5 Vs 6 Vs 8 Inch Studio Monitor: Selecting The Best One

Introduction 

High-quality sound production is a must for analyzing soundtracks. Or else the quality will get distorted. And you will need the best studio monitors for great sound production.

But selecting the best sound monitor is not a cup of tea. Because there are different sizes of monitors available in the market. The situation can get very confusing. 

So, which one is best between a 5 vs 6 vs 8 inch studio monitor?

Between the 5, 6 and 8-inch studio monitors the 5-inch monitor works well for smaller rooms. It’s cause 5-inch monitors don’t have enough bass and mix accuracy. The 6 inch is relatively better than the 5-inch one when it comes to sound emition. The most accurate mixing and bass come from 8-inch monitors. 

This is only the starting. There is still a lot to learn. So please keep scrolling!

Short Comparison 

The primary work of all sizes of studio monitors is the same. They are used for audio production. But their sizes play an important role in this production. The 5-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch monitors have their purposes like 61 and 49 keys.

To select the best monitor for your studio, you have to compare them carefully. I have made a comparison table with all their key points. Observe it to understand which monitor will work well for you. 

Factors 5 Inch 6 Inch8 Inch
Mix Accuracy Least BetterHighest
Lower Bass ProductionInadequate Adequate Adequate 
Power OutputLeastBetterHighest
Easiness of HidingEasyHarder than 5 InchHardest
Best ForSmall RoomsMedium RoomsLarge Rooms
PriceCheck PriceCheck PriceCheck Price

This table contains all the information you will need. But there are many details to all these factors. For a quick glance take a look at this graph below: 

Now please keep on reading to know more details regarding all the comparison factors! 

Extended Comparison 

The success of any work depends on the little details. These details will help you to make the right decision. 

Source: mrhomestudio.com

So you must know every factor about the monitors thoroughly. I have tried my best to guide you through this comparison.

Mix Accuracy 

The term mix accuracy describes the phenomenon of blending different levels of sound. A soundtrack does not contain only a single sound. It has several levels of music, vocal sound, and other instrumental noises. 

All these sounds must be delivered with appropriate mixing. Only then the listener will have the best listening experience. Various studio monitors perform this task with different accuracy. Some do the best work, while others are poor. 

The 8-inch studio monitor is the best in accuracy among 6 vs 8 studio monitors. After an 8-inch monitor, the 6-inch monitors are in the second position. At the last position comes the 5-inch studio monitors. 

That means big monitors are better at this job.

Here are some 8-inch studio monitors that have the highest mix accuracy from my experience: 

Always remember that bigger studio monitors have higher mix accuracies! Having a good grasp on both high and low gain can make it easier to distinguish.

Winner: 8-inch studio monitors

Lower Bass Production.

Bass is the sound with a low frequency of surround sounds and background sounds. Besides frequency, the pitch of these tones or sounds is also low. They are an integral part of any soundtrack. Bass feels the gaps within the music.

These gaps are formed by percussion and trebles. The significance of bass in feeling the music is immense. So the studio monitor must produce the bass properly. The bass production depends highly on the size of the monitors. 

Bigger monitors produce more bass. So between the 5-inch vs the 6-inch monitors, the 6-inch monitors provide more bass. But this bass production can be increased with a larger monitor. 

An 8 inch studio monitor will produce the best bass. Thus it will also increase your enjoyment. 

Winner: 8-inch studio monitors

Power Output

The power output refers to the strength of the sound produced by the studio monitors. When the power output is high, more sound is audible with low volume. So high-powered studio monitors will produce more sound than low-powered ones.

The power production is proportional to the size of the studio monitors. So 8 inch studio monitors have the highest output. 

Best 8-inch studio monitors Reddit threads also support this statement. Their big size helps them to produce extra power.

Source: indiamart.com

On the other hand, the 5-inch studio monitors have the least power production. The 6-inch studio monitors perform moderately in this aspect. They will give better output than the 5-inch but lesser than the 8-inch monitors.

Winner: 8-inch studio monitors

Compactibility

Hiding the speaker or studio monitor is crucial for lots of people. Because a large portion of people only wants the sound from the monitors. 

