March 2023
Studio Monitors: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of Studio Monitor rankings posted by key online experts, as of March 2023.
Summary
Between 6 Mar 2023 and 8 Mar 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 105 Studio Monitor endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
61 Studio Monitors were endorsed in total, only 22 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).
As of 8 Mar 2023, Yamaha HS5 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed studio monitor with 6 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 6 recommended it as the '#1 studio monitor' this month. It is followed by Yamaha HS8 and Neumann KH 120 A , with 5 and 5 expert endorsements respectively.
Brand breakdown
-
Mackie:
6 Studio Monitors
(#1 is Mackie XR624 )
-
KRK:
5 Studio Monitors
(#1 is KRK Rokit 8 G4 )
-
PreSonus:
5 Studio Monitors
(#1 is Presonus R80 V2 )
-
Focal:
5 Studio Monitors
(#1 is Focal Trio6 Be )
-
Adam Audio:
4 Studio Monitors
(#1 is Adam Audio T5V )
Price breakdown
At a glance - March 2023 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Studio Monitor |
Old Time Music
|
Hyperbits
|
Gearank
|
PianoDreamers
|
Music Radar
|
E-Home Recording Studio
|
Careers In Music
|
Music Critic
|
MusicAlley
|
Popular Science
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $200 |
Yamaha HS5
|
9
|
4
|
-
|
4
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
|
2
|
- | $300 |
Yamaha HS8
|
4
|
6
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
|
3
|
- | $710 |
Neumann KH 120 A
|
1
|
-
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
|
4
|
- | Check price |
JBL 305P MkII
|
-
|
1
|
5
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
|
5
|
- | Check price |
KRK Rokit RP7 G4
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
6
|
- | Check price |
KRK Rokit 5 G3
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | $189 |
KRK Rokit 5 G4
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
6
|
16
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
8
|
- | $575 |
Genelec 8010A
|
-
|
8
|
8
|
-
|
3
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
9
|
+1 | $800 |
Mackie HR824 mkII
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
|
10
|
+1 | $199 |
PreSonus Eris E.45
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
11
|
New * | $795 |
Adam Audio A7V
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
12
|
-3 | Check price |
Adam Audio A7X
|
3
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
13
|
-1 | $100 |
PreSonus Eris E3.5
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
14
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
14
|
-1 | Check price |
Focal Solo6 Be
|
-
|
14
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
|
15
|
-1 | $149 |
Kali Audio LP-6
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
16
|
- | Check price |
Dynaudio BM5 mkIII
|
2
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
17
|
- | $400 |
IK Multimedia iLoud MTM
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
18
|
- | $999 |
Focal Shape 65
|
-
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
19
|
- | Check price |
Genelec M040
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
|
20
|
- | $350 |
IK Multimedia iLoud Micro
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
|
21
|
- | Check price |
Genelec 8030C
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
22
|
- | $100 |
Mackie CR3-XBT
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
17
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
Sorted by price:
| Position in ranking | Price | Studio Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| #13 | $99.99 | PreSonus Eris E3.5 [buy] [more info] |
| #22 | $99.99 | Mackie CR3-XBT [buy] [more info] |
| #15 | $149 | Kali Audio LP-6 [buy] [more info] |
| #7 | $189 | KRK Rokit 5 G4 [buy] [more info] |
| #10 | $199 | PreSonus Eris E.45 [buy] [more info] |
| #1 | $199.99 | Yamaha HS5 [buy] [more info] |
| #2 | $299.99 | Yamaha HS8 [buy] [more info] |
| #20 | $349.99 | IK Multimedia iLoud Micro [buy] [more info] |
| #17 | $399.99 | IK Multimedia iLoud MTM [buy] [more info] |
| #8 | $575.26 | Genelec 8010A [buy] [more info] |
| #3 | $710.12 | Neumann KH 120 A [buy] [more info] |
| #11 | $795 | Adam Audio A7V [buy] [more info] |
| #9 | $799.99 | Mackie HR824 mkII [buy] [more info] |
| #18 | $999 | Focal Shape 65 [buy] [more info] |
We ranked Yamaha HS5 #1 in March 2023 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Yamaha HS5 as #1.
