In my career as a music producer, there came a time when I realized how important it was to have a pair of studio monitors that were both very good quality and not too expensive. When I first started out, I mostly used a cheap pair of headphones or, even worse, my laptop’s built-in speakers to listen to my music. But I finally made a big step forward when I bought a pair of studio monitor speakers that cost less than $100. In terms of making music, it was a real turning point.
If you’re old enough to remember watching TV in standard definition, you remember how great it was to see your favorite movie in high definition for the first time. For a home recording enthusiast, installing that first set of “real” monitors has the same effect but as this guide will prove, you no longer have to rely on an unlimited bank balance or a fantastic studio space to get great sound. Sometimes a pair of inexpensive studio monitors is all you need. Even though most of us can tell “Bridge over Troubled Water” from “Hot Dog Flavored Water,” only those with a particularly fine ear can truly appreciate the nuances of a truly high-quality pair of monitors.
Check the List of Best Studio Monitor Speakers under $100
Alesis M1 Active MK3
Alesis has already given us some great, affordable monitoring solutions. The M1 speaker series is just another example. They’re designed to offer more versatility and meet the needs of producers who spend a lot of time on the road. These lightweight, portable and quite powerful speakers offer excellent value for money. The highlight is the bass amplification feature, which essentially turns the M1 monitors into regular computer speakers.
New computer-optimized high-frequency waveguide provides controlled, predictable high-frequency dispersion. Optimized front connectors for extended low frequency response; Ultra-wide frequency response from 45-22kHz covers the entire musical spectrum. Balanced XLR+1/4″ combo input for complete connection flexibility. This is especially handy if you only want to listen to music. All in all, this speaker set offers a lot for the stated price, making it a solid value package.
Tascam VL-S3BT
The Tascam VL-S3 are true studio monitors designed for a very specific application. They are very compact, but have a lot of power. Tascam has managed to meet the needs of users who work in tight spaces and whose studios are quite small. With the VL-S3, you get the power you need in such environments, not to mention far better models.
Its frequency response is incredibly flat and would be just about perfect if the bass was below 100 Hz. However, this lack of low end is completely normal for 3″ speakers, so the VL-S3s are not alone in this single flaw. If you’re looking for small, powerful and relatively high-performance speakers, the Tascam VL-S3 is the right choice.
Samson MediaOne BT3
The Samson MediaOne BT3 offers a number of solid features. With an aggressively low price point, it still manages to deliver decent performance. The Samson MediaOne BT3 is a compact monitor set that appeals primarily to those on a budget. But price isn’t everything. Below, we take a closer look at these monitors to find out if they are worth buying. The audio quality of the Samson MediaOne BT3 is better than you would expect. Usually, cheap studio monitors are not that good.
PreSonus Eris E3.5
On the back of the left Eris 3.5 are flexible inputs with jack and RCA jacks, as well as a headphone output and a stereo mini-jack (for smartphones or similar) on the front of the same speaker. These connectivity options make these Presonus Studio Monitors speakers a great and practical option for casual music enjoyment.
Bass response is surprisingly solid and punchy given the specs and the size of the woofer, certainly enough to give you a good feel for what you’re mixing, especially for near-field listening. The Eris 3.5 have some of the design prowess of the larger studio/pro models in the Eris range.
Mackie CR-X Series
On the back of the active Mackie studio monitor Speaker are TRS quarter-inch inputs (left/right) as well as RCA inputs (left/right) and a 3.5mm stereo aux input. Below these connections is a switch to assign the left or right channel to the speaker. There is also a connector for the included speaker cable (which plugs into the back of the passive speaker) and a hardwired power cord located next to the power switch. All of these ports make perfect sense, but it would have been nice to have USB and/or Thunderbolt ports.
Behringer 1C-BK Ultra-Compact 100-Watt 5″
The Behringer 1C-BK Ultra-Compact Monitor Speakers (pair) are a pair of monitors with an output power of 100 W, a 5.5-inch woofer, a frequency range of 60 Hz to 23 kHz, and brackets. These two-way monitor speakers combine precise sound reproduction with a neoclassical design, making them ideal for demanding environments. The 100W 1C-BK produces great sound from a powerful 5.5″ cellulose cone woofer and a high-resolution 0.5″ tweeter, while the internal crossover provides automatic overload protection for the tweeter and the high-precision components and design ensure absolute phase linearity.
Moukey 3
Active High-Definition Nearfield Studio Monitor 40-watt two-way Class D high definition nearfield studio monitor. Studio-quality design, accurate frequency response, precise sound field. 1-inch silk dome tweeter, 3-inch woven woofer (Dyna3) Professional acoustic adjustments and speaker room space and HF trim adjustments for acoustic room reflections.
Wireless Bluetooth 5.0 You can enjoy music without wires. With Bluetooth 5.0 function, you can enjoy your favorite music anytime and anywhere. As a versatile product, Dyna Series studio monitors will greatly enhance your understanding and enjoyment of music.
M-Audio AV42
The speakers have a 4-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter apiece. The sound they produce is balanced and surprisingly accurate, especially for inexpensive speakers. Bass is solid and tight, thanks to the ports, but not overpowering. The highs are crisp and the mids are present and correct.
These speakers are perfect for working on music projects, although entry-level speakers will always lack the soundstage and clarity of more expensive studio models, as they aren’t really designed for strenuous production work.
Behringer MS16
The Behringer MS16 (pair) 2-way active monitor system for personal use. Monitor Speakers MS16 is a compact 2-way stereo speaker system for home studio or multimedia applications and instrument or vocal monitoring. The front panel volume control and individual bass and treble controls make precise sound adjustment a breeze.
The Behringer studio monitor MS16 (pair) is a compact 2-way stereo speaker system for home studio or multimedia applications and instrument or vocal monitoring. Two high-power amplifiers drive the 4-inch woofers and high-resolution tweeters.
Final Words
Of course, you shouldn’t expect the same build, features, or performance from the best studio monitor speakers under $100 set as you would from a high-end speaker set. However, the devices don’t necessarily have to feel “cheap and unattractive” either. These days, the build quality is surprisingly good, especially in the models we’ve featured, with their sleek design and sturdy construction.
Of course, they tend to be quite small and light, and they are definitely near-field devices. That means you have to stand pretty close to the speakers to experience their full potential. However, that makes them perfect for desktops and home studios.