This buyer’s guide is specifically geared towards individuals looking for reference monitors. These pieces of audio equipment are not computer speakers nor something you could find for $100 at Best Buy. Rather, reference monitors are manufactured with a greater number of superior parts so you can hear the difference between a professional recording and something which was done by your friends.
Studio Monitor Types
Active
An active studio monitor has a built-in amplifier to power the speaker, making them heavier but more cost-effective than a passive monitor. The biggest downside to active monitors is they don’t sound as clean as a passive monitor; however, as amplifier technology advances the difference between the two continues to narrow.
Passive
A passive studio monitor needs to be powered by an external amplifier. These monitors are lighter and generally sound better because they’re using an external power source. Purchasing all these components separately can be expensive so you generally only see passive monitors in high-end professional studios.
Monitor Parts
Cone
The cone is the large circular part on the front of the monitor responsible for projecting most of the audio you hear. It generally handles mid-range frequencies to as low as 40Hz.
Tweeter
The tweeter is the small circular part on the front of the monitor and handles all the high-end frequencies. There is usually some sort of cage or a crosshatch of thin metal bars over top of the tweeter to protect the fragile cone portion.
Weight
The heavier a monitor is, the better it will handle large amounts of sound which causes vibrations that can potentially loosen vital parts over time. Therefore a studio monitor which is well put together is going to weigh significantly more.
Sizing
When discussing a monitor’s size, most engineers will refer to them by the cone’s dimension. Depending on the manufacturer, you can obtain monitors with cones anywhere from 3 to 15 inches with the most popular dimensions being 5, 8, and 12 inches respectively.
In general, larger speakers are better than smaller speakers but you should also take the size of your room into account.
For example, if the room is smaller than 9’x11’ you would want to go with smaller monitors to match the acoustic space. Conversely, giant speakers in a smaller room will do no better than smaller speakers.
Choosing the right speakers all depends on how much you’re willing to spend as well as the size of your room; the more space you have, the more room you have for details within the frequency spectrum which results in a better sound.
Controls
Versatility is another consideration when purchasing studio monitors. This is commonly expressed in terms of the controls you have available on the back of the speaker.
Many monitors will come with standard EQ controls such as a low cut and high trim switches along with an output control and two different input jacks (XLR and ¼”).
Another control you may want to look for is called “room control” but you may also see it labeled as “acoustic space”. This feature allows you to fine tune the output of your speakers to accommodate the size of your room.
Studio monitors generally have a flat response across the frequency spectrum which helps the listener in locating any issues in the sound mix. You may ask why there is a need for all the EQ controls since monitors generally have a flat response. This is because variously-sized rooms react to sound differently and depending on the size and the angles in the room, you may have to make slight EQ adjustments.