Old Time Music
|
Pros
Compact for small spaces.
Room control and High TRIM controls available.
Lots of connectivity.
Decent sound.
Affordable.
|
Cons
Small with a 5-inch woofer.
Not great bass pitches.
|
PianoDreamers
Best Studio Monitor Under $500 (for intermediate studios)
|
Pros
Really affordable price point for the quality you receive
Ideal flat frequency response
Legendary heritage; an aspiring mixing engineer’s perfect companion
|
Cons
Not quite stellar low-frequency response on the HS5 model
Volume and trim controls on the rear
|
Music Radar
Familiar white cone delivers the harsh truth on your recordings
|
Pros
A budding mix engineer's dream
Iconic design
Amazing value
|
Cons
Controls located at rear
|
Popular Science
Best overall
|
Pros
Precise stereo imaging
Accurate, pro-proven mix translation
Built-in filters and level control
|
Cons
Built-in filters and level control
No cables included
Narrow listening sweet spot
|
We ranked Yamaha HS8 #2 in March 2023 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Yamaha HS8 as #1.
Old Time Music
|
Pros
Amp is high performance.
Lots of available controls for mixers, keyboards, and audio interfaces.
Noise reduction technology.
Easy to install.
|
Cons
Very similar to Yamaha’s other products.
Not very crisp.
|
Gearank
The Best Studio Monitor under $500
|
Pros
Neutral response for critical listening
Excellent build quality
Versatile controls for different rooms
Still relatively affordable
|
Cons
May be too large for small studios
Not for those that want the biggest bass
|
Music Critic
Best Overall
|
Pros
Has an 8” cone woofer and a 1” dome tweeter to provide you with the best quality sound.
Has a frequency response of 38Hz to 30kHz, so you get the ideal flat frequency response.
Equipped with a built-in amp and a bi-amp so you get the best sound resolution every time.
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Studio Monitors.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Studio Monitors, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for March 2023 ranking
Old Time Music
Hyperbits
Gearank
PianoDreamers
Music Radar
E-Home Recording Studio
Careers In Music
Music Critic
MusicAlley
Popular Science
We ranked Neumann KH 120 A #3 in March 2023 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Neumann KH 120 A as #1.
Old Time Music
|
Pros
Compact.
Completely customizable sound.
Tracks, mixes, and masters music.
.5 dB tone accuracy.
|
Cons
Expensive.
Sounds best in a multi-channel system.
|
Gearank
The Best Studio Monitors under $1000
|
Pros
Extremely critical sounding
Natural and lifelike sound signature
Premium components and build quality
Top choice for Mastering
|
Cons
Sound isn't for impressing clients in the studio
|
Careers In Music
|
Pros
Designed by mathematical modeling
Comprehensive acoustic controls
Reasonably priced
|
Cons
Odd looking
|
Music Critic
Premium Quality
|
Pros
Class-AB analog amplifiers.
52 Hertz -21 kiloHertz.
Easy interface.
|
We ranked JBL 305P MkII #4 in March 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked JBL 305P MkII as #1.
Gearank
Author's Pick
|
Pros
Neutral frequency response
Fast transients on high and midrange
Wide sweet spot
Top tier sound at a good price
|
Cons
Bass not its strong suit
Sounds "boring" to unaccustomed ears
|
PianoDreamers
Best Studio Monitor Under $500 (for intermediate studios)
|
Pros
Nice low-end response
Hi-tech image control
Durable
|
Cons
Potentially difficult to balance
|
Popular Science
Best for home recording studios
|
Pros
Wide soundscape
Broad listening sweet spot
Room-tuning features
|
Cons
Glossy finish isn’t for everyone
Audio cables not included
|
We ranked KRK Rokit RP7 G4 #5 in March 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked KRK Rokit RP7 G4 as #1.
