What Are Studio Monitors? (The Ultimate Guide)

Just like any other speaker, a studio monitor also has the same job. Its output is for music and audio. But still, why do people prefer studio monitors over normal speakers? Studio monitors are designed for monitoring the sound of a mix in studio environments and are, therefore, intended to represent the authentic sound of the audio.

Think about a very high-quality speaker that you use at home for listening to songs or, say, your home theatre system. They provide great sound, don’t they?

Now, multiply that sound quality by several times. That’s how much more accurate a studio monitor is when it comes to playing the exact original sound. Studio monitors have usually powered speakers with power amplifiers built into the cabinet.

So, when a sound engineer is working on a music track at his studio, it’s important and evident for him to understand and feel every single beat accurately. No high-quality speaker can ensure that better than a studio monitor. Monitors are used by almost all professional producers and audio engineers.

That’s the use of a studio monitor. To listen to accurate sounds and provide the best quality result out of studio/audio production. That is why studio monitors are so important. The flat response assists engineers when mixing so that they do not add additional bass, treble, or other frequencies. Since studio monitors are used for the production aspects of audio products, it is safe to say that a regular speaker is used for the consumption of audio products.

From the perspective of a listener, this point may be debatable. That’s because standard speakers are designed for listening. The sounds they produce are often boosted and colorized, making them listener-friendly. However, with studio monitors, the quality of output remains the same regardless of the type of speaker a listener uses.

Difference Between Hi-Fi Speakers And Studio Monitors

It’s often thought that you can replace a studio monitor with a hi-fi speaker and vice versa. But that idea is not right. You can’t do that because these two types of speakers are made to serve two different purposes. Also, studio monitors are made in a more physically robust manner than home hi-fi loudspeakers; whereas home hi-fi loudspeakers often only have to reproduce.

You can’t really replace one with another. That’s why they are so different from each other. While Hi-Fi Speakers are designed to project sounds throughout a room, all that matters is the listeners’ subjective impression. Most music consumers, therefore, prefer speakers that seem to enhance their listening experience. Studio monitors have been crafted with short distances in mind.

Powered speakers may be useful for a living room, den, or outside area, studio monitors are great for bedrooms, studios, and smaller areas—as they prevent these rooms from enhancing, or reducing, each sound’s true frequency. We can talk about several differences. Let’s point out three major differences between hi-fi speakers and studio monitors.

1. Different types of usage: Both have very different usage. They serve two different purposes. Hi-fi speakers use for the home audio system and are made in a way that they produce high-end audio that would soothe your ears when you’re listening to songs or watching a cinema on your home tv. But a studio monitor lives to find out problems in a perfect tune or a song. So, it’s supposed to sound pretty bad in a way because it looks for sonic technical issues. Wouldn’t it make sense to use the same kind of hi-fi speakers for monitoring and mixing? Yet recording professionals prefer dedicated monitor speakers for studio work. Here’s why!
2. Projection difference: Hi-fi speakers have this specific need to have a very surround sound. But on the other hand, studio monitors don’t really focus on surround sound. So, the projection of the two speakers is very different according to their purpose.
3. Sound difference: Hi-fi speakers don’t have amplifiers. To amp the sound, you need to add an extra amplifier to it. But studio monitors, the active ones, have amplifiers built-in and utilize a crossover system. So, the sound itself is different in both speakers. But how could listening to a perfect recording tell you anything about a speaker’s ability to reveal flaws? As a result, you may end up buying the pair of speakers that sounds the most impressive.

Can You Use HiFi Speakers As Studio Monitors?

Yes, you can use HiFi speakers as studio monitors, but they may not provide the most accurate sound for your studio setups. Home speakers are typically not designed for studio use, so they may not produce the same quality of sound as studio monitors – kinda covered in the points above, but studio monitors are designed to have a flat, precise sound for near-field use.

However, if you’re just starting out and don’t have the budget for professional studio monitors, HiFi speakers can be a good option. Just be aware that you may need to upgrade to studio monitors eventually if you want the most accurate sound possible for your studio setups.

Studio Monitor vs. Studio Headphone

The comparison is not an ideal one but as people often ask this, let’s get to know this as well.

People use headphones to cancel out the outside noises. But to be honest, the room acoustics are good for creating better quality sounds.

The room acoustics provide many aggressive sound waves and help you to find out serious issues in audio. Whereas headphones provide a much smoother experience. The main difference between a studio monitor and a  headphone is the attention to precision. Studio monitors are built to produce a very flat frequency so that sound engineers can hear tiny details in a mix. A mix could sound great in headphones, but horrible on monitors.

