Top 5 High-End Studio Monitors for Your Studio
Studio monitors are there to check the sound quality of a mix. They help music makers judge the sound and fine-tune it until it is just right. Why are they able to do that, and how are they different from ordinary speakers? Let's find out with MUSE. On top of that, MUSE has picked out the top 5 high-end studio monitors for you to consider.
- What is a studio monitor?
A studio monitor, also called a monitor speaker, is a speaker with a flat frequency response that reproduces the audio signal as accurately and faithfully as possible to the original sound.
It helps music producers and studio engineers check the quality of their mixes and how things actually sound in the studio, so they can judge and adjust the sound to get it right. That is why studio monitors are an essential piece of equipment in any professional studio.
- Top 5 high-end studio monitors
2.1 JBL One Pro Series 104 BT studio monitors
An upgrade of its sibling from the earlier One Series, the JBL One Series 104, the new-generation JBL One Series 104 BT combines two main functions in one unique package: monitoring and Bluetooth streaming. It delivers the most faithful and accurate sound of any model in the line so far.
The JBL 104 BT has a distinctive egg-like shape and a compact, easy-to-carry size. Paired with an all-black finish, it looks bold and youthful, and it tends to win people over at first sight. Despite its small size, the JBL One Series 104BT puts out 60W, giving it impressive depth and sound. It is acoustically optimised for placement on a desk next to your computer, and its three inputs suit a wide range of devices. Beyond the good-looking elliptical design, the base has rubber feet to keep the speaker steady. The cabinet is made of magnetically shielded ABS with a round rear reflex port.
The JBL 104 BT has also earned the title of "the most affordable studio monitor". It is the best-priced monitor in this top 5 and a favourite with beginners. The 104BT has almost the same specs and features as the JBL 104, but now adds Bluetooth: a SMALL upgrade that makes a BIG difference. Besides being a studio monitor, the 104BT can now double as a speaker for entertainment, as you can easily connect to it and enjoy music and films over Bluetooth.
The JBL 104BT uses coaxial drivers: an improved high-frequency driver is coaxially aligned with the cone bass driver for perfect, faithful and highly detailed sound. It pairs well with desktop computers, laptops, tablets and more. The low-frequency driver also reaches down to 60Hz.
The JBL One Series 104BT combines a 4.5-inch bass driver with a 0.7-inch tweeter and 60W of amplification for a superb sound. The 104BT is compact and easy to use and set up, with a built-in 60W class D power amplifier delivering 30W to each speaker, and it runs happily on 220V mains power. It has three inputs, 1/8" Aux, RCA and 1/4" balanced TRS, so it connects easily to computers, laptops or a personal recording setup.
The JBL One Series 104BT keeps performing well even at full power, thanks to its built-in 60W class D amplification with 30W per speaker and drivers designed for up to 104dB SPL maximum, so the sound stays clean without distortion.
JBL One Pro Series 104 BT studio monitors
2.2 JBL 306P MK II studio monitors
A standout model in the JBL 3 Series from JBL Pro, part of the world-famous Harman group. This monitor has drawn a lot of attention since its launch thanks to its classy design and superb sound, and it has been warmly received by studios large and small around the world.
This standout speaker is a two-way design with a 25mm neodymium tweeter. It also uses a special magnetic fluid developed by JBL, which helps it reproduce sound as fully and accurately as possible. This is a signature JBL design that few other brands can match.
The 165mm woofer in the JBL 306P MKII delivers deep, high-quality sound and also helps reduce interference from surrounding magnetic fields. Two powerful built-in class D amplifiers are tuned by JBL specifically for each driver, letting the speaker perform at its full potential. It is also very easy to match to all kinds of listening rooms, thanks to the frequency response controls on the back panel.
The JBL Image Control Waveguide and the refined transducers are the details that get the most attention and plenty of positive reviews. The JBL 306P MKII gives listeners highly realistic, accurate sound and a wide sweet spot with an impressive range.