Music Radar
Affordable nearfield monitors that are perfect for electronic music
|
Pros
Graphic EQ at this price-point is fantastic
Bass sounds are quite phenomenal
|
Cons
There are monitors better suited to non-electronic music production
|
Careers In Music
|
Pros
DSP driven room tuning
Thumpingly good bass
Iso-foam pad for great isolation
Great value
|
Cons
Not as distinctive looking as they were
|
We ranked KRK Rokit 5 G3 #6 in March 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked KRK Rokit 5 G3 as #1.
Old Time Music
|
Pros
Comes in set of two.
Waveguide has great imaging.
Clear and crisp sound.
Affordable.
|
Cons
Auto standby feature annoying.
No sub out option.
|
Music Critic
|
Pros
It comes in a complete bundle with two of these amazing speakers.
Low distortion and large headroom thanks to the bi-amped, class A/B amplifier.
Also comes with a high-frequency adjustment so that you can mold it according to your personal taste and requirements.
|
We ranked KRK Rokit 5 G4 #7 in March 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Gearank
The Best Studio Monitors Under $300
|
Pros
Extended bass response
More neutral than its predecessors
Includes ISO-foam pads
|
Cons
Digital controls feel gimmicky
|
PianoDreamers
Best Studio Monitor Under $500 (for intermediate studios)
|
Pros
Great flat frequency response
Great value for money
Comes in two different designs (black and white)
|
Cons
Rear mounted volume and trim controls
|
Music Radar
Serious budget speakers for serious work
|
Pros
Active room tuning
Incredible sound
|
Cons
Not enough for bigger rooms
|
We ranked Genelec 8010A #8 in March 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Gearank
The Best Studio Monitors under $500
|
Pros
Portable
Surprisingly robust sound
Great Imaging
|
Cons
Awkward XLR jack positioning
|
Music Radar
Best compact mid-range 2-way design monitors
|
Pros
Accurate frequency response
A large sound for a tiny monitor
Rugged aluminium enclosure
|
Cons
Pricey, but a solid investment
|
We ranked Mackie HR824 mkII #9 in March 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Old Time Music
|
Pros
Large 8 3/4 -inch LF driver.
Curves make great sound.
Passive radiator design.
Active amplifiers and precision woofer and tweeter.
|
Cons
Maintenance an issue.
Not great for mixing or mastering.
|
PianoDreamers
Best Studio Monitor Under $1000 (for the serious home studios)
|
Pros
Highly accurate
Passive radiator for accurate low-end frequencies
Wide-dispersal of high-end frequencies
|
Cons
A little more expensive
Some people experience longevity issues 4-5 years down the line
|
Music Critic
|
Pros
Class A/B amplifiers so that you can hear the highs and the lows simultaneously.
The 8.75" woofer that you get with this studio monitor enables you to get a sound that is high-precision and low-distortion at the same time.
|
We ranked PreSonus Eris E.45 #10 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked PreSonus Eris E.45 as #1.
Gearank
The Best Cheap Studio Monitors Under $100
|
Pros
Neutral sound and clear high end
Includes useful accessories
Many input options
Lightweight and portable
|
Cons
Limited headroom
Limited bass response, slightly congested mids
Pots get scratchy after a while
|
PianoDreamers
Best Studio Monitor Under $200 (for beginner studios)
|
Pros
Easy to tweak the sound
Acoustic switch
Multiple I/O
|
Cons
Bass may be a bit weak
Some might find the highs a little harsh
|
We ranked Adam Audio A7V #11 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Adam Audio A7V as #1.
PianoDreamers
BEST STUDIO MONITORS UNDER $1000 (FOR THE SERIOUS HOME STUDIOS)
|
Pros
Great transient response
High-end sounds crisp and clean
Front bass ports and front panel controls
|
Cons
A little more expensive than other monitors on this list
May take a while to get used to if you have listened to other monitors
|
Careers In Music
|
Pros
Versatile
Sonically clean and precise
|
Cons
Expensive
Probably too powerful for smaller rooms
|
We ranked Adam Audio A7X #12 in March 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Old Time Music
|
Pros
Huge frequency range.