So, for different types of audio, you need both of them. But studio monitors are preferred. Because monitors are designed for monitoring the sound of a mix in studio environments and are, therefore, intended to represent the authentic sound of the audio. Still, you can give it a shot to the headphones. Yes, you can, with practice. We have heard many excellent mixes made with a cheap pair of PC speakers and a good set of headphones. Headphones are like magnifying glasses for your sound.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the important features to look for in a studio monitor.

Do I Need An Amplifier For My Studio Monitors?

If you’re wondering whether or not you need an amplifier for your studio monitors, the answer depends on a few factors. If you’re using active monitors, they likely have a built-in amplifier so that you won’t need an external one. However, if you’re using passive speakers, you will need an amplifier to power them.

The same goes for if you’re using an audio interface with passive speakers – you’ll need an amplifier to boost the signal. Ultimately, it comes down to what type of setup you have and what type of monitors you’re using. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to consult with a professional or do some research to figure out what will work best for your home studio.

Important Features To Look For In Studio Monitors

Pros & Cons Of Studio Monitors

 It’s generally favorable to use studio monitors if you’re recording, mixing, or mastering. Now, let’s have a look at some pros and cons of a studio monitor.

Pros:

For these reasons, studio monitors are great for critical listening, recording, radio studios, and even television. Studio monitors are also the best option for mixing, editing and mastering audio to a professional degree.

Cons:

• Expensive setup
• Complicated
• Sometimes not suitable for home use

Studio monitors tend to be geared toward professionals, they may not be accessible to regular music lovers.

How To Choose The Best Studio Monitor?

There are many things to consider before buying the best studio monitor for yourself. Determining the perfect pair of studio monitors for your studio can make for a difficult choice. Let’s talk about them briefly.

Active Or Passive Monitors

There are also “Active” and “Passive” monitors. Passive monitors require you to plug in your speaker with an appropriate amplifier and crossover. An active monitor has everything already included inside (the amplifier is built into the monitor), so all you have to do is plug it into the source.

The choice depends totally on your preferences. Active speakers offer some advantages. Being active, studio monitors feature multiple power amps within single units. Therefore, the woofer, mid-range speaker, and tweeter cones each get powered individually.

The result is a more precise sound since the woofer, which usually requires a lot of power, doesn’t take energy away from the other speakers. Active monitors don’t give you the choice of creating your own setup with external amps – with active speakers, particularly studio monitors, you tend to have multiple power amps in one unit. Whereas passive monitors give you that.

Also, there’s a notable price margin and some other trade-offs while choosing anything. If you want to create your own setup and save some cash, go for passive monitors. Home stereo speakers are usually passive. And if you don’t think wasting time to set up is not worth the money, you can get active monitors and reduce your work.

Along with active and passive, There are also “near-field” and “far-field” monitors. Near-field monitors are designed for listening at close distances. They typically sit on stands or on a desk. With your head when you’re listening to them. The distance between the two monitors also needs to be the same distance from your head.

Near-Field, Mid-Field, Or Far-Field

There are studio monitors designed for mid-field or far-field use as well. You’ve to determine between near-field, mid-field, and far-field design depending on your room size, listening distance, and acoustic treatment of your room. Every Dynamic sound system has these measurement components.

This measurement is the one that you should pay close attention to when looking for a studio monitor. The lower the number, the better, most studio monitors may not even put this label on their speakers because the measurement is so low (which would be a good thing) – kinda covered in the points above, but studio monitors are designed to have a flat, precise sound for nearfield use.

Single Amp, Bi-Amp, Or Tri-Amp

Bi amps and tri amps provide much flatter sounds than single amps. If you think that a single amp is enough for you to get your job done, you don’t need to choose the rest. But if you prefer more accuracy on the job, go for a bi-amp or tri-amp and the Yamaha HS8 is one of the best in the business.

Power Watt

Different instruments require you to have a different wattage to cover their sound frequencies. So, take note of the instruments used in the audio you’ll be working on, and get a studio monitor with power compatibility.

EQ And Room Correction

To provide a better experience and cancel out the room acoustics, some studio monitors now come with built-in EQ and room correction options. The sound of the room will also have a big impact on what you hear. You should consider these features while buying a studio monitor. And also consistency is another reason that makes studio monitors worthwhile.

Final Verdict

So, these are the things there’s to know about studio monitors. If you have gone through the whole article, now you know what studio monitors are, their history, typology, usage, pros & cons, the difference with other types of audio outputs, and finally, how to buy a studio monitor. A good pair of studio monitors is a near must-have for music lovers and sound engineers, respectively.

With this knowledge, you can now determine whether you need a studio monitor or not and also which studio monitor is best for you. Of course, it’s a good idea to monitor your mixes on as many different playback systems as possible to ensure the mix sounds good across all listening environments. Studio monitors are intended to be the most accurate transducers but are rarely employed by end-users (listeners). Make your own decision. All I’m going to say is a studio monitor is a good investment. Make it count.