Best Budget Studio Monitors

[General Klinger]

Just got my fancy powered standing desk and have room to get a pair of Studio Monitor's. I've been eyeing the PreSonus 4.5's for months now, but was wondering if there's anything better. Doesn't need to be powered, I was also eyeing a separate power amp if needed (Link below for curiosity sake)

I did look at the Yamaha 5series monitors, but those are $200 a piece.

https://audioengineusa.com/shop/amplifiers/n22-desktop-audio-amplifier/

[Chris]

Just get normal monitors. HS-whatever-your-budget-allows.

I have HS80's and have had them for 10+ years now. I crank the fuuuuuuuck out of them all the time and they have always been awesome. I'd get HS5's if that was my price point.

Below that, KRKs.

[Nick]

Hold out for used yamahas they are great monitors and well worth waiting for. Also they come up used all the time so I assume they will over there too.

[General Klinger]

Just get normal monitors. HS-whatever-your-budget-allows.

I have HS80's and have had them for 10+ years now. I crank the fuuuuuuuck out of them all the time and they have always been awesome. I'd get HS5's if that was my price point.

Below that, KRKs.

WIth the Yamaha's, since they are powered, I assume I don't need a separate external power amp? Can just connect them to my iMac? Also, do you have a sub, or do they crank enough that I don't need a sub?

[Chris]

WIth the Yamaha's, since they are powered, I assume I don't need a separate external power amp? Can just connect them to my iMac? Also, do you have a sub, or do they crank enough that I don't need a sub?

I have the HS80s which are 8". I'm not good enough to mix with a sub so I don't bother, but they can take one.

Ideally you'd connect them to an interface of some kind. They are powered, and there's no reason you couldn't just use a 1/8" stereo Y cable out of the headphone jack to them.

[Nick]

I have the 5s and you do not need a sub unless you are recording/mixing in a space age level flat room. I actually had to roll the bass off on mine as they are a bit close to the wall.

[General Klinger]

Ughhh, fine! Yamaha HS5's it is I just won't tell my wife what I paid

[Nick]

You won't be dissapointed they are great

[Budda]

Ughhh, fine! Yamaha HS5's it is I just won't tell my wife what I paid

Go used, save some cash.

[desertdweller]

Ughhh, fine! Yamaha HS5's it is I just won't tell my wife what I paid

If you haven't pulled the trigger yet, Adam Audio makes some amazing monitors and they're not terribly expensive. $250 each buys you their T7V7s, and they're phenomenal.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/T7V--adam-audio-t7v-7-inch-powered-studio-monitor

If you're getting new monitors, make sure to get stand-offs as well. These are expensive, but I have a pair of these IsoAcoustics and they're worth every penny:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ISO200--isoacoustics-iso-200-isolation-stands-for-studio-monitors-pair

[General Klinger]

If you're getting new monitors, make sure to get stand-offs as well. These are expensive, but I have a pair of these IsoAcoustics and they're worth every penny:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-monitors-pair

What do the stands accomplish that a pair of $20 foam sound pads off Amazon can do? Curious

[desertdweller]

What do the stands accomplish that a pair of $20 foam sound pads off Amazon can do? Curious

1- better isolation than foam.
2- you can aim them up or down so the monitors can be pointed right at your ears, regardless of desk height.

I upgraded from foam to the iso stands this past year and find music is clearer.

[Chris]

Rather than drop an extra $120 on stand he'd be better off moving to bigger monitors. I use the foam stuff only when I'm mixing. The other 99.9% of the time I just have my monitors sitting on a bookcase.

[spilla]

Budget but still fucking great: HS8/HS5 or the Equator D5's. I personally prefer the D5's having tried both, i have a small/med room.

[desertdweller]

Rather than drop an extra $120 on stand he'd be better off moving to bigger monitors. I use the foam stuff only when I'm mixing. The other 99.9% of the time I just have my monitors sitting on a bookcase.

You make up your own mind. For me, it's night and day, the IsoAcoustic pads are so much better at removing the desk resonance it's not even close.

[Chris]

Oh I'm not saying that they aren't worth it or don't work, it's just that if you are looking for your first set of monitors on a budget, a $125 set of stands probably isn't necessary right out of the gate.

[General Klinger]

Oh I'm not saying that they aren't worth it or don't work, it's just that if you are looking for your first set of monitors on a budget, a $125 set of stands probably isn't necessary right out of the gate.

Finally, something you AREN'T pushing me to buy

[Jeff]

I'm really happy with my JBL 305MkII monitors, and these:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MoPAD--auralex-mopad-monitor-speaker-isolation-pads

The pads make a massive difference.

[Tony]

I got a pair of yamaha hs5s on ebay for £117 best music purchase I've ever made

[Chris]

Finally, something you AREN'T pushing me to buy

I just don't want you to buy shitty ones out of the gate and then complain that they suck balls.

Get the Yamahas.

[Drew]

Yeah, I'll second Chris here -

the Yamaha HS80s are pretty great for the money - I've had mine a long time now, probably about a decade, and they were head and shoulders more detaled than anything else in their price range I demo'd them against. Chris ended up buying a set after watching me demo them - it was pretty striking. There may be s few other good options now, as well, but they're at least a proven design.

Some sort of speaker isolation is definitely worth doing in the long run, but if you're on a tight budget, start with quality speakers, and then worry about isolation down the road.

[Mike]

I looked at the HS8s when I was upgrading my HS50s. I didn't like them AT ALL.

I was going to get the Focal 6.5s, but they changed the design and I don't like the sound as well.

I ended up getting the Kali Audio LP-6s. They are seriously punching above their weight class even higher than Misha's Rolex.

[Budda]

I see HS5's in my future aka when I can use speakers again.

Maybe.

[General Klinger]

I am going to assume the HS5's are good for all uses? Using the them for more than just music. Youtube, and random videos on my iMac

[Chris]

I am going to assume the HS5's are good for all uses? Using the them for more than just music. Youtube, and random videos on my iMac

Yes.