Studio monitors are an essential part of any music production setup. They provide a clear and accurate sound, ensuring that you can make the best decisions when producing and mixing your tracks. But not all studio monitors are created equal – some are better than others. In this guide, we’ll look at some of the best active studio monitors on the market today and explain why they’re the ideal choice for your studio.
Best Active Studio Monitors
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1
 |
JBL 308P MkII
|
9. 7
|
|
2
 |
Audioengine A5+ Premium Pair
|
9. 5
|
|
3
 |
Yamaha HS8 High Trim
|
9. 1
|
|
4
 |
Adam Audio A7X
|
8. 8
|
|
5
 |
Neumann KH 120
|
8. 6
|
|
6
 |
Focal Solo6 Be 5-Inch Powered
|
8. 2
|
|
7
 |
KRK Rokit6 RP6G3
|
8. 0
|
|
8
 |
Mackie HR824mk2 2-Way
|
7 .7
|
|
9
 |
M-Audio AV42 20-Watt
|
7. 4
|
|
10
|
PreSonus Eris E5 2-Way
|
7. 2
|
1. JBL 308P MkII
The JBL 308P MkII is an excellent near-field studio monitor for any music producer. It has a stylish, modern design with a powerful 8-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter. The sound quality is excellent – clear, detailed, and balanced. The bass is tight and punchy, and the highs are crisp and lively. The frequency range is impressive, from 42 Hz to 24 kHz, and the maximum SPL is 117 dB. The onboard Bi-Amp Class D amplifiers deliver a total of 300W of power for deep, powerful sound. The acoustic tuning controls allow for easy adjustment of frequency response, and the included waveguide provides a wide and accurate soundstage. Overall, the JBL 308P MkII is an excellent choice for any music producer looking for a high-performance studio monitor.
- Power Output: 8-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter, powered by a class D amplifier for up to 200W of peak power
- Bass Reflex Design: Features a rear-firing port for deep and extended bass response
- Connectivity: Balanced XLR and 1/4-inch TRS inputs, plus a balanced XLR mix output
- EQ/Crossover: Three bands of shelving EQ, plus a three-position high-pass filter
- Controls: Level control, power switch, and clip limiter with LED indicator
- Design: Rugged, all-wood enclosure with durable steel grille
2. Audioengine A5+ Premium Pair
I recently purchased the Audioengine A5+ Premium Pair and I am very satisfied with my purchase! The sound quality and clarity of the speakers is amazing. They are very well constructed and look great with the cabinets in a cherry wood finish. The bass is deep and powerful and the sound envelops the room. The setup was easy and I love the convenience of being able to connect to my devices with Bluetooth. I also appreciate the level of customer service that Audioengine provides with their product. I highly recommend the Audioengine A5+ Premium Pair for anyone looking for a great sounding speaker set.
- Built-in Bluetooth with aptX HD
- 50W peak power per speaker (25W RMS)
- Hand-built MDF wood cabinets with extensive internal bracing
- High-fidelity stereo amplification for your music
- Front panel volume control and dual analog audio inputs
- Custom Kevlar woofers and silk tweeters
- Reinforced internally-braced cabinets
- Premium gloss black finish
3. Yamaha HS8 High Trim
The Yamaha HS8 High Trim is a great choice for anyone in need of a studio monitor. It has a very clear and balanced sound, and it can be easily adjusted to fit your needs. The highs are crisp and the mids are strong and tight while the bass is tight and punchy. The overall sound is accurate and reliable. The design is sleek and stylish, and they look great on any desk. I would highly recommend the Yamaha HS8 if you’re look for high quality sound.
- 8″ bi-amp powered studio monitor
- 75W power output
- 2-way bass-reflex bi-amplified nearfield studio monitor
- Frequency response: 38Hz – 30kHz
- High-performance amp and speaker unit
- High-performance transducers for accurate response
- Room control and High trim response controls
- XLR and TRS phone jack inputs
4. Adam Audio A7X
I recently purchased the Adam Audio A7X and I’m incredibly impressed with the quality of sound. The studio monitors provide a clear, accurate sound with a wide frequency range and great stereo imaging. The bass is tight and punchy, and the highs are crisp and detailed. The soundstage is wide and open, with a great sense of depth and clarity. The build quality is excellent, and the design is modern and stylish. I couldn’t be more pleased with my purchase, and I highly recommend the Adam Audio A7X to anyone looking for a quality nearfield monitoring solution.
- 7-inch woofer with X-ART tweeter
- Class-A/B bi-amplifier
- Maximum SPL of 118dB
- Optimized rear ports for improved bass response
- Integrated Acoustic Space Control for adjusting room acoustics
- High-performance low-noise power supply
- XLR and TRS connections
5. Neumann KH 120
I recently purchased the Neumann KH 120 monitor speaker and I couldn’t be happier with it. The sound quality is amazing and the speakers have a very wide frequency range. The sound is detailed and clear, allowing me to hear every nuance of the music. The low end is tight and punchy, while the highs are smooth and articulate. I love the fact that the speakers are bi-amplified, which allows for a more accurate and balanced sound. The build quality is also very impressive and the cabinet is finished beautifully. I highly recommend the Neumann KH 120 for anyone looking for an excellent sounding monitor speaker.
