Many people believe that 8 inch monitors can be excessive. There is some truth to that, but even if you don’t have a larger place, getting things gives you an advantage. Simply turn them down for tiny spaces to get better output without losing the low end. Additionally, you experience less distortion, and eventually, when you go to a bigger area, they are also applicable there. Generally speaking, unless you select monitors that are simply too big, speaker size is not a problem.
You can choose from the entire variety when you choose 8 inch monitors. Which means that even without a subwoofer, each of your speakers are big enough to cover the full low end, from flat to up to 30 to 35 Hz. While some tiny, well-built monitors may share this trait, the majority cannot fully capture the low end.
Make sure the speaker design and quality are up to par in addition to its size. This is where having a reasonable budget is crucial because high-quality 8 inch monitors are not inexpensive price range. You need monitors that will provide you with an output that is uncolored and has a flat frequency response. In other words, the playback needs to be accurate in order to properly mix and master songs so they sound nice on any platform.
No matter how fantastic your monitors are in reality, acoustic treatment is a necessity. It is not a good idea to upgrade to new monitors if your current ones are adequate without first treating your space. The output is a combination of the environment and the signal; an audio engineer does not hear what the monitors themselves sound like. The term “room treatment” refers to the complete treatment of a room, including all of its furnishings, including desks, couches, mattresses, and curtains.
At the end of the day, you want a setup with a build quality that makes your mixes sound good. You won’t need to turn up the studio monitor speakers volume control all the way for the bass to sound more substantial on 8 inch monitors. Additionally, you won’t experience a flat sound as a result of a low volume because they are adaptable, strong, and aid in engineers’ professional development.
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Focal Alpha 80 Evo Active 8″ Studio Monitor (Pair)
- 8" Slatefiber Cone Woofer
- Dual Class-D Amplifiers
- Automatic Standby Mode
The Alpha 80 offers premium Focal improvements for a fair price. It is a Class AB active bi-amplified studio monitor with 100W of power going to the LF and the remaining 40W going to the HF (140W total). The monitor has a sufficient frequency response for a studio monitor of 35Hz to 22kHz and a maximum SPL of 109dB.
Regarding the appearance, the Alpha 80 weighs a total of 28.2lbs, is 397mm tall, 287mm wide, and 348mm deep, and has a vinyl black painting finish. Additionally, it has a 15mm MDF enclosure for the front bass port, giving you more configuration options. A 1-inch inverted-dome tweeter and an 8-inch Polyglass cone woofer are also included in the monitor.
An unbalanced RCA input, a balanced XLR input, an input sensitivity switch, a standby LED, LF/HF shelving knobs, and a power switch are all available on the monitor’s backside. A monitor’s auto-standby mode is also included to reduce wasteful power use. The monitor enters its auto-standby mode, which reduces its power consumption to less than 0.5W, after 30 minutes without receiving an audio signal. When leaving the auto-standby mode, the monitor will take a few seconds to unmute.
Regarding sound quality, we thought the Alpha 80’s sound was excellent because it had incredible clarity and precision. It was a great choice for music production because it accurately and colorlessly replicated the instrument of the mix. We tested a few of the mixes we had created with the Alpha 80 on various antique speakers, and they all sounded fantastic.
The low-end also sounded fantastic because to its frequency response, which dips to 35Hz. Impressive for an 8-inch monitor at its pricing point, it generated subwoofer-like bass. The high-end, on the other hand, likewise sounded excellent without being harsh or taxing to listen to. It was wonderful to be able to listen to them nonstop for hours on end if you want to compose music in a single sitting.
Additionally, we thought the EQ adjustments were really useful. For instance, we adjusted any sound level below 300Hz using the LF shelving knob. Since we had to install the monitor close to a wall, we deliberately employed it for sound correction, and the outcome was excellent. Similar to how we reduced the brightness of the highs above 4.5 kHz, we found them to be a little too bright for our surroundings, so we used the HF shelving knob to do so. The sound quality was enhanced by each of these choices, making them both great EQ settings.
The Alpha 80 is an excellent 8-inch monitor all around. It featured superb audio quality with stunning highs and strong lows. One of the greatest options for an 8-inch monitor, it also had a very neutral feeling. This is the Best 8 inch Studio Monitors in 2023.
Kali IN-8 V2 3-way Powered Studio Monitor
The largest in the IN series, Kali IN-8 V2 has a distinctive construction. It is an active three-way monitor that weighs 25lb and has dimensions of 242mm deep, 441mm tall, and 285mm wide. A TRS input, an XLR input, an RCA input, a volume knob, eight dipswitches, and a dipswitch quick guide are all located on the monitor’s back.
The monitor also has Class-D amplifiers that provide a total of 140W of power to the drivers by giving 40W to the 4-inch poly-coated paper midrange, 40W to the 1-inch textile tweeter, and 60W to the 8-inch poly-coated paper woofer. The monitor also sports a 117dB maximum peak SPL, a frequency response of 37Hz to 25kHz, and 20dB of headroom. The eight dip switches on the IN-8 V2 were our favorite feature since they provided a variety of EQ settings without taking up much room. The dipswitches offered enormous value even if they can appear difficult to use to inexperienced users. Switches 1-3 can be used to alter the boundary EQ settings, switches 4-5 to change the LD trim, switches 7-8 to change the HF trim, and switch 8 to toggle the RCA input.
