Best 8 Inch Studio Monitors; Review & Buyer’s Guide

Hi to my dear audiophiles and melophiles! Welcome to my review, where I guide you about the best 8 inch studio monitors.

Honestly, as a self-proclaimed audiophile, I've come across multiple studio monitors and used a dozen of them too. Thus, I know the deal, and I'm here to tell you about it.

After spending hours researching and testing 8 inch studio monitors, I've condensed a few points covered in this review.

• The best product for you can only be purchased if you know your needs.
• Why no.1, 2, and 3 are my absolute favorites.
• What to keep in mind before purchasing a studio monitor.

Have faith in me as I talk about choices for every professional, amateur, and regular user. If you want to get your purchase right, you must know which of these can deliver to your specific needs. Stick with me to know all about it!

Top 8 Inch Studio Monitors

1. YAMAHA HS8 Studio Monitor (Our Top Pick)

Specifications

Description

Our top pick brand has been in the game for quite some time now. The Yamaha produces some of the most iconic pieces since the 1970s. What makes this newly developed series above the rest is its new technology and advanced features.

Due to its advanced technology, you get a comprehensive bandwidth range unlike any other. Moreover, with its precise and intuitive design, the sound is astonishingly smooth and regulates a seamless magnetic response for you. Now, isn't that a treat to your ears?

But that's not it. This HS series comes with the best-matched amplifier unit with bi-amps and separate amps for the tweeter and woofer. Why is this important? Good question. Well, when these two work simultaneously, they can deliver high-resolution sound quality and exceptional sound spectrum.

Let me ask you this - are you worried that the sound system wouldn't fit the varying sizes and shapes of the room? Don't be.

You will be accompanied by detailed settings and two featured response controls which will let the device adapt to any acoustic scenario of the room. What's even better is that the HS can also help you with diverse usage. Whether you want to mix up the scene with keyboards, mixers, or phone jacks - it can do it all.

Reasons To Buy

If you're an engineer, expert or a music junky, looking for a non-disruptive system - this is it. The Yamaha HS has a remarkable cutting edge noise reduction and low resonance design which lets you enjoy the actual music without the outer world interruptions.

Moreover, it's not only compatible with various devices but, you can also mount it however you like. Whether it's in the ceiling or the wall, you name it, and this accurate, sharp-looking, high-end quality studio monitor will serve.

Pros

• Built with grade-A, quality material
• Sound quality is seamless and accurate
• Perfect for mastering mixes on various devices
• A bang for the buck deal with unparalleled, long-term value

Cons

• You will require a subwoofer if you create bass intensive music

2. Earthquake Sound MPower Series 8-inch Studio Monitor (Runner Up)

Specifications

Description

Our second favorite pick can deliver pristine sound clarity and a harmonious yet, delicate balance for my dear listeners. The surround sound application is unique with every model.

This is why when the Earthquake Sound system is placed with accuracy, and at the recommended distance, you are guaranteed to experience precise sound reproduction.

The deep matte black finish is another attraction for many. Along with its sleek look, the design is also finished off with smoother edges and top-tier construction.

Whether you're an audiophile or a performer, you're bound to fall head over heels in love with its full-features woofer and amplifier. These are made with Aramid glass fiber cones and fast ribbon tweeters.

To be fair, the low end sound quality is quite crazy good. How they managed to get them so accurate is still a mystery however, the mids aren’t far behind on being precise either with its crystal clear feature. If you turn up the volume all the way, you will feel the sound waves shaking the room whereas, the low end sounds like you have a subwoofer – but, you don’t!

Reasons To Buy

This surround system can do wonders if you want diverse multiusage. This product is an all-rounder because it can handle midfield, nearfield monitors, home theaters, multimedia, recording studies, and video or music productions.

Where do your priorities lie? Because, whether an avid gamer or a Netflix fanatic is reading this review, the Earthquake 8-inch Studio monitor is undoubtedly, enough to complete your setup.

Pros

• Crystal clear mid and rich low ends
• Doesn’t need subwoofers
• Very controlled bass and balanced speakers
• The ribbon tweeters are warm and super-fast
• Neutral and detailed sound quality

Cons

• You need to setup the monitors exactly as told in the manual for spot-on operation

3. PreSonus Eris E8 XT 8" Near Field Studio Monitor with EBM Waveguide (Best Budget)

Specifications

Description

The remastered PreSonus has been the most successful monitor by the brand thus far. Now, with its accurate frequency response, smooth and sleek engineering, powerful amps, and pinpointed acoustic tuning, nobody could doubt why it has gained such raving reviews.

So far, it's a no-brainer why the Eris has been a big hit since its introduction. But, it has also been acclaimed by users because of its all-black, sleek and stylish appearance. The thing about a clean look is that it can fit in with any musician or professional.

