Monitors / Monitoring

I understand the benefit of having 'limited-range' monitors alongside full-range monitors so that you can hear what your mixes will sound like on small domestic hi-fi systems. But what advantage is there in buying these monitors for £250, when a cheap pair of hi-fi speakers can cost as little as £30?

I'd like to know more about the difference between monitor designs that feature ports and those that do not. How do they differ in terms of sound and performance?

Tannoy's latest-generation Ellipse technology has been combined with DSP processing from TC Electronic, creating a versatile and powerful high-resolution monitoring system.

Mackie continue to expand their range of studio monitors by combining an innovative D'Appolito design with their existing passive radiator technology.

How much distance should there be between my monitors and should they face straight forward or be angled toward the listener? Also, as my monitors will be placed against a wall, should some acoustic foam be placed directly behind or between them?

Event up their game once again with their best-ever design for project-studio monitoring. But have they come far enough to continue to face off the competition?

I want to add a subwoofer to my monitoring system, but how do I work out where to place it in the room?

I'm considering the purchase of two sets of headphones: the AKG K240DF (flat response) for mixing, and the K271 (coloured response) for musicians to wear when monitoring their own signal, giving them the best sound for inspiration and encouragement. Would these models be suitable for these applications?

ADAM combine Hexacone woofers with advanced high-frequency ribbon drivers to create a competitive professional monitoring system.

Learn how to choose and use on-stage speaker or headphone monitoring systems. After all, if you can't hear what you're doing, then your live performances are going to suffer.

These monitors may look good, but they're actually meant to sound bad! Specifically, they are designed to replace the Auratone 5C and Yamaha NS10M as the discerning mix engineer's 'grot box' of choice.

Despite their compact size, these affordable active nearfields deliver a large-scale sound.

I produce electronic dance music. Much of the time I work with headphones on, to help me focus on detailed sounds in repetitive loops. However, I often notice that when I switch to listening on speakers (to check the actual mix and so on) the track seems a bit faster. What could be the cause?

These active monitors can have their responses tailored to suit their environment when used with the powerful four-band DSP equaliser option.

Event build on their tried and tested design principles to offer two new sets of affordable active monitors.

M-Audio's desktop active monitors offer magnetic shielding and a smooth mid-range sound.

It's often necessary to work on headphones in the home studio, even when mixing. So what headphones should you choose, and how do you go about getting the best results?

The dome of the tweeter on one of my M-Audio Studiophile BX5 monitors has somehow got pushed inwards. Does this cause permanent damage? If it's advisable, how should I go about pulling it back out?

What do the specifications 'active' and 'passive' denote for monitors? Does 'powered' mean the same as 'active'?

These affordable active monitors from Fostex provide a tight and punchy sound, despite their compact dimensions.

These two-way active monitors provide an upfront sound suited to pop, rock or dance music, at an affordable price.