One of the key elements in every home recording studio setup are the studio monitor speakers. Having a pair of high-quality ones will guarantee the audio you record is very precise no matter whether you are working on a significant project or just record your guitar and voice for yourself.

The importance of studio monitor speakers can be seen when you realize that professional studios often invest thousands of dollars in just one pair of monitors. If you are building a home studio you don’t have to go for the most expensive ones. However, there are many studio monitor speakers on the market today and you can easily find the best ones to fit your budget.

This article will guide you through the key elements of good studio monitor speakers and explain a bit about the main functions and components to help you find the best ones for your home studio.

The main function of studio monitor speakers is to reproduce the recorded audio as accurately as possible. They won’t make the sound richer or emphasize specific frequencies over other frequencies. They are designed to give you a precise sound no matter how loud you listen to the audio and you will be able to analyze the recorded audio at different volumes.

They will help your recordings sound just the way you like them on different devices after you publish them – no matter whether it’s your car stereo or TV, your standard computer speakers or headphones, or your six-channel surround sound audio system. You have to be aware that different people are going to listen to your masterpiece and you don’t want to disappoint them.

Active vs. Passive Monitors

For quite a long time, passive monitors were primarily used in the recording industry. However, today the popularity of active monitors is increasing. We wouldn’t like to compare them because each type has its own specific features. However, it is good to know these details before you make the purchase.

• Passive monitors require an external amp and crossover to provide their best.
• Active monitors have this amplifier and crossover built into them.

If you are a beginner or you need the monitors for your home recording studio we would recommend investing into the active ones.

What to pay attention to when buying studio monitor speakers?

Before you finally decide and buy the best studio monitor speakers for you read this first.

Pay attention to the size

Normally, the size of studio monitor speakers ranges between 5 and 8 inches. It’s up to you to choose the right size to suit your needs. However, there is one mistake you can make and it’s to buy the biggest speakers you can afford. Please avoid doing that! Generally speaking, if you are buying the monitor speakers for your home studio 5 inches will be enough.

Pay attention to the Watts

The sound quality depends on the power of the studio monitor speakers. It doesn’t only affect the volume but at the same time the amount of audio signal processing your studio monitor speakers can create before the signals peak. Higher wattage gives you more control over fine tuning the compressors, gates and limiters.

Consider the Type of Music You Record

Another thing worth mentioning is that when you choose the right studio monitor speakers for your home is the genre of music you are planning to make. For example, if you plan to do some small-scale recording a monitor having a 4- or 6-inch woofer will do the job. This is because higher volumes are not needed as well as an extended bass response. On the other hand, if you are into mixing some hip-hop music larger and more powerful monitors will be better.

If you are still trying to decide which studio monitor speakers to buy, here is a short list of the ones we would personally recommend. The list has choices to fit into everyone’s budget. Think of them as a starting point of your decision-making process.

• JBL Professional 305P MkII
• Yamaha HS5 Powered Studio Monitor
• Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers
• Presonus E4.5-4.5" 2-Way Near Field Studio Monitor
• Mackie Studio Monitor CR3

We hope we have made your choice a bit easier. Buying the best studio monitor speakers is definitely something you have to do with care. You have to take care of your budget because there are many other things you need to buy for your own home recording studio. Trying to save some money on the monitors is not recommended, just like it’s not recommended to save money on the computer or audio interface. Just do your research before you buy the piece of equipment you need. By doing this you will have a quality home recording studio setup and stay within the budget.