If you have spent several hours making music in your house or a studio, you will agree with me that using the best studio monitors for guitar has its importance. However, you don’t need to get a studio monitor at home or studio use, as there are so many affordable studio monitors on the market.
We all have been there, staying up late at night to work on tracks, and after finishing fine-tuning this track, you are filled with confidence that it will sound excellent. You get disappointed when you play it somewhere else and realize that it doesn’t sound so great like you expected.
If you have ever found yourself in this position, you should consider getting a studio monitor you can rely on at all times. Revealing a true picture of the sound you have created is what a studio monitor does to sounds. Whether you are a professional or amateur, you should be impressed at the possibility of making critical and informed choices on what needs to be changed so you can be confident to play your guitar sounds anywhere.
Since studio monitors production, regular monitors started sounding less pleasant and fatigued than standard Hi-Fi speakers. On the other hand, hi-Fi speakers have an impressive tonal balance that makes music pleasant for average listeners.
Studio monitors do not tell you what elements to improve on alone; they also point you in whatever needs to be fixed. Using a studio monitor comes with several benefits, and improving your skill as a music producer is one of them.
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Buying Guide And Recommendation
If you want to stand your ground in the music industry, you will require a lot of effort. You need to possess raw endurance, patience, talent, and enthusiasm. Of course, having an ear for details is crucial, but you also need to use the right tools that will enable you to view your mixes from any angle.
A studio monitor has many benefits and the importance of any gear you will encounter in a studio setup. For example, studio monitors are an important part of a producer or guitarist set up but picking the right one might be difficult.
Whether you want to use it in a large facility or a small studio setup, you will need a studio monitor to meet your needs and budget.
Top 5 Best Studio Monitors For Guitar Reviews
1. JBL Professional 308P MkII Powered Studio Monitor
Founded by an American audio engineer, the JBL brand is well known for making high-quality products. So you can trust us when we say the JBL Professional 308P studio monitor is a reliable one.
It has a sleek weight and size and possesses some interesting features like 82W bi-amplifiers, frequency range and e, new equalizer settings that make you trust this studio monitor to deliver a resounding performance at low frequencies.
You can trust this JBL studio monitor to do great at a range’s low-end thanks to all of its features, and its low-end range performance ensures it competes with all other high-quality brands like the Yamaha brand.
You can hear all the sound this studio monitor produces as it boasts of delivering sounds with exceptional clarity, and you can rest assured that this studio monitor will pick up sounds most studio monitors won’t pick up.
Producing an impressive sound quality no matter the range makes it stand out from all other studio monitors on the market, yet its amplifiers sometimes fail to produce loud volumes when used in large-sized rooms. Failure to produce enough sounds to fill up large rooms is a significant downside of this studio monitor.
Specification
- Brand – JBL
- Item Weight – 18.9 Pounds
- Color – Black
Key Features
- 112 Total watts of power
- You can use it near magnetic sensitive devices
- 100-hour full-power test for reliability
What We Like
- This studio monitor delivers exceptional sound clarity
- Its design delivers great value for your money
- It features well-balanced mids
What We Don’t Like
- Dimensions are incorrect
- It requires the use of a well-balanced preamp
2. KRK RP5 Rokit G4 Studio Monitor, Black (RP5G4-NA)
Most studio engineers prefer the KRK studio monitor, and this is because it has some unique features that ensure it meets up user standards and expectations. So this is a fourth-generation studio monitor whose design encourages the production of natural tones and clear sounds. At the same time, its price point makes it easily accessible and affordable for everyone.
If you are familiar with the Kevlar material used in a bulletproof vest, you will find something similar in this KRK studio monitor. It features a rigid fiber material designed to create consistent sounds across any frequency range. In addition, thanks o its pre-programmed equalizer settings, you can count on this studio monitor to sound few problems that pop in an acoustic environment.