Award winner.
Great depth of sound.
Expressive and sensitive sound reproduction.
|
Cons
Expensive.
Best in a small studio.
|
We ranked PreSonus Eris E3.5 #13 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked PreSonus Eris E3.5 as #1.
Gearank
The Best Cheap Studio Monitor Under $100
|
Pros
Surprisingly good sound for critical listening
Great treble response
Portable
Tight bass
|
Cons
Cheap build
Low end lacking
|
Music Radar
Affordable nearfield monitors that are an ideal upgrade from laptop speakers
|
Pros
Great value
EQ tuning
|
Cons
Bass reproduction comes up short at volume
|
We ranked Focal Solo6 Be #14 in March 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Music Critic
|
Pros
W composite sandwich cone gives you unparalleled frequency response.
Has an inverted-dome tweeter to provide you with the utmost of precision and high efficiency.
It also comes equipped with a potentiometer so that you can easily adjust the tweeter and woofer levels according to your liking.
|
We ranked Kali Audio LP-6 #15 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Careers In Music
|
Pros
Superb improvements
low noise
Look great
Well priced
|
Cons
Less controls than some
|
We ranked Dynaudio BM5 mkIII #16 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Old Time Music
|
Pros
Broad frequency.
Great SPL and dynamic range.
Drivers are hand-made.
Relatively light.
|
Cons
Sound can be too bright or harsh.
Long travel time from Denmark.
|
We ranked IK Multimedia iLoud MTM #17 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Music Radar
The best home studio monitors if you're looking for an all-rounder
|
Pros
Affordable and compact
In-built calibration system
Perfect for home studios
|
Cons
Possibly lost in a large control room
|
Careers In Music
|
Pros
Great for small rooms
Versatile
Self-tuning
Good value
|
Cons
Not enough power for larger rooms
Could be lacking in bass
|
We ranked Focal Shape 65 #18 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Music Radar
Best mid-priced nearfields
|
Pros
Passive radiators give you flexibility
Rear EQ controls
Easily tweaked to your room
|
Cons
Automatic bypass function
|
We ranked Genelec M040 #19 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Old Time Music
|
Pros
Amplifiers optimized and high functioning.
Compensates for each new room environment.
Laminar Integrated Port Technology.
Compact, 6.5-inch woofer.
|
Cons
Not as large a frequency response range as the Yamahas.
Hard to find.
|
Music Critic
|
Pros
It is a near-field studio monitor that is good for rear uses as well.
Has an extended frequency response.
Phenomenal value for money.
|
We ranked IK Multimedia iLoud Micro #20 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Music Radar
Best studio monitors with a portable 2-way design
|
Pros
On-board 56-bit DSP
Bluetooth
Portable
|
Cons
No battery-powering option
|
Popular Science
Best portable
|
Pros
Built-in DSP
Bluetooth
Weighs less than 4 pounds
|
Cons
Controls are all on rear panel
No battery power option
Limited bass by design
|
We ranked Genelec 8030C #21 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Gearank
The Best Studio Monitors under $1000
|
Pros
Extremely clear transient response
Neutral sound signature helps mix translation
Topnotch build quality
Waveguide provides a wide sweet spot
|
Cons
None aside from price
|
PianoDreamers
Best Studio Monitor Under $1000 (for the serious home studios)
|
Pros
Clean sounding and incredibly accurate
Durable and reliable
Solid
|
Cons
Only XLR inputs
|
We ranked Mackie CR3-XBT #22 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Studio Monitors” rankings.
Music Radar
Affordable offering from the studio specialists
|
Pros
Wide range of connections
Look great
|
Cons
No attenuation controls
|
Popular Science
Best budget
|
Pros
Loud for its size
Flexible inputs
Includes workstation software and plug-ins
|
Cons
Bass distorts at moderate volume levels
No DSP/tuning
Distinctive visual design (though may be a pro, depending on user)
|