Studio Reference Monitor: Need help

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fin13

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Hi.

Although I've been recording for some time, I never invested in speakers. I have this friend who keep telling me to get "Studio Reference Monitor" speakers...but I just use regular speakers from my home stereo.

I'm at a basic level with this, so I figured I'd pick your brains...



What the difference between Studio Reference Monitor and regular home stereo or home theatre speakers?



Thanks for the time.
JennyFin
 
Not all that much. The most famous reference monitors of all time (NS-10s) are home stereo speakers.

In a nutshell:
Monitors should be flat. A pleasing sound would also be nice.
Home stereo speakers should be pleasing. Flat would also be nice.

Once you get past the entry level stuff, there is no difference to speak of aside from looks. A good speaker is a good speaker.



Home theater on the other hand: Stay away unless you have thousands of dollars to throw around. The focus is usually on having a large number of speakers, making speakers small enough to hide in a living room, and making it easy to install and use. Sound quality doesn't even show up on the radar until you get to packages that are essentially a collection of 7 "regular" high end speakers.
 
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Adding --

You will only ever be as good as the speakers you're using allow you to be (and the speakers you're using will only ever be as accurate and consistent as the room they're in allows them to be).

Cut corners anywhere you want - But not on your monitoring chain.

If your stereo is actually "good stuff" (not some $500 RCA "home theater in a box") and the room allows for relative accuracy, there's nothing illegal about that. As mentioned, "Studio Monitor" is usually a sticker on a speaker. And plenty of "studio monitors" sound like crap. Plenty of them.
 
Hi.

Thanks for the help!

Would their be a benefit of adding a subwoofer to my setup?

Thanks again,
JennyFin
 
Massive Master said:
As mentioned, "Studio Monitor" is usually a sticker on a speaker. And plenty of "studio monitors" sound like crap. Plenty of them.
Click to expand...
Yep ..... 'studio reference monitor' is mostly a marketing term. Doesn't really mean that much.
 
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