Top 10 Studio Monitors For Untreated Room 2023

The JBL 305P MKII is a studio monitor speaker for professional audio production.

It features a 5-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter that deliver a frequency response of 49Hz to 20kHz, making it suitable for a wide range of audio applications, including music production, mixing, and mastering. The speaker also has a built-in Class-D amplifier with a total power output of 82 watts.

Key Features:

Room compensation
The JBL 305P MKII has a room-compensation switch that allows you to adjust the sound to different environments, which can help mitigate the effects of an untreated room to some extent. It allows you to control the speakers’ bass response and adapt them to the room you’re in, avoiding boomy bass and making the speakers sound more balanced.
Compact Design
The device is a compact monitor, and its small size allows for easy positioning in small workspaces and is also easy to transport. The compact design also makes setting up a stereo pair easier, taking less room and providing better imaging. That’s another reason why it’s suitable for untreated rooms.
High-quality sound
The JBL 305P MKII is known for its high-quality sound, accurate and balanced frequency response, tight bass, and clear, detailed highs. The speakers are designed to provide a flat response, meaning that they reproduce sound as it is without adding any coloration or boosting certain frequencies, which makes them ideal for critical listening and mixing.
Connectivity
The speakers have a balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA input, allowing easy connectivity to various audio sources, such as audio interfaces, mixers, and audio players. The balanced XLR input is especially useful as it minimizes the chance of picking up noise and interference, providing a clean and clear signal.

Pros:

The speakers have a slick modern design and are protected for placing safely near magnetically sensitive equipment, making them a harmless electronic to have in your studio. Secondly, the JBL 305P MKII studio monitors have a High-Frequency (HF) Trim switch, which allows you to adjust the high-frequency output of the speakers.

Cons:

One of the main limitations is that they are not as powerful as some other studio monitors in their class, so they might struggle to fill large rooms with their sound. Secondly, you may find the device’s price a bit high, as other options have similar features in the same price range.

2. Yamaha HS8

The Yamaha HS8 is a studio monitor speaker with a bi-amplified design, an 8-inch cone woofer, and a 1-inch dome tweeter.

The speakers have a frequency response of 38Hz to 30kHz and a maximum SPL of 114dB SPL. They also include room and high-trim response controls to help tailor the sound to the user’s specific listening environment, allowing you to adjust the bass and treble levels to compensate for the room’s acoustics, which is a feature that helps greatly in an untreated room.

Key Features:

Magnetic shielding
Magnetic shielding is a feature that helps to prevent interference from other electronic devices by blocking the magnetic field that the speakers emit. This ensures that the speakers produce a clear and accurate sound, free from interference.
Durable construction
The monitor speaker is built with a solid MDF (medium-density fibreboard) cabinet, a type of engineered wood known for its durability and resistance to warping and cracking. The MDF cabinet provides a solid foundation for the speakers and helps to minimize vibrations, which can affect the sound quality.
Design quality
The speaker has a rugged design, with a reinforced front-panel design that helps to protect the speakers from damage. They are also designed to be stackable, which means that you can stack them on top of each other to save space in your studio.
Near and far-field monitoring
Overall, the Yamaha HS8 is a near-field monitor speaker that is designed to provide great audio reproduction by minimizing the influence of the room’s acoustics. However, it’s also decent for far-field monitoring due to its 8-inch bass driver size, which lets you adapt these speakers to rooms of different sizes.
Powerful
The woofer is driven by a 75-watt amplifier, and the tweeter is driven by a 45-watt amplifier. In addition, the high SPL allows the speakers to produce loud, powerful sound without distortion, making them well-suited for use in various audio production applications, such as mixing, mastering, and monitoring.
Great for mixing-mastering
The overall sound of the HS8 can be described as “analytical” or “clinical” in sound presentation, meaning they provide a precise sound that allows you to hear every detail in the audio, good or bad. This can be useful when mixing and mastering but can also be less enjoyable when listening to music for pleasure.

