Buying a pair of the best studio monitors will be one of the bigger investments you'll need to make if you want to mix, produce, or engineer music. Monitors can easily run into the thousands for a pair of speakers but don't worry, there are some great options if you need a pair of cheap studio monitors.
Over the last 17 years, we've reviewed well over 100 pairs of studio monitors here at MusicRadar. That makes us a true authority on what makes a great studio monitor, as well as giving us an excellent insight into what's true value for money out there. At the budget end of the range, you're going to have to make some sacrifices, so we've sorted out picks by use case to make it easier for you to decide which pair you should go for.
Overall, we don't think it gets much better than the Adam Audio T5Vs if you can stretch your budget to the $350 mark. They deliver superb sound with plenty of connectivity options for relatively little money. If you want the cheapest studio monitors possible, you should check out the PreSonus Eris 3.5s, which unbelievably are available for less than $100 for a pair.
We've put together a comprehensive FAQ section for those who like to do their research before buying. To get to our top picks of the best budget studio monitors, just keep scrolling...
Our top picks
They may be stretching your budget, but the Adam Audio T5Vs will give you crystal-clear monitoring and excellent connectivity at a price well below the $500 mark for a pair.
If you want to mix tracks on a budget, you'll need as big a speaker as possible and the M-Audio BX5-D3 delivers articulate sound through 5-inch woofers at a ridiculously low price.
Yep, you read that right. The PreSonus Eris E3.5s come in at below $100 for a pair, making them insane value for money. Don't let the price tag fool you either, they sound phenomenal.
Best overall
✅ Buy if you value sound quality: They're stretching the margins of a budget monitor, but they deliver superlative sounds that will massively help improve your mixing.
❌ Avoid if your budget is tight: Costing around $350 for a pair, there are much cheaper options available in this guide.
If you can stretch your budget slightly further, a larger and more expensive speaker will deliver some serious benefits to the quality of your mixes. Coming in well below $500 for a pair, the Adam Audio T5Vs are a fantastic studio monitor for home studio work.
With a 5-inch woofer and Adam Audio’s ‘Unique Accelerated Ribbon Tweeter’, these speakers deliver a beautifully tuned top-end with a wide sweet spot for listening. The overall imaging is fantastic when you sit between a pair, and we loved the stereo separation. The low mids do feel slightly obscured, but this can remedied by adjusting the low-frequency EQ.
They’re quite deep speakers front to back, so not best suited to a compact setup. Overall the build quality is incredibly robust, and they certainly feel up to the task of regular home studio work. It’s a rear-ring bass reflex design, with all the controls on the back panel and strangely, a rear-mounted power LED light.
Read our full Adam Audio T5V review
Best for mixing
✅ Buy if you want accurate mixing: A bigger driver gives you more scope for your mixes, so these 5-inch monitors do a lot of heavy lifting for relatively little money.
❌ Avoid if your space is small: There's no high-end EQ and these monitors tend to hype the low end a little, making them not a bad choice for small spaces.
We’re huge fans of the M Audio BX5 D3 series, for a number of reasons. While there are other speakers on this list that will double up as multimedia speakers, or stream from your mobile device, the BX5’s are designed specifically with reference monitoring in mind.
During our testing of the BX5 D3's, we found them to have an incredibly wide frequency range for the price you pay, as well as other useful first-timer features such as room correction - and even a nifty built-in LED light to ensure you have them set up at the right angle for your ears.
If you’re putting together a music studio on a budget, and are looking for speakers whose main aim is to provide clarity and accuracy when it comes to mixing and recording, then the M Audio BX5 D3 might just be the perfect set for you.
Read our full M-Audio BX5-D3 review
Best budget
✅ Buy if you need the cheapest studio monitors: At less than $/£100 for a pair, the Eris 3.5s are the cheapest way to get into mixing music.
❌ Avoid if you want low-end: Smaller speakers are unable to reproduce the low end as accurately, so these aren't a great choice for bass-heavy styles.
If your recording journey has started with you using headphones or the speakers in your laptop, the PreSonus Eris E3.5 will provide an instant upgrade. These affordable studio monitors offer a variety of connections, and the onboard EQ correction is superb to find at this price point.
The Eris E3.5 monitors pull a fairly reasonable amount of low-end out of the small 3.5" speakers, even with the LF range only extending as far as 80Hz. There is a lack of low-end clarity in certain areas, but as an upgrade from headphones or laptop speakers, the Eris 3.5's fit the bill happily.
During our review process, we found that the Eris' are not quite so capable at higher volumes. For a shade under $/£100 though, the quality is still exceptionally impressive - meaning that these monitors are well worth taking a chance on.
Read our full PreSonus Eris E3.5 review
Best compact
✅ Buy if you don't have a lot of space: We love the compact size of these, which makes them great for smaller rigs. A 1/8-inch input jack encourages use with laptops too.
❌ Avoid if you want low-end: Smaller speakers mean less low-end, so avoid these if you're mixing bass-heavy tunes and don't have a pair of studio headphones.
