An essential link in any creative studio, studio monitors are your ears. Thanks to them, you’ll be able to tell if your productions and mixes sound right… So be careful in your choice, and come listen to them of course at Woodbrass!
The role of the Shape monitors offered by the French brand Focal is to provide a solution for small listening rooms and home studios where the acoustics are not treated and the speakers are often placed against the wall. This Shape range comes in four models: 40, 50, 65 and Twin. Focal has removed the ports and replaced them with passive radiators on the left and right sides of the cabinet. This allows the Shape monitors to behave like ported speakers without the risk of saturation at high SPL levels. Focal tuned the radiators to very low frequencies to avoid interference. This technology has opened the door to more compact speakers, which is normally not possible with a port that requires a sufficiently large cabinet. Note also the Flax woofer with a linen fiber membrane, an ideal material in terms of damping.
Pros
- Highly precise stereo image, even at close distance
- Smart acoustic design, perfect for small rooms
- High-end build quality, made in France
Cons
- No digital adjustments or automatic calibration
This model positions itself as a solid choice for sound engineers and producers seeking both clarity and depth in their listening environment. Its sober yet refined design hides advanced acoustic engineering, offering faithful reproduction of mixes, even in the most delicate registers. The 8-inch composite woofer delivers impressive bass foundation without the need for a subwoofer, while the silk tweeter and optimized waveguide guarantee a wide and precise stereo image. Thanks to its numerous adaptation settings, it easily fits into untreated rooms as well as professional studios.
Pros
- Deep bass without subwoofer: extends down to 35 Hz covering the most demanding bass needs
- Complete acoustic adjustments: filters, EQ, and low cut for fine room adaptation
- Versatile connectivity: XLR, TRS jack, and RCA to fit all interfaces
Cons
- Bulky format: requires a well-cleared workspace or sturdy stands for optimal placement
The Adam Audio A4V is suitable for music production, mixing, and immersive audio content creation.
Equipped with the famous handmade X-ART tweeter coupled with the rotating HPS waveguide, it delivers a natural response in the high frequencies and a wide listening area. Its 4-inch multi-layer mineral fiber woofer ensures clear and dynamic bass, while the hybrid amplification (Class D for bass, Class AB for highs) guarantees balanced and powerful reproduction.
The A4V integrates a powerful DSP for acoustic adjustments and offers several sound profiles (Voicings) depending on your use (mixing, casual listening, calibration via Sonarworks). Thanks to the A Control software, all functions can be remotely controlled in real time, with the possibility to calibrate the speakers to your room for optimal precision.
A high-end choice for demanding creators seeking a reliable studio sound, scalable and customizable.
Pros
- Ultra detailed X-ART tweeter: precise and non-aggressive high-frequency reproduction, ideal for fine mixing
- Extensive DSP adjustments: equalization, custom voicings, and Sonarworks compatibility to correct your room
- Compact format, immersive sound: despite its small size, it delivers a wide stereo image and extended frequency response
Cons
- Limited power reserve: in large studios or at high volume, it quickly shows its SPL limits
An evolution of the BM5A model from the Danish manufacturer Dynaudio Professional, the BM5 MK3 now benefits from a dual Class D amplification system. The port is located at the top of the rear panel, not at the front. The waveguide around the D-281 tweeter has been modified, resulting in a very natural, clear, and precise reproduction of the highs. It features analog adjustment filters: a high-pass filter starting at 60Hz or 80Hz at 12dB per octave, then LF, MF, and HF filters. The first LF is a bass shelf, the second MF is a notch filter acting as a band cut, and finally the HF filter is a treble shelf acting at the crossover frequency between woofer and tweeter at +1 or -1dB. Note the Auto Power-Off function.
Available individually or as a pair thanks to the pack which also includes stands and cables..
