When it comes to the production of music there are a ton of different things to keep in mind. One is what type of studio monitors you need to help make the most of your studio and of the space that you have been given. There are thousands of studio monitors out there and each has its own unique attributes that make it different from the rest.

What are Studio Monitors?

Studio monitors, though they might seem like a typical speaker and might look like a typical speaker are far from it. These are designed to work with music and sound editing apps, they are designed as active speakers rather than passive, and they are designed to provide the highest playback quality possible. What is an active speaker?

Studio monitors, with very few exceptions, are “active” or “powered” speakers, which means the power amplifier is built into the speaker cabinet.

So you have to connect it to a line source with a volume control, i.e. an audio interface or a dedicated monitor controller. Studio monitors are not like your typical at home speakers that simply plug in and go. They need the help of the other elements of the studio like a dedicated controller to work properly.

Is Price Reflective of Quality?

  • Technical extras and advantages
  • Quality
  • Durability

There are tons of advantages to using a higher quality monitor and one is that you are going to get a higher quality sound and a more durable speaker that is going to do what you want it to do no matter what. Though it might seem like you are spending too much money the higher the price often means the higher the overall quality and the more extras you are going to be getting. Some extras you might get are things like extra special design features, more control panel options, and more. Though you may not need a hugely expensive speaker monitor at home for your personal studio, if you are doing any sort of professional mixing you likely need a higher quality speaker monitor. The overall quality also depends on brand but often times name brand does cost a bit more.

Do You Need the Best Studio Monitors?

One of the most expensive speaker monitors on the market today is the ADAM S7A MK2. This speaker monitor sells for a cool $25,000. If you are not a professional that has money coming in from your production jobs you are likely not going to need this type of speaker in any capacity. This speaker is made to be ultralight, has a tweeter, has a four way system, linear frequency response, and so much more. For those that are serious about sound production and are serious about making music, this is a serious speaker monitor for serious users. For those that are looking into going into the business or that already have a thriving business, it is easy to justify spending this much money on a speaker monitor. For those that just use it as a weekend hobby, you may want to build your way up to this type of investment.