Choosing the Best Studio Monitors in 2021

What to consider when choosing the right studio monitors in 2021 for music production and mixing. Covering large format monitors, near fields and micro, or 'real world' monitors. And why you should consider listening to your mix on other real world sources.
Monitors included in the discussion:
Duntech Sovereign
Auratone Cube
Avantone Cube
Yamaha NS10M
Avantone CLA-10A
Adam A7X
Unity Audio - The Rock
Event 20/20 BAS V3
JBL Flip Series
Apple Computer Monitors

[@PatrickHalferty]

Great video. I enjoyed hearing your explanations. I've known most of what you mentioned already. Was a nice refresher.

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Thank you… well I’m glad you didn’t find it a total time waster considering - if I was to go deeper on this subject what should I discuss?

[@johnnyboy0g460]

De-Esser on the vocal please, otherwise great content

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

noted :)

[@natigrinkrug]

Yes, absolutely. This is what's holding you back, man. Great content otherwise!

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

@@natigrinkrug well how’s the audio on the most recent video?

[@natigrinkrug]

@@jamiedurrantmusician Much better! well done!

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

@@natigrinkrug good news, thanks for the support and advice

[@beesmith5379]

Excellent video thank you so much for sharing.

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Thanks for watching Bee, glad it was helpful

[@natigrinkrug]

Hey Jamie! Great video! I would change the channel name to just Talking Sonics... That's much more memorable, it's shorter, and helps more people remember you. Great video, good job!

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Cheers...

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Justin - for some reason KZbin is not letting me reply to you directly. To answer the question about studio monitor reflections from a console or desk - this can be resolved in most cases by repositioning the monitors a little further back from the console/desk, often monitors on a console metre bridge causes issues. Independent speaker stands further back hopefully will sort this!

[@nonikita]

I never thought about using old 90s computer speakers for mixing purposes. I love it, you can get a good pair used for $10 or less

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Absolutely

[@rapidfiremuzik_official]

What about any year plain Jane pc speakers????....were the 90s speakers a 'special' kinda low quality speakers??

[@mixinginthebox]

Thank you..

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Your welcome, I hope that’s been a little help!

[@accentontheoff]

So you’re thumbupping Kali Audio? They’re surprisingly affordable. I don’t get many chances to demo (leave alone compare) speakers where I am. Hence asking. Nice video, thanks.

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

The larger models yes, smaller units deliver less grunt of course

[@accentontheoff]

@@jamiedurrantmusician Ah ok thanks! :)

[@SuperIZL]

Great vid! I'm listening on consumer 'dark/muffled' headphones but your esses are somewhat piercing. Not trying to be smart hoping to be helpful.

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

All good there, I'm now using a different mic and deesser in newer videos - point taken!

[@thilowittorf2564]

What do you think about the focal alpha series - especially the alpha 65?

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

There's a good example of a well built modern speaker system at a low price. I've not listened to them but reports say the aluminium tweeters cannot deliver as smooth response as other silk dome or ribbon drivers. And this is where ear fatigue comes in. As you work longer hours this really matters. I'm amazed at how consistently good my Event BAS 2020 powered speakers have served me. I think I'd prefer a secondhand set of these over the alpha 65's - but your call.

[@zeitagent]

I am a guitar player (playing at home at bedroom levels, no gigs) and looking for the best monitor to plug my multieffect pedal / amp sim (Zoom G1Xon or NUX MG300) directly into a powered monitor. Presently I go into a small PC HiFi desktop monitor which sounds quite good. Which monitors would fit my needs best? And would the tone / sound be dramatically improved compared to the 3 inch desktop speaker? Thanks

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

3 inch monitors are not capable of producing extended low end. And most PC monitors can be good sounding but in comparison to quality studio monitors can sound outrageously cheap and nasty. Seek a small stereo mixer like a Mackie VZL series secondhand and a pair of monitors that go down to 40hz like Adam, Karli or Event. You’ll have a lot of fun. I suggest a mixer and a pair of monitors so you can use the stereo effects of your guitar multieffect. And note, I assume you’re using a DI record output, not outputs designed to plug into guitar amps and speakers… correct?

[@bradferguson9840]

Hi there. I have the Event 2020 Bas series 1's. Do you think they're any good? (I won't be offended if you don't). Also, what do you think of the JBL 305p Mk II's for a small room? Thanks!

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

The Event 20/20s passive series 1 monitors are fantastic. I used to own a pair. These little JBLs are toys, I’d steer clear. Better to spend cash on older series monitors secondhand.

[@bradferguson9840]

@@jamiedurrantmusician Okay, thanks 🙂

[@highland1997]

Just wondering peoples thoughts currently have a pair of Yamaha HS5’s and a pair of IK Media lLoud MTM’s, wanting to take the next step in monitors just wondering peoples thoughts

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Sorry for the very late reply! Truth be told, choose what sound best to you, but listen and test them in store with music you know and love. Technically the K Media lLoud MTM’s may be flatter and wider bandwidth than the H5s, but not by much - but the larger H8 would be better for low end reference I bet. I dislike the lLoud MTM’s many variations of things to switch on the back. They should be just flat and not need all this crap. I don't trust this company for speakers, but I love T-Racks back in the day!