This classic piece also has a controlled sweet spot for broader and deeper lows, even when the music needs to be dispersed. How does a dispersion of horizontal and 100-degrees sound to you?

To me, it's ideal for any studio setup to get the lowest of lows and accurate audio. The best part is that it rarely matters which input you opt for because the accuracy is suitable and consistent.

The Eris features a sterling audio quality, flexible connectivity, and tuning, making this remastered and affordable model a big hit.

Reasons To Buy

Even though one of the primary reasons for its glowing reviews is its super affordable price point, these 8 inch studio monitors have owned up to their name further through their portability and way above average sound quality. As a self-proclaimed audiophile, I find peace in knowing I get greater value than what I paid for.

The sound, bass, and volume on this are unbelievably pleasant. Far from being flat, this diverse monitor can also be placed anywhere in your room as they come with adhesive pads. You will also get the benefit of connecting the monitor to any line-level source, controller, mixer, and audio interface. Hence, you can especially enjoy the low volumes, treble and mid-range frequencies on this.

Pros

• Built with top-notch quality material
• Accurate sound quality and output
• Adjusts to environment because of the acoustic tuning
• Sleek and professional appeal

Cons

• The cabinet built quality could be better

4. KRK RP8 Rokit 8 G4 Professional Bi-Amp

Specifications

Description

So, here's the deal, if you want to take full advantage of this beautiful pair, you need to pair it with matching drivers. The sound quality will optimize within a few seconds, and you will be rewarded with sonic frequencies and the best sound quality.

Another big hit with this piece is the room tuning feature, which intuitively rules out any issues you might face in the acoustic environment. It's pretty clever, and that's why avid music listeners have been swearing by it.

Moreover, with the proper setup, you can acquire faster mixing and accurate monitoring. This goes without saying that the gold and black custom design is a fresh breath in a market that's overpopulated with all-black studio monitors.

The class-D power amps are utilized to boost audio integrity and reduce temperatures during operation diligently. But that's not it. The manufacturers have implemented built-in brick wall limiters to maintain and protect the proper sound system, balanced tunes, and broader dynamics.

If you look closely, you will notice the iso-foam pads surrounding the speakers, improving sound clarity and promoting low resonance and distortion. Overall, it's pretty sweet!

Reasons To Buy

You need to get these if you love to own a pair of 8 inch studio monitors that can cleverly eliminate any distortion and interference while operating. I mean, nobody likes to get interrupted by the outer world chaos while listening to music, anyway.

This KRK model comes with active room tuning technology with LCD graphic displays to keep up that spirit. The monitor offers over 25 onboard EQ settings so that you can listen to music in peace and eradicate all acoustic environment issues.

The best catch is that you can connect the monitor to your Android or iPhone via the app and calibrate your needs accordingly. No complaints with such ease, to be fair.

Pros

• Active room tuning is first-class
• Not typical sized studios, huge in dimensions
• Clean sound quality
• Very easy to set up

Cons

• Some users have complained about a hissing sound

5. Mackie CR-X Series, 8-Inch Multimedia Monitors

Specifications

Description

We all know Mackie knows the real deal. They've implemented their years of experience into making this piece sleek, affordable, but high in quality and value.

One way to chill back and listen to your favorite tune is by having a bookshelf or desktop setup for studio monitors. Mackie knows that and delivered. You can get a hands-off approach with full sound quality that's consistent.

The flexible connections are a big plus for wireless streaming and specific inputs to get higher availability. Moreover, you can connect your headphones via the built-in output and mute the music for the rest of the world.

Lastly, the sleek design is just a chef's kiss that we all love. It has classic green CRs, textured cabinets, and a brushed-up metal faceplate. It's sublime yet, aesthetic.

Reasons To Buy

This Mackie studio monitors crave a big shoutout to all the gamers and content creators who know the importance of how good quality studio monitors can make or break their game. So, you require a headset break every now and then during focused gaming sessions, right?

Let's face it, we all get listening fatigue from hours of surfing and playing. Worry not; these monitors can give you your much-needed break. So much so that you can hear every footstep. Content creators and gamers love it because of its accurate representation of every podcast, video, and other audio.

Pros

• Great for gaming
• Pure, clean and crisp sound quality
• Great value and price point for a budget studio monitor
• Easy to use controls

Cons

• There’s a constant hissing sound

6. JBL Professional 308MKII 8-inch Powered Studio Monitors

Specifications

Description

JBL has been legendary in submitting some of the top-tier models for the industry. And with this professional studio monitor, it's no different. With this JBL monitor, you will get refined transducers- all thanks to the controlled waveguide. It can fill up your workspace with its mixed capabilities, stunning sound details, wider sweet spot, and an enormous dynamic range for professional use.

