Monitors

Long before miniaturization made self-powered monitors with built-in amplifiers, crossovers and DSP chips a reality, passive speakers reigned supreme. In fact, active monitors have only become common in professional-level studios in the last few decades—and many, such as Blackbird, Power Station and Gold-Diggers Sound, still rely on passive monitors anyway. Certain passive speakers such as the Yamaha NS-10 have even gained a cult following among mixing engineers. Continue reading →

Each piece of classic studio gear has something that makes it instantly recognizable, i.e., the U47's shape, the 1176's ratio buttons, and the Neve 1073's red knob. In the land of speakers, there might be no better example than the yellow cones of KRK monitors. Continue reading →

Despite being known for their legendary microphones, Neumann has built up a portfolio of high-end monitors ranging from ultra-compact two-way speakers to full-size tri-amplified models and powerful subwoofers. The company’s new KH 150 ($1,750)fills a gap between the compact KH 120 A and the mid-sized KH 310 A, combining a newly developed woofer, powerful amplifier section and onboard DSP to provide the ultra-accurate, full-range sound you need to mix better than ever. Without further ado, let’s get into the details. Continue reading →

ATC is known for making high-performing loudspeakers with a simple, practical design and the new SCS70 Pro active subwoofer ($4,990) is no exception. Housing a 12-inch driver powered by a robust amplifier section with an array of useful controls, this low-end titan has enough power and flexibility to complement any studio. Follow along as we dig into everything the ATC SCS70 Pro has to offer! Continue reading →

Found in countless studios around the world, Auratone’s Super Sound Cube has been a secret weapon of mixing engineers for decades. A compact monitor with a single 4.5” driver, the 5C delivers a revealing, honest midrange that has long been used to understand how mixes will translate to full-range systems. To celebrate the release of the new 5C Active Super Sound Cube reference monitors ($749.00), we’re taking a look back at the history of these iconic monitors. Read on to learn more about Auratone’s 50-year legacy and the philosophy behind the brand’s design. Continue reading →

Adding to their range of premium studio monitors, Focal has just released the new ST6 line of studio monitors, including three new models designed to complement each other in the studio. The Solo6 ($1599) and Twin6 ($2299) are updated versions of Focal’s best-selling SM6 series speakers, while the new Sub12 ($2699) is a 13-inch version of the popular Sub6 subwoofer. All three deliver the uncompromising sound and iconic style Focal is known for while pushing the envelope with new features and high-performance design.  Continue reading →

Founded in 2013, Output is one of the music industry's fastest-growing brands. Known for versatile virtual instruments and digital effects, Output recently partnered with Barefoot Sound to create the new Frontier active two-way studio monitor ($1,399). Available exclusively at Vintage King, Frontier studio monitors pair Barefoot’s pioneering audio technology with Output’s sleek aesthetics in a compact package that won’t break the bank. Read on to learn what makes these compact studio monitors so impressive.  Continue reading →

Last year, Focal unveiled the Alpha Evo line, including the Alpha 65 Evo and Alpha 50 Evo. Now, Focal returns to market with new offerings to sweeten up the Evo Range even more with the new Alpha 80 Evo ($549 per monitor) and Alpha Twin Evo ($659 per monitor) studio monitors, as well as the highly-anticipated Sub One ($999) subwoofer. In this blog, we'll offer your first look at the new monitors and break down what you can expect when unboxing them. Continue reading →

Your mixes are only as good as your listening environment, which is why it’s so important to make sure you’re using a high-quality set of studio monitors. But with so many options to choose from, it can be hard to pick the right pair for your studio. In this blog, we’ll break down the most popular studio monitors of 2021 to help you find the perfect set of speakers for your needs. Continue reading →

The original version of this article appeared in the first issue of Vintage King's Playback. If you haven't subscribed digitally to our new magazine, you can do so right here. Here at Vintage King, we often get asked, “How do I build a studio for _____ amount of money?” This question is an interesting one, and we can certainly help you find an answer that fits within your budget. The starting point is most likely a question that you must ask yourself: “What is the goal for my studio?” In upcoming issues, we’ll be tackling how to build out several kinds of studios on a budget, but for the purposes of this article, we thought it best to start out with the essential gear needed for a basic recording and mix room. We’ll be covering three pieces of gear in particular: microphone, interface and monitors. Continue reading →