Trevor Baker
What are the best studio monitors for hip-hop? This is a tricky question to answer because every musician has different needs in order to produce their sound. For one person, they might need great sonic accuracy and detail. For another, they might want to color their audio with some warmth or punchiness. Some people also prefer monitors that are more balanced while others like speakers that emphasize certain frequencies.
We spent a lot of time searching through forums and feedback from other musicians in order to find the top studio monitors for hip hop. We’ve rounded up the 8 best monitors with their pros and cons.
Mackie CR5-X
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Best value
These are the best hip-hop studio monitors for aspiring producers at an inexpensive price tag for a pair of speakers.
Yamaha HS5
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Best Overall
These hip-hop studio monitor offer excellent sound balance and proven reliability and quality.
JBL 308PMKII
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Best 8″ woofer
These studio monitors are great for hip-hop production thanks to their excellent LFand built-in EQ.
Yamaha HS5 – Best Studio Monitor for Hip-Hop Overall
| 🎼 PANDARANK | 10/10 |
| Low-Frequency Transducer | 5″ cone |
| High-Frequency Transducer | 1″ dome |
| Inputs | Balanced 1/4″ TRS, Balanced XLR |
| Frequency Response | 54Hz – 30kHz (±3dB) |
| Max Peak SPL | 90 dB |
| High Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 25W |
| Low Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 45W |
🎶 The Yamaha HS5 is a serious contender for the best studio monitors for hip-hop on the market today. It’s an accurate, versatile, and powerful all-around performer that can be counted on to faithfully capture any mix in exquisite detail. They offer a transparent and natural soundstage with tight, punchy low end and crystal-clear high frequencies.
🔊 They have a frequency response of 54 Hz – 30 kHz, which is quite impressive for precision and is great for hip hop. They also come with balanced XLR/TRS combo inputs, switchable hi-pass filter, per channel high-pass filters, 70W (LF: 45W, HF: 25W). This means that the Yamaha HS5 speakers will do you right if you’re looking to produce some quality sounding music that doesn’t cost too much money.
HS5 is perfectly sized for professional recording studios and recording setups. They come in a modestly-sized four-inch thick enclosure that weighs just under half a pound and can be placed on practically any desk.
The Yamaha is a solid choice for any style of music. A pair of these monitors will give you the most accurate and comprehensive frequency response possible, whether you’re recording hip-hop or anything else.
JBL Professional 308PMKII – Best Studio Monitor for Hip-Hop with 8″
| 🎼 PANDARANK | 9.8/10 |
| Low-Frequency Transducer | 8″ (203 mm) |
| High-Frequency Transducer | 1″ (25 mm) |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR and 1/4″ TRS |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz – 20kHz (±3dB) |
| Max Peak SPL | 112dB |
| High Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 56W Class D |
| Low Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 56W Class D |
The JBL brand has always been known for producing high quality speakers and when the company decided to create their own line of monitors, they knew they were going to be producing something that is on the same level with some of the other big name brands out there such as Yamaha.
🔊 One of the biggest requirements for a speaker when it comes to producing hip-hop music is that it needs to be able to deliver low frequencies with clarity and control. Studio monitors such as JBL 308PMKII do this in spades with its 8″ woofer and 1″ soft dome tweeter which has a frequency range of 45 Hz – 20 kHz.
🔌 It also has a built in 1 x XLR female, 1 x TRS female, balanced input, so there will be no need to purchase an external mixer. The connectors on the back of the unit are all gold-plated to ensure that they are top quality.
The JBL 308PMKII is the perfect monitor for providing quality vocals and sounds such as drums and bass and it is built with a solid plastic composite frame which ensures that it is lightweight but durability.
KRK Classic 5 Professional Studio Monitors for Hip-Hop
| 🎼 PANDARANK | 9.3/10 |
| Low-Frequency Transducer | 5″ Glass Aramid Woofer |
| High-Frequency Transducer | 1″ Textile Soft Dome Tweeter |
| Inputs | RCA, Balanced 1/4″ TRS, Balanced XLR |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz – 30kHz (±3dB) |
| Max Peak SPL | 99 dB |
| High Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 20W |
| Low Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 30W |
🎚️ KRK’s Classic 5 is a powerful studio monitor that sounds great and has accurate, natural sound. It has two channels with bi-amplification powered by a Class A/B amplifier. The 10 Ohm impedance of this speaker means that it works well for professional monitoring in any home studio or even outside. It has an adjustable high pass filter so that you can focus on what you need to hear and a phase switch to adjust the bass response.
