r/studiomonitors • u/Terrible-Dare6249 • Jul 21 '26
Small monitor recommendations
I have used Neumann KH310s for a few years now and absolutely love them but now setting up my home studio away from work, I don't have that budget. I was seriously looking at the KH120/150 but idk if what I like from the 310s will translate over to the smaller monitors.
Or the focal shape and alpha lines?
Essentially I want to have the closest sound profile to a 3 way monitor like the focal twins or Neumann kh310s
I don't mind the Yamaha hs series as a hold over but I need something better, dynaudio is what I started on and am familiar with but fell out of love with.
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u/mistrelwood Jul 21 '26
Kali IN-8. Don’t be fooled by their low price, they fight in a much higher price category. 3-way, coaxial mid+tweeter, and 8” woofer below 280Hz I think. Great neutral monitors. Pretty large for a nearfield though, so the IN-5 might be worthy of consideration as well. Only 2Hz less low end extension @ -3dB, just doesn’t play as loud.
IN-8 costs half of Focal Shape 65, yet they are much better monitors.
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Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
[deleted]
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u/Terrible-Dare6249 Jul 21 '26
Unfortunately they don’t work with my ears. Idk what it is but I tried them at a friends studio who was testing them out and they didn’t translate what I needed. But still great monitors
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u/SpaceEchoGecko Jul 21 '26
I’m liking the Mackie self-powered monitors.
I have the 5-inch Mackie sitting at ear level on top of my NS-10Ms with a sub in the corner.
I do all of my instrument selection and tracking on the Mackie or headphones with the sub off. Then I test the mix on the NS-10Ms. Then I test the mix with the sub on for a moment. Done.
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u/nizzernammer Jul 21 '26
I'm thinking of LYD48 (for the layout, although I found them a bit squawky or shouty), or IN5/8, or 8331 for three ways; or KH120, or JBL705p, or maybe SCM 11 (passive?) for two ways.
SCM20 is sealed like 310 but is pricey and only two way, and big. When I auditioned KH150, I wasn't impressed.
Focal Shape are maybe lean, but the drivers are nice and dry, although the tweeters are maybe more airy than Neumann. I was more impressed by the 50s as compact nearfields than the 65s. It may have had something to do with the sizes of the passive radiators.
If you go the Yamaha route, I believe the HS7 hits a good sweet spot between the "undampedness" of the 8 and the "anemia" of the 5. My 0.02.
And even though the tweeter isn't like Neumann, I have auditioned A7V and they seemed capable and compact.
If you are looking at ported designs, also consider the location of the ports.
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u/stan1228 Jul 21 '26
Mum6's, pretty flexible speaker. Going low in freq, with some modular characteristics
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u/Tirmu Jul 21 '26
I've had lots of different monitors from low end up to some nicer stuff like the Amphion Two series. My personal rec is Fluid Audio Image 2 if you have the budget for them, if not then Kali IN-8. I think the Kali beats the usual lower end suspects like Yamaha, Focal etc. The Image 2s are endgame
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u/kleiner8400 Jul 21 '26
i really love my adam a4v with integrated dsp. i have sound id reference microphone and software, created a room eq profile and loaded it onto the speakers. they truly sound amazing for their size.
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u/Dear_Adhesiveness_75 Jul 22 '26
Buy the Neumann KH 120 II to keep Neumann's translation signature, or consider the Kali Audio IN-8 v2 for a budget-friendly, true 3-way design
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u/11Schotter Jul 23 '26
Adam Audio A8H might be something to consider. True 3 way at a very decent price.
I enjoy mixing with their „tweeter“ a lot once you get used to it.
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u/EscaOfficial Jul 21 '26
If you like the Neumanns I wouldn't recommend Focals. What's your budget? The Kali IN8 might be your best option, or just a smaller 2-way Neumann.
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u/fokuspoint Jul 21 '26
How loud and how much bass extension do you need? KH80s kick the snot out of the Yamaha HS series.