Top 10 Best USB Studio Monitor Speakers in 2022

If you are a hobby musician, or even a pro musician wanting to setup a home studio, then you should know the importance of a quality studio monitor. And even if you are not a music producer, but you are an audiophile, who needs to hear music as purely as possible, a set of studio monitors are what you would need. No matter your reason for wanting to get a set of monitors, there are a few things you should know about the different types of monitors, and what features or characteristics, determine a good or high quality speaker.

This review will focus on active, near-field monitors with USB connectivity. What this means is that first of all, all the monitor sets in this review generate their own analog sound from an integrated Digital-to-Analog signal converter, or simply, a sound-card which receives its signals via USB. Secondly, they are active, meaning that they have an integrated amplifier, and so do not require an external amplifier like passive speakers do. Thirdly, they are all near-field monitors, which means that they are small enough to be placed on the desktop, relatively close to the ears. A far-field, or medium/large sized monitor, would require enough space away from the ears. They would also require a carefully, acoustically treated room, since they tend to be seriously affected by room-acoustics. Below is a list of the top 10 best USB Studio Monitor Speakers reviews in 2022.

10. Jammin NS5 USB Nearfield Monitors

The first product in this review is the $59 Jammin NS5, featuring a 4 inch woofer and a 1 inch silk dome tweeter. It also has a 50Hz to 20Khz frequency response range, although the bass response could be better. Anyway it ranks on position #10 mainly because of its low price, and therefore a great buy for anyone on a budget.

9. Rockville APM8W Active 500W 2-Way Monitors

The second product in this review is the 8 inch APM8W from Rockville, with a frequency response range of 30Hz to 20Khz. Available in three finishes, this monitor set has rear facing ports with the right amount of enclosure space to produce optimum sound in the studio. The tweeter is a 1 inch Ferro Fluid enhanced Neodymium tweeter. In addition to USB, it also has an RCA input, XLR combo input and a 3.5mm (1/8 inch) headphone jack.

8. Behringer Studio 50-USB

The 150 Watt set of digital studio monitors from Behringer, is a beautiful set of near-field speakers, great for any studio. It features independent amplifiers for each driver, making it a total of four for the pair. It also has a 1 inch tweeter, with its 5 inch woofer protected with a deformation-resistant cone. This monitor set is very clear and loud, and offers great value and sound production for a 5 inch woofer set.

7. Alesis M1 320 Active USB Studio Monitors

The Alesis M1 320 is an active monitor with a 3 inch woofer and 1 inch tweeter. One thing to quickly notice about this set of speakers is that they are small, and quite lightweight. With a 3 inch woofer, you should normally not expect much, yet the M1 delivers an amazing sound with a good bass response. It also features a 3.5mm (1/8 inch) headphone jack and an RCA input. It works at 16 bits, with a 44.1 to 48 khz sampling rate.

6. Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 & Presonus E5 Bundle

This offer is not exactly just monitors, since it includes the Focusrite 2i4. In reality anyway, this is what you would have to buy, if there were no USB monitors. In another sense, USB monitors are simply monitors that incorporate a USB box like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4. It features up to 192Khz sampling rate at 24bits for four analog inputs. Then there is a headphone output jack, midi connector and controls. The Presonus near-field monitors feature bi-amplification for the 5.25 inch woofer and 1 inch tweeter. In total, the system outputs 130 watts of very clear audio, perfect for any music studio.

Click here for Top 10 Best Subwoofers For Music Reviews in 2022

5. Behringer Media 40-USB Monitors

This second set of Behringer Monitors in this review actually have 10 Watts less output power than the 50 Watts of the previous set. It features the same dual amplification per monitor, 2x RCA connectors and a front 3.5mm (1/8 inch) headphone jack. It additionally comes with a 3 year Behringer warranty, and ranks higher because it costs less money, for which the 10 watt difference doesn’t really seem to make much of a difference.

4. Steinberg UR22MKII USB Interface plus 2 Yamaha HS5 Monitors Bundle

On position 4 is another monitor and USB box bundle. The UR22MKII from Steinberg features 2 USB interfaces, midi connectors and a 24 bit by 192Khz sampling rate. The Yamaha HS5 monitors come with 5 inch cone woofers and a frequency response range of 54Hz to 30Khz. Total power production of the monitor set is 70watts, and they also offer controls like Room Control and High Trim for properly manging sound output.

3. Rockville ASM5 200 Watt Studio Monitors

These pair of speakers feature a dual class-D amplification for each speaker. They are made up of 5 inch woofers and 1 inch Neodymium tweeters. The firing port is located on the back, and produces a perfect bass response. The system has a frequency response range of 49Hz to 21Khz, and a multi-function rotary control on the front. The sound of this set of monitors is amazing, especially for vocals. So, if you do more vocal recordings, then these Rockville speakers may be really worth considering.

2. Audioengine A2+ Active Speakers

Audioengine is a remarkable company when it comes to the world of speakers and studio monitors. The company says it makes speakers with the listener’s quality experience in mind, hence the company makes very high quality speakers, but it does not sell them as monitors. Yet, many music professionals use them as monitors in the studio, and also swear by them. The A2+ has a 60 Watt output power, with a 65Hz to 22 Khz frequency response and it comes in handmade wooden cabinets. The A2+ costs $249 and is the little brother of the A5+, which costs $399, but doesn’t support USB audio. So for a USB supporting monitor, the A2+ is a great choice if you have a few hundred dollars to spend.

1. Akai Professional RPM3 USB Monitors

Akai is a well known consumer electronics brand in many countries around the world, but Akai Professional has been in the business of making equipments for musicians since the 1980s. This monitor set from the company, features a power switch, a 3.5mm (1/8 inch) headphone jack, and a volume control. It is rather lightweight, quite portable, and produces a nice, clean, even sound. It has a frequency response of 80Hz to 20Khz, with a 4.8dB bass boost at 100 Hz. Given it’s relatively commendable performance at such small dimensions, and its affordable price of $98, the RPM3 from Akai Professional, is the number #1 ranked USB monitor in this review.

Sound monitoring can be a complex affair. First of all, there are different music genres which focus on different frequency ranges and music production methods. This means that there is no single ultimate monitor, and even professionals will have both near-field and medium or main monitors in the studio. The solution is to go with what you feel comfortable with, and what you can also comfortably afford. That is why the Akai RPM3 is the top choice.

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