Imagine a painter working on a masterpiece. Their studio is dark and poorly lit and this artist has failing vision but no access to corrective glasses. Without proper lightingm,it is difficult to blend colors. Detail work becomes sloppy and unsure without clear vision. Now imagine the freedom and accuracy that artist would have if proper lighting were installed and they were given the right pair of prescription glasses. The right tools allow for clarity and precision in the creative process. As a musician, having a good pair of studio monitors unveils the sonic details that may have been obscured. Pull the curtain wide open to shed some light on your musical creations and you will be amazed by what you have been missing. Shopping for studio monitors can be intimidating as they often have very expensiveprice tags. There are affordable options on the market. In this guide we willshine a light on the true colors of sound without breaking the bank.
Studio monitors are often sold as individual speakers and two must be purchased in order to make a stereo pair. The monitors we will be focusing on will all be self-powered. This means they have amplifiers built in and do not require any external amplification device. These monitors can be plugged directly into the outputs of your studio interface or computer.
JBL LSR305
Using the technology JBL developed for their flagship M2 Mastering system, priced around $20k, JBL released the highly sophisticated yet affordable JBL LSR305 studio monitor ($149.99 per speaker). This bi-amplified reference monitor features a 5” low frequency speaker and a 1” soft-dome high frequency transducer. The Image Control Waveguide technology that was developed for JBL’s M2 system is applied in these compact monitors. This allows for precise control the sound emanating from the speaker in the vertical and horizontal planes, ensuring the presentation at the listening position is neutral and accurate. Featuring Jill’s Slip Stream port design for improved bass response, the LSR305 is equipped with a HF and LF trim switches, as well as dual 41W Class D amplifiers for both drivers.
Tosca VL-S5
The design of the Tosca VL-S5 ($149.99 per speaker) delivers a seamless and natural frequency response from 60Hz to 22kHz. Utilizing a 5.25-inch Kevlar woofer and a 1-inch silk dome tweeter, the VL-S5 provides crystal clear clarity for music production and near-field referencing. A separate amplifier drives each component, and a crossover frequency of 3.2kHz maximizes the efficiency of both drivers while moving phase issues out of the critical midrange. The bi-amp design provides 40 Watts to the woofer and 30 Watts to the tweeter. The VL-S5 is shielded to prevent the powerful internal magnets from interfering with nearby devices that are sensitive to magnetic force – such as computer displays, hard drives, and other computer components. Additionally, there is an RF interference protection circuit to prevent rogue radio signals from coming through the monitors. Adorama offers a package deal on a pair of VL-S5 ($300.01) that come with a high quality pair of headphones for free.
Presonus Eris E5
Presonus are best known for their audio interfaces and preamps but the Eris E series mark their first offering in the studio monitor market and they are very impressive. The Presonus Eris E5 monitors ($149.95 per speaker) provide a relatively flat frequency response, which translates to an accurate representation of your music. The E5 features a 5.25-inch Kevlar low-frequency driver and a 1-inch silk-dome tweeter. The bi-amp design pairs a 45W Class AB amplifier with the woofer and a 35W Class AB amp with the tweeter. The E5 features a front-ported enclosure made of vinyl-laminated MDF and can produce a frequency response from 64Hz to 22kHz. Internally, the E5 has circuits for output current limiting, over-temperature, subsonic protection, and RF interference protection. The Presonus Eris E5 presents unbeatable accuracy on a budget.
KRK Rokit 8 G3
All of the previously mentioned monitors have 5-inch woofers, which are ideal for limited budgets and tight spaces. Bass reproduction is all about size and at 5 inches they cannot reproduce much lower than 60Hz. In order to unlock those lower frequencies we need to look at larger woofers. The KRK Rokit 8 G3 ($249.50 per speaker) features an 8-inch Kevlar woofer capable of reproducing frequencies as low as 35Hz. Thanks to proper tuning of the woofer, cabinet, and port, the Rokit 8 delivers clean and tight bass. This has made it a favorite among hip-hop producers who do not have the space to add a subwoofer. The Rokit 8 maximizes headroom with Class AB amps in bi-amp design providing 75W to the woofer and 25W to the tweeter. The Rokit 8 features precision limiters that are designed to maintain distortion free sound at louder volumes. The Rokit has an extended high frequency range, beyond what our ears hears can hear, and produces sounds up to 35kHz. This allows for high frequencies that are crisp and clear but do not become fatiguing at high volumes.
Yamaha HS-8 and HS-5
Yamaha’s older NS-10 design became an industry standardand their signature white woofer can be found in many studios today. They have embraced modern technology to improve upon their original design and the result is the HS series. The Yamaha HS8 ($349.99 per speaker) features a classic white 8-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter with waveguide that can produce frequencies from 38Hz to 30kHz. The bi-amp design provides 75W to the woofer and 45W to the tweeter. Special engineering and design has allowed Yamaha to produce a port design that reduces unwanted noises up to 6dB. If the HS-8 is above your price range, Yamaha offers the smaller HS-5. The Yamaha HS-5 ($199.99 per speaker) features a 5-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter and has a frequency response of 54Hz to 30kHz. The bi-amp offers 45W to the woofer and 25W to the tweeter. Both models in the HS series are designed to eliminate unwanted resonance and increase the accuracy of sound reproduction to their extreme limit.
Purchasing the right pair of studio monitors is just the first step in “illuminating” the details in your music. If using studio monitors is like turning on the lights in your room, then sound treatment is likeputting on prescription glasses. Sound frequencies bounce around, interfere, and change in any untreated room. As a result, details can become blurred. Sound treatment is comprised of absorbent materials that minimize the build up of unwanted frequencies. You can use bass traps such as Ultimate Acoustics UA-BTB ($89.99) to reduce standing waves in corners. Add acoustic paneling on the walls around your desk to decrease unwanted reflections. Make sure you put your monitors on isolator pads such as The Ultimate Support UA-ISO-100 ($44.95) to avoid unwanted lows that can occur if your monitors couple directly with your desk. There are equations to help you determine the optimal placement of your monitors and your chair in order to create a listening sweet spot. While there is still much to explore in terms of acoustics and sonic details, the first step is to stop mixing in the dark.“Turn on the lights” with a pair of studio monitors.
