When you’re in the studio, your monitors are your main portal into your music, so having good ones is essential. After all, superior recording, mixing, and mastering is impossible if you can’t accurately hear what you’re doing. Customers often ask Sales Engineers, “What’s the best studio monitor?” That’s a tough question, especially when you’re on a budget. Your monitors need to ensure that your music translates well across listening systems — earbuds, headphones, speakers, computers, and automobile stereos. You also need to LIKE the way they sound. After all, you’ll be listening to them for long periods of time. Luckily, Sweetwater carries several studio monitors that offer excellent quality without emptying your wallet.
JBL LSR305
The JBL LSR305 is great for mixing music, editing video, or completing any other task that requires accurate sound. The LSR305 features a 5″ woofer (driven by 41 watts) and a 1″ tweeter (driven by 41 watts), and it includes many advanced features from JBL’s flagship M2 system. JBL’s proprietary Image Control Waveguide creates a wide stereo panorama with a rock-solid phantom center. These monitors also produce a detailed sound with a broad sweet spot, so working on them is a joy. The LSR305 is a top performer, earning the acclaim of renowned engineers, including Frank Filipetti.
KRK ROKIT 5 G5
Favored by Scott Storch and a staple in home studios, KRK ROKIT 5 G5 monitors deliver the goods every time you fire them up. Their new Generation Five (G5) introduces upgrades that make them better than ever. You get three voicing modes — Mix, Create, and Focus — to adjust the monitor’s behavior for specific applications. Use Mix for a ruler-flat frequency response while mixing and mastering. Create mode subtly sweetens the sound for inspired songwriting sessions or listening to your favorite songs. The final mode, Focus, kicks the midrange into high gear to help you identify any problems in a mix. When you add the DSP room tuning, redesigned drivers, and Class D amplification, a pair of KRK ROKIT 5 G5s is an obvious choice.
Yamaha HS5
Yamaha’s nearfield monitors, with their iconic white-coned woofers, have been mainstays in studios since the days of the NS-10 (if you don’t know what that is, ask your dad). The Yamaha HS5 improves upon Yamaha’s original design, employing retooled bi-amplified drivers and a ported enclosure that supplies you with amazing accuracy and incredibly low levels of coloration. Featuring a 5″ cone woofer (45 watts) and 1″ dome tweeter (25 watts), the HS5 is revered for its translatability — if your mix sounds good on a set of these, it’ll sound good everywhere.
ADAM Audio T7V
Perfectly suited for small- and medium-size rooms, the ADAM Audio T7V studio monitor provides extended frequency response and top-notch technology at a low price. This studio tool’s 7-inch woofer extends all the way down to 39Hz. Meanwhile, the U-ART ribbon tweeter supplies frequencies up to 25kHz with vanishingly low distortion. DSP-controlled crossovers and EQ also pay dividends by ensuring every detail of your music is accurately represented. That’s just the sound. The small footprint and forgiving sweet spot are icing on the cake. With ADAM Audio T7V monitors in your studio, everything will be revealed.
PreSonus Eris Studio 5
PreSonus Eris Studio 5 studio monitors are a great, budget-friendly option for someone who’s beginning their mixing journey. With these monitors, you get 5.25-inch woofers paired with a 1-inch silk-dome tweeter. How do they sound? We’re glad you asked. Eris monitors supply the bass you want and consistent stereo imaging you need to deliver mixes that translate well. What’s more, each Eris Studio 5 includes acoustic tuning controls, so you can tailor its performance to perfectly suit your studio space.
Kali Audio LP-6 V2
If you don’t know about Kali Audio’s studio monitors yet, then you’ll be glad once you hear them. The Kali Audio LP-6 V2 powered studio monitor is extremely accurate. Now in its second generation, the LP-6 carries refined amplifiers for better efficiency and smoother top-end response. You also get enhanced boundary EQ settings based on real-world user feedback. This means that the monitor can be equally accurate whether placed near a wall or away from one. If you’re working on music, a podcast, or anything in between, then you’ll be glad to mix on this monitor. The Kali Audio LP-6 V2 monitor stands up to any challenge you can dream of.
ADAM Audio D3V
Ultra-compact nearfield monitors that sound incredible don’t come around often. When they do, they rarely come at this price point. The ADAM Audio D3V powered studio monitors are exactly that, and they come with a twist: they offer class-compliant USB-C connectivity. You read that correctly. With D3V studio monitors, you don’t need an audio interface for audio playback. This gives you the flexibility to leave the audio interface at home while working on location or to put them on your desk without extra clutter. Whether you’re running analog or digital audio, ADAM Audio D3V studio monitors are great for those who want to maximize desktop real estate.
Focal Alpha 50 Evo: Honorable Mention
Even though Focal Alpha 50 Evos cost a bit more than $500 (roughly $650 a pair), they deserve a mention by virtue of their top-shelf performance. There’s nothing “budget” about these monitors. Inverted 1-inch dome tweeters (25 watts) reveal every nuance of your mix while 5-inch Slatefiber cone woofers (35 watts) ensure flawless reproduction over the entire frequency spectrum. These monitors also feature the energy-saving convenience of Focal’s automatic standby mode, which cuts power after 15 minutes of inactivity. With their elegant styling and robust performance, you can trust Focal’s Alpha Evo line of monitors to tell you the truth time and time again.
Find Your Magic Monitors
If you’re just starting out or recording on a budget, there’s no reason to settle for subpar monitoring — that’s a bad place to cut corners, especially when you have great bang-for-your-buck offerings like these out there. These compact studio monitors are ideal for converted rooms such as bedrooms and offices, and they deliver superb results. So, what are you waiting for? Call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 and get a proper set of monitors. Your mixes will thank you for it.
