What are the differences between “studio monitors” and home loudspeakers?
It depends upon whom you ask. There are speakers called “monitor” speakers that are found almost exclusively in homes and never in studios. The purpose of a monitor speaker is to monitor the recording and editing process. If you buy the concept that they are but one tool in the process (and probably the most frequently used single tool at that), and if you buy the concept that your tools should be flawless, than the requirements for a monitor speaker are easy to state (but hard to achieve): they should be the most neutral, revealing and unbiased possible. They are the final link between your work and your ears, and if they hide something, you’ll never hear it. If they color something, you might be tempted to uncolor it incorrectly the other way. There is another camp that suggests that monitor speakers should represent the lowest common denominator in the target audience. The editing and mix process should be done so that the results sound good over the worst car speaker or boom box ar