Pros:

The speakers are the go-to for many professional music producers and engineers because of their rugged build, high-quality sound, the ability to translate bass, and powerful monitoring ability. These are especially great for hip-hop and club-based music, as they produce an accurate and clear low end.

Cons:

The HS8 is too big and powerful, with a high SP, making it problematic for a small room or close listening. Secondly, the monitors are a bit colored and less transparent. They may not give the exact picture of how your mix translates to other mediums.

3. Focal Alpha 64 EVO

The Focal Alpha 64 EVO is a pair of active studio monitors designed for professional music production and mixing.

They feature a 6.5″ woofer, and a 1″ tweeter and have a frequency response of 42Hz-40kHz. They also have a built-in Class-D amplifier and a user-friendly front panel with volume and bass/treble controls. These monitors are suitable for small to medium size rooms and are designed for professionals looking for accurate and detailed sound reproduction.

Key Features:

Acoustic isolation pads
The speakers come with pads for isolation, which can help to decouple the speakers from the surface they are placed on, resulting in more accurate bass response and reducing vibrations. That also makes them suitable for untreated rooms.
Class-D Amplifier
A Class-D amplifier is a switching amplifier that uses pulse-width modulation (PWM) to convert the audio input into a high-frequency digital signal, amplified and converted back into an analog audio signal. They are known for their high power efficiency, typically around 90%, which means they can produce much output power while consuming very little energy.
It is worth noting that these amplifiers are known for their fast transient response, which means that they can quickly respond to changes in the audio signal, resulting in a more precise and elaborate sound reproduction, especially in low frequency.
High-quality build
The Focal Alpha 64 EVO speakers are designed to be durable and long-lasting. They use high-quality materials, such as the Polyglass woofer and the inverted dome tweeter, which are known for their durability and resistance to wear and tear. Additionally, the built-in Class-D amplifier is designed to be reliable and long-lasting, with minimal heat generation, which reduces the risk of component failure.
Flexibility and ease of use
The back panel of the speakers includes XLR and RCA inputs, a volume control, an acoustic space control, a power switch and LED indicator, a ground-lift switch, an IEC power connector, and a protective grille. These features provide a variety of inputs and controls that allow you to adjust the speakers’ performance according to your needs and connect to a wide range of audio equipment.
It also includes a power switch, LED indicator, ground-lift switch that can be useful to reduce hum or noise, and a protective grille that helps to protect the components from damage.

Pros:

Their compact size and user-friendly controls make them easy to integrate into any home or studio setup. Secondly, the XLR, RCA inputs, and other controls in the back panel allow you to connect the speakers to a wide range of audio equipment and flexibly adjust their performance.

Cons:

One con of the Evo is that its exterior design is not up to the mark and may disturb the overall visual aesthetic of your setup. Secondly, it doesn’t have a subwoofer output or connectivity. Lastly, it is relatively expensive compared to other studio monitors in the market, which may not be suitable for budget-conscious consumers.

4. ADAM Audio A77H

The ADAM Audio A77H is a high-end studio monitor for professional audio production.

It features a 7-inch HexaCone woofer and a 3.5-inch mid-range driver, both made with ADAM’s proprietary technology, which allows for precise and accurate audio reproduction. The monitor also includes various input and output options and the ability to adjust the monitor’s frequency response to suit the listening environment, including untreated rooms.

Key Features:

Room Correction
The monitors include a room correction feature that allows you to adjust their frequency response to suit the listening environment. This allows you to tailor the sound to your specific needs, ensuring you get the most accurate audio representation.
3-way design
The ADAM Audio A77H is a 3-way studio monitor, which means that it has three separate drivers or speakers responsible for reproducing different frequency ranges. Each driver is specifically designed to handle a certain frequency range, allowing engineers and producers to hear every detail in their audio.
Inputs and Outputs
The monitor offers a variety of input and output options, including XLR and RCA inputs and XLR and RCA outputs. This allows you to connect the monitor to various audio sources and devices.
Construction
The A77H is made of high-quality materials and is built to last. The front panel is made of a solid aluminum structure, which provides excellent protection and stability. The rear panel is made of a high-quality MDF board, which ensures stable and accurate sound reproduction.
Professional Sound Quality
The monitor is designed to deliver professional-grade sound quality with its accurate and neutral frequency response. It is suitable for critical listening, mastering, and mixing.

