The 6 best budget studio monitors for $100 to $500 in 2024

Finding the perfect budget studio monitor is no easy task, especially for beginners. But worry not – there’s at least a handful of options in the $100 to $500 range that are worth looking into.

After years of testing and using various speakers in professional music production, I believe the Adam Audio T5V are the best budget studio monitors you can buy.

While I might be biased, given that I work with a pair of Adams myself, I still think these are the best monitors you can find for under $500. They sound amazingly accurate and are great for critical listening.

For those looking for a decent, affordable studio monitor to mix tracks on, consider the JBL 305P Mk2 – spectacularly clear monitors for half of what they should probably cost.

Finally, if you’re working with a super tight budget and looking to spend even less, the Mackie CR3-X are my pick for the best studio monitors under $100. When it comes to ultra-affordable models, I wouldn’t waste time talking about anything but these Mackies.

Contents

Use these jump links to navigate to the desired section of the review.

• Why trust me
• How I chose and tested
• Everything I recommend

Why you should trust me

Having been a producer and audio engineer for the past 15 years, I’ve spent a great deal of time on a number of different monitoring systems.

I’m also no stranger to living cheaply, and through the years I’ve gone through a myriad of setups depending on where and how I was living.

I’ve worked on cheap second-hand monitors loaned from a friend, dinky computer monitors from a local pawn shop, consumer-grade models, car speakers I gutted from my friend’s totaled Acura, monitors that probably cost upwards of $15k a pair, and everything in between.

I’ve tested and mixed on the good, the bad, and a pair of blown-out NS-10 that I should have thrown in the dumpster.

I like to think that the depth of my hands-on experience with these products, combined with years of troubleshooting in diverse environments, has helped me be able to identify which monitors deliver the best value.

The following list is thus primarily based on my real-world experience in the industry, and I hope it can meet the demands of most, if not all, of you reading.

How I chose my top picks

This list was compiled shortly after careful testing of numerous monitors focusing on these main criteria:

• Sonic accuracy: A decent monitor should be able to reproduce sound as neutrally as possible ensuring a true representation of whatever it is you’re mixing.
• Build quality: Decent construction is important for the longevity of your speakers, especially if you’re hunting in the more affordable bracket. Shotty build can lead to ringing, humming, hissing, etc.. None of that.
• Cost-to-value ratio: Does that $200 speaker really sound like it’s worth $200, or were you just bamboozled into thinking it didn’t sound like trash?
• Versatility: Whether you’re mixing, producing, or maybe just trying to kick back and enjoy some tunes, can the monitors cover a range of different uses while keeping costs low?

Here are the best budget studio monitors of 2024:

• Best under $500: Adam Audio T5V
• Best special award: Yamaha HS5
• Best for mixing: JBL 305P Mk2
• Best under $100: Mackie CR3-X
• Best for EDM: KRK Rokit 5 G5
• Best under $300: M-Audio BX5 D3

Check out the Honorable mentions for three more speakers that didn’t quite make my top list but are still worth your attention.

Best under $500: Adam Audio T5V

• Tweeter: 1.9″, 20 W
• Woofer: 5″, 50 W
• Frequency response: 45 Hz – 25 kHz (-6 dB)
• Maximum SPL: 106 dB
• Tested price: $400

Sometimes when you’re reviewing a really great piece of equipment, it’s hard to say much about it other than, “It’s great.” A good problem to have, no doubt, but as a critic, it does make life a bit difficult.

This is the problem with the Adam T5V studio monitors. These speakers are practically impervious to any critique. They produce a massive amount of bass, they get loud with little to no distortion, no hiss, and they go for about $400 new.

I personally work off the slightly bigger Adam T7V monitors in my studio, but I would be just as happy owning these instead.

See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best special award: Yamaha HS5

• Tweeter: 1″, 25 W
• Woofer: 5″, 45 W
• Frequency response: 54 Hz – 30 kHz (-10 dB)
• Maximum SPL: 85 dB
• Tested price: $400

The HS5 is a very special monitor, although somewhat divisive. I wouldn’t personally use them as primary monitors, but this is fairly subjective, and they can truly work wonders for most.

