Studio monitors are not your conventional speakers, they must be very accurate to hear what you want and not want in a recording
The ultimate purpose of monitor speakers is to hear clearly at the tiniest detail what you want and DO NOT want to be included in a recording. Therefore, you are going to look at extraordinary quality even at budget purchase. The basic traits that you need to focus are flat frequency response and very low distortion. I listed down popular 5 inches monitors with power response range between 50 to 150 watts that is good for small to medium size studios.
100 watts, 2-way class AB bi-amped near field studio reference monitors, third generation.
Specifications
Low freq. driver: 5 inches Kevlar curved cone with high temperature voice coil and damped rubber surround. Magnetically shielded
High freq. driver: 1 inch magnetically shielded natural silk dome
Freq. response: 52 Hz - 35 kHz
Crossover freq: 2.5kHz
Low freq. amp power: 60 watts Class AB
High freq. amp power: 40 watts Class AB
Max peak SPL: 110 dB SPL - Full Bandwidth Pink Noise Measured
Input sensitivity: -10dBU
Input connectors: XLR and TRS balanced/unbalanced
Input impedance: 10kΩ balanced, 20kΩ unbalanced
Click to compare prices: Shopee.ph | AliExpress
55 watts, class D bi-amped and onboard hi-res DSP room tuning with 25 settings. Built-in Brickwall Limiter automatically engages at maximum amp-level and to protect the system.
Specifications
Low freq. driver: 5 inches Kevlar cone
High freq. driver: not specified
Freq. response: 43Hz - 40KHz
Crossover freq: not specified
Low freq. amp power: not specified
High freq. amp power: not specified
Max peak SPL: 104dB
Input sensitivity: not specified
Input connectors: Balanced TRS/XLR Combo Jacks
Input impedance: 5.12KΩ balanced, not specified for unbalanced
Click to compare prices: Shopee.ph | Lazada.ph | AliExpress
70 watts 2-way bass-reflex bi-amplified nearfield studio monitor, with room and high trim response controls.
Specifications
Low freq. driver: 5 inches cone
High freq. driver: 1 inch dome
Freq. response: 54Hz - 30kHz
Crossover freq: 2kHz
Low freq. amp power: 45 watts
High freq. amp power: 25 watts
Max peak SPL: not specified
Input sensitivity: not specified
Input connectors: XLR and balanced TRS
Input impedance: not specified
Click to compare prices: Shopee.ph | AliExpress
50 watts 2-way, bi-amped class AB nearfield studio monitor, with acoustic space adjustment and high frequency filter.
Specifications
Low freq. driver: 5.25 inches polypropylene woofer
High freq. driver: 1 inch silk dome tweeter, neodymium magnet driven
Freq. response: 57Hz - 20kHz
Crossover freq: 2kHz
Low freq. amp power: 30 watts Class AB
High freq. amp power: 20 watts Class AB
Max peak SPL: 108dB
Input sensitivity: not specified
Input connectors: XLR, balanced TRS and unbalanced RCA
Input impedance: 20KΩ balanced, 10KΩ unbalanced
Click to check price: Shopee.ph
80 watts, bi-amped class AB near field studio monitor, with acoustic tuning (mid/high gain, low cut off and acoustic space adjustment).
Specifications
Low freq. driver: 5.25 inches cone
High freq. driver: 1 inch silk dome
Freq. response: 53 Hz - 22 kHz
Crossover freq: 3 kHz
Low freq. amp power: 45W Class AB
High freq. amp power: 35W Class AB
Max peak SPL: 102 dB
Input sensitivity: not specified
Input connectors: XLR, balanced TRS and unbalanced RCA
Input impedance: 10 kΩ (not specified if balanced or unbalanced)
Click to check price: Shopee.ph
82 watts 2-way, bi-amped class D nearfield studio monitor, with input sensitivity switch, boundary EQ and high frequency trim.
Specifications
Low freq. driver: 5 inches cone
High freq. driver: 1 inch soft dome
Freq. response: 49Hz – 20kHz
Crossover freq: 1.7kHz
Low freq. amp power: 41 watts Class D
High freq. amp power: 41 watts Class D
Max peak SPL: 108dB
Input sensitivity: -10dB
Input connectors: XLR and balanced TRS
Input impedance: not specified
150 watts, bi-amped near field studio monitor with independent low and high frequency overload protection. This was designed by renowned acoustic icon Keith Klawitter, founder of KRK.
Specifications
Low freq. driver: 5 inches cone with deformation-resistant glass fiber cone
High freq. driver: 1 inch silk dome
Freq. response: not specified
Crossover freq: not specified
Low freq. amp power: not specified
High freq. amp power: not specified
Max peak SPL: not specified
Input sensitivity: not specified
Input connectors: XLR, balanced TRS and unbalanced RCA
Input impedance: not specified
75 watts, class AB bi-amped field studio monitor with high-precision crossover network with 4th order Linkwitz-Riley filters.
Specifications
Low freq. driver: 5.25 inches with deformation-resistant glass fiber Kevlar cone
High freq. driver: 1 inch silk dome
Freq. response: not specified
Crossover freq: not specified
Low freq. amp power: 50 watts Class AB
High freq. amp power: 25 watts Class AB
Max peak SPL: not specified
Input sensitivity: not specified
Input connectors: XLR, balanced TRS and unbalanced RCA
Input impedance: not specified
Click to check price: Shopee.ph
On paper, M-Audio is a clear winner in terms of the power response that you will get for the same price as KRK, while Presonus and JBL are the most affordable options with proper specifications. K5 of Behringer looks good for buck but it lacks published technical specifications, so better have this tested carefully. Though Yamaha is at the high pricing point, their monitor is on of top choice for professional recording. KRK monitors being on the middle but one of young generation favorite.
I hope that this post help you decide when shopping around brands. However, the final verdict is after testing your top choices, even if specifications look good.
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