Speaker Systems
Powered Studio Monitors
Powered studio monitors are loudspeakers designed to accurately record and reproduce the sounds. Then, it is the job of the studio engineer to mix the sounds into a desired composition. You have two types of studio monitor speakers:
- Powered studio monitors
- Passive studio monitors
The powered studio monitors have a built-in amplifier which drives both the high frequency tweeter and the low/midrange subwoofer. The passive units need an external amplification. The idea behind studio monitor speakers is in the recordings. Therefore, the loudspeakers require a flat frequency response and no phase shift within the human bandwidth. In other words, studio monitor speakers must record the sound accurately with as little distortion as it is possible.
Powered Studio Monitors - The Quality
Powered studio monitors require a precise response to the recorded sound. In reality, it is virtually impossible for even a good quality speaker to treat all frequencies the same. There will always be some distortion and phase shifts. Nonetheless, the studio monitor speakers will have a more realistic frequency response than their hi-fi counterparts. In fact, hi-fi loudspeakers only require to reproduce compressed commercial recording while powered studio monitors need to deal with all sounds accurately.
Studio Monitor Speaker - Compensation
The world is never ideal and the studio monitor speaker will have its flaws. Even, great quality products will show some deviation from the flat frequency and phase response. For this reason sound engineers often modify the signal. In the music jargon this means that their add "coloration". Unfortunately, even a close to perfect "uncoloured" or "transparent" signal requires some modification. Most people use cheap portable stereo car speakers which cannot handle pure sounds. For this reason, the ideal signal from the studio monitor speaker need "fiddling" to accommodate inexpensive audio devices.
Powered Studio Monitors Prices
You do not need to purchase a $10K unit, to have a decent recording.
The Behringer TRUTH B2030A is all you need for even professional recordings.
The unit has a pair of studio monitor speakers with an absolute linear phase.
These powered studio monitors have 75W and 35W amplifiers with an active crossover.
The product has an ultra-linear frequency response from 50Hz to 21kHz.
What's more it costs only $650.
The DB Technologies K162 offers powered studio monitors for $500.
The product is short of the Behringer features but still amazingly accurate.
The ST5 Citronic powered studio monitors also offer good value for money options.
These units provide an excellent frequency response and very high signal to noise ratio.
The Citronic units are not cheap. They cost $400 a piece but are worth the money.
Passive Studio Monitor Speaker
If you have a good amplifier then you can try to hunt for a decent passive studio monitor speakers. These gadgets can cost as little as $50 per pair with very decent frequency response. For low frequency recordings you can either purchase a monitor subwoofer or reserve a bit more money for the product. Here, a studio monitor speaker which spans its response from 50Hz to 20kHz sells for about $100 per piece.