Pros:

The A77H is suitable for critical listening, mastering, and mixing. Its 3-way design allows for more detailed and transparent audio translation, as each driver is specifically designed to handle a certain frequency range. This makes it ideal for professional audio production, allowing you to monitor your audio in depth.

Cons:

One of the main drawbacks of the monitors is their price. They are relatively expensive compared to other studio monitors on the market, which may make them less accessible to some users. Additionally, the monitors are relatively large and heavy, which may make them difficult to set up in smaller studios or home recording setups.

Another drawback is that the monitors are not self-powered, so you must purchase a separate power amplifier. The speakers also require a bit of breathing room, so they may not be the best option for smaller spaces or setups where space is at a premium.

5. Pioneer DJ DM-50D

The Pioneer DJ DM-50D monitor speakers are designed for DJ and production setups.

They feature a built-in amplifier and a compact, space-saving design. They are known for their clear and balanced sound reproduction, making them popular among DJs and music producers. They have a power output of 50W, can be used as desktop speakers or in a small room setup, and are great for beginner producers/engineers.

Key Features:

Frequency response
The speakers have a frequency response of 60Hz-20kHz, which covers the range of human hearing and should provide a decent sound reproduction.
2-way design
The Pioneer DJ DM-50D monitor speakers feature a 2-way design, which means they have separate drivers for high-frequency and low-frequency sound reproduction. The speakers feature a 5″ Woofer and 0.75″ Tweeter, working together to produce a balanced and detailed sound.
Connectivity
The speakers have RCA inputs, 3.5mm jacks, and TRS inputs, allowing you to connect various devices. In addition, they can also be connected via Bluetooth, giving you wireless communication with the devices.
Underlying technology – bass reflex enclosure
The monitor speakers feature a bass reflex enclosure and a DECO convex diffuser. The bass reflex enclosure, also known as a ported or vented enclosure, is a type of speaker enclosure that uses a port or vent to enhance the speaker’s bass response. The port or vent allows air to move in and out of the enclosure, which helps to increase the efficiency of the woofer and produce more powerful bass.
It is designed to enhance the low-frequency performance of the speakers and provide a more robust and balanced bass response.
Underlying technology – DECO convex diffuser
DECO (Diffuse Sound Control) convex diffuser is a feature that aims to improve sound quality by spreading the sound waves evenly throughout the room. The diffuser is designed to control and diffuse the sound waves, which helps to reduce reflections and improve the overall sound quality of the speakers.
Further, it creates a more natural sound by reducing and improving the soundstage and making the mids and the high end more spacious and natural.

Pros:

The built-in amplifier and compact design make them easy to set up and use. They also have a standard 3.5mm stereo mini-jack input, allowing you to connect various devices such as laptops, smartphones, and other audio sources. Lastly, the speakers also have a volume control knob, allowing you to adjust the speakers’ volume easily.

Cons:

The DM-50D could be fine for practicing DJing or as an entry-level monitor, but it is not suited for professional use and may not be sufficient for production, mixing, and mastering. Secondly, the 0.75″ inches tweeter may not efficiently process the low mid and mid frequencies. Lastly, you cannot monitor, mix, or produce subs in these speakers due to their limited frequency range.

6. PreSonus Eris E5

PreSonus Eris E5 monitors are a pair of active studio monitors designed for professional and home recording studios.

They feature a 5-inch composite woofer and a 1-inch silk dome tweeter, which provide a balanced and accurate representation of the audio being played back. The monitors also have a frequency response of 53 Hz to 22 kHz and a maximum SPL of 102 dB SPL.