Budget studio monitors don’t have to be large to produce a great sound. The IK Multimedia iLoud Micro monitors prove that, producing a clear, accurate sound from a small 3” driver. We like them so much that they also top our guide to the best small studio monitors.
We particularly liked the room-correcting EQ features at the back of the speakers too, which help if the location you have them situated is hindering the sound in any way. The choice of a 1/8” jack for an input makes them ideal for iPad or laptop producers, while the RCA inputs mean they can easily cope with record players, DJ mixers, or audio interfaces too.
Bluetooth inclusion is nice, and makes them versatile, but judged solely on their monitoring performance the iLoud Micro set is well worth your consideration. Don’t be put off by the size either; these things are capable of some serious volume.
Read our full IK Multimedia iLoud Micro review
Best for production
✅ Buy if you want loads of bass: KRKs are well known for their low-end reproduction, which makes them the monitor of choice for hip-hop and certain styles of EDM.
❌ Avoid if you want neutral tones: More suited to production tasks, the KRKs don't have the most neutral sound so can skew your mixes a certain way.
Sitting at the top end of what we’d call the budget section are the KRK Rokit RP5 G4 studio monitors. Rest assured though, that the improvement in performance and sound reproduction from the ‘true’ budget speakers makes these definitely worth your attention.
From the wider frequency spectrum, meaning richer bass reproduction, through to the onboard EQ presented via an LCD screen at the rear of the speaker, these are serious speakers.
If we were being ultra-picky we’d gripe a bit at the master volume pot being located at the rear of the speaker, but that’s not uncommon. Overall, however, the KRK Rokit RP5 G4s make for a comprehensive package for any home studio enthusiast.
Read our full KRK Rokit RP5 G4 review
Best for guitar
✅ Buy if you want monitors to play guitar: Blending great value with articulate sound, we love the CR3s for pairing with an amp modeler when playing guitar.
❌ Avoid if you have a bad-sounding room: With no EQs to attenuate the sound, these aren't the most versatile studio monitors available in this guide.
Mackie is a brand which is well-known and well-respected in studio circles. It’s built a solid reputation over the years for delivering quality gear at affordable prices, and that remit extends to its range of monitor speakers.
We found that the Mackie CR3-XBT monitors hit that sweet balance between price and performance, and offering a great selection of input options, including Bluetooth, with features like a wide frequency range and solid build quality, they have a multitude of uses for the modern producer and music listener.
During testing, the 3” main driver didn't particularly trouble the sub-bass end of the spectrum, but we were still impressed by the clarity and accuracy of a number of reference tracks we tested.
Read our full Mackie CR3 review
Also consider
✅ Buy if you want good connectivity: The E5 BTs give you lots of choices for connecting thanks to plenty of hardware ports and Bluetooth.
❌ Avoid if you prefer simplicity: These monitors offer a lot of features, which might prove overwhelming to those who just want to keep it simple.
The E5 BTs are Presonus’ largest entry into their mixed-use media monitor range. The Eris range has long been a quality choice for speakers that can span the divide between home listening, recording and production.
Although the name might make the E5s sound like they’re not much of a step up front the existing E4.5s, in actuality each E5 BT produces 50 Watts per speaker, considerably more than the 25 watts of the E4.5. The 5.25” LF driver also delivers much better bass extension with overall frequency response of 53Hz to 22kHz. What’s more, and this is something which is specific to the E5 BT, you also have a handy summed mono subwoofer output, making a 2.1 set-up very simple to achieve.
The BT here stands for Bluetooth. Connection is easy, and while we still wouldn’t recommend relying on a Bluetooth connection for your studio monitors, it’s great to have for secondary functions such as home-listening, gaming or podcasting.
Read our full PreSonus Eris E5 BT review
✅ Buy if you're a beginner: We like these monitors for those who are new to mixing thanks to their low cost and user-friendly features.
❌ Avoid if you have a big room: These don't deliver the most power, so if you're in a bigger room you might find they sound a little weak.
At the budget end of the spectrum, there are certain concessions that have to be made versus more advanced models. Often, this comes in a reduction of the available frequency range and, more often, it’s bass that suffers.
The Alesis Elevate 5 MKII proves this point, but that doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker; the Japanese firm has included a dedicated bass boost switch for those moments when you are listening for pleasure, rather than for reference.
When we tested these with reference listening in mind, we found that the 40 watts that the 5" driver and 1" high-frequency tweeter kicked out were more than adequate when mixing in a smaller room - but not so much when we expanded into a larger space.
This will be no problem for the typical bedroom producer though, with the power on offer being more than enough for most. Overall, the Elevate 5 set performs well across a range of listening situations and would make a superb addition to any studio or gaming setup.
Read our full Alesis Elevate 5 MKII review
✅ Buy if you're a DJ: With switchable production and DJ modes, these are great for DJs who need monitors that can cover a lot of ground.
❌ Avoid if you need connectivity: With only an RCA and stereo mini connector on the back, they have very specific connectivity requirements.
