Collection: Studio Monitors 194 194 products

Why studio monitors

Hi-fi speakers are often tuned to flatter music with extra bass and sparkle. Studio monitors aim for a flat, honest response, so you hear problems in a mix and make decisions that translate to headphones, car stereos and club systems. They are usually nearfield designs, meant to be listened to from a metre or two away, which reduces the influence of the room.

Active, passive and subwoofers

Active monitors have amplifiers built in and are matched to their drivers at the factory; you only need a balanced cable from your interface. Passive monitors need a separate power amplifier, which some studios prefer for flexibility or for driving a classic reference pair. A subwoofer extends the low end below what small monitors can reproduce and is useful for electronic music, film and checking sub-bass.

Match the size to the room

Bigger woofers move more air and go deeper, but in a small, untreated room they can excite room modes and make the bass harder to judge. In a bedroom studio, a 5-inch pair is often more accurate than an 8-inch pair. Larger rooms and longer listening distances suit bigger monitors.

Setting up

Place the monitors and your head in an equilateral triangle, with the tweeters at ear height. Keep them away from walls and corners if you can, and use the rear-panel or DSP room controls to tame boundary bass. Decoupling pads or stands stop the desk from resonating.