Buying Guide
The Best Studio Monitors Under $300
We weighed four speakers on woofer size and form, and the BX3 costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
Under $300, the trade-offs are sharper, so it helps to know which spec you can give up. Every monitor pair here cost $300 or less when we checked and is a studio monitor, ordered from the lowest price.
Rankings weigh form and woofer size as the makers state them; we did not test these speakers ourselves, and any figure a maker omits is noted as missing.
Quick Picks
Our 4 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)
Strong Alternative
PreSonus Eris 3.5 Studio Monitors (pair)
50 watts of built-in amplification.
Best for: Buyers who want 50 watts of built-in amplification.
Our take Check price for PreSonus Eris 3.5 Studio Monitors (pair) (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
KRK ROKIT 5 Generation Five (single)
The top of this price range, adding Class D amplifiers.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for KRK ROKIT 5 Generation Five (single) (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) |
| 50 watts of built-in amplification. | Buyers who want 50 watts of built-in amplification. | Check price for PreSonus Eris 3.5 Studio Monitors (pair) (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding Class D amplifiers. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for KRK ROKIT 5 Generation Five (single) (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 4
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
- Worth skipping when woofer size of 3.5-inch, behind the 305P MkII (5-inch is a problem.
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 ties with the Eris 3.5 at 3.5-inch. It also offers a wired, zero-latency connection.
It cost the least of the 4 picks at the time of writing, with the 305P MkII the next step up. What it gives up: woofer size of 3.5-inch, behind the 305P MkII (5-inch); by contrast, the 305P MkII comes in at 5-inch.
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 of 3.5-inch, behind the 305P MkII (5-inch)
Also Consider2 of 4
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
- Skip it if price comes first: the BX3 cost less when we checked.
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 ROKIT 5 G5 on woofer size (5-inch). Its price falls between the BX3 and the Eris 3.5, 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
Strong Alternative3 of 4
PreSonus Eris 3.5 Studio Monitors (pair) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Eris 3.5 is a compact studio monitor pair with 50 watts of amplification and acoustic tuning controls.
Best for
- Buyers who want 50 watts of built-in amplification.
Skip if
- Skip it if woofer size matters most to you; the 305P MkII offers 5-inch.
Why we like it
It suits a small desk, though 3.5-inch woofers limit how low it can reach. Its tuning controls help in untreated rooms. Its 80Hz to 20kHz range covers vocals and most instruments at desk distance.
Its 1-inch silk-dome tweeters smooth out harsh highs. Its compact cabinets fit beside a monitor on a small desk, and the pair includes the cables to connect them. It has balanced TRS, RCA and a front aux input plus a headphone jack.
Its 3.5-inch woven-composite woofers give tighter bass than typical desk speakers of this size. On price it sat third of 4, between the cheaper 305P MkII and the pricier ROKIT 5 G5, at the time of writing. The trade-off is woofer size; for more, the 305P MkII comes in at 5-inch.
Key dimensions & specs
- Form: Studio monitor pair
- Woofer size: 3.5-inch
- Extras: High and low acoustic tuning controls
Pros
- 50 watts of built-in amplification
- 1-inch silk-dome tweeters
- 80Hz to 20kHz frequency range
Cons
- Woofer size trails the 305P MkII (5-inch)
- Costs more than the BX3 at the time of writing
Premium Pick4 of 4
KRK ROKIT 5 Generation Five (single) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ROKIT 5 G5 is a single 5-inch monitor with Class D amplification and a low-diffraction baffle for stereo imaging.
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
Budget for two, and use the included isolation pads. Class D amplifiers drive a new 1-inch silk dome tweeter. It matches the 305P MkII on woofer size (5-inch).
It makes the most sense for spending more for the fullest feature set, since it offers the top of this price range, adding Class D amplifiers. It was the highest-priced of the 4 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Eris 3.5 and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Form: Single studio monitor
- Woofer size: 5-inch
- Inputs: XLR/TRS combo
Pros
- Class D amplifiers
- Low-diffraction baffle for stereo imaging
- Foam isolation pads in the box
- 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 $300
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side four speakers on form and woofer size from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 4, from the BX3 to the ROKIT 5 G5, 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 Eris 3.5 for 50 watts of built-in amplification.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the BX3 ($50 to $100) to the ROKIT 5 G5 ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a Studio Monitor Under $300
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Woofer size
Here woofer size runs from 3.5-inch on the Eris 3.5 to 5-inch on the 305P MkII. Start with the 305P MkII if woofer size decides it.
Extras that separate them
The 305P MkII: a Slip Stream bass port. The Eris 3.5: 1-inch silk-dome tweeters. The ROKIT 5 G5: a low-diffraction baffle for stereo imaging.
How much to spend
$50 to $100 buys the BX3, the 305P MkII and the Eris 3.5; $150 to $250 buys the ROKIT 5 G5 at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Keeping the budget tight: the BX3. Spending more for the fullest feature set: the ROKIT 5 G5.
Read wattage carefully
Peak figures are much higher than RMS (continuous) figures, and brands mix them. Compare like with like, and treat wattage as a rough guide rather than a measure of quality.
How to Choose a Studio Monitor Under $300
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 |
| Buyers who want 50 watts of built-in amplification | Eris 3.5 | 50 watts of built-in amplification |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | ROKIT 5 G5 | The top of this price range, adding Class D amplifiers |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The 305P MkII leads on woofer size at 5-inch, ahead of the ROKIT 5 G5 at 5-inch.
| Speaker | Form | Woofer size |
|---|---|---|
| BX3 | Studio monitor pair | 3.5-inch |
| 305P MkII | Single studio monitor | 5-inch |
| Eris 3.5 | Studio monitor pair | 3.5-inch |
| ROKIT 5 G5 | Single studio monitor | 5-inch |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The BX3 was the lowest-priced pick and the ROKIT 5 G5 the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Speakers |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | BX3, 305P MkII, Eris 3.5 |
| About $150 to $250 | ROKIT 5 G5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the ROKIT 5 G5 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 ROKIT 5 G5 our Premium Pick pick?
It earns the label for the top of this price range, adding Class D amplifiers. 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 Eris 3.5: 50 watts of built-in amplification.
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 4 here.
Should I pick the BX3 or the ROKIT 5 G5?
The BX3 suits keeping the budget tight; the ROKIT 5 G5 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, the Eris 3.5 for 50 watts of built-in amplification and the ROKIT 5 G5 for the top of this price range, adding Class D amplifiers if those matter more to you.
Keep them a few inches off the wall to tame bass build-up.