The 7 Best Active Studio Monitors on a Budget

If you're looking for the best active studio monitors on a budget, you've come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss seven different monitors that are perfect for those on a tight budget. We'll also provide some tips on what to look for when purchasing studio monitors. So whether you're a beginner or an experienced producer, read on to find out which monitors are best for you!

The 7 Best Active Studio Monitors on a Budget

At A Glance:

Best Active Studio Monitors on An Extreme Budget ($)

If you are on an extreme budget, these are your best bet for quality and value.

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Best Active Studio Monitors on A Tight Budget ($$)

If you have a little bit more to play with, but still want to keep your bank account happy you can afford to get a bit more bang for your buck with these.

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Best Active Studio Monitors on A Relaxed Budget ($$$)

As ‘affordable' is subjective, we have included these at the higher-end of the low budget scale.

Those are our top 7 best active studio monitors on a budget of three different price points. Now let's discuss some of their features and specs and why they have earned a spot on our list.

Mackie CR4-X 4-Inch Multimedia Monitors with Professional Studio-Quality Sound (Pair) – $

Mackie CR-X Series, 4-Inch Multimedia Monitors with Professional Studio-Quality Sound - Pair (CR4-X)

Mackie CR4-X 4” Multimedia Monitor Speakers are strong, sturdy and designed to provide the musician with a clear and precise sound. The speakers have a power of 50 Watts and are built in pairs that can be customized to your liking using the switch on the back of one side's speaker.

Mackie CR4-X will give you a great sound that is perfect for content creators, music producers, and people who just want to enjoy listening to music without having to worry about the quality of the sound.

The speakers come with an aux input that will let you connect your device in seconds as well as a headphone output so you can listen without disturbing those around you. Mackie CR-X is a great investment for people who want to get the most out of their music and sound experience.

Key Features:

  • The Mackie CR-X Speakers are perfect for content creators, musicians, gamers and anyone who wants studio-quality sound without complex routing or set up procedures.
  • With a power of 50 Watts, these speakers provide a clear and precise sound that is perfect for any purpose.
  • The aux input allows you to connect your devices in seconds while the headphone output lets you listen without disturbing those around you.
  • Customizable with a switch on the back of one side's speaker, Mackie CR-X gives you the flexibility to make the speakers your own.

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Technical Specs:

Item Weight7.8 pounds
Product Dimensions6.1 x 8.85 x 8.25 inches
Country of OriginChina
Item model numberCR4-X
Date First AvailableJanuary 16, 2020
Speaker Amplification TypeActive
Wattage50 watts

Are Mackie Studio Monitors good?

Answer: Whether Mackie studio monitors are good or not is subjective. Some people may love them, while others may not be as impressed. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.

Some people may love the fact that they're designed with a flat frequency response, which means that there is no coloration of the sound. This can be great for those who are mixing and mastering their own music, as they can trust that what they're hearing is an accurate representation of the sound. However, other people may find this type of response to be too clinical or sterile-sounding.

Additionally, Mackie studio monitors are known for being durable and long-lasting. So if you're someone who likes to move your equipment around a lot or is hard on your gear, then Mackie monitors may be a good option for you.

Mackie CR-X Series, 4-Inch Multimedia Monitors with Professional Studio-Quality Sound - Pair (CR4-X)

Are Mackie CR4-X Good For Mixing?

Read More on The Amazon Product Page

PreSonus Eris E3.5 – 3.5″ Near Field Studio Monitor (Pair) – $

PreSonus Eris E3.5-3.5" Near Field Studio Monitor (Pair)

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The PreSonus Eris 3.5″ studio monitors are the ideal choice for anyone looking to produce their next hit! These impressive speakers come equipped with Studio One Prime and Magic plug-in suite, giving you access over $1000 USD worth of music production software. Not only that but they have acoustic tuning which means super quality sound wherever you are.

The powerful bass response combined with accurate highs makes them the perfect choice for a home studio, and as a budget option, they are excellent value for money.

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Technical Specs:

Item Weight6.39 pounds
Product Dimensions 6.4 x 5.6 x 8.3 inches
Country of OriginChina
Item model numberE3.5
Date First AvailableOctober 16, 2017
Speaker Amplification TypeActive
Electric Voltage220 Volts
Wattage25 watts

Read More on The Amazon Product Page

Pioneer DJ DM-40 – 21W 4″ Two-Way Active Monitor (Pair) – $$

Pioneer DJ DM-40 - 21W 4" Two-Way Active Monitor - Black (Pair)

The Pioneer DJ DM-40 is a pair of compact, active studio monitors that bring excellent audio quality to your home setup. They feature a front-loaded bass reflex system for rich, tight bass and DECO* technology for a wider reach and sweet spot.

These features are combined in a compact design making the DM-40 perfect for DJing, producing, and simply enjoying music at home. The DM-40 speakers are sold as a pair and come with;

  • a power cord
  • speaker cable
  • audio converter cable
  • bottom cushions
  • and operating instructions.

They also have a headphone jack for easy monitoring or connecting other devices directly to.

There are many great active studio monitors on the market, but if you're working with a tight budget, the Pioneer DJ DM-40 is a great option to consider.

Hope this helped make your decision a bit easier…

Which ones will you go for?

Drop us a comment and let us know!

About Author

Arielle P

Arielle P

Songwriter | Music Producer | Engineer.

With a background in music production and a strong passion for education, Arielle is dedicated to helping emerging artists navigate the music industry. She has worked with a diverse range of artists, from indie rock bands to well-known hip-hop and grime artists. Arielle's unique approach to teaching focuses on empowering artists to take control of their brand, ensuring they retain creative ownership throughout their journey. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting with new sounds in her home studio and sharing her insights through music production tutorials and workshops.

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