The Best Studio Monitors Under $500

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). It makes the most sense for buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Eris 3.5, since it offers the cheapest way into this group, below the Eris 3.5. It undercut the Eris 3.5 and every other pick on price at the time of writing.

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. Its price falls between the 305P MkII and the CR3.5, based on our last check.

Isolation pads and cables come in the box. It comes as a pair with isolation pads and cables, so nothing else is needed to start. The tone knob sits on the front, so voicing changes don't need menus.

Its 3.5-inch woofers and compact cabinets fit a small desk, and the tone knob changes voicing without software. It suits streaming and casual mixing. It is voiced to be accurate rather than flattering, which helps mixes translate.

On woofer size it ties with the Eris 3.5 at 3.5-inch. It also offers a size aimed at desks and small studios. It gives ground on woofer size, where the 305P MkII comes in at 5-inch.

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.

Inputs are XLR and TRS phone jacks that accept balanced or unbalanced signals, and the two amplifiers add up to 70 watts. It matches the 305P MkII on woofer size (5-inch). It also comes with a 54Hz to 30kHz frequency response.

Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the 305P MkII at the time of writing. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the CR3.5.