- Two-way active studio monitor with a 5.25-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter
- High-resolution accuracy with a frequency response of 52 Hz21 kHz
- User-friendly controls including volume, HF level, and HF Cutoff
- Features an impressive power output of 120 Watts
- Exceptional acoustic clarity with excellent imaging and stereo localization
6. Focal Solo6 Be 5-Inch Powered
I recently purchased the Focal Solo6 Be 5-Inch Powered studio monitor and I am very impressed with it. The sound quality is superb and the speakers provide great clarity and accuracy. The bass response is also excellent, providing a full-bodied sound. The monitor also has plenty of power to handle any production. The controls are very intuitive and easy to use. Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase and would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great sounding studio monitor.
- 8-inch Focal woofer and one-inch tweeter with Focals signature sound
- 70W total power output between the woofer and tweeter
- XLR/Jack combo inputs for microphones, instruments, and other sources
- A low cut filter for controlling the low-frequency response
- Built-in volume and tone controls for fine-tuning the sound
- Compact and lightweight design for easy transport and setup
7. KRK Rokit6 RP6G3
I recently purchased the KRK Rokit6 RP6G3 and I’m really impressed. They have a really good sound quality, with great depth and clarity. The bass and mid range are both really rich and punchy and the high end is crisp and detailed. The low end, in particular, is really impressive, and it’s also really easy to set up and use. The build quality is also great, and they look nice too. Overall, I’m very happy with my purchase and I definitely recommend the KRK Rokit6 RP6G3 to anyone looking for a great sounding and easy to use studio monitor.
- Professional studio monitor speakers
- Bi-amped, Class A/B amplifier featuring; LF: 75W, HF: 55W
- 1″ Soft-dome tweeter and 6″ glass-Aramid composite woofer
- Frequency Response: 45Hz 35kHz
- Front Firing Port
- High-density foam surround and multiple input connections
- Built-in Equalization and Limiter
8. Mackie HR824mk2 2-Way
The Mackie HR824mk2 2-Way is an excellent choice when it comes to studio-grade monitoring. The speakers provide a balanced, highly accurate sound with an amazing dynamic range and low frequency extension. The integrated ‘Acoustic Space Control’ feature gives you exceptional room acoustics and flexibility for near-field or mid-field monitoring. The robust construction ensures reliable performance, and the included protective slip covers will help keep your speakers safe from dust and dirt. With the Mackie HR824mk2 2-Way, you can be sure you are getting the best in professional-level sound quality.
- 8″ woofer and 1″ tweeter that accurately reproduces sound in all frequency ranges
- Custom-designed amplifiers provide high power, low distortion and low noise
- High-frequency acoustic space control allows you to tailor the sound to your space
- Balanced XLR, 1/4″, and RCA inputs for connecting all types of audio sources
- Large acoustic foam panel to reduce reflections and bass buildup
- High-frequency trim control for adjusting high-frequency levels
- Front panel LED power indicator
- Rugged, all-wood construction for durability and long life
9. M-Audio AV42 20-Watt
I’ve been using the M-Audio AV42 20-Watt speakers for a few months now and I have to say that I’m very impressed. They have great sound quality with deep bass and clear highs, and they are very loud. The design is sleek and modern, and they look great in my room. The inputs and connections are also very easy to use. For the price, I think these speakers are a great value and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for good audio quality.
- 20-Watt powered speakers
- 4-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter
- Front-panel volume control
- 1/4″ TRS and RCA inputs
- Headphone output
- Compatible with Mac, PC and iOS devices
- RCA to 3.5mm adapter included
- Class-AB amplification
- Robust wooden cabinet design
10. PreSonus Eris E5 2-Way
I recently purchased the PreSonus Eris E5 2-Way and I couldn’t be happier. It is the perfect size for my studio and it provides great sound quality. The Eris E5 has great frequency response and a wide sweet spot. I was surprised by how well it handles bass and mids for such a small speaker. I also love the fact that it has an in-built amplifier which makes setting up so much easier. The Eris E5 is well built and looks great. I highly recommend this product as a great value for money option.
- 2-Way Active Studio Monitors with 5.25″ Woofers
- 45W Class AB Amplification
- Front Firing Acoustic Tuning Port
- Balanced 1/4″ TRS, XLR, and RCA Inputs
- Acoustic Space Control for Room Correction
- HF Driver Adjustment from -6dB to +6dB
- HF Shelving Filter at 3.5kHz
- MF Control for Detailed Midrange Tuning
- Stereo Pair Link Feature for Synchronous Monitoring
- RF Interference, Output Current, Over-Temperature Protection
