Time to level up from those wimpy computer speakers.
One of the most important aspects of your audio signal chain is how you hear your creations. For those dipping into the home-studio life, here are 10 entry-level options for monitors that balance power, portability, and price.
KRK Classic 5
Even with a 5" woofer, this two-way monitor offers a total of 50 watts of power with 30 watts driving the woofer and 20 watts for the tweeter. It has an optional bass boost, front-firing port, and dedicated high- and low-frequency adjustment controls.
$149.50 each
Samson MediaOne BT3
Portability and wireless features are at the forefront of this design. Each speaker has a 3" woofer and 1" tweeter that offers 15 watts per channel. Around back you have Bluetooth capability, RCA inputs, and passive output terminals.
$91 pair
JBL 1 Series 104-BT
This set of monitors is powered by an integrated class-D 60-watt amp that distributes 30 watts to each speaker. With a 4.5" woofer it can kick out up to 104 dB SPL. It offers three sets of inputs (aux, RCA, and TRS) along with Bluetooth connectivity.
$199 pair
Behringer MS16
Aimed for entry-level music creators, this setup is a compact, 8-watt affair with dedicated treble and bass controls on the front panel along with a TRS mic input with level control. A built-in mixer makes playing along with backing tracks a breeze.
$99 pair
Kali Audio LP-6 V2
On the higher end of our collection is the latest iteration of the company’s LP-6 which is loaded with an 80-watt class-D amp along with a 6.5" woofer that can churn out a max SPL of 115 dB. Inputs include RCA, TRS, and XLR, and features include a series of dip switches that help tune the monitors to your specific space.
$199 each
Presonus ERIS E3.5
These portable reference monitors offer a dead-simple control setup with an aux input, a headphone output, and a simple volume knob. They come packed with balanced TRS and RCA inputs. Even with a 3.5" woofer, a 50-watt engine pushes a peak of 100 dB.
$99 pair
Mackie CR3-X
If space is at a premium, these ultra-portable monitors combine a silk dome tweeter and a 3" woofer into an extremely affordable package. An easily accessible headphone jack is on front and a trio of inputs (TRS, RCA, and unbalanced stereo in) are featured on the back.
$99 pair
Alesis Elevate 5 MkII
Combining a high-precision driver with a custom-designed crossover, this pair offers 40 watts of power in a magnetically shielded enclosure to help with interference from video monitors. Rear controls include a switchable bass boost, RCA and XLR inputs, and a power switch.
$139 pair
Tannoy Reveal 502
A front-firing bass port allows for placement near walls and aim to keep the low-end in check. Inside is a 75-watt bi-amp design with a custom crossover that puts out 50 watts in the lows and mids and 25 watts in the highs. Naturally, it comes stocked with XLR, unbalanced, and aux inputs.
$149 each
M-Audio BX5 D3
A 5" Kevlar woofer (bulletproof?) is the highlight of this affordable monitor set. The front panel is sleek and doesn’t offer any tangible control. All the inputs (XLR and TRS), volume control, and power switch are around back along with a toggle used to tune the monitors to your specific acoustic space.
$149 each
An all-in-one portable PA that features a custom-engineered, 12-tweeter column array.
HARMAN Professional Solutions, the global leader in audio, video, lighting and control, today unveiled its latest addition to the JBL Professional PRX Column Portable PA family, the PRX ONE all-in-one portable PA. JBL Professional also introduced the all new, universal JBL Pro Connect app for simplified management of the PRX ONE system.
PRX ONE meets the needs of a broad range of portable and installed applications, delivering unmatched power, acoustic performance and functionality in a sleek, compact package weighing just 56 pounds. The system delivers a stunning 130 dB of wide, full bandwidth SPL with consistent front-to-back throw, thanks to its custom-engineered, 12-tweeter column array, featuring JBL A.I.M. (Array Inumbration Mechanics) acoustic design; 12-inch bass-reflex woofer; and a built-in 2,000-watt (peak) Class D amplifier.
Performers at any experience level will dial in great sound, fast, using PRX ONE's comprehensive suite of professional-grade Lexicon and dbx processors and eight customizable presets. Built-in effects include reverb, 8-band EQ, delay, compression, limiting, ducking, echo, sub synth and dbx DriveRack Inside technology, featuring AFS Pro Automatic Feedback Suppression; Triple Tier DSP control offers multi-level user experiences based on knowledge level.
