The smart money is on the M-Audio Studiophile BX series powered studio monitors. The BX8a powered studio monitors—or even their smaller-but-able siblings the BX5a powered studio monitors—deliver accurate, powerful sound you can safely place your confidence in at a price that’s lower than expected. If you’re pining for even more bass, you can easily combine a BX5a pair with a BX10s active subwoofer for a 2.1 setup that’s precise and delivers a punchy, tight bottom. All the BX series monitors perform well above their mid-level prices, which is what makes them such a strong value. But more important than the price, these M-Audio monitors are built from the ground up to deliver accurate sound so you can hear your music clearly. I got a pair of BX8a monitors, a pair of BX5a monitors, and a BX10s sub to check out.
The BX series monitors are built using high-quality, advanced materials for durability and transparent audio. The BX5a and BX8a are actually redesigns of the previous generation BX5 and BX8, while the BX10s subwoofer is a new addition to the line. The BX5a and BX8a sport a new low-frequency driver design with a curved Kevlar cone for increased rigidity to resist distortion and to improve dispersion of sound waves for a wider sweet spot. The woofers also have high-temperature voice coils and damped rubber surrounds to stand up to the constant barrage of sound you’re sure to subject these monitors to. The BX10s also has a high-temp voice coil and rubber surround, but uses a 10-inch cone made from a paper and fiberglass composite.
Quality First