They’re not necessarily the most accurate studio monitors in the world, but most people who would recommend them don’t use them for that reason.

The presence in the midrange and upper frequencies is incredibly heavy-handed. While they’re not as abrasive as the infamous NS-10, the HS5 can occupy a very similar space in the mixing process.

They will highlight the problems in your mix and border on making your music sound cartoonish (hyperbolic but I stand by it). Believe it or not, this is an amazing quality to find in a set of monitors, but I wouldn’t recommend them for everybody.

See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best for mixing: JBL 305P Mk2

• Tweeter: 1″, 41 W
• Woofer: 5″, 41 W
• Frequency response: 43 Hz – 24 kHz (-10 dB)
• Maximum SPL: 108 dB
• Tested price: $299

The 305P Mk2 studio monitor offers fantastic clarity, especially in the mid-range. Its wide stereo imaging helps make mixing a bit easier too, at least in my experience.

The performance is surprisingly good for the size, making these monitors a standout for critical mixing. At just under $300, the value is impressive given the sound quality they deliver.

I’d highly recommend the JBL 305P Mk2 for beginner producers or engineers focusing on precise mixing without spending a fortune.

See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best under $100: Mackie CR3-X

• Tweeter: 0.75″
• Woofer: 3″
• Power output: 25 W
• Frequency response: 70 Hz – 20 kHz (-10 dB)
• Maximum SPL: 97 dB
• Tested price: $99

As far as entry-level options are concerned, the Mackie CR3-X delivers pretty decent sound quality with a way more accurate response than one would probably expect for its size and price.

While it definitely lacks a lot of deep bass needed for certain genres, the mids and highs are clear enough for beginners just getting into music production or podcasting.

I personally have a pair kicking around somewhere in my studio that I pull out sometimes to reference when I’m mastering.

See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best for EDM: KRK Rokit 5 G5

• Tweeter: 1″
• Woofer: 5″
• Power output: 55 W
• Frequency response: 54 Hz – 30 kHz (-10 dB)
• Max SPL: 104 dB
• Tested price: $399

The Rokit series is one of the most recognizable studio monitors, often praised for its deep bass response and unique yellow woofers. The latest generation, the G5, offers more precision in the mid-range and high end.

For producers working in genres like hip-hop, EDM, pop, etc., the enhanced low end makes these monitors a pretty solid choice, though they may not be the best for those seeking an entirely flat response.

Back in the day, I got a pair of Rokits as one of my first mid-range level monitors, and while I grew tired of their coloration over a couple of years, they definitely served their function well.

See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best under $300: M-Audio BX5 D3

• Tweeter: 1 inch, 40 W
• Woofer: 5 inches, 60 W
• Frequency response: 52 Hz – 35 kHz
• Maximum SPL: 110 dB
• Tested price: $250

For what they are, the BX5 D3 sound transparent, neutral, and warm. They don’t exaggerate anything too much and are best suited for mixing and critical listening.

It’s honestly crazy that these monitors don’t get that much attention because they’re not only cheaper than the Rokits or HS5, but their frequency response curve is phenomenally flat.

The sound of the BX5 D3 is probably as trustworthy as you’ll be able to find in this price bracket. There’s not too much coloration that’s worth noting here, and even if there was I’d still probably recommend them (probably).

See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Honorable mentions

Here a few more options for you to consider in the $200 to $500 range:

• Kali Audio LP-6 V2. The LP-6 is known for an ultra flat frequency response as well as some excellently precise reproduction. They’re great for a large variety of genres and also have a more expansive frequency range than many other budget options.
• Pioneer DJ DM-50D. These monitors are all around agreeable. Compact footprint, affordable, transportable, and ideal for DJs.
• Adam Audio T7V. While I considered the T5V to be the “better” budget winner, the T7V could have easily taken their spot. I suppose I just wasn’t sure which would be better suited to sit at the top of a budget list. Either way, this is the T5V’s bigger and slightly pricier sibling. Amazing monitor for a great price.

Conclusion

As a final note, I’d like to say that ultimately, the goal is to buy the monitors that work best for you. Don’t just go and buy something because your friend told you so, or me, for that matter.

Take your time, and make sure you’re comfortable with your decision before biting the bullet.