Visualizing settings is made possible using its LCD. We find the KRK RP5 Rokit studio monitors amazing because it delivers many benefits at an affordable price. Unfortunately, most of the features you find in this affordable studio monitor are mostly found in expensive studio monitors. This tells you you do not have to spend recklessly for a top-performance studio monitor. However, at lower frequencies, do not trust this studio monitor to offer you accurate sounds.
Specifications
- Brand – KRK
- Item Weight – 10.16 Pounds
- Color – Black
Key Features
- Front-firing port
- Aramid fiber drivers
- LCD screen
What We Like
- This studio monitor is very affordable.
- EQ ensures the sound quality is balanced.
- Solid construction
- It is easy to connect.
- Its display is intuitive and simple.
What We Don’t Like
- It sounds flat at the low ends.
- It has limited functionality.
3. Presonus E4 2-Way Near Field Studio Monitor
Interestingly, the Presonus brand is that all their staff comprises musicians, which tells you its production goals and equipment to boost a person’s creativity.
You can show how creative you are with the Presonus E4 two-way near-field studio monitor, which has an ideal and compact design, making it a preferred option for small-sized studios.
However, its amplifier isn’t as powerful as the first two products discussed in this review, but this studio monitor comes with a price tag that makes sure it fits into your budget. However, you won’t be sacrificing much if you go for this studio monitor, and what you will get from it is high-quality sounds.
This studio monitor delivers a lot of punch at low-end frequencies, which you won’t see coming from a small-sized unit. It also boasts of having impressive room tuning control that is mostly seen on expensive studio monitors.
All of its controls career adjusting to various acoustic rooms, Its ability to adjust to various acoustic environments makes it stand out from many studio monitors on the market. Its price point and small size market are ideal for small studios and rooms, but it also emits an electrical humming noise, while its amplifier produces a hand when not in use. These are some of the downsides of this studio monitor.
Specifications
- Brand – Presonus
- Item Weight – 2 Pounds
- Color – Black
Key Features
- 4.5-inch low-frequency Kevlar transducer
- 50-Watts amplification
- RF interference output
What We Like
- This studio monitor delivers an amazing output
- Its sound level is neutral
- It is accurate for the sound stage
- It possesses a professional look
What We Don’t Like
- It comes with mediocre cables
- Its cabinet build feels cheap
4. Neumann KH 120 A – Active Studio Monitor
This is a product from the famous Sennheiser brand, and if you are familiar with this brand, you can attest that they specialize in making reliable and high-quality products.
The Neumann KH 120 A-Active studio monitor isn’t just one of the best studio monitors around, but its design ensures it delivers accurately than other studio monitors on the market. Built to be rugged and compact, you can trust this studio monitor to endure all forms of use without getting damaged.
We find Neumann KH 120 A Active studio monitor outstanding because of its aluminum enclosure, which eliminates unwanted cabinet coloration. Getting rid of unwanted cabinet coloration makes it possible for this studio monitor to retain its professional look.
Producing an incredible flat response, combined with delivering accurate sounds, are what makes this studio monitor stand out from all other studio monitors on the market. Furthermore, this studio monitor features a modeled dispersion waveguide which ensures smooth axis response delivery, and this is one feature you rarely find in every studio monitor on the market.
It comes with output level controls that make its interface easy to understand, despite its various signals. Lastly, this high-quality studio monitor also features class AB analog amplifiers. You can trust this analog amplifier to create an exceptional dynamic range, transient response, and overall impressive output.
Specifications
- Brand – Sennheiser
- Item Weight – 17.5 Pounds
- Color – Anthracite
Key Features
- Electrically balanced impedance
- 3dB free-field frequency
- Crossover slope and frequency
What We Like
- This studio monitor sounds fantastic
- It remains the best option for bass reinforcement
- It offers lots of volume to guitars
- It features a high-quality design
What We Don’t Like
- It has no cons for now
5. Focal Shape 65 Studio Monitor
The Focal Shape 65 Studio monitor, and for those shopping for a studio monitor for guitar on a budget, you will find this studio monitor ideal and functional.