Creatives will work faster and easier with PRX ONE's Soundcraft-designed 7-channel, dual-mode digital mixer that can be set to control either general mix functions or channel-strip functions, all manageable via a full-color LCD or the new JBL Pro Connect universal app.
PRX ONE's full-color LCD screen provides complete access to all functions, and a convenient Setup Saver saves snapshots for easy recall. Simple Success dynamic LED metering gives users a fast, easy way to verify levels and channel functions such as mute and clipping.
"Whether you're a singer/songwriter, DJ, corporate presenter or educator, sounding great is critical," says Brandon Knudsen, JBL Product Manager, Loudspeaker Professional Solutions. "So, when we set out to design a new compact column PA, acoustic performance was top of our list. But at the same time, we know that every scenario is unique. We've outfitted the PRX ONE with an incredibly versatile feature set that we believe will appeal to a broad range of performers: Singer/songwriters will appreciate its robust DSP and I/O set, while DJs will love the ability to push the system hard, with that deep bass they crave. And, presenters and educators will appreciate the system's slim, discreet profile and presets that will have them sounding their best instantly. Everyone will be thrilled to leave the outboard gear behind and lighten their load-in, no matter where they play."
With PRX ONE, every seat is the best seat in the house: Twelve custom-engineered tweeters work in combination with JBL's A.I.M. geometrically optimized array-shading design to provide controlled, consistent front-to-back coverage and even response.
Custom-designed high-frequency transducers feature copper-capped pole pieces to reduce inductance for smoother, more precise response; transducers exhibit less power compression, offering more natural performance without the need for heavy DSP. High-frequency performance is optimized down to 500 Hz, allowing the woofer to deliver a more natural, accurate bass sound. PRX ONE's acoustically optimized woofer delivers superior performance down to 35 Hz without the need for DSP.
Available for Android and iOS phones and tablets, the new JBL Pro Connect app opens up a world of possibilities for hands-on control over a full-suite of PRX ONE mixer, DSP, and Bluetooth features. The streamlined interface makes it easy to adjust and control every feature on multiple speakers from anywhere in the room, including adjusting volume levels and EQ, activating Lexicon reverb and effects and much more.
PRX ONE gives artists room to grow their system: Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity allows remote control of up to 10 units using the JBL Pro Connect app, and an XLR Thru output offers true analog expansion with the ability to time-align multiple speakers, with up to 100 ms of delay per speaker. An optional bracket and adapter allow the array to be wall or truss-mounted independently of subwoofer for permanent installations. Transport is a breeze, thanks to PRX ONE's computer-modeled ComfortGrip handle and nylon carry bag.
Connect microphones, instruments, mobile devices and wireless rigs using PRX ONE's versatile I/O set, which features four pro-grade Neutrik XLR Combo jacks, two channels of dedicated phantom power, dedicated Hi-Z input and two USB 2.0 ports, which can be used to power external devices and AKG wireless systems.
Every PRX ONE undergoes 100 hours of rigorous stress testing to ensure that it'll perform flawlessly in real-world conditions. The system is housed in a durable shell that's rugged enough for the most demanding gigs yet discreet enough to complement any presentation scenario.
PRX ONE is ideal for DJs, musicians, entertainment venues, corporate presenters, rental companies and houses of worship. It's the perfect solution for anyone who demands best-in-class power, acoustic performance, creative control and connectivity in a stylish, full-featured column PA that's perfect for both installed and portable applications.
For more information:
JBL
JBL's latest battery-powered powerhouse boasts a plethora of high-end features that make it a standout option for guitarists, bassists, and other musicians in need of pristine clarity and surprising oomph.
JBL EON One Compact
The JBL EON ONE Compact packs a professional-grade speaker, a full-featured 4-channel mixer and Bluetooth control into our most compact battery-powered PA, weighing in at just 17.6 pounds. Sound your best in seconds with premium effects and presets that you can customize right on your phone or tablet using the JBL EON ONE Compact Control app—no engineer needed. Presenters, fitness instructors and emcees will appreciate EON ONE Compact’s ducking feature, which lowers background music volume when speech input is detected. Peer-to-peer Bluetooth lets you broadcast music playback. And with the EON ONE Compact’s tool-free, swappable 12-hour (max) battery, you’ll keep the party going long after the sun goes down.
Be sure to check out more demos in this year's Winter Gear Slam