Buying Guide
The Best Studio Monitors Under $1000
We weighed three speakers on woofer size and form, and the BX3 costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Under $1000, the trade-offs are sharper, so it helps to know which spec you can give up. Every monitor pair here cost $1000 or less when we checked and is a studio monitor, ordered from the lowest price.
We ranked these speakers on form and woofer size using manufacturer specifications; we did not test these speakers ourselves, and where a maker leaves a figure out, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
M-Audio BX3 Studio Monitors (pair)
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for M-Audio BX3 Studio Monitors (pair) (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
JBL 305P MkII Studio Monitor (single)
A boundary EQ that corrects bass near walls or on a desk.
Best for: Buyers who want boundary EQ that corrects bass near walls or on a desk.
Our take Check price for JBL 305P MkII Studio Monitor (single) (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Yamaha HS5 Studio Monitors (pair)
The top of this price range, adding a 54Hz to 30kHz frequency response.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for Yamaha HS5 Studio Monitors (pair) (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for M-Audio BX3 Studio Monitors (pair) (opens in a new tab) |
| A boundary EQ that corrects bass near walls or on a desk. | Buyers who want boundary EQ that corrects bass near walls or on a desk. | Check price for JBL 305P MkII Studio Monitor (single) (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding a 54Hz to 30kHz frequency response. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for Yamaha HS5 Studio Monitors (pair) (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
M-Audio BX3 Studio Monitors (pair) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The BX3 pair is the smaller 3.5-inch version of M-Audio's desktop monitors, with Kevlar woofers and silk-dome tweeters.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Skip it if woofer size matters most to you; the 305P MkII offers 5-inch.
Why we like it
It is an affordable step up from computer speakers for basic mixing. It connects over a wired link, so there is no Bluetooth delay while monitoring. It is a compact first pair for a small desk.
Its bi-amplified design separates the woofer and tweeter amps for cleaner output. On woofer size it trails the group at 3.5-inch, while the 305P MkII comes in at 5-inch. You also get a wired, zero-latency connection.
It makes the most sense for keeping the budget tight, since it offers the lowest price of the group at our last check. It cost the least of the 3 picks at the time of writing, with the 305P MkII the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Form: Studio monitor pair
- Woofer size: 3.5-inch
Pros
- Kevlar woofers with silk-dome tweeters
- Wired, zero-latency connection
- The lowest price of the group at our last check
Cons
- Woofer size trails the 305P MkII (5-inch)
Also Consider2 of 3
JBL 305P MkII Studio Monitor (single) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 305P MkII is a single 5-inch monitor with a boundary EQ that corrects bass when it sits on a desk or near a wall.
Best for
- Buyers who want boundary EQ that corrects bass near walls or on a desk.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the BX3 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
JBL runs each unit through a 100-hour full-power test. It is sold as a single speaker, so budget for two. Its Slip Stream port extends bass at low listening volumes.
Its updated transducers aim for lower distortion and a tighter transient response. It suits a nearfield desk setup. It is known for a neutral voicing at this price.
It has XLR and TRS inputs with a +4dBu/-10dBV switch, and its Class-D amps deliver 82 watts. It matches the HS5 on woofer size (5-inch). Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the BX3 at the time of writing. Its price falls between the BX3 and the HS5, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Form: Single studio monitor
- Woofer size: 5-inch
Pros
- Boundary EQ that corrects bass near walls or on a desk
- Slip Stream bass port
- 100-hour full-power test on each unit
- Woofer size of 5-inch, ahead of the BX3
Cons
- Costs more than the BX3 at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 3
Yamaha HS5 Studio Monitors (pair) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The HS5 pair is Yamaha's near-field monitor, known for a voicing that aims for uncoloured sound.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the BX3 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Each speaker has a 45W plus 25W bi-amp and XLR and TRS inputs. The pair are two-way bi-amplified near-field monitors with 5-inch woofers and 1-inch dome tweeters. Yamaha tunes them to reproduce sound without added colour.
It matches the 305P MkII on woofer size (5-inch). It also comes with a 54Hz to 30kHz frequency response. It was the highest-priced of the 3 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the 305P MkII and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Form: Studio monitor pair
- Woofer size: 5-inch
- Inputs: XLR and TRS
Pros
- 54Hz to 30kHz frequency response
- 45W plus 25W bi-amp system per speaker
- Voicing aimed at uncoloured sound
- Woofer size of 5-inch, ahead of the BX3
Cons
- Costs more than the BX3 at the time of writing
How We Chose These Studio Monitors Under $1000
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side three speakers on form and woofer size from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the BX3 to the HS5, state form and woofer size.
- Who each pick suits
- The BX3 for the lowest price of the group at our last check; the 305P MkII for a boundary EQ that corrects bass near walls or on a desk; the HS5 for the top of this price range, adding a 54Hz to 30kHz frequency response.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the BX3 ($50 to $100) to the HS5 ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a Studio Monitor Under $1000
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much woofer size you need
Here woofer size runs from 3.5-inch on the BX3 to 5-inch on the 305P MkII. Start with the 305P MkII if woofer size decides it.
Extras that separate them
The BX3: a wired, zero-latency connection. The 305P MkII: a Slip Stream bass port. The HS5: a 45W plus 25W bi-amp system per speaker.
How much to spend
$50 to $100 buys the BX3 and the 305P MkII; $250 to $500 buys the HS5 at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Keeping the budget tight: the BX3. Spending more for the fullest feature set: the HS5.
Do you need a subwoofer
A separate or down-firing subwoofer adds low bass for films and games. In a flat or shared room, a 2.0 set may be the better neighbor.
How to Choose a Studio Monitor Under $1000
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | BX3 | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want boundary EQ that corrects bass near walls or on a desk | 305P MkII | A boundary EQ that corrects bass near walls or on a desk |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | HS5 | The top of this price range, adding a 54Hz to 30kHz frequency response |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The 305P MkII leads on woofer size at 5-inch, ahead of the HS5 at 5-inch.
| Speaker | Form | Woofer size |
|---|---|---|
| BX3 | Studio monitor pair | 3.5-inch |
| 305P MkII | Single studio monitor | 5-inch |
| HS5 | Studio monitor pair | 5-inch |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The BX3 was the lowest-priced pick and the HS5 the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Speakers |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | BX3, 305P MkII |
| About $250 to $500 | HS5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the HS5 add over the BX3?
On paper it adds woofer size (5-inch against 3.5-inch). The BX3 was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
Why is the HS5 our Premium Pick pick?
It earns the label for the top of this price range, adding a 54Hz to 30kHz frequency response. It suits spending more for the fullest feature set.
What extras do the BX3 and the 305P MkII include?
The BX3: Kevlar woofers with silk-dome tweeters. The 305P MkII: a boundary EQ that corrects bass near walls or on a desk. The HS5: a 54Hz to 30kHz frequency response.
Who should choose the BX3?
The BX3 carries our Lowest Price Here label for the lowest price of the group at our last check. It ranks first of 3 here.
Should I pick the BX3 or the HS5?
The BX3 suits keeping the budget tight; the HS5 suits spending more for the fullest feature set.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the BX3, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the 305P MkII for a boundary EQ that corrects bass near walls or on a desk and the HS5 for the top of this price range, adding a 54Hz to 30kHz frequency response if those matter more to you.
Keep them a few inches off the wall to tame bass build-up.