Studio speakers are known in audio engineering as Studio Monitors and Reference Monitors. Many beginning engineers and producers use the two terms interchangeably, however there are important differences.
- Studio Monitors are speakers used for professional mixing, mastering, and playback. Professional studio monitors start around $1,500 for a pair on the lower end.
- Reference Monitors describe speakers that are used as a playback reference to consumer grade speakers. They are normally smaller than studio monitors and have a more narrow frequency response. Studio grade reference monitors start around $200 for a low end pair.
[SinglePic not found]Many home studios only have one pair of speakers in which case they are used for all aspects of music production. More often than not they would fall in the reference category. A popular set for home and small studios are the Yamaha NS10’s. We’ve reviewed the best reference speakers under $500 here. Professional studios usually have a set (or multiple sets) of extremely high quality studio monitors. They will also have a set of reference monitors.
Active vs. Passive Monitors
There are a number of important decisions that need to be made when choosing studio and reference speakers. The first is to decide if you want Active or Passive speakers.
- Active which are also known as “Powered” studio monitors have an amplifier built in. This makes them very easy to setup and maintain. The amplifier and speaker are matched at the factory so they are balanced and tested for accurate sound. Most new studios built today use active speakers.
- Passive monitors are speakers that require an external amplifier. This allows for more sound customization when designing the speaker system, however also requires more maintenance and in-depth sound engineering knowledge.
Near vs. Mid Field Studio Monitors
Near-Field Monitors are used in most small recording studios. They are typically designed to be placed 3-8 ft from the engineer or listener. Mid field monitors are designed for larger rooms that have had professional acoustic engineering design. Most small and home studios will benefit from near field monitors since they will give a more accurate sound picture when used in a room that has less acoustic treatment. Read more about near field monitors, speaker positioning and how to find the “Sweet Spot” in your studio.
Best Studio Speakers
All-in-all choosing the right Studio Monitors for your recording and playback is a crucial decision. Choosing a good pair will allow you to hear the best representation of your music and help you achieve the best mix possible. There is no magic set of studio monitors that will sound best in every studio, but there are some that sound great in most studios. Generally speaking cheap studio monitors should not be used for audio production. We have a number of studio speaker reviews to help you find the right ones for your recording style and budget.