For any DJ, having the right equipment is crucial to delivering an unforgettable performance. While headphones are a necessity for precise mixing, investing in a pair of high-quality monitor speakers is equally important.
These speakers allow DJs to accurately analyse and assess their tracks, ensuring a seamless blend of sounds and an immersive experience on the dancefloor.
In this article, we will explore some of the best best monitor studio speakers for DJs, offering exceptional sound reproduction and performance.
Best Options At A Glance
Product Summaries
MACKIE CR3-X Active 3" Speakers
- Brand - MACKIE
- Dimensions - 18 x 14 x 20.6 cm
- Weight - 3.5 kg
- Subwoofer Diameter - 3"
- Special Feature - Front Panel Controls
Firstly we have the MACKIE CR3-X Active 3″ Speakers. They’re currently selling for £78/$99 on Amazon.
The CR3-Xs from MACKIE produce professional studio quality sound at an affordable price. The combination of a brushed metal faceplate, a textured cabinet, and classic CR green accents give these speakers a sleek modern look.
They’re really easy to use – MACKIE’s Plug and Play system means that you can just plug straight in to the rear 3.5mm, RCA & 1/4″ inputs and get started. You can also use the front facing headphone jack for more intricate headphone mixing.
There’s also an easy access power/volume control on the front panel, allowing you to manually adjust your sound at a moments notice.
These MACKIE speakers are a great choice if you’re looking for affordable speakers with studio-quality audio output.
Buy the MACKIE CR3-X Active 3″ Speakers from Amazon for only £78/$99:
PreSonus Eris E4.5 Speakers
- Brand - PreSonus
- Dimensions - 16.3 x 14.2 x 21.1 cm
- Weight - 5.4 kg
- Subwoofer Diameter - 4.5"
- Special Feature - Studio One Prime Software
Next we have the PreSonus Eris E4.5 Speakers. They’re currently selling for £126/$161 on Amazon.
The Eris E4.5s offer studio quality audio in a premium compact setup. They feature a 4.5 inch woven-composite woofer as well as a 1 inch silk dome tweeter, giving you depth and clarity at any frequency.
They has both RCA and ¼-inch balanced TRS rear-panel inputs, so it’s easy to introduce these speakers into your existing audio setup. They also have two 3.5mm aux inputs on the front panel for easy access for your headphones or mobile device.
PreSonus also supply the E4.5s with Studio One Prime software, allowing you to record, produce, and mix music and audio from a single, intuitive application. It’s as simple as registering your purchase on your My.PreSonus account.
If you’re shopping for high-quality monitor speakers with loads of useful extras, the E4.5s are an excellent choice.
Buy the PreSonus Eris E4.5 Speakers on Amazon for only £126/$161:
Cambridge Audio SX-60 Speakers
- Brand - Cambridge Audio
- Dimensions - 27.2 x 20 x 34 cm
- Weight - 5 kg
- Subwoofer Diameter - 6.5"
- Special Feature - Custom 6.5" Woofers
Another pair of speakers is the Cambridge Audio SX-60 Speakers. They’re currently selling for £199/$254 on Amazon.
These Cambridge Audio SX-60 speakers emit smooth, refined sound with powerful bass response thanks to their custom-designed 6.5 inch woofer. They’re capable enough to be used in any setup, from a professional studio to a cinema-quality surround sound system.
Cambridge Audio pride themselves on focusing on pure audio quality as opposed to unnecessary extras, and this is clearly demonstrated by their perfect audio reproduction and impeccable timing and stereo imaging.
These monitor speakers are perfect if you’re looking for speakers that prioritise audio quality over unnecessary gimmicks.
Buy the Cambridge Audio SX-60 Speakers from Amazon for only £199/$254:
Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT 5” Speakers
- Brand - Pioneer
- Dimensions - 16.3 x 14.2 x 21.1 cm
- Weight - 5.4 kg
- Subwoofer Diameter - 5"
- Special Feature - DSP Settings
Next we have the Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT 5” Speakers. They’re currently selling for £229/$292 on Amazon.
The DM-50D-BTs from Pioneer are excellent all-round speakers for DJs and audio fanatics alike. They deliver perfectly balanced sound with punchy bass thanks to their innovative class D amplifiers and their capable 5 inch woofers.
There’s no need to decide whether you want a set of monitor speakers that are best for DJing or music production, because the DM series speakers are designed to be perfect for both. It’s as simple as flipping the switch to select either DJ mode or Production mode and the DSP settings will be automatically optimized for the task.
These speakers also offer pain free Bluetooth connectivity. This allows you to connect your mobile device or PC/Mac in seconds without the need for pesky wires.
The DM-50D-BT are ideal all-round monitor speakers for DJing and music production alike, offering studio quality audio for less than £250.
Buy the Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT 5” Speakers from Amazon for only £229/$292:
KRK Rokit RP8 G4 Professional Active Speakers
- Brand - KRK
- Dimensions - 30.9 x 26.6 x 40 cm
- Weight - 10.3 kg
- Subwoofer Diameter - 8"
- Special Feature - DSP Graphic EQ
Finally we have the KRK Rokit RP8 G4 Professional Active Speakers. They’re currently selling for £529/$675 on Amazon.
KRK have become a household name in the professional audio industry, and these RP8 G4s live up to the name.
These speakers feature large 8 inch woofers for optimum bass clarity, and they’re housed in a newly-designed front-firing port for improved flexibility. Both the woofer and the 1 inch tweeter are constructed from Kevlar aramid fibre, so it’s safe to safe they’re both durable and high-quality.
One of the more interesting features is the DSP-driven Graphic EQ. This EQ has 25 settings that help to condition your acoustic environment while offering new levels of versatility and clarity, ensuring a powerful sound no matter the space.
If you’re looking for top of the range speakers from a reputable brand, look no further than the RP8 G4s from KRK.
Buy the KRK Rokit RP8 G4 Professional Active Speakers from Amazon for only £529/$675:
FAQs
In short, the difference is that monitor speakers are primarily used for creating music, whereas standard speakers are primarily used for listening to it
Monitor speakers are usually more accurate, making them a great choice for sound engineers who need to make detailed amendments to their audio mixing. Standard speakers are usually less accurate but more affordable than their monitor speaker equivalents.
When positioning your monitor speakers you should ensure that they are in a symmetrical formation, creating an equilateral triangle with your listening position. It’s also good to position them roughly at your ear level, and orient them so that they sit against the shorter wall of the room. Check out PreSonus’ article on Studio Monitor Placement for more information on this.
The majority of high-end monitor speakers have great low-end performance out of the box, but if you’re working on a project that needs detailed low-end monitoring, adding a capable subwoofer to your setup could make it easier. This is especially true for bass-focused projects, where the inclusion of a subwoofer may greatly improve the clarity of the low-end sounds.
Extensive audio testing has found that a distance of approximately 67 ½ inches between speakers is ideal for optimal sound output. If they are placed too far apart, you’ll lose the ability to judge the important mix sounds at the centre of the stereo image.
Thanks for reading our article. If you have a passion for DJing you might want to check out our article on the Best USB For DJing UK.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any thoughts or queries that you’d like us to take a look at – we’d be happy to help.