The JBL 306P MKII lets you tailor the sound to your liking: the Boundary EQ helps you counter the sudden bass build-up near walls, and the built-in HF Trim switch gives you three options for controlling the high frequencies, so you can easily adjust the speakers to suit your room.
JBL 306P MK II
2.3 Wharfedale Pro Diamond Studio 5 BT
The Diamond Studio series is built for accuracy, with a well-tuned, reference-grade frequency response. Diamond Studio can reveal every strength and weakness in your work without losing the original character of the track.
With Bluetooth, Diamond Studio can easily stream music for everyday listening, or form a stereo pair without any cables. RCA inputs on the back also let you connect a CD player or turntable. That makes them a great fit for many studio mixing workflows, or for clear, transparent sound in a home audio setup.
The mid/bass driver is made of woven fibreglass, a material that is extremely stiff and light compared with the paper cones it replaces. The fibreglass cone delivers excellent low-frequency dynamics and, crucially for studio monitoring, a very fast transient response. Inside there are two independent amplifiers; this dual amplification ensures each amplifier stage is perfectly matched to its dedicated high-frequency or low-frequency driver.
With dedicated "HF Level" and "LF Level" controls on the rear panel, the Diamond Studio BT can also be easily adjusted to personal taste or to the acoustics of your room.
The highlights at a glance:
- Active two-way speaker system for accurate, reliable sound
- 12.7 cm fibreglass woofer for a smooth low-frequency response
- 2.54 cm soft-dome tweeter for precise highs
- RCA stereo input for turntables, CD players and hi-fi systems, plus balanced jack inputs
- Dual class D amplification for efficient power use and more faithful sound
- Bluetooth input and wireless stereo linking
Find out more at the official exclusive retailer
Wharfedale Pro Diamond Studio 5 BT studio monitor
2.4 Pioneer DM 40
The DM-40BT inherits the Groove technology from well-known speaker ranges, which gives it a smooth bass response and very clear sound. It has a front bass-reflex system with a 4-inch fibreglass driver, and grooves in the port reduce air friction for powerful, deep bass that stays clean even when the speaker is placed close to a wall.
The Pioneer DM-40BT also comes with a ¾-inch soft-dome tweeter with a convex diffuser that uses DECO technology from TAD Labs. This design gives you an ideal 3D stereo sound field whether you are sitting or standing.
On top of that, the Pioneer DM-40BT has a class AB amplifier that delivers very crisp sound with very low distortion. The tweeters and woofers are carefully positioned to eliminate crossover problems and keep a perfect balance across the frequencies.
The Pioneer DM-40BT monitors are also highly rated for their design. The cabinet has cleverly curved edges, which increase rigidity and reduce diffraction resonance for clear, natural sound. The smooth curves also give the speakers a modern look that is eye-catching and stylish.
The Pioneer DM-40BT has plenty of strong features and excellent sound quality. It is an ideal choice for your music listening, with powerful, clear and crisp sound.
Pioneer DM 40
2.5 KRK Rokit 5G4
The yellow-and-black accent has become the trademark of the KRK Rokit monitor line, along with its excellent sound quality. The KRK Rokit 5 G4 is an impressive new, improved version of the Rokit G4 monitor series.
KRK has built in EQ with easy-to-adjust settings. This new version keeps the Rokit tradition of a studio monitor with a full, warm low end, plus clear mids and crisp highs.
The KRK Rokit 5 G4 has an updated interface and some useful new features. If you are a DJ or producer looking for a new pair of studio monitors, the Rokit G4 is an excellent choice.
Highlights of the KRK Rokit 5G4:
- Very balanced sound that reduces listening fatigue.
- DSP-driven spectrum analysis that lets you adapt the speakers to any modern music production environment.
- It also helps with speaker placement, subwoofer level and polarity, and has its own signal generator.
- A scientifically designed enclosure.
- DSP-driven graphic EQ with 25 settings.
- Improves your listening environment while giving you a new level of flexibility.
- Clear sound reproduction thanks to Kevlar® drivers.
KRK Rokit 5G4