Key Features:

Acoustic Space control
The monitors have a rear-panel Acoustic Space control that allows you to adjust the bass response to suit your room’s acoustic characteristics. This feature helps to ensure that the monitors sound their best in any room.
Professional-grade components
The professional-grade components used in the PreSonus Eris E5 monitors are designed to ensure high-quality sound reproduction, making them a reliable and valuable addition to any recording setup. For example, the Class AB amplifier, composite woofer, silk dome tweeter, high-quality crossover, and other professional-grade passive components provide consistent sound reproduction.
Compact design and multiple inputs
The monitors are compact and sleek, allowing them to fit in any studio setup. They also have multiple inputs, including balanced XLR, balanced 1/4-inch TRS, and unbalanced RCA, making it easy to connect to various audio sources.
Eris E5’s 80 watts of Class AB amplification
The 80 watts of Class AB amplification in the Eris E5 monitors is divided between the woofer (50 watts) and the tweeter (30 watts). This ensures that both the low and high frequencies are amplified with equal power and accuracy, resulting in a balanced sound.
The Class AB amplification also helps to reduce distortion and increase the dynamic range of the monitors, which means they can handle a wide range of audio levels without distorting the sound. Additionally, the Class AB amplifier helps to produce a consistent and stable power output, which is essential for accurate sound reproduction and the consistent performance of the monitors.

Pros:

Overall, the PreSonus Eris E5’s versatility, efficient and accurate amplification, and professional-grade components make them reliable. In addition, their compact size and overall build and design make them suitable for home setups and untreated rooms.

Cons:

Firstly, the monitors are not bi-amped, so they do not have separate amplifiers for the woofer and the tweeter. This can limit the flexibility of the monitors and may not be suitable for some professional applications. In addition, while the monitors are generally well-regarded, they may not be suitable for all recording environments or music genres, as you may find the high-end slightly “harsh” and the low-end slightly limited.

7. KRK Rokit RP5 G4

The Rokit RP5 G4 is a powered studio monitor speaker from KRK Systems, a company specializing in professional audio equipment.

The monitor is part of the Rokit series of studio monitors designed for recording studios, home studios, and other professional audio applications. It features a 5-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter and is powered by a built-in amplifier. It has a frequency response of 43Hz to 40kHz and a maximum SPL of 104dB.

Key Features:

Built-in EQ with LCD Display
The monitor features an onboard digital signal processing (DSP) driven equalizer (EQ) with a visual LCD display which allows you to fine-tune the speaker’s performance to suit your specific needs. It can help optimize the speaker’s performance in different environments by adjusting the bass, mid, and treble frequencies to suit the room’s acoustics, which helps greatly in untuned and untreated rooms. For example, using this EQ, you can cut out the room’s resonances.
Enclosure Design
The KRK RP5 G4 features a scientifically designed enclosure engineered to optimize the speaker’s performance and ensure accurate and detailed audio reproduction. The enclosure is designed to reduce internal standing waves, minimize distortion and resonance, and improve the speaker’s overall accuracy and stereo imagining.
High-Quality Material
The enclosure is made from a combination of high-quality materials, such as a glass-aramid composite woofer, to provide a solid and rigid structure that can withstand the high levels of sound pressure produced by the speaker.
Kevlar drivers
The KRK RP5 G4 features matching Kevlar drivers, which are designed to ensure accurate and consistent audio reproduction across the entire frequency range. Kevlar is a material known for its strength and durability, and its drivers are known for their ability to withstand high levels of sound pressure.
In addition, Kevlar is a lightweight material, which allows the speaker’s drivers to move more quickly and accurately, resulting in a more detailed and accurate audio reproduction.
Built-in brickwall limiter
The built-in brickwall limiter of the KRK RP5 G4 is a safety feature that helps to protect the speaker from damage caused by excessive sound pressure levels. It also improves the overall sound quality of the speaker by preventing clipping and distortion, making the RP5 G4 a reliable and versatile studio monitor for professional audio applications.
Onboard signal generator for calibration and tuning
The KRK RP5 G4 features an onboard signal generator, a device that produces a test tone or signal that can be used to test the speaker’s performance and adjust the settings. The signal generator in the RP5 G4 can produce a variety of test tones, such as pink noise, white noise, and sine wave, that can be used to test the speaker’s frequency response, distortion, and other characteristics.
You can use it to test the speaker’s response in different environments and calibrate it, which is especially helpful for untreated or poorly treated rooms.

