A Summary of Recommended Monitor Speakers by Price Range

Hello!
Kaoru the composer here!

This time, I would like to talk about monitor speakers, an essential item for music production.

Every year, various manufacturers release a wide range of models, with prices varying greatly, so many of you may be wondering, “Which one should I buy?!”
When I first started DTM, I had no idea either and ended up buying one without researching it. (Make sure you carefully choose yours! (sweat))

First, I’ll give a simple explanation so that even beginners can understand!

“What Are Monitor Speakers?”

Monitor speakers are speakers used for music production, such as DTM and recording.
Their purpose is to reproduce flat, raw original sound… although each manufacturer still has its own sound characteristics.
They are so important that it’s no exaggeration to say they are the most critical equipment when checking “sound positioning,” “how effects are applied,” and “sound design.”
They are essential at every stage, from composition to mixing and mastering.

By the way, general listening speakers for enjoying music are tuned to make the sound more pleasant to hear, so they are a completely different category!
Did you understand that???

Another important point is that I recommend buying brand new monitor speakers!
The reason is that equipment designed to produce sound, like speakers and headphones, gradually brings out its original performance as it is used over time. (This is also called “aging.”)
Being able to enjoy this change is a privilege unique to buying new products.
Especially for beginners, I’d love for you to experience this change!
*Note: In some cases, you may not notice the effects of aging.

Now, let’s introduce recommended products by price range!!

[Up to 20,000 yen]

YAMAHA / HS5 W Standard Studio Monitor

A studio monitor speaker from Japan’s pride and joy, YAMAHA.
The HS5 W has become a “standard” model, widely used by both professionals and amateurs alike.

Whether it’s playback capability, sound imaging, or faithful reproduction of the original sound, everything is top-notch!!
Its size is also perfect for a home studio, which adds to its appeal.
By combining a high-quality 95W power amplifier with carefully selected components, it achieves a wide frequency range from 54Hz to 30kHz.

Another great feature is that this monitor speaker also comes in white!
Most monitor speakers tend to come only in black...

It’s by far the most recommended in this price range!!

Fostex / PM0.3H (W) White

When I first started DTM, the very first monitor speakers I bought were the previous model of these.
They are compact and lightweight, so they’re very convenient when changing speaker positions or rearranging your desk setup.

Because the speaker units are small, they aren’t particularly strong in low-frequency reproduction, but the rich midrange and sparkling high frequencies were exactly the kind of sound I like!!
Even after about five years of use, they still worked perfectly, so I think their durability is excellent.

And with this upgraded model, it now supports high-resolution audio playback, making it well-suited for today’s music scene!!
Despite being a pair, they are priced at just 14,000 yen!
It’s rare to find something at such a great price!

↓If you combine them with this dedicated monitor controller, you can easily adjust the volume at your fingertips, so I recommend purchasing it together!!

Fostex / PC-1e B

Even if you buy both, the price is still under 20,000 yen!!

[Up to 40,000 yen]

FOCAL / ALPHA EVO 65 Studio Monitor

These are studio monitor speakers from FOCAL, a professional-grade audio equipment manufacturer.
Until now, most of their products were priced in the hundreds of thousands to millions of yen, but now you can finally experience the FOCAL sound in this price range!

After they were released, I had the chance to try them out at a certain music store, and… they are really good!!
With dimensions of H339 × W261 × D289 mm, their almost square shape provides excellent stability!!

Whether at low or high volumes, there is no distortion, and the sound remains consistently flat, making them suitable even for environments with volume restrictions such as apartments or condominiums.
They can connect up to three audio sources, making them versatile for a wide range of uses.

[Up to 80,000 yen]

GENELEC / 8320APM

These are studio monitor speakers from GENELEC, a brand known as one of the most popular in the audio industry.
They are used in commercial music studios, TV stations, game production companies, and many other professional environments, so many of you may recognize them and think, “I’ve seen these before!!”

Despite their compact size, they are equipped with a powerful 2-way Class D bi-amp system, and the 4-inch woofer delivers a strong, dynamic sound.
Their compact and portable design makes them easy to carry and flexible to use in various setups.

By using Genelec’s proprietary GLM (Genelec Loudspeaker Manager) software, you can manage over 80 smart monitors and subwoofers.
This makes them well-suited even for building large-scale studio environments.
These are truly professional-oriented products.

That concludes this article on recommended monitor speakers by price range.
Especially in recent years, with high-end audio manufacturers entering the market, it’s an exciting space to watch!

Please use this article as a reference!!

*Prices are as of October 2021

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