Monitor Selection Guide

The large range of different sized monitors/speakers can be divided in different ways. The best and most widely accepted, is to divide them on the basis of the listening distance. This may vary because of different reasons but mostly because of limitations of the room or the acoustical situation.

There is no fixed or recommended division in these monitor size categories. This is more based on practical experience for typical, real-world situations.

The accuracy of sound reproduction does not correlate with the size of the monitors. Generally, the advantage of larger monitors is higher sound pressure (SPL), lower distortion at low frequencies and more extended low frequency range compared to smaller monitors, such as our Epic 5. Below we go over the general advantages and disadvantages of the two extreme sizes.

The design of midfield-range monitors can be a symbiosis or a compromise of the both extremes described above. This comparison is based on acoustic properties only – different concepts may not be represented fairly in this list. Our new Epic 55 mid-field monitor strives for the former – combining the best properties of small and larger monitors in a single package.

It’s highly recommended to select the most suitable monitor size for your particular work environment, and then to choose the product within that range that provides  optimal audio quality.

Small Monitors

Advantages:

• Genuine headphone-like reproduction
• Better time alignment
• Better step-response
• Thin but accurate bass reproduction
• Better for environments that aren't  acoustically optimized
• Better for making sound decisions & fast workflow

Disadvantages:

• Less volume
• Less low end
• Less impressive appearance

Large Monitors

Advantages:

• High SPL
• Low bass distortion
• Deeper bass

Disadvantages:

• High interaction with the room
• Limited minimum listening distance
• Spectral spitted acoustical image

It isn't absolutely necessary to have oversized monitors in order to achieve great sound quality and high efficiency. Acoustic quality is more important than size.

Check out this great article by Alan J.S. Han about choosing the right studio monitors for your space.

Not sure which size monitor is right for you?

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