Pros:

Due to its features like the brickwall limiter, which ensures safety, LCD EQ, and a signal generator, which can fine-tune your monitors according to the room, and the overall build quality, these speakers qualify as a great choice for untreated rooms and home setups. However, their advanced settings and high-quality sound make them great for professional setups.

Cons:

Firstly, the RP5 G4 is a high-end studio monitor, and its price may be a bit high. Next is a relatively large monitor, which may not be the best choice for you if you have limited space. Thirdly, it’s limited in its connectivity as it only has a balanced XLR and TRS input and lacks Bluetooth connectivity, limiting its connectivity options, especially for casual listening.

8. Alesis Elevate 5 MKII

The Alesis Elevate 5 MKII is a powered studio monitor speaker designed for home or professional recording studio use.

It features a 5-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter and has a frequency response of 56 Hz to 20 kHz. It also includes a built-in amplifier and various input options, making it easy to connect to various audio sources. The MKII version is an updated version of the original Elevate 5 monitor, with improved sound quality and a sleek new design.

Key Features:

Durability
They feature a solid, durable construction designed to withstand the demands of professional use. The 5-inch low-frequency driver and 1-inch high-frequency driver are housed in a sturdy, acoustically-inert cabinet designed to minimize unwanted vibrations and resonances. The front-panel controls and input connections are well-constructed and designed to provide a secure and stable connection.
Silk Dome Tweeter
The tweeter is made of silk dome, a popular material for the tweeter diaphragm due to its ability to produce a smooth and natural high-frequency response. Silk dome tweeters are known to be more durable than other materials and can withstand high levels of power without distortion.
Versatility
The monitors are known for their clear and detailed sound, with well-defined bass, smooth mids, and crisp highs. The 5-inch low-frequency driver provides a tight and punchy bass suitable for music with much low-frequency content, such as electronic music, hip-hop, and rock. The 1-inch high-frequency driver provides a clear and detailed reproduction of the high-frequency content, allowing for precise mixing and mastering.
Powerful
The monitors can produce enough volume for most professional and home studio applications, as it has a 40 Watt of power output. That allows it to handle most audio sources without distortion, even at higher volumes.

Pros:

One of the pros of the Elevate 5 MKII is that it is magnetically shielded, which protects it in close vicinity to video monitors in computer-based music production studios. Secondly, it also includes a front panel headphone jack, giving you easy access to input your headphones and monitor silently.

Cons:

These monitors might not be suitable for larger rooms, and the bass might not be as tight as you expect. Also, the monitors may not be capable of reproducing the extreme low or high-frequency ranges, which could be a problem for some genres of music. Additionally, it lacks a bass boost feature. Finally, the monitors are not bi-amped, which means that a single amplifier powers the tweeter and woofer.

9. Genelec 8030C

The Genelec 8030C is a compact, active studio monitor speaker designed for near-field listening in professional recording and mixing environments.

It features a bi-amplified design, a 5-inch bass driver, a 3/4-inch metal dome tweeter, and a frequency response of 47 Hz to 25 kHz. The speaker also has a built-in room response compensation feature called a Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW) that helps to reduce the effects of room reflections on the sound.

It also has a Bass Management system that allows you to adjust the bass roll-off point and level to suit the room and your preferences.