🔊 The 5″ woofers in these monitors give you a little more bass than most studio monitors like the M-Audio and Yamaha. The frequency response is surprisingly wide at 56 Hz to 30 kHz and the sound pressure level is 106 dB. It has a 1″ silk dome tweeter.
🎶 With these monitors, the bass is punchy and detailed. The midrange and high frequencies do not get muddled together and sound crisp. The bass response is what makes this a great pair of monitors. It has very precise mids, but they are also pleasant to listen to.
The KRK Studio 5’s clean design makes it a great companion for any home recording studio setup, hence it being one of the best studio monitors for Hip Hop producers or DJs.
Adam Audio T7V Nearfield Studio Monitors for Hip-Hop
| 🎼 PANDARANK | 9.6/10 |
| Low-Frequency Transducer | 7″ Polypropylene |
| High-Frequency Transducer | 1.9″ |
| Inputs | XLR / RCA |
| Frequency Response | 39 Hz – 25 kHz (-6dB) |
| Max Peak SPL | 110 dB |
| High Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 20W Class D |
| Low Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 50W Class D |
The Adam Audio T7V is one of the best studio monitors for hip-hop. They offer a wide range of high-quality sound. Though not the highest priced monitors on the market, they are a personal favorite among many DJ’s, sound engineers, and producers because they deliver a ton of features at an affordable price.
🔊 ADAM Audio’s T7V studio monitors deliver great bass and more accurate high frequencies than most other monitors. They have a 7-inch polypropylene low-frequency driver that delivers crisp bass down to 39 Hz, which is perfect for hip-hop subs. They also have a high-end ribbon tweeter that projects pristine treble up to 25 kHz.
🔌 Connecting monitors is possible through a balanced connection using the XLR connector, for an unbalanced connection, an RCA connector is provided. Control options include adjustable input gain and separate EQ for high and low frequencies. To match the signal level, a fixed switching of the input sensitivity from +4 dBu to -10 dBv is provided.
This is why I recommended Adam Audio as one of my top picks as the best studio monitors for hip hop. If you’re looking to mix music at home without buying overpriced equipment that may still break down on you months later, then these might be perfect for your needs and budget!
Mackie CR5-X – Best Value Studio Monitors for Hip-Hop
| 🎼 PANDARANK | 9.0/10 |
| Low-Frequency Transducer | 5″ |
| High-Frequency Transducer | 0.75″ |
| Inputs | Flexible Inputs – 1/4″, RCA, 1/8″ |
| Frequency Response | 69 Hz – 20 kHz (-3dB) |
| Max Peak SPL | 105 dB |
| Power Output (Watts) | 80W |
These Mackie CR5-Xs are designed specifically for hip hop production, with all the features professional producers need. They’re also relatively affordable, which is a nice bonus!
🔌 The CR5-X’s input types consist of 1 x Dual RCA Stereo, 2 x 1/4″ TRS, and 1 x 1/8″. This means that you can plug in all your music sources with no problem whatsoever – whichever way suits your needs best.
🔊 The LF Driver Size is 5″, while the HF Driver Size is 0.75″. This means that, when it comes to the frequency range, these monitors have a wide enough range to accommodate your music.
🎶 The total power for both drivers is 80W. This should be more than enough to get you to work in the studio rather quickly, as the monitors are class AB and use Class A amplification. To top it all off, they feature a 105 dB maximum SPL. This is more than enough for you to get the most out of your listening experience.
To sum it all up, the Mackie CR5-Xs are an excellent addition for anyone looking to get into hip hop production. They’re affordable and have everything you need to succeed in your production techniques.
M-Audio BX5 D3 Studio Monitors for Hip-Hop
| 🎼 PANDARANK | 9.4/10 |
| Low-Frequency Transducer | 5″ (127mm) Kevlar |
| High-Frequency Transducer | 1″ (25mm) |
| Inputs | 1/4″ & XLR |
| Frequency Response | 52 Hz – 35 kHz (-6dB) |
| Max Peak SPL | 110 dB |
| High Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 40W Class D |
| Low Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 60W Class D |
BX 5 D3 are a great starter studio monitors for rappers and hip hop artists. M-Audio is one of the most respected audio manufacturers, and they’ve designed the BX5 D3 with all of your needs in mind – from balanced XLR and TRS inputs to high quality components, these monitors will give you the edge you need.
