Studio Monitors

David Loy is a Front of House Engineer, Monitor Engineer, and Production Manager who has mixed live for crossover country artist Kane Brown since 2017, in addition to shorter runs and one-off gigs with other high-profile acts including Sturgill Simpson, Blackbear, Alicia Keys, and Miguel. In recent years, Loy has gained experience mixing for broadcast, live-streamed, and pre-recorded performances, culminating in Kane Brown’s recent Amazon Music Live performance. Continue reading →

Billy Hickey is a GRAMMY-nominated recording and mix engineer based in the Los Angeles area. Best known for his work with chart-topping artists such as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Usher, Hickey has recorded a wide variety of acts ranging from rock, hip-hop, jazz, classical, and more. Last year, Billy upgraded his studio with an immersive Dolby Atmos mixing rig, powered by Kali Audio IN-5 studio monitors. We recently sat down with Billy to catch up on how he’s liking his new Kali monitors, some of his go-to gear, and what he thinks of mixing in Dolby Atmos. Continue reading →

This year saw several exciting new monitors enter the market, while other recent favorites continued selling strong. With one exception, active monitors reigned supreme in 2022, including two-way and three-way designs, compact and streamlined cabinets, unique special-purpose models and advanced monitors with powerful DSP. If you’re shopping for monitors, you can’t go wrong with anything on this list of best studio monitors of 2022! Continue reading →

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 →

Australian company Wayne Jones Audio has made a name for itself in the pro audio world with its award-winning bass cabinets and studio monitors. Featuring powerhouse handmade drivers, with a focus on high-performance frequency response coming directly from the speaker itself, it’s easy to see why the company has garnered praise from the industry for the accuracy and clarity of its sound. 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 →