Pioneer DJ are – unsurprisingly – primarily known as a DJ brand, but the past decade has seen the brand increasingly moving into production territory, releasing synths and samplers, as well as several sets of studio-focused monitors and headphones.
The affordable DM range is designed to bridge the gap between these two sides of Pioneer DJ’s product line. They achieve that via a mix of inputs – with RCA, mini-jack and TRS available – plus DSP-powered sound adjustment that lets users go between ‘DJ’ and ‘production’ modes at the flip of a switch. These BT models also add Bluetooth connectivity.
Naturally, you do pay for all of these features, so if you’re after monitors purely for studio use, there are cheaper options out there. But for home producers that also use their set-up for DJing or listening to club-focussed music, these are a solid choice.
FAQs
What's the difference between studio monitors and speakers?
If you’re new to home recording or music production, you may be wondering how the best budget studio monitors in this guide differ from the killer high-end Bluetooth speaker you use to stream Spotify or Apple Music – we're talking about the likes of Sonos and Bose here.
Without wanting to sound too blunt, studio monitor speakers don’t exist for your listening pleasure. They aren’t designed to make your recordings sound good like the aforementioned ‘lifestyle audio’ brands. They are there to offer a point of reference for your music; if the audio you feed into them sounds good, your speakers will too. If not, you’ll soon find out. In short, monitors give you the truth, for better or for worse.
Regular speakers, from the aforementioned Bluetooth type, right up to your parent’s prized hi-fi set, are created differently. They are there to sweeten the audio they’re fed, either through gently boosting bass and treble frequencies or by applying other predefined EQ settings. What’s more, the choice - and age - of the speaker cone itself also has an impact.
Monitor - or reference - speakers differ in that they have no prior agenda. They operate with what’s known as a ‘flat-frequency response’, which means they produce the sound exactly as it’s received; in the producer’s case from either the digital audio workstation (DAW), instrument, or other source.
The benefit of this approach is simple, yet brings with it a ton of complexity. In theory, if you can make your mix sound balanced, clear, and accurate on a set of budget monitors, then you can be confident it will sound good on whatever speakers the end-user chooses. This could mean anything from a mobile phone or iPad to a car stereo, or even one of the best PA speakers in a club.
What should I know about budget studio monitors?
When you’re looking for a set of budget studio monitors, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you need to consider how you’ll connect them to your laptop, recorder, or other device. For many, an audio interface will be required. This connects to the laptop or PC via USB and provides connectivity for audio going in – instruments – and audio going out – monitor speakers. Studio monitors are mostly active, which means they employ their own amplification and require a power source to do this.
Connection-wise, most of the best studio monitors are generally hooked up to your device via USB, XLR, or by shielded ¼” jack cables – the shielding helps reduce the hum from nearby electrical equipment or lights. Finally, consider the size of speaker you’ll need. Most bedroom/home setups will find a set of 5” driver equipped nearfield monitors will more than cope with what you can throw at them, while larger studios may find they need something more substantial to fill the room properly.
Why should I buy a pair of budget studio monitors?
If you're new to the world of home production and recording, then a pair of budget studio monitors is really all that you need. Most budding producers just need to be able to hear their creations in a way that 'isn't too bad' - no more, no less. As you progress further, your ear will start to pick up new and different things that it didn't before, and that's when you need to think about the sound quality of your studio monitors. That doesn't mean you should buy better ones, though - more so exploring your budget pair and seeing how far you can push them. You'd be surprised at what they're capable of.
Budget studio monitors are also getting really, really good. Like most musical tech available, the quality of budget studio monitors has also vastly improved over the last few years. There's never been a better time to buy budget studio monitors if we're honest - with products from the likes of IK Multimedia, M-Audio, and Presonus all making a great impression on us for not a lot of money - both aurally and with regards to their build quality and looks.
How we test
Similar to regular studio monitors, budget studio speakers should also deliver a reasonably truthful and uncoloured sound so what you hear is what the mix actually delivers and you can mix accordingly and correctly.
We test studio monitors in exactly the same way, whether they're a budget pair or not. Our first step is always to play some of our favourite reference mixes through the pair at varying volumes to see how they fare. We'll listen for how the low-end is coming through, whether there is any mud in the midrange or any harshness at the top of the frequency spectrum. These reference mixes will be varied, taking into account beautifully mixed songs in genres from hip-hop and EDM to metal and progressive rock.
Next, we'll try some actual mix moves on them, taking whatever piece of music we're currently working on and balancing it from scratch on the new set of monitors. We'll then add various EQs and compression to further refine the mix, before moving to more creative effects like reverb and delay. All the while we'll be flicking back and forth between our current main monitor pair for mixing (typically a much more expensive set) to see how they compare against one another.
With studio monitors it's important to bed in with them over a period of time. Here, first impressions don't count for much because what you're really testing is the ability to make a mix that will translate on a variety of different systems. So it's only through a lot of back-and-forth testing that you can accurately determine whether or not a pair of studio monitors is up to the task of assisting you in crafting your mixes.
Read more about how we test music making gear and services at MusicRadar.
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