USD
Speaker diameter: 8″
Power rating: 140 watts
Presonus’ R65 and R80 are a higher performance offering from Presonus’ portfolio with great sound and distinctive styling.
Presonus R65
Street price: $399.95 USD
Speaker diameter: 6.5″
Power rating: 150 watts
Presonus R80
Street price: $499.95 USD
Speaker diameter: 8″
Power rating: 150 watts
Sceptre is Presonus’s top-end line.
The S6 and S8 offer impressive performance and sonics with their unique coaxial design that places the tweeter at the centre of the driver.
Presonus Sceptre S6
Street price: $499.95 USD
Speaker diameter: 6.5″
Power rating: 180 watts
Presonus Sceptre S8
Street price: $599.95 USD
Speaker diameter: 8″
Power rating: 180 watts
Genelec
Genelec is another highly trusted name in top-of-line monitors. You can get some of that magic for yourself with Genelec’s new cost-effective offerings.
Genelec M030AM
Street price: $495 USD
Speaker diameter: 5″
Power rating: 130 watts
Genelec 8020D
Street price: $535 USD
Speaker diameter: 4″
Power rating: 100 watts
Genelec 8320A
Street price: $625 USD
Speaker diameter: 4″
Power rating: 100 watts
Genelec 8030C
Street price: $695 USD
Speaker diameter: 5″
Power rating: 100 watts
Dynaudio
Dynaudio’s BM5 (now on mkIII) is highly lauded mid budget monitor with a rich history. This classic affordable monitor is still a fantastic option.
Dynaudio BM5 mkIII
Street price: $499 USD
Speaker diameter: 7″
Power rating: 100 watts
Dynaudio’s newest line, the LYD series bring top-level studio performance to intermediate engineers.
Dynaudio LYD 5
Street price: $599 USD
Speaker diameter: 5″
Power rating: 100 watts
Dynaudio LYD 7
Street price: $669 USD
Speaker diameter: 7″
Power rating: 100 watts
Dynaudio LYD 8
Street price: $789 USD
Speaker diameter: 8″
Power rating: 130 watts
Neumann
Legendary German microphone builder Neumann recently acquired Klein and Hummel for its own line of monitors.
The K&H brand was a heavy hitter in the high-end market, but their partnership with Neumann has produced some fantastic mid-budget models as well.
Neumann KH 80 DSP
Street price: $499.95 USD
Speaker diameter: 4″
Power rating: 70 watts
Neumann KH 120
Street price: $699 USD
Speaker diameter: 5.25″
Power rating: 100 watts
Monitor your progress
Studio monitors are one of the most exciting pieces of gear to shop for.
Now that you have an idea of what’s out there, go figure out which studio monitors are for you try them out.