Studio Monitor Amplifiers
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About Studio Monitor Amps
Monitoring is one of the most crucial jobs in every recording studio. How the music sounds when it comes through the control room speakers directly affects the quality of the source material. If you are a mix engineer, you know your monitoring environment can make or break the impact of your mix. Choosing the right monitor amplifier is critical to the sound and performance of your studio monitors. Upgrading your monitor amp is a fast and easy way to elevate your entire music production game.
Choosing the Right Amp for Your Monitoring Setup
The world of monitor amplifiers is not that complicated, though there are a number of features and specifications to keep in mind. Most of these will be somewhat dictated by the equipment you plan to connect to your monitor amp.
How many speakers?
You should start by picking an amp that is a good match for your speakers. Consider how many sets of speakers you want to power and how many amps you want to use to do it. You can get single-channel amps and pick up one for each channel, or try 4-channel amps, which you can use to power two sets of speakers from the same unit. Since most people want one unit to power a pair of monitors, 2-channel monitor amps are the most common.
Power equals headroom
We have monitor amplifiers to suit the smallest bedroom studio up to the swankiest uptown mixing rooms. They range from around 50W per side up to 300W. Check the wattage of your intended speakers before choosing an amp. A mismatch of watts can spell trouble, at best underpowering your monitors, making them sound thin, and at worst blowing your speakers, making them sound broken. Ideally, your monitor amp should be around 20% to 30% more powerful than the speaker it’s driving. This gives you plenty of headroom and increased dynamic range. Just be careful not to go too far if you start nudging the levels.
Big sound comes in small sizes
Power amps have become so compact that most monitor amps only take up one or two rack spaces. Long gone are the days of the enormous, 80-pound brick that doubled as the studio furnace in the winter. Today’s monitor amp models are lighter and thinner than ever before. Do double-check, though, because several models are 3U. On the flip side, you can get a desktop monitor amplifier that will drive your speakers and provide a separate headphone out — super convenient for your small project studio.
Mind your ins and outs
Input and output options are pretty much what you’d expect: XLR, 1/4-inch, RCA, binding post, and speakON. Most amps come with the ability to accept a variety of connector types.
Find Your Next Monitor Amp at Sweetwater
If you have any questions about which monitor unit is the best choice for your system, give us a call at (800) 222-4700. One of our experienced Sales Engineers will help you digest the options and pick the right monitor amplifier for your system.
For more information, see these related guides:
- “Maximizing Your Studio Monitors” | inSync
- “Amphion One15 Passive Studio Monitors Review” | inSync
- “Power Amp Buying Guide” | inSync
- “More on Matching Speakers, Amps, and Wattage” | inSync
- “What's the Difference Between Active and Passive Speakers?” | inSync
What are the most popular brands for Studio Monitor Amplifiers on Sweetwater.com?
What are the most popular Studio Monitor Amplifiers on Sweetwater.com?
-
ART SLA-1 100-watt Power Amplifier
4.5 out of 5 stars 23 reviews
$279.99 -
Avantone Pro CLA-200 Studio Reference Amplifier
5 out of 5 stars 10 reviews
$799.00 -
Auratone 5C Super Sound Cubes 4.5 inch Passive Reference Monitors with A2-30 Power Amp - Woodgrain
5 out of 5 stars 5 reviews
$699.00 -
JBL M2 Reference Monitor System
5 out of 5 stars 1 review
$30,486.00
Why shop Studio Monitor Amplifiers at Sweetwater.com?
With a massive selection of Studio Monitor Amplifiers, free shipping, a free 2-year warranty, 24/7 access to award-winning support - and more - Sweetwater gives you more than any other retailer! If you have any questions about Studio Monitor Amplifiers, make sure to give your personal Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700.
