Are studio monitors good for listening to music?
The answer to this: it depends.
How do I mean? Allow me to explain.
Good music is medicine to the soul.
It’s also true that music forms an integral part of our lives.
However, the quality of music you listen to is dependent on the output speakers you use.
Technically, all speakers are designed to reproduce sound.
But there is one slight difference that makes all the difference.
This is the technology that it operates on and its frequency response.
When it comes to frequency response, a speaker can either have a flat response or can modify frequencies.
Studio monitors operate on flat response and are ideal for mixing in studios.
On the flip side, regular speakers are designed for listening to music outside the studio environment.
So, should we write off studio monitors at this point? Not really!
In this article, you shall discover in detail the best and the worst features of studio monitors.
Also, you shall learn the best and the downside of regular speakers.
Most importantly, this article is meant to provide valuable tips so that you make an informed decision.
So, without further ado, let’s jump in.
Comparison Between Studio Monitors and Regular Speakers
So, are studio monitors good for listening to music? The answer is: it depends on what you want!
Before deciding on whether to settle on studio monitors for listening to music, it’s important that you understand the performance differences between a studio monitor and regular speakers.
Therefore, here is what you need to know.
1. Accuracy of Sound
The biggest motivation behind speakers is quality sound output.
The sound should be clear and friendly to your ears.
This is to say: you should not have aching ears after a period of listening to your music.
Studio monitors have a transparent sound thus you can hear the music like it was intended by the music producer.
This is further attributed to its ability to respond to frequencies without modifying any.
In other words, these speakers are used to test how music feels like in its neutral state.
If you are to listen to music using studio monitors, you will find the music flat.
But what does this even mean?
Flat music has no modifications to it.
Therefore, you will hear the bass, and trebles just like they are in the original recording of the music.
On the contrary, regular speakers can modify the music to give you a whole new feel.
This music is interesting to listen to.
The bass levels are clear and you can feel the punch.
If this is something that is very important for you, then, studio monitors will not be a good fit.
However, if what you need is clear sounding music just as it was mixed in the studio, then, studio monitors should be your top pick.
2. Listening Distance
To get the best out of studio monitors, you need to use them adjacent to each other.
Moreover, they should not be far apart from each other and your listening position.
This is because they are designed to cover a small range within your studio.
This presents a limitation:
Studio monitors are ideal for small rooms and your listening location should not be far from them.
Therefore, you can only listen and enjoy your music if you have a small room and for personal use.
On the contrary, for a large room such as a hall, you will not get the satisfaction that you’d long for.
This is the point where regular speakers come in, since they can work well in large rooms, you will find them helpful.
Also, you do not need to be in close proximity to them so as to enjoy the music.
You can place them anywhere within the room.
Also, you can make them adjacent to each other or not. The choice lies with you.
The good thing: they still sound amazing regardless of the setup configuration.
3. Powering Options
Studio speakers are designed for different purposes.
For this reason, you will find others with more bass while others have more or less treble.
So, how does this affect power options?
Due to their intended purpose, most studio monitors have inbuilt amplifiers.
However, regular speakers operate on amplification.
This implies that you need to get an external amplifier to streamline the sound quality.
Again, depending on what works for you, you can make a choice.
Due to its inbuilt amplifier, you only have to plug the monitors into a power source and your audio interface then enjoy your music.
For regular speakers the case is different.
You will probably find it strenuous.
4. Original Intent
Studio monitors are designed with sound engineers and music producers in mind.
These groups of people are interested in making the best audio music for the world.
For them to accomplish this, they need monitors that can give them a neutral feel of the music.
This is important as they can feel which parts of the song require improvements.
Studio monitors are best for this because of their flat frequency response.
As you can see, it’s not the best idea to use the studio monitors outside a studio environment.
Regular speakers are versatile and designed with the intent of making the music lively.
Unlike studio monitors, they modify and enhance the whole outlook of the music.
The good thing is that you can use them in any environment still get satisfied.
Final Thoughts
The differences speak for themselves.
However, it’s worth noting that studio monitors give flat sounding music.
You may probably find that boring.
Nevertheless, if you love your music flat, then, they will serve your right.
Regular speakers are versatile and can be used in multiple settings.
Moreover, they enhance music and give it more life.
If you are a music enthusiast, you probably love more bass in your music.
This is exactly what you get from regular speakers.
