PreSonus Sceptre S8 Review, The 2-Way Studio Monitor

Do you feel the need for a quality studio monitor? Well, there are plenty of options you can find out there, but choosing one from them can be pretty difficult. You don't even know what you wind up with most of the time.

That's why I am here with a high-quality CoActual 2-way studio monitor for you. It's the Presonus Sceptre S8 that has gained a lot of popularity due to the quality it has to offer. So, if you search for a top-notch studio monitor without being concerned about the budget, then this is worth checking out.

Let's take an in-depth look at these studio monitors to see whether they are worth it or not.

PreSonus Sceptre S8 Specifications 

• Power: 180W
• Sensitivity: -10dB
• Frequency Range: 38hz – 23000hz
• Drivers: 8" woofer, 1" tweeter
• SPL: 102dB
• Weight: 29.4lbs
• Dimensions: 17.8 x 17.6 x 12.8"

The pros and cons of the Presonus Sceptre S8

The technical specifications only help when you are looking for something specific. Other than that, it always comes down to the pros and cons these studio monitors have to offer. Going through them will give you a clear summary of what benefits you get from the speakers and their drawbacks. Let's get through them very quickly.

Pros of the Presonus Sceptre S8

• The sound clarity of these studio monitors is just too impressive
• You get a pretty wide soundstage coming from the monitors
• These sound monitors offer an ultra-flat response for better studio purposes
• There are tuning options on these monitors that are very refined
• The design and build quality are commendable

Cons of the Presonus Sceptre S8

• The speakers can be a bit on the expensive side
• The connectivity options are limited

Well, as you can tell from this little summary of the pros and cons, there are simply no issues with the performance of the studio monitors. As far as the price goes, it's worth your money for sure. If you want quality and professional performance from a studio monitor, then you wouldn't mind the price of this one.

PreSonus Sceptre S8 Details 

Just the summary of the pros and cons can't truly tell you whether it's worth the price or not. That's why I recommend diving into the details of the studio monitors.

This will give you a clear idea of whether it's worth spending that much money on these studio monitors or should you look for other options. Let's get started with the details.

What are the studio monitors like physically?

The build quality of the studio monitors is just impeccable. You can feel the quality simply when you look at them. It surely speaks out the word premium in terms of the build quality. The cabinet is made of an MDF board to expect durability and a performance boost in the sound quality.

You won't have to worry about scratches or wear and tear from the studio monitors in terms of durability. As for the build of the drivers, they are also dependable in quality and durability.

Coming to the design of the speakers, there is nothing to complain about it. It has got that classic coaxial design with a front bass port. On top of that, you get a coating of vinyl laminate that gives off the smooth finish feeling from the studio monitors. You can easily set this up on any setup you want to style with some premium vibes.

How are the studio monitors used? 

The whole purpose of these monitors is to use them for professional audio production. At the same time, they may not give you the best experience in listening to music which mostly means having a lot of basses. They can surely help you hear all the intricacies in the music so you can work with them.

In that regard, some high-quality studio monitors provide excellent clarity in the sounds. I will discuss that within a moment.

Now, for the connectivity options, you get two different choices. You can either go for the XLR connectivity for the professional sound quality or lean towards TRS connectivity for convenience. This one doesn't come with any other form of connectivity which is understandable because it focuses on the studio's purposes.

So, if you are looking for something to use that works with AUX cables generally, this isn't the thing for you. It's not the best thing for general use.

PreSonus Sceptre S8 Features and Rate Performance 

I am still wondering whether you should get the speakers or not? Then, getting through the features and their ratings can truly help you decide on that. So, let's get on with the features and performance ratings of the studio monitors.

• Sound quality 

This studio monitor comes with the perfect sound and tonal quality you need for professional audio production purposes. It has got that excellent clarity that lets you hear all the intricate details in a piece of music. This way, you can efficiently work on editing, mixing, and mastering your music.

It also comes with a flat response, meaning you won't have to worry about any overpowering frequencies. You get balanced sounds from low, mid, and high frequencies in simple terms. This also offers a wide soundstage so you can better understand the audio you are working with.

Rating: 4.5/5

• Tuning features 

There are several tuning options that you get on the Presonus Sceptre S8. The best thing about the tuning options is that they are super simple to understand and pretty refined at the same time.

Depending on your monitor placement, you can get an acoustic space setting to customize the response you get from the low end. Using this tuning option, you can simply avoid any unwanted build-up of the lower end of the spectrum.

In short, you can avoid the common issue you usually have with monitors being too close to walls and corners. There are some other tuning options that you can use for various purposes based on your needs.

Rating: 4/5

• Build and design 

The build and design this sound monitor have to offer are pretty great. You can't have any complaints about it. As you have already seen above, you won't have any concerns whatsoever in terms of durability. Along with that, the design gives off a premium vibe simultaneously.

So, when it comes to the looks and durability of this speaker, you can blindly rely on this one without thinking twice.

Rating: 4.5/5

• Connectivity 

One thing where this might be lacking is the available connectivity options. There are only two connectivity options you get for connecting your devices with this sound monitor.

The first is the XLR input that gives you the best possible audio outcome you can expect in a professional setup. And the other one is the TRS input which is great for convenience and much easier to set up.

If you consider that it's a studio monitor for professional purposes, these aren't drawbacks or issues, because you would use these connectivity options anyways. However, these aren't the pick if you want to use these studio monitors for your regular music purpose.

Rating: 3/5

• Value for money 

Now, this is where things can get tricky to understand. These aren't the most budget or affordable speakers out there. However, if you consider the price to performance ratio, then I have to say these are absolute value for money.

Because you won't have any issues with the performance of the studio monitors, the fact that you are getting them for professional uses, these aren't that expensive. You can consider them as the mid-range studio monitors that you can use as a professional audio producer.

Rating: 4/5

PreSonus Sceptre S8 Alternatives 

Well, if this one doesn't seem to meet your needs, you can simply try out some alternatives. Here, I have two options that work out great if you search for quality studio monitors.

• Yamaha HS8

I mean, this comes from Yamaha, so you don't need to worry about the assurance of quality on this one. As for the performance, this works quite well with a flat response and a sturdy cabinet. However, this studio monitor doesn't have a refined low-end, which means you will need to use a subwoofer for better bass performance.

• KRK Rokit 8 G4

This is another quite similarly priced option as the Presonus Sceptre S8. It doesn't lack the performance either. This one even offers advanced tuning options compared to the S8. However, the sound quality of this monitor may feel a bit muddy or mushy.

You can still look for and find several other options out there. But, these two are pretty close to the Presonus Sceptre S8 when it comes to performance.

Verdict

All in all, the Presonus Sceptre S8 is the studio monitor that you can use for your professional audio production work. You won't mind paying the price for getting your hands on this one. It surely satisfies the professional purpose. And if you are looking for a quality studio monitor to complete your setup, this can be a perfect pick for that.