6 Best Studio Monitors for 2023
"When you're the guy who sits in the studio, studio monitors should be your 2nd pair of ears. They are the tools that tell you what's good and what's not..."
With this blog post, our goal is to show some studio monitors for any budget ranging from 0-2000 USD dollars (FOR PAIR). Here are the ones we'll talk about in this blog:
1. ADAM Audio T7V ($0-$500 range)
2. Yamaha HS5 ($0-$500 range)
3. Focal Alpha 80 EVO ($500-$1000 range)
4. Genelec 8030c ($500-$1000 range)
5. Adam Audio A77H (+- $2000)
6. Focal Solo 6 BE (+- $2000)
Please consider that these prices might change/changed over time!
1. Adam Audio T7V
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If you follow us for a while, you probably know how much we love ADAM Audio and we own monitors from them! Their build quality, sound and overall quality is unmatched!
The T7V is a two-way studio monitor designed for vertical use in a nearfield application. The T7V features a 7” woofer that provides bass extension down to 39 Hz, while the U-ART tweeter’s diaphragm provides pristine and extended high-frequency response up to 25 kHz – virtually unheard of in monitors in this price range. The U-ART tweeter is fitted to a precision waveguide with the same dispersion-control attributes as the High Frequency Propagation (HPS) waveguide used in ADAM Audio’s flagship S Series studio monitors. The waveguide’s highly uniform dispersion of high frequencies provides an incredibly wide sweet spot that frees you from being glued to a rigid mix position while working. On the rear side of the T7V’s beveled cabinet, a rear-firing bass reflex port joins a sturdy metal backplate that’s home to the analog input connections. The U-ART tweeter is powered by a 20 W Class-D amp, while a 50 W Class-D amp serves the woofer. These new powerhouses yield an impressive maximum of 110 dB SPL per pair. The wide frequency response, high dynamic range, excellent transient response, wide sweet spot and small footprints make the T7V perfectly suited for use in small control rooms for music production, video post-production and broadcast production – a great fit for the modest budgets that many facilities need to work with.
Specifications:
- U-ART tweeter 7"
- Woofer Inputs: XLR & RCA
- HPS Waveguide
- Amplifier Power: Tweeter 20 W [RMS], Woofer 50 W [RMS]
- Frequency Response: 39 Hz - 25 kHz
- Max. Peak SPL per Pair: 110 dB
- HF and LF Cut/Boost ± 2 dB
2. Yamaha HS5
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The Yamaha HS5 will surely help to make a better sounding mixes! These monitors are nearfield too with those iconic white coned woofers that you can easily spot on in multiple studios around the world. The brand itself continued building and developing their monitors, resulting in HS series monitors with newly designed bi-amplified drivers and scientifically ported enclosures that deliver amazing accuracy and low coloration.
Specifications:
- 5" Woofer (45 W) + 1" Tweeter (25 W)
- 70 W biamp
- Bass reflex system
- Frequency range: 54 Hz - 30 kHz
- XLR input, balanced
- 6.3 mm jack input, balanced
- Adjustable input level
- Room control and high trim response control
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 170 x 285 x 222 mm
3. Focal Alpha 80 EVO
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Alpha 80 EVO are the next series of studio monitors available on the market. If you remember the old Focal 80s, you already can imagine the quality 80 EVO is ready to offer. The Alpha 80 Evo design leverages cutting-edge materials and engineering to advance the state of the art in studio monitoring. This compact active 2-way monitor employs a 1-inch aluminum tweeter and an 8-inch woofer with a Slatefiber cone developed and handcrafted in Focal’s Saint-Étienne, France-based facility. Powered by 115 watts of optimized Class D bi-amplification and engineered to deliver flat tonal balance and outstanding dynamic range, the Alpha 80 Evo is designed from the ground up for improved performance over previous-generation Alpha monitors. The Focal Alpha 80 Evo is a versatile, robust speaker system that will complement your modern production environment and provide the honest, accurate monitoring you need to produce world-class results.
Specifications:
- Optimized LF extension, dynamic range, and sheer impact
- Frequency response: 38Hz–22kHz (+/- 3dB)
- Maximum SPL: 106dB SPL (peak @ 1 m)
- Mid-/low-frequency amplifier: 80W, Class D
- High-frequency amplifier: 35W, Class D
- Wide dispersion for accurate sound throughout the room
- HF/LF shelving optimizes the system for any acoustic environment
- Slatefiber cone handcrafted in France: sonic neutrality, no distortion
- Identical tonal balance at both low and high volume
- Connect up to 3 audio sources
- Balanced XLR, TRS, and unbalanced RCA inputs
- Automatic standby mode after 15 minutes of inactivity
- Inserts for wall fastening; protective grilles included
4. Genelec 8030c
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It's very simple, get Genelec 8030C active studio monitors and say goodbye forever to inaccurate sound and mixes that never seem to translate to consumer devices. Genelec upgraded their popular nearfield with more power, higher SPL capability, and lower energy consumption. When it comes to mixing music and producing professional audio, there's no replacement for quality monitors. The 8030C delivers focused and precise sound with exceptional stereo imaging and directionality, as well as remarkably deep bass for its size. You'll hear dimensional nuances in your mixes you never even realized were there! In addition, it features advanced technology like built-in Iso-Pod decoupling and ISS power management.
