Getting your hands on the best studio monitors is a great way to level up your home studio. Monitors allow you to hear your mix out loud while getting a true representation of the mix quality. This helps tremendously when making mixing decisions in your project that will translate to other methods of playback.
They also double as great speakers for listening to music casually and for small live performances. In this guide, I reviewed the best home studio monitors to help you make the most informed purchase decision possible.
Luckily, there are lots of great budget-spanning options out there when it comes to selecting the right studio monitors for your specific needs.
What are the Best Home Studio Monitors?
There are many different brands out there, from KRK, Yamaha, PreSonus, and more, that offer high-quality studio monitors. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses, and it's important to consider your unique needs when deciding which monitors to purchase.
That said, all of them essentially serve the same purpose, so it really comes down to personal preference and what budget you're willing to spend. So, let's get into our list of the best monitor speakers for your home studio setup.
Cost: $449.98 (for the pair)
The KRK Rokit's are one of the best sellers in the industry and sport an iconic black and yellow design that you've probably seen before. These monitors are known for their punchy and deep bass and therefore are a perfect option for you if you want to produce bass-heavy music like hip-hop or EDM. They also feature a Graphic EQ function which allows you to tune the speakers to sound best in the specific room you're using them in.
Although they're one of the pricier options on this list, you'll be set with one of the industry standard options for many years to come and won't have to upgrade again any time soon if you go with the KRK Rokit's.
Cost: $399.98 (for the pair)
The Yamaha Hs5's are another extremely popular option and are known for their impeccable clarity across the frequency spectrum. They're also the flattest monitors on this list, meaning they give you the truest representation of how your mix really sounds. While there are many benefits to these monitors, one of the downsides is they lack a Graphic EQ function, so they won't sound their best if you use them in a room that's not acoustically treated.
However, these monitors have a legendary reputation and are certainly an option to seriously consider if you care about sonic accuracy when it comes to mixing and mastering.
Cost: $338.00 (for the pair)
The Kali Audio LP-6's are relatively new to the market compared to more established players like the KRK Rokit's or the Yamaha Hs5's, but they're already becoming extremely popular due to their high-quality, balanced sound and ability to tune the sound to your specific room environment.
Performance-wise they're very similar to the Yamaha Hs5's with their flat sound, which makes them a strong contender since you'll save a decent chunk of change choosing these over the Hs5's.
Cost: $249.95 (for the pair)
The PreSonus Eris E5's, one of the more affordable options on this list, provide a very balanced sound. The mid-range clarity is excellent, however, the clarity of the low and high frequencies is not on par with some of the other competitors on this list. They do slightly make up for that shortcoming by having the ability to acoustically tune the speakers to your specific environment.
While the quality of these monitors is definitely a bit lower than some of the other options listed here, they are the cheapest option and will still get the job done for your music production needs, so definitely consider them if you're on a tighter budget.
Cost: $439.98 (for the pair)
The ADAM Audio T5V's are another very popular option among bedroom producers. One of the biggest selling points of these monitors is that they're a little less fatiguing on the ears, meaning you'll be able to withstand longer mixing and mastering sessions. On top of that, the monitors offer a very balanced sound, although the low end is not as clear as some of the other options on the list.
Priced very similarly to the KRK's, the T5V's are one of the more expensive options you can go with. In this price range, if you care more about clean and punchy bass - go with the KRK's. If you care more about a balanced sound - go with the ADAM Audio T5V's.
I hope this guide helps you decide on which studio monitors are best for you and your personal needs! Enjoyed this guide? Make sure to check out our Bedroom Producer Essentials Guide or our other reviews/buyer's guides.
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