They want to hide the rest of the studio monitor and wires. And smaller monitors are easier to hide.

So in between 5 vs 8 studio monitors, the 5-inch monitor can be hidden easily. They can be placed between small gaps. 

The six-inch monitors come next. They are also easily hideable. They are very close to the 5-inch monitors in terms of size. 

But problems occur with the 8-inch ones. The 8-inch studio monitors are the hardest to hide. Their big size is the biggest obstacle while hiding them. 

The 8-inch monitors are easily noticeable. They tend to be quite big and bulky. They can also distract the listeners easily.

Winner: 5-inch studio monitors

Compatibility

Lots of varieties of studio monitors are available in the market. All of them have their purposes. 

The size of the monitors determines their performance. And based on this performance, their destination can be selected. 

Big studio monitors work well for big rooms. Whereas small monitors perform better in small rooms. You will not want big studio monitors in small rooms. So the 8-inch monitors should be used in large rooms. 

Whereas the 6-inch monitors are best for medium-sized rooms. 

Source: musiccritic.com

Now, are the 5-inch monitors big enough for large rooms? No, they are not. They are best for smaller rooms. The 3-inch vs 5-inch studio monitors go well with tiny rooms.

Winner: 8-inch studio monitors are better for larger spaces and 5-inch studio monitors are better for smaller spaces. 

Price

Now let’s talk about the price of the studio monitors. Your final selection highly relies on your budget. So you must know about the prices before making an ultimate call.

The price of the studio monitors increases with their size. So the 5-inch monitors are the cheapest. They cost around $200. 

For the price point, the 5-inch studio monitor performs really well. 

Now, I’ve shared my fair share of experimenting and taken note of some of the best 5-inch monitors. These monitors are affordable and at the same time get the job done. Here are some of my favourite 5-inch monitors: 

Then comes the 6-inch monitors. You can get a 6-inch monitor by spending about $280. 

So they are costlier than the 4-inch or the 5-inch studio monitor. And 8-inch monitors are the costliest. A decent piece of 8-inch monitor costs around $350. 

These prices are not fixed. Many high-level studio monitors cost a lot more.

Winner: 5-inch studio monitors

This was all on the comparison of the 5-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch monitors. Choosing the right studio monitor isn’t as simple as fixing the humming of guitar AMPs. However, if you go through each of these comparison factors, you can make a decision easily. 

Final Verdict 

All of the studio monitors have their own positive and negative aspects. They are unique in their place. So you have to be very wise while going for a monitor. 

But don’t get all worked up! I am here to guide you.

Here’s a table that briefly summarises everything that you need to know about these three monitors: 

If you own a small room, the 5-inch or the 6-inch monitors will be better. These monitors can fill up the room easily. They also come at a low cost. But you will get lower-quality bass production. The mix accuracy might disappoint too.

But if you own a large room, these monitors will be insufficient. You must get the 8-inch monitors for this type of room. The sound quality is excellent on the 8-inch monitors. The bass production is also high quality. However, they are quite expensive. 

Now the decision is on you. If you are hesitant, you can also use a combination of these speakers. That will also ensure high-quality sound output.

FAQs 

How many inches should studio monitors be? 

The size of studio monitors completely depends on your use. If you are a professional sound analyst you will need bigger monitors. Also, large rooms require big studio monitors. Many want to install studio monitors at home. At that time smaller monitors like 5-inch or 6-inch monitors are adequate. 

Are studio monitors good for listening to music? 

Yes, studio monitors are good for listening to music. These monitors were developed for sound analysts and musicians. As a result, they produce the most accurate music. Studio monitors also reveal extra details of the sound. At first, they can sound different, but with time you will get used to it.

Can you use studio monitors as normal speakers?

Yes, you can use studio monitors as normal speakers. They are better than the normal speakers. Studio monitors produce different quality sounds. These are made for musicians. So studio monitors are best for critical listening. They produce better and cleaner sound too than the normal speakers. 

Conclusion 

This is all I have on the 5 vs 6 vs 8 inch studio monitor comparison. I hope that you have gained enough knowledge to make your call.

Sometimes monitors are not enough for your sound studio. You might need a quality subwoofer too. Make sure the woofer and monitors sync greatly. 

Until next time!

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