Specifications:
- Compact, versatile nearfield monitor for project studios, workstations, and surround components
- Special low distortion 5" woofer and 3/4" metal dome tweeter deliver fantastic clarity
- Separate 50-watt bass and treble amplifiers ensure consistent power distribution
- Minimum Diffraction Enclosure delivers focused nearfield sound
- Directivity Control Waveguide enhances dimensional imaging
- High-performance reflex port design delivers extended lows
- High audio output plus low distortion equals killer clarity
- Versatile mounting options include special Iso-Pod stand
- Protected by Genelec's ISS power management system
- Linear frequency range: 54 Hz - 20,000 Hz (+/-2 dB)
- Maximum SPL: 110 dB (peak per pair with music material at 1 m distance)
- 5" Woofers 3/4" Metal dome tweeter with DCW
- Bass reflex housing made of aluminium
- Amplifier output: 50 W + 50 W
- Active crossover and effective protection circuits
- On/Off automatic
- XLR input
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 285 x 189 x 178 mm
- Height with Iso-Pod: 299 mm
5. ADAM Audio A77H
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I have to say honestly that ADAM Audio "killed it" with these ones! The way these sound is just pure joy to your ears! Everything from their build quality, look, sound is just on a whole new level, and I personally think that they're cheap for what they actually offer! I've heard more expensive studio monitors that can't even compare to the quality of the A77H! This powered 3-way midfield monitor is the cutting-edge descendant of the fan-favorite A77X. The A77H comes outfitted with a robust horizontal cabinet loaded with two 7-inch woofers, a 3.5-inch midrange driver, and an X-ART ribbon tweeter. Together, the drivers deliver rock-solid imaging with superb clarity and definition across its ultra-wide frequency range. Users will enjoy easy setup, courtesy of onboard DSP-based tuning capabilities. The Adam Audio A77H delivers an astonishingly wide frequency response, impressive clarity, and a rich, enveloping sweet spot.
Specifications:
- Tweeter: Rotatable X- ART Tweeter + HPS Waveguide
- Midrange Driver: 3.5” MLM midrange driver
- Midrange Voice Coil Ø: 33 mm / 1.3”
- Woofer: 2x 7" MLM mid-woofer Woofer Voice Coil Ø: 38 mm / 1.5”
- AD convertor: 24-bit
- Internal sample rate: 96 kHz
- Amplifier power RMS: 250 W (Woofer) + 70 W (Midrange Driver) 20 W (Tweeter)
- Crossover frequency: 400Hz – 3.0 kHz
- Power rating: 500 W max
- Analog Inputs (balanced): 1x XLR
- Analog Inputs (unbalanced): 1x RCA
- Cabinet Height x Width x Depth: 236 mm x 531 mm x 350 mm [9 1/4" x 20 7/8" x 13 3/4"]
- AC Input Voltage: 100 - 240V, 50/60 Hz
6. Focal Solo 6 BE
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The Solo6 Be monitor will surprise you in the very first minutes you spend with it, partly due to its size/extended bass response (40Hz at -3dB). The 6.5" “W” composite sandwich mid-woofer combines neutrality in the midrange, fullness in the midbass register and bass control. Its compactness and the choice of a large front laminar port guarantee easy integration in studios that need a near field monitor without any acoustic compromise. The user settings on the back of the Solo6 Be, combined with its compactness, make it easy to carry and to adjust according to the acoustics of each studio.
Specifications:
- Frequency range: 40 - 40,000 Hz +/- 2 dB
- SPL Max.: 113 dB (peak @ 1 m)
- Biamping: LF-Stage 150 W RMS, BASH Technology, HF-stage 100 W RMS
- Amplifier: Class AB
- Bass/Midrange: "W-Cone" Focal 6W4370 6.5'' speaker
- Tweeter: Focal TBE Pro Beryllium inverted dome tweeter
- Magnetically shielded
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 240 x 290 x 330 mm
- Colour: Red Burr Ash
- Speaker size 1x 6,5"
- Amplifier power per unit (RMS) 150 W
- Magnetic Shielding Yes
- Analogue XLR Input Yes
- Analogue Input (Jack) No
- Analogue Input (Mini Jack) No
- Analogue Input (RCA) No
- Digital input No
- Manual frequency correction Yes
Conclusion:
If you're asking which ones are our favorites, our choice will always be ADAM Audio! The quality they give compared to the price can be matched by anyone else! This is not because we work with them, but because we actually own their monitors and because we use them daily! We listened to all these monitors individually before actually typing anything about them, so this is just our honest opinion!If you want to add a recommendation for the future blog post and get featured on, feel free to reach to our DM on Instagram or use our e-mail address: marko@md3sign.com
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