Good mid field monitors speakers help you to listen to the music at a further distance without losing details. The trick lies in how a mid field monitor are designed. In particular they do not have overlapping sound that cancel out each other until much further out. This way, you don’t lose the details, unlike near field monitors that overlaps in sound even at close distances.
With the above in mind, below are what I think are the best mid field monitors for the money. You can’t go wrong with any one of them but they each have some unique features that might appeal to different audio fans.
KRK Rokit RP10-3 review
Personally, I feel this is the best value for money budget mid field monitor. It cost just under $500 but have receive great reviews on its mid field performance (check out another recommendation I have for the best studio monitor under $500 here). Standing 3 m from the speakers yield the best result as you can hear the music details very well. If you stand too close to the monitor speakers, the music quality actually becomes lower. You will start to hear the hissing sounds that you wouldn’t pick up when you are standing further away.
The bass level of the Krk RP10-3 is very very solid. I would say it is even better than the Yahama HS80 and even some of the Mackie models. If you like your bass to be strong, these monitor studios are for you.
Finally, I like the fact that the Krk RP10-3 can change its axis. You can adjust to be either vertical or horizontal so it is very versatile in how you can work it to suit your listening needs.
JBL LSR305 review
I wouldn’t label JBL LSR305 as a mid field monitor but I feel you can use it as such. It has a very powerful bass. So powerful that you need not be close to get more the details, which was the reason why I recommended it here. In fact, when you first hear it, you will be surprised that it is a studio monitor under $300. Even when used in a large room, you can still hear the highs, lows and bass very very clearly.
One reason for that might be due to how large these studio monitors are. The cabinets are made large probably to allow for their wave guide and allows the sound to disperse in a big room without losing too much details. As a result of this large size, they are not in the least elegant so if you want something that looks sleek and modern go elsewhere. However, if you care only for the sound, this thing definitely delivers despite its large and coarse look.
To connect the LSR305 to your computer, you will need a good external DAC (Digital to Analogue Convertor) with a USB connection. Your computer will have one but it is probably low quality. If you use it, you will lose some of the quality in the conversion. If you want the best experience from the LSR305, upgrade to a better DAC like the Scarlett Solo. Trust me on this.
Conclusion
I kept the selection of mid field monitors to these as I don’t want to go beyond the $1000 budget. If you look at other models such as the Quested V3110 and the Genelec 8260, they cost a few thousands dollars and would be something that not most can afford. I think the LSR305 or the RP 10-3 does a pretty good job without you busting your bank account.