Regarding audio quality, the IN8 displayed clear audio and a realistic stereo image. The amazing separation between the mix’s instruments allowed us to hear even the smallest elements in our favorite songs that we had never heard before. Additionally, we created some mixes with the IN8 V2, and the music translated amazingly, creating flat, neutral mixes. In the mid-range, when two-way studio monitors slightly lag, this was also very apparent.
Overall, the Kali IN-8 V2 is a tremendously well-rounded monitor since it has excellent flatness, powerful bass response, and outstanding stereo imaging. It was a remarkable 8-inch nearfield monitor since it felt quite neutral and balanced without any frequency exaggeration. This is the Best 8 inch Studio Monitor in 2023.
YAMAHA HS8 Studio Monitor
- 8 inch cone woofer and 1 inch dome tweeter; Produce low distortion sound...
- 38Hz to 30kHz frequency response; Power consumption: 60 watts
- 75W LF plus 45W HF bi amp system 120W total; Level control ( 4dB/center...
The Yamaha NS10’s signature white 8-inch woofer is featured in the active bi-amplified nearfield studio monitor known as the Yamaha HS8. A 22.5-pound monitor that is 334mm deep, 390mm tall, and 250mm wide is included inside the box. Its rear features a bass port, a volume knob, an XLR input, a 14-inch TRS input, a ROOM CONTROL switch, a HIGH TRIM SWITCH, and several other controls.
The HS8 also features Class-D amplifiers that provide a total output of 120W by supplying 45W to the 1-inch dome tweeter and 75W to the 8-inch cone woofer. Additionally, it has a crossover frequency of 2 kHz and a frequency response of 38 Hz to 30 kHz.
Using the ROOM CONTROL switch in conjunction with the frequency control settings, you may fine-tune the monitor’s low end. Additionally, it can be utilized to reduce any elevated low frequencies in your surroundings. As a result, selecting the [-2dB] option will result in a 2dB reduction in the frequency range below 500 Hz, while selecting [-4dB] would result in a 4dB reduction in the frequency range below 500 Hz. Additionally, you’ll obtain a frequency response that is perfectly flat if you set the switch to [0db].
The Yamaha HS8 is a respectable 8-inch studio monitor, having said that. It has tremendous highs, incredible mids, and strong lows, all of which were faithfully rendered without the use of color. It is the ideal option for 8-inch monitoring because it gives you everything you need to succeed while costing less.
Presonus Eris E8 2-Way Active Studio Monitors
- 8-Inch woven composite low-frequency transducer and 1.25-Inch (32 mm),...
- 140 Watt, class AB amplification; 105 dB maximum Continuous SPL
- Front-firing acoustic port for superior bass-frequency reproduction;...
Pro audio equipment made by PreSonus is generally good. They did a fantastic job with their new Eris series of entry-level studio monitors, and their Quantum line of Thunderbolt audio interfaces is a good example of the kind of product they are capable of bringing to customers.
The largest of the Eris series, the E8, comes next. Along with its smaller brother, the E5, this 8-inch studio monitor is very probably the best value monitor available. Due to its low price, the E8 may be quickly dismissed by some people, however industry insiders have stated that these are no joke. Consider these if you’re looking for a jaw-dropping affordable choice.
Several controls on the E8’s rear panel can be activated by the user depending on how their studio is set up. The mid-frequency control switch, which may be set to -6 dB, 0 dB, or +6 dB of gain with a center frequency of 1 kHz, is the first feature. Above 10 kHz, there is a high-frequency shelf EQ with a boost/cut of about 6 dB. Boominess can be minimized by using an LF bass roll-off switch (flat, 80 Hz, 100 Hz) with a -12 dB/octave slope. Finally, if monitors need to be placed close to walls, the Acoustic Space switch (0, -2 dB, -4 dB) is engaged.
Adam Audio A8X Powered Studio Monitor
- GeneralSize: Near-fieldSystem type: ActiveConfiguration:...
A8X from Germany’s ADAM Audio. Since entering the market in 1999, ADAM has established a reputation as one of the leading providers of pro audio equipment. Since ADAM’s business is only monitors, they are able to concentrate all of their efforts on producing the greatest products to market. Each individual driver has years of R&D behind it.
The displays in ADAM’s AX series are clearly not your typical monitors from the moment you first see one of them. The air motion transformer technology developed by Dr. Oskar Heil is further enhanced by their X-ART tweeter. A higher level of fidelity is possible due to the transformer’s faster and more precise movement than a conventional dynamic loudspeaker. The improved power and dispersion properties of the A8X allow it to be used as a nearfield and midfield monitor as well.
The A8X is comparable to the top 8 inch studio monitors on this list in terms of functionality. There are still tuning options that may be triggered to ensure balanced monitoring in a range of acoustic spaces, even if the front-ported woofer design allows for closer placement to walls. There are three EQ controls: a 4 dB independent tweeter gain control switch, a 6 dB high-shelf EQ at 5 kHz, and a 6 dB low-shelf EQ at 300 Hz. View the complete feature and specification list on the ADAM Audio website.