We find interesting shapes, and you can say this studio monitor looks very attractive, thanks to its MDF with black paint. The black paint this studio monitor features a luxurious look, and you can trust this studio monitor to provide that homely look, whether used in a home studio or a large space. In addition, it features a low directivity tweeter that ensures a flexible listening position.
For optimal integration, you can trust its numerous settings to do the trick for you, and this studio monitor guarantees accurate control even in high ends. If you want a studio monitor capable of delivering high performance, then you have found the ideal product.
There are so many interesting features about this studio monitor, and detecting any hissing sound is one of such amazing features. In addition, guitarists are guaranteed to obtain clean, natural, crisp, and clear tones. Lastly, it comes with a bass register design that’s already well-controlled and articulated.
Specifications
- Brand – Focal Shape
- Item Weight – 18.74 Pounds
- Color – Ash
Key Features
- It features a high-quality flax fiber core.
- It comes with a high-performance diaphragm.
- It features a double passive radiator.
What We Like
- It is fun listening to sounds on this studio monitor.
- Its treble and bass are well balanced.
- It has excellent color and tone.
What We Don’t Like
- There are no significant cons.
Factors To Consider When Buying A Studio Monitor
Studio monitor speakers on the market have differences in price, functionality, design, and performance, so picking the one called “the best” isn’t an easy task. However, this guide will point you in the direction of the best five that we have rounded up for you, so you don’t have to go through any stress on the market.
It is also worth exploring all the sizes and shapes that studio monitors come with, but one thing you need to pay attention to is amplification. Studio monitors would need the help of an amplifier because the electrical signals it produces are fairly weak.
The amplifier can be stationed inside active monitors, in the speaker itself, or used externally or separately.
Speaker Layout
A speaker’s layout is also another factor you need to consider when shopping for a studio monitor. A high-quality two-way speaker uses one woofer, which produces low frequencies, while its tweeter produces high frequencies and high mids.
A crossover filter separates these signals, and the filter splits the input into high bands and low bands. The crossover filter is stationed in the mid-range area in other cheaper-priced studio monitors, explaining why several studio monitors possess a four-way or three-way setup.
The purpose of having this speaker setup is to ensure the mid-range frequencies are free from crossovers.
Speaker Size
The size of a speaker matters when shopping for a studio monitor for a guitar. If its monitor is bigger, it will have a higher output and kick out more bass frequencies.
The size of the monitor also depends on the size of your room and its acoustic treatment. For example, if you place a loud studio monitor in a small space, the studio monitor can overload the space.
Listening Distance
A studio monitor’s listening distance is crucial. For example, you can play near-field studio monitors to a person’s ear but in a home studio setup. On the other hand, mid-field studio monitors should be placed a bit further in a larger room.
It will be interesting for you to know that most professional studios feature full-range monitors, but if space ranges from small to medium, stick with a near-field studio monitor.
How To Connect Studio Monitors
If you intend to use studio monitors, you might have some worries over connecting these speakers. Studio monitors come with USB, digital, phono, XLR, or jack connections. You can use any of these options to connect directly to your computer or audio interface. Still, if the interface you use features balanced outputs, you should consider going for a monitor with a jack or XLR outputs.
Going for XLR or jack outputs on a studio ensures noise reduction. On the other hand, passive monitors require sending computer output or interface to an amplifier before connecting to monitors. Active studio monitors come with adequate control levels, and equalizer controls are common.
Wrapping It Up
We have gotten to the end of this review, and we hope that we have shown you how important studio monitors are. It is vital for listeners, engineers, instrumentalists, producers, and anyone interested in making music.
We also hope that we have answered all of your questions regarding studio monitors, but there is always a lot to learn about studio monitors. There are videos on the internet you can check out for more knowledge, and it doesn’t matter whether you are shopping on a budget or looking for a high-quality studio monitor.
Every product mentioned in this review fits the description, but ensure you take your time to read about all of them so you can make up your mind on the product you want.