Pros
- Handmade speakers: lightweight aluminum voice coils for excellent dynamic response
- Powerful and balanced sound: up to 118 dB SPL without noticeable distortion, ideal for detail-rich mixes
- Danish manufacturing: robustness, refined finish, and long-term reliability
Cons
- Limited adjustments: fewer acoustic adaptation options compared to newer models
Dynaudio BM5 MK3
An evolution of the BM5A model from the Danish manufacturer Dynaudio Professional, the BM5 MK3 now benefits from a dual Class D amplification system. The port is located at the top of the rear panel, not at the front. The waveguide around the D-281 tweeter has been modified, resulting in a very natural, clear, and precise reproduction of the highs. It features analog adjustment filters: a high-pass filter starting at 60Hz or 80Hz at 12dB per octave, then LF, MF, and HF filters. The first LF is a bass shelf, the second MF is a notch filter acting as a band cut, and finally the HF filter is a treble shelf acting at the crossover frequency between woofer and tweeter at +1 or -1dB. Note the Auto Power-Off function. Available individually or as a pair thanks to the pack which also includes stands and cables..
- Strengths
- Handmade speakers: lightweight aluminum voice coils for excellent dynamic response
- Powerful and balanced sound: up to 118 dB SPL without noticeable distortion, ideal for detail-rich mixes
- Danish manufacturing: robustness, refined finish, and long-term reliability
- Weaknesses
- Limited adjustments: fewer acoustic adaptation options compared to newer models
Dynaudio BM5 MK3
How to Choose Your Studio Monitors Well
Types of Studio Monitors: Active or Passive?
There are two main families of studio monitors: passive monitors and active monitors. The first require an amplifier, while the second already have their own built-in amplification.
While the studio monitor market started with passive speakers (NS-10M), it has gradually shifted towards active monitors, which today represent the vast majority of systems offered. With active monitors, the advantage is that you no longer have to worry about maximum power or the space for an amp in your home studio. This also lowers the overall cost of a good home studio setup. You just need to plug in the power cable and connect the amp input to the output of a mixing console or audio interface, with the volume controlled directly from the speaker. Moreover, the amplifiers designed for active systems are tailored to the drivers of the cabinet and thus optimize their performance. Most active monitors are bi-amplified (2-way), meaning each speaker (tweeters, woofers…) has its own power amplifier designed to handle its frequency range, from highs to lows. The audio signal first passes through a crossover filter that separates each band, which is then sent to the relevant speakers. The amplifiers are generally Class D to prioritize high efficiency, or sometimes Class A/B for a more “hi-fi” sound. Generally, you will find 3 speaker sizes available in a range, usually indexed by the size of their woofer in inches: 5″, 7″, and 8″. You need to determine your room size and your sound reinforcement needs to make your choice.
The Sound
Unlike a hi-fi or multimedia speaker, regardless of price, a pair of studio monitors is not meant to flatter music listening, boost bass, or just please the ear, but to analyze the audio signal for mixing with the most accurate possible representation of the stereo image. Studio monitors are therefore designed to reproduce flat audio signals across the entire audible frequency spectrum (bandwidth), and using colored speakers is not suitable for mixing, as they cause irrecoverable errors on the final master. Indeed, if monitors, for example, emphasize bass frequencies, you will tend to reduce bass in the mix, but when the track is played on a standard multimedia system, the bass may disappear. High-performance studio monitors therefore do not emphasize particular frequencies but provide the most neutral response possible, regardless of volume. This allows you to hear how certain elements of your music mix sound at different levels and also appreciate the speaker’s transient response, such as the drummer’s stick hits on the drum rims.
Speaker Placement
Speakers should be placed at ear level during mixing. Most speaker stands are height adjustable to allow precise adjustment (sweet spot) according to your listening position, but if you prefer to place your speakers on the desk, you should place the pair on acoustic isolation foam to avoid desk resonance and benefit from optimal performance. This slightly increases the cost but is necessary for a quality setup. Studio monitors should be spaced apart and aligned with the wall behind the workstation rather than placed in a corner. Ideally, the listener’s head should form an equilateral triangle with the two monitors with 60° angles. This configuration will produce the most appropriate frequency response and stereo image. In a horizontal position, tweeters placed on the outside will produce a better stereo image. Studio monitors also sound different depending on listening distance. By design, a nearfield monitor is optimized for a distance of one to two meters, while a midfield monitor is designed to accurately transmit sound over a longer distance between two and four meters.