Key Features:

Transparent sound
The speaker is known for its accurate and neutral sound reproduction, as it has a flat frequency response, which means that it doesn’t add any coloration or emphasis to the sound, allowing you to hear the true sound of your mix or recording.
Great for untreated rooms
The speaker’s DCW technology helps to reduce the effects of room reflections on the sound, ensuring that the sound you hear is consistent, regardless of the listening environment.
2-way seamless speakers
The monitor’s bass driver and tweeter are designed to work together seamlessly, providing a smooth and balanced sound across the entire frequency spectrum, as its bass is tight and well-defined, and the highs are clear and detailed. The speaker also has a wide sweet spot, so you can listen to it from different angles and still get accurate sound reproduction.
Suited for near-field monitoring
Near-field monitoring refers to listening to speakers at a close distance, typically within a few feet. In this type of setup, the sound from the speakers reaches the listener directly without being affected by reflections from walls and other surfaces in the room.
The 8030C is designed to be used in a near-field setup, with its compact size and powerful amplifiers allowing it to be placed on a desk or a nearby surface. The Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW) technology also helps reduce room reflections’ effects on the sound, ensuring that the sound you hear is consistent and accurate.

Pros:

The monitors are compact and suitable for you if you are a traveling musician. You can have it in your portable production/DJ kit. In addition, its near-field monitoring suitability and overall design make it great for bedroom producers. Lastly, it’s also one of the most affordable professional monitor speakers.

Cons:

A potential downside is that it is an active monitor, meaning it has built-in amplifiers and requires a power outlet, which may not be practical for some setups. Additionally, you may find that the speakers are not suitable for larger rooms, as it is a compact monitor, so the output volume may not be sufficient for bigger spaces.

Next, the bass can be too overpowering for some tracks, so adjusting the bass management system might be required. The last possible downside is that it is designed for near-field listening, meaning that it is unsuitable for far-field listening, such as in a large room or auditorium.

10. Neumann KH 150

The Neumann KH 150 is a professional studio monitor speaker for recording studios and other professional audio applications.

It features a bi-amplified design with a separate amplifier for the woofer and tweeter and advanced DSP processing for optimal sound reproduction. The speaker has equipped with a 6.5″ woofer, and a 1″ tweeter and has a frequency response of 39 Hz to 21 kHz. It also features a variety of input and output options, including XLR and RCA connections, and can be configured for use in stereo or surround sound setups.

Key Features:

Amplifier Design
The device delivers up to 145W to the woofer and 100W to the tweeter. This allows for optimal power and efficiency for each driver, resulting in a more accurate and balanced sound reproduction.
Room-adaptive calibration
The monitor speaker features room-adaptive calibration, which allows the speaker to be optimized for the specific acoustics of the room or studio where it is being used. This is done by using advanced DSP processing to adjust the speaker’s frequency response and other parameters, such as time alignment and equalization, based on measurements taken in the listening environment.
Room-adaptive calibration allows the speaker to perform at its best in any room and eliminates the need to adjust based on the room’s acoustics.
Easy-to-control Calibration software
The KH 150 provides easy-to-use software that can be connected to the speaker via USB, allowing you to perform the calibration process, set room-specific EQ settings, and store them in the speaker’s memory. That will help your monitors adapt to your room, irrespective of how it is treated.
Affordable price
The monitor is great value for the price, as it offers professional-grade features and performance typically found in more expensive speakers.
Connectivity
The monitor speaker has various connectivity options that make it versatile for professional audio applications. It has XLR and RCA inputs for connecting to a wide range of audio sources, a USB input for software updates and room-adaptive calibration, and volume control for adjusting the overall volume level. It can be configured for use in stereo or surround sound setups.

Pros:

Some of its key pros include its bi-amplified design with separate amplifiers for the woofer and tweeter, advanced DSP processing that allows for precise adjustments to the speaker’s frequency response and other parameters, room-adaptive calibration, various connectivity options, Stereo/surround sound configurable and its build quality which is consistent with Neumann’s reputation for producing high-quality professional audio equipment.

Cons:

The first con is that it requires a dedicated power source, which may not be suitable for portable or mobile setups. Another point to consider is that it may require a professional installation and setup, which can add to the overall cost. Finally, it may not be suitable for all styles of music and audio applications; for example, it may not be the best option for bass-heavy music genres.

Bonus

Behringer Studio 50USB