[@frankfarago2825]

I watched the whole clip. At the end, I had no better idea what montor to ete and why -- than I had at the 0:00 mark. Oh well....

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Hi Frank, sorry to have wasted your time! Perhaps I can further help focus this for you. What’s your plan, what sort of sound are you working with, how big is your room and what is your budget?

[@gerardlake]

What brand of mic you used in this video

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Original 421N see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sennheiser_MD_421

[@gerardlake]

@@jamiedurrantmusician great sounding mic and gear

[@CharlottevanPaemel67]

TKS A LOT FIRST TIME IN KZbin I FEAL YOU ARE MY CHANNEL I NEED MONITORS I BOUGHT CDJ 2000 NEXUS DJM900NEXUS SO I START MIXING DJS BUT KNOW IM GONA START IN MY SMALL APPARTMENT I WAS A PIANIST 6 YEARS OLD TO 9 3 HOURS PRIVATE EVERYDAY COLLEGE PIANO SO I V GOT THE HEAR OF A PIANIST TKS IN AVANCE FOR HELPING ME CHOOSE

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Glad to be of some assistance !!! Let me know what you choose :)

[@rapidfiremuzik_official]

I bought a pair of (unmatched serial numbers) Auratone c5's from a guy who worked in a small now closed TV studio. $100 & 6years later - I STILL haven't bought an amp to power them 🤦🏾🤷🏽‍♂️😭😭🤣

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Ha ha you’re not missing much…

[@joetspaulding]

the color of the woofer just needs to be white or yellow...grill cloths nah gotta show em off

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

I used to take the grill cloths off my old man’s hifi speakers when I was a kid - it looked much cooler!

[@CharlottevanPaemel67]

Well I am waiting for you I need to ask you few questions well I would say the best for me are the Yamaha Sh 8

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

I can say that I have not heard the Yamaha HS8 - however this is a lower cost monitor, and while specs say a high frequency response range, its tweeter is not silk dome or ribbon and could be ear fatiguing. Also if you're doing DJing you might appreciate a larger speaker boxes like my Event 20/20 BAS powered monitors. I think the Yamaha speakers could be limiting. You really need to try them in a shop and turn them up loud and see if you like them. It's your ears; but also I'd advise upping your budget if possible.

[@CharlottevanPaemel67]

@@jamiedurrantmusician Tks a lot because this was somebody who told me that these would be the best for me tks a lot Jamie for your advice i really appreciate

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

@@CharlottevanPaemel67 happy to talk to you

[@chrisgates7756]

@@jamiedurrantmusician the yamaha msp7's are a great monitor Jamie. Actually designed by the original designer on the ns10's. They don't have the white driver - and far outperform the HS series.

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Sorry I can’t help you there - I don’t know the Yamaha Sh 8 speakers

[@avinashps9854]

is that windows 98 os?

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Windows XP SP1 - see: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooCzaWNsgceBrZI

[@avinashps9854]

@@jamiedurrantmusician what is the reason for using outdated softwares?

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

@@avinashps9854 the answer to that is in the video link I posted. Watch it!

[@AlexPriceMusician]

Your mouth and lips smacking together is uncomfortably clear hahah Great video man. Thank you for sharing your thoughts

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

I know - for some reason I keep doing that - I’ve gotta stop ha ha

[@merlean]

u could use rx7 mouth de click

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

@@merlean or I could just clean up my speech!!!!!!

[@greedokenobi3855]

@@jamiedurrantmusician I hardly notice the ‘smacking’ but I do feel the sibilants sound pretty harsh, I think de-essing your voice might be something to consider next time.

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

@@greedokenobi3855 Hi ya! Thanks, yes since this video was published back in Jan, I've been adding a de-esser to all voice audio files. Also, I'm watching my lip smacking! he he

[@subramaniamchandrasekar1397]

In short, to mix correctly, the musician needs monitors. And all monitors do not sound correctly and each have more pronounced highs, mids, or lack lows. Anyway the musician needs monitor speakers to mix correctly. Be happy with what you have, hear in many types of speakers possible and don't blame your speakers. Trying to upgrade speakers is like the hi-fi man trying to buy another set of hi-fi because he heard a better tishh tishh and dum dum or or heard the guitar high E more or jet-fly left to right in another set and his upgrade never ends. Regards.

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

That’s about it… now why did I bother doing this video! Lol

[@bboymac84]

This video needs sooth vst!!!

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Are you referring to audio quality of my voice?

[@bboymac84]

@@jamiedurrantmusician very high end sounding like a snake

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

@@bboymac84 well that would be the old dynamic mic... now using a different mic in new videos

[@bboymac84]

@@jamiedurrantmusician ok but sounds a tad sharp

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

@@bboymac84 yes that’s why I’m not using that mic anymore for voice

[@patrickdeboer1377]

Your "s" is giving my ears a hard time...

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Apologies - an older video with issues - I’ll see if I can replace the audio file on this one and sort it. Thanks for the tip!

[@rapidfiremuzik_official]

I bought a pair of (unmatched serial numbers) Auratone c5's from a guy who worked in a small now closed TV studio. $100 & 6years later - I STILL haven't bought an amp to power them 🤦🏾🤷🏽‍♂️😭😭🤣

[@jamiedurrantmusician]

Ha ha that’s gold