Blog 10 | All about Studio Monitors



July 31, 2024 - Posted by Mash Maximus

When it comes to achieving pristine audio quality in the world of music production, mastering/mixing engineers, music producers, and sound designers understand the critical role that studio monitors play. These finely-tuned speakers are the gateway to capturing every nuance and detail of your audio creations. Pro Audio LA is your go-to destination for all things studio monitors. With a focus on high-end brands and a wealth of expertise, we are your ultimate resource for elevating your monitoring experience.


The Pro Audio LA Difference

Pro Audio LA distinguishes itself by offering a comprehensive range of services and a carefully curated selection of studio monitor brands. Here's what sets us apart:

1. Pro Audio LA proudly carries an impressive lineup of brands that include Amphion, Focal, Genelec, Grimm, Ex Machina, PSI, Adam, and Unity Audio. These brands are renowned for their exceptional build quality and audio accuracy, making them the top choice for professionals seeking the best monitoring solutions, no matter the budget.
2. In-Person Monitor Demos: We know that choosing the right studio monitors is a significant decision. That's why we provide in-person monitor demos in out dedicated listening rooms. This hands-on experience allows you to audition various brands and models, ensuring you make an informed choice.
3. Out team of experts is well-versed in the art of analyzing and setting up mixing and mastering rooms, as well as ATMOS systems. With their guidance, you can tailor your monitoring system to your specific needs, ensuring optimal performance in your workspace.
Lets get right to it then. We will start with the 2 basic categories of studio monitors. Active has an integrated amplifier and Passive does not have an integrated amplifier, although the amplifiers are often sold as a bundle but the user gets to choose.

Active Monitors

We are starting with Active monitors because they are way ubiquitous in today's studio or production room. The efficiency of having a speaker with an integrated amplifier not only makes it convenient, it also takes a lot of guess work out of choosing studio monitors. The following are some of the brands we love and a little bit of my personal commentary on each.

Adam Audio has been in the monitoring game for a long time. If you made music in the late 90s, you might have even owned a pair of Adams. They made ribbon tweeters famous and accessible to everyone. In recent years, Adam has updated its lineup of monitors, by adding a whole range of new high end models that have built in DSP that allows you to minimally tune the speakers to your room. Mash's take: We had the S2V at our facility for demo and they were truly wonderful right out of the box. After playing with the high end and midrange frequencies, using the multi-function knob on the back, I got it to sound almost perfect!

Genelec is a true giant amongst studio monitor manufacturers. Their venerable S30 models is still used in some studios and homes around the world and was originally produced in the last 70s! That should tell you something about the quality of their products. In their quest for tonal perfection, Genelec currently produces the 80XX, 10XX and 12XX series monitors. The 83X1 series, otherwise known as the One are the newest in the lineup. Their unique design makes them truly standout in a sea of rectangular boxes. Best of all, they come with Genelecs patented GLM system. This system includes a networked interface and calibration microphone that the user can use to get a reading of their favorite GLM equipped Genelec monitors in their room and then play with the software to really dial in their perfect sound. Mash’s take: I have a pair of baby 8010. They smash harder than many other desktop speakers. My favorite is the 1032a. Classic boxy Genelec but all the modern goodness of GLM but I would; however, trade them for a pair of White 8351. The fact that you can dial in multiple listening positions is a real game-changer for folks with large or elaborate rooms.

Focal, hails from France. To the non-musician, they are known for making really high-end car audio systems, but this is just a part of their business. Focal’s professional studio monitors are coveted around the world by producer and engineers alike. The legendary SM9 is still held in high regard for being one of the best all-in-one monitor that gave you the brilliance of their Beryllium tweeters, along with the midrange and low end punch from a 6.5” mid driver and 8” subwoofer. There was also an 11” passive radiator for tight low-end response. The current line up of Focal speakers includes the Twin6 ST6 and Trio6 ST6. Both of which are loved by producers all over the world. Focal also has a line of more budget friendly but excellent sounding monitors called the Alpha series. Mix and match elements from the Alpha series to build you own amazing system. Mash’s take: Using a subwoofer with the Twin6 or Trio6 can turn your simple stereo system into a huge setup. Working in ATMOS on a limited budget? Check out this Alpha series ATMOS bundle.

Ex Machina is a relative newcomer to the studio monitor industry but they have taken it by storm! The main developers are both engineers with backgrounds in industrial material science and machine learning. As you can imagine then, the technology used in all Ex Machina monitors is out of this world. From the space age diaphragm materials to specialized adhesives and sealant that are environmentally friendly make up the physical components of their monitors. The built-in DSP is a whole other amazing thing. Want to go all out with Ex Machina monitors? Go with the Arcturus. Their amazing size and price tag will please you in ways a Lamborghini wont. I mean, Lamborghinis are amazing but at about 1/15th the price and the potential to experience aural bliss without the fire hazard is pretty tempting! Mash's take: If you work in ATMOS or immersive audio, having a system that easily adds onto your existing system with minimal hassle is a blessing from Lucifer. The Titan Satellite are passive and only need a speaker cable to connect to the bundled amp to get up and running. Add these onto your existing setup to get 7.1.4 or bigger immersive system with minimal cabling and hassle. The Quasars are incredible!

Passive Monitors

Simply put, passive monitors require a power amp that is not directly attached to the speaker cabinet itself. This is the more traditional approach and if you have a home theater or audio playback system, it very likely has passive speaker. Passive systems can feel like a hassle since you have to figure out the amp situation but most professional brands bundle their own amps with the speakers. You, the user also get to pick an choose different amps to combine with your speakers and tailor your setup to your liking.

Amphion. If you know me (Mash), then you know why I left these for last. Sigh. They are as someone once claimed NS-10s, but improved. Amphion uses magic to combine simple handcrafted cabinets with SEAS drivers and Class D power amps to create one of the best and most coveted studio monitors ever, the One18. To this day the One18 is a model that every producer or mix engineer ends up getting, no matter what they already have and love. The Two18 is the bigger brother with a bigger soundstage, while the One15 is the smaller sibling. They all share the same wonderful high and midrange translation with varying amounts of low end the bigger you go, the more low-end you get. Couple any of these with either the FlexBase or BaseTwo25 and get you have an incredibly accurate but massive sounding system that rivals anything in any legacy commercial studio of lore. Now you can combine a variety of Amphion monitors along with their Amp 400.8 amp to create an amazing ATMOS system. Check out these bundles. Now Amphion also makes a GASP!!! Powered monitor!! The One25A. All the goodness of the Amphions you already love but in an active package with a woofer to boot! Mash's take: I have a deep love for Amphions. My favorite are the Two18s because they are just sublime but the baby One12s are absolutely wonderful to work on as well as just listen to music through. If there was a way, I would have attached a pair of One12s to the sides of my head.

Pro Audio LA recognizes the impact of technology on studio monitor design. The integration of room calibration DSP (Digital Signal Processing) has revolutionized speaker design, allowing users to fine-tune their speakers to their specific room and placement. Trinnov for example is one of the leaders of this type of technology alongside the excellent offerings from some of the brands mentioned earlier. This innovation democratizes near-perfect imaging and acoustical representation, making it accessible to both home studio enthusiasts and professionals in the most elaborate facilities. Pro Audio LA offers a variety of room and speaker calibration products, as well as on-site tuning services. That said, there are still multiple well-known manufacturers still making traditional monitors with quality components and excellent design that still capture the essence of the music being played through them. Contact Pro Audio LA and nerd out over monitors or just buy a pair you like – or book a demo, how about a demo in the dark? We got you covered for all things studio monitors. Come talk to us.