🎶 The M-Audio BX5 D3 is one of our favorite models, featuring an impressive 52Hz-35kHz frequency response range with maximum peak SPL at 110 dB — everything you need in a quality set of studio monitors.
🔊 This pair of monitors has plenty to set it apart, starting with its surprisingly powerful 60W low-frequency amplifier and 40W high-frequency amplifier. Built into the cabinet is a 5” woofer and 1” tweeter, making the BX5 D3 one of the most accurate studio monitors for hip-hop on the market.
The BX5 D3 has been designed to provide a high-quality sound, and fits in well with studios that are looking to purchase quality speakers. If you are looking for studio monitors for hip-hop, the M-Audio BX 5 D3 is a great choice.
All in all, the M-Audio BX5 D3 is a great set of studio monitors for hip-hop and they’re perfect if you’re looking for something that’s inexpensive but that still delivers amazing sound quality.
KRK Rokit 8 G4 Best Studio Monitors for Hip-Hop with 8″ Pair
| 🎼 PANDARANK | 9.5/10 |
| Low-Frequency Transducer | 8″ Kevlar |
| High-Frequency Transducer | 1″ Kevlar |
| Inputs | Balanced TRS/XLR Combo Jacks |
| Frequency Response | 36Hz – 40KHz |
| Max Peak SPL | 111 dB |
| High Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 68W Class D |
| Low Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 135W Class D |
The new KRK ROKIT RP8 G4 2-way active studio monitor is part of a new generation from the popular ROKIT series. The KRK ROKIT RP8 G4 has an 8 “woofer and 1” tweeter made of Kevlar. The monitor has a dual Class D amplifier and delivers 203 watts of power at a maximum SPL of 111 dB.
🎚️ To protect against overloads, the KRK ROKIT RP8 G4 is equipped with a built-in limiter that automatically turns on at critical volume levels.
🔌 There is one combined XLR / TRS input for connecting a speaker.
🎶 The KRK ROKIT RP8 G4 has a DSP equalizer with display that allows you to customize your monitor sound to suit your room. The volume knob, when pressed, opens a menu on the display, in which users have access to 25 ready-made factory presets and the ability to customize them to their liking. In addition, customization is possible using a special application for Android / iOS devices.
Eris E3.5-3.5″ Near Field Studio Monitors for Hip-Hop
| 🎼 PANDARANK | 8.9/10 |
| Low-Frequency Transducer | 3.5″ |
| High-Frequency Transducer | 1″ |
| Inputs | 1- Stereo 1/8″ 2- Balanced ¼” TRS 2- Unbalanced RCA |
| Frequency Response | 80 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Max Peak SPL | 100 dB |
| High Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 25W Class D |
| Low Frequency Power Output (Watts) | 25W Class D |
Eris is a series of ultra-affordable studio reference monitors. The series includes the E3.5, E4.5, E5 and E8, all 2-way models, delivering very accurate response with tight bass and very crisp highs.
🎚️ The treble switch sets the cut of the low frequency (second order, -12 dB / octave), 80 Hz or 100 Hz. You also get infinitely variable treble and mids from -6dB to + 6dB.
The units can be adjusted by the user in the acoustic space to create a more comfortable listening environment or simulate different listening positions – a feature not usually provided by studio monitors at this price point.
Users can also make several types of custom settings. A 4-position acoustic space switch controls second-order filters centered at 100 Hz, providing three points of attenuation (no attenuation, -2dB and -4dB), allowing you to control the bass response in relation to the wall’s proximity to your speakers.
How To Choose The Best Studio Monitors for hip-hop
🏷️ The biggest difference between the best and worst studio monitors for hip-hop is the price tag. Low cost models tend to be more affordable, but but slightly worse in performance and quality. A little bit more money just might get you a marked improvement in sound quality that’ll save you time in the long run.
🎶 Monitors with a wide frequency range – 50Hz to 18kHz – are better for hip-hop applications, because they’ll give you a clearer idea of how to adjust your levels so that your tracks have the optimum amount of bass and treble. That way, your beats will sound balanced and well-rounded when you play them back on different systems.
🎚️ All professional studio monitors for hip-hop come with power amps, but not all have DSPs for digital sound processing. DSPs are especially useful for hip-hop since you’ll want to be able to tweak things like bass and treble for individual tracks; that way, each song on your album will sound its best.
🔈 Larger drivers are generally, because they can handle higher volumes without distortion and reproduce more of the frequencies that are important for hip-hop. The most optimal size is 5 “for the woofer and 1” for the tweeter.