The outlook isn't anything short of having a modern appeal. The state-of-the-art design is accompanied by enjoyable mixes, ease of use, and remarkable performance every time.

Another catch about this product is that it doesn't interfere with a limited budget range. If you get a professional look, feel, and outcome within a set budget, what's the harm, right?

It's specifically made for the new generation of musicians who love to have sweet spots in every music they hear with a more comprehensive dynamic range, precise details, and high imaging.

Reasons To Buy

Undoubtedly, this model is built for serious professionals who love to spill the sweet spot throughout their room. If you want reliability in a studio monitor, you can blindly trust this product and its engineering to do so.

From the modern and sleek visual representation to the ease of use, it can provide linear performance for everyone. And I bet you didn't know this, but the JBL 308MKII has been put through 100 grueling hours of continuous test drives. So, you can tick off reliability, consistent performance, and high durability on this product with no hesitation.

Pros

• Accurate and crisp sound
• Easy to use volume controls
• Strong bass at full volume
• Clarity in mids and highs and flattest sounds

Cons

• You require a sub for maximum thumpage

Related: Presonus Eris e3.5 Review, the Studio Audio Monitors

Buyer’s guide, Tips for buying best 8 inch studio monitors:

How to know which studio monitor is best for you? Follow my lead to know about it. Trust me, the last thing you want is to spend an arm and a leg on these only for it to give up on your setting or needs later. Wouldn't that be an enormous waste of all of our time? Yes!

So, take a gander at my tips on how to bag the best 8 inch studio monitor for yourself.

• Pairing

The crucial element about owning monitors is you want to get the most out of the stereo recordings. Furthermore, if you wish to balance audio, a pair of monitors is an absolute must-have. If you're going to spend a more significant chunk on the pairing devices, you can also splurge on an additional pair of monitors.

• Acoustics

Before head diving into getting the perfect pair of 8 inch studio monitors, you must know about the room acoustics. If you spend a small fortune on acoustics and the entire setup, you can get the best results out of the sound and audio quality. Moreover, did you know that the audio can be heavily affected by the objects and size of the room?

There's a lot to consider about the placement of the monitors as well because the objects in your room can act as an obstruction. Hence, you might want to keep your monitors at a distance of 2.2m from the walls to balance the sound.

• Accuracy

Let's get real - studio monitors aren't designed to uplift the existing sound quality of the audio. In fact, its sole purpose is to provide accurate representations of the recordings. What this will help in is you will be able to detect and correct the errors to optimize the results.

Mind you, the finished product holds much more accountability; therefore, the accuracy point in your studio monitor is one of the integral components to look into. Revealing frequency issues, sound checks, and other nitty-gritty details is another way of understanding what's wrong within the audio, whether you're an occasional listener or expert.

• Power Wattage

Let me guess, all this time, you thought that the more volume a studio monitor can produce, the greater power wattage it will have. It's a noob mistake, and it's false. High watt powers deliver greater detailed sound quality and can do so in a broader range. This also allows more control for you and lesser distortion.

On the contrary, cheaper pairs with lower wattage tend to have unpleasant results and more significant distortion. So here's the gig, start with 50-watts and work your way up if that's what your work demands. But, prioritize wattage power for lower distortion and not maximum volume.

• Budget

If your budget is sorted out, you need to think about the most value that you can attain within that budget. Once you're through that step, take a look at the different pros and cons for each studio monitor. Luckily, our list has something for everyone.

So, if you've read thus far, you know that this is an ideal place to start your research and get your hands on some of the best and affordable models.

• Needs

Ask yourself what you would want the monitors to pull off before snagging them right off the bat. To be fair, the models and price rates might vary considerably.

However, it will all boil down to the features and your needs at the end of the day. When it comes to hefty equipment as such, wasting money makes zero sense. Your needs and the required features are probably only a few clicks away; hence, judge wisely.

Moreover, the products that we’ve listed seems to accumulate all genres of studio monitor users. I’m sure you belong there somewhere and good for you. Now you can skim the list, their features and purchase smartly.

Final Words:

We've come a long way since the introduction of basic 8 inch studio monitors. Now, we're in an era where we desire to snatch the top-rated 8 inch studio monitors, even if they're to play video games or create classic content. But here's the deal, sound is objective and varies from person to person.

What's music to my ears might not be for you. This is why I love that the market is filled with options. These options help us audiophiles, melophiles and gamers choose better and wiser. However, it's pretty impossible to break the bank and purchase studio monitors for these specific tasks.

This is why I prefer to stay safe with our top pick. It's the safest choice because it's an all-rounder and can deliver to varying needs and requirements. Having said that, none of the other options that I've listed are poor either. These are all top graded 8 inch studio monitors with high build quality, balance, and spot-on clarity.