One of the most important components you’ll need when building your own home recording studio is a studio monitor, which is basically a speaker that produces accurate, high-quality sound to aid you in mixing, recording, and making sure that your tracks sound good on all platforms.
Serious audio engineers and producers would say that purchasing professional-quality monitors is an important investment, but it’s not that easy when you’re just starting out or working with a budget. Fortunately, there are plenty of options out there that’ll fit your budget while still providing you with good quality sound.
Check out our list of affordable studio monitors that are sure to meet your audio needs (and your budget):
Best Budget Studio Monitors
The price range of today’s studio monitors range from under $100 to way over $1,600. In this article, you’ll find the best, most reliable studio monitors on the market that’s under $300, under $200, and—believe it or not—under $100.
Under $300
PreSonus Eris E5, , pair (Shop Now)
Despite being rather unknown, the Presonus Eris E5 is worth the (minor) investment. They generate tighter and more precise bass tones compared to other entry-level studio monitors and have a “soft startup” feature that keeps the monitors from producing those loud pops or bangs in the circuitry when it switches on and off.
With its acoustic tuning control, you can ensure optimum sound accuracy in any room. And using the acoustic space setting, you can adjust its low frequency response to ensure accurate playback anywhere in your studio.
On top of all these unique features, these near-field monitors provide incredible audio clarity and are elegantly designed with a minimalistic body and sizeable 5.25-inch cone.
Key Specifications:
- 70 Watts Class AB Bi-Amplification
- 5.25-Inch Kevlar Low Frequency Woofer
- 1-Inch High Frequency Tweeter
- 53 Hz to 22 kHz Frequency Response
- Maximum Sound Pressure Level of 102dB
- Resonance-Suppressing Internal Bracing
- Acoustic Tuning Controls
- Acoustic Space Settings
- Output Current and Overheat Protection
- XLR, 1/4-Inch TRS, and RCA Inputs
Avantone MixCube, (Shop Now)
The Avantone Pro Active MixCube makes a great secondary set for your primary studio monitors. It is specifically designed to emulate lower quality laptop and phone speakers, so you can use it to check how the tracks will sound on your listeners’ everyday devices.
Because it’s perfect for testing out your material for distribution, you’ll definitely need to consider getting this for your studio.
Key Specifications:
- 60 Watts Class AB Amplification
- 90Hz to 17000Hz Frequency Response
- Mid-Range Frequency Studio Referencing
- Accepts Balanced and Unbalanced Signals
- Variable Gain Control
- Ground Lift Switch
- Mountable to 5/8″-27 Thread Mic Stands
- Combo XLR/TRS Input
Under $200
PreSonus Eris E4.5, , pair (Shop Now)
The PreSonus Eris E4.5 are among the best home near-field studio monitors available in its price range. Despite being relatively affordable and compact, these speakers deliver clear, crisp, high-quality sound similar to other more expensive studio monitors. They also have three different types of audio inputs for connecting to a mixer, an interface, a media player, and any other line-level source, which makes them perfect for studio recording, mixing, and mastering.
Just like the E5, the E4.5 has acoustic tuning control and acoustic space settings to ensure accurate audio playback in any part of the room. They are also great for desktop gaming, multimedia work, and listening to music with heart-thumping bass beats, thanks to its 4.5-inch Kevlar low frequency transducers.
Key Specifications:
- 25 Watts Class AB Amplification
- 4.5-Inch Kevlar Low Frequency Woofer Cone
- 1-Inch Silk Dome High Frequency Tweeter
- 70 Hz to 20 kHz Frequency Response
- Maximum Sound Pressure Level of 100 dB
- Acoustic Tuning Controls
- Acoustic Space Settings
- RF Interference and Overload Protection
- Heat, Transient, and Subsonic Protection
- 1x Stereo 1/8″, 2x Balanced 1/4″ TRS, and 2x Unbalanced RCA Inputs
KRK ROKIT 5 G3, (Shop Now)
The KRK Rokit 5 G3 will probably look familiar to you as it’s one of the most popular entry-level studio monitors out there. Many go for a pair of these as their first studio monitors because they’re incredibly affordable for a powerful 50W speaker that can meet your mixing, recording, and mastering needs. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to find one like it at the same price point.
As a bi-amped Class A/B amplifier, this 3rd Gen Rokit 5 offers extremely low distortion and large headroom, which is impressive for a small 5-inch monitor. Its multiple audio connectors also provide extended compatibility with a wide variety of music equipment, so you can easily integrate it into your studio.
Key Specifications:
- 50 Watts Class AB Bi-Amplification
- 5-Inch Aramid Glass Composite Low Frequency Woofer
- 1-Inch Soft-Dome High Frequency Tweeter
- 45Hz to 35kHz (-10 dB) Frequency Range
- Maximum Sound Pressure Level of 106 dB
- Proprietary Waveguide
- Low and High Frequency Adjustment
- Front Firing Port
- Low-Resonance Enclosure
- Integrated Foam Pad
- Balanced XLR and TRS / Unbalanced RCA Input Connectors
Under $100
Mackie CR3, , pair (Shop Now)
Don’t be fooled by the price of the Mackie CR3. These multimedia studio monitors have been dubbed the best studio monitors of 2018 for its high studio-quality sound, professional audio performance, and compact, sturdy wood design—for just under $100.
They boast of a true studio monitor waveguide system, 50W of power and silk dome tweeters for clear, smooth highs and deeper lows, multiple audio connectors (including an aux input that allows you to connect it to mobile devices), angled isolation pads that can be tilted to control sound focus, and many more. Overall, these versatile speakers offer a full-range listening experience for home studios, multimedia works, gaming, and even just for your personal listening enjoyment.
Key Specifications:
- 50 Watts Bi-Amped Class AB Amplification
- 3-Inch Polypropylene-Coated Low Frequency Woofer
- 0.75-Inch Silk Dome High Frequency Tweeter
- 80 to 20,000 Hz (-3 dB) / 70 to 20,000 Hz (-10 dB) Frequency Response
- Maximum Sound Pressure Level of 97 dB
- Custom-Tuned Rear Port Tube
- LED Power Ring Around Volume Knob
- Stereo Headphone Output
- Plug Mobile Device Into Front Panel
- Passive Second Speaker Terminals
- Balanced/Unbalanced 1/4″ TRS, 1/8″ TRS, and Unbalanced RCA Inputs
