Roosevelt Yang
If you're looking to buy studio monitors in the Bay Area, there are a few options to consider. Guitar Center and Best Buy are two large chains that offer a range of studio monitors and may allow you to try them out before purchasing. Online retailers like Sweetwater, eBay, and Best Buy also provide a wide selection of studio monitors with various features and price points. Additionally, local pro audio stores in the Bay Area can be a great resource for finding reputable products that suit your specific needs, such as room dimensions and placement options. It's worth exploring these options to find the best studio monitors for your requirements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Studio Monitor Retailers | Guitar Center, Best Buy, Sweetwater, eBay |
| Studio Monitor Brands | Yamaha, KRK, M-Audio, ADAM Audio, PreSonus, Kali Audio, JBL, Barefoot Sound, Neumann, IK Multimedia, Harbinger, Focal, Mackie, Genelec, Pioneer DJ, Behringer, Rockville, Samson, Amphion |
| Studio Monitor Models | NS-10, NS-10M, NS10, MSP10, ROKIT 5 Generation Five, ROKIT 8 Generation Five, Forty-Sixty, A7V, Eris Pro 8, LP-UNF, HS8, HS3, Alpha Twin Evo, iLoud Micro Monitor, A4V, ROKIT 7 Generation Five, LP-6 V2, Forty Sixty, CR5-XBT, ROKIT 5 G4, 306P MKII, HS8 W, KH 310, Eris 5BT, Eris 4.5BT, iLoud MTM 3.5, DJ Monitor 32, DJ Monitor 42, Eris 3.5, Eris PRO 6, iLoud Precision 5, Eris STUDIO 5, Eris PRO 8, Eris PRO SUB 10, Eris STUDIO 4, Eris 3.5BT, Eris SUB 8BT, G-One, BX3 3.5, EXO2 MK II, Eris 3.5, BX3 Graphite 3.5, MSP10, DPM8W, Eris 3.5, iLoud Micro Monitors, 305P MkII, 6010A, KH 120 A, KH 120 II, O300, DM-40D, HS5, iLoud Micro Monitors, A7X, HR824, M5, SAM30, ROKIT G3, STUDIO M Big Knob, HS7, Control 322-C, RP8G4, Big Knob Passive, Classic 5, MA-8BK, 4208, MA-12C, HS4W, MS101-4, Eris E4.5, Eris E3.5, iLoud MTM PRO, ERIS-3.5, HS5, iLoud MTM PRO Micro Monitors & ARC Mic, ERIS E3.5, ERIS E5, iLoud Micro Compact Studio Monitors w/bluetooth and DSP, ERIS E3.5, HS8i, HS5, Eris 3.5, iLoud MTM, ROKIT 7 G4, Big Knob Passive, APM5B, ASM4, DPM5C, DPM5W, A7V, SAM30, HS5, iLoud Micro Monitors, APM8W, STUDIO M Big Knob, HS7, 4208, MA-12C, HS4W, MS101-4, Eris E4.5, Eris E3.5, ROKIT 5 G4, ROKIT 7 G4 |
| Studio Monitor Types | Powered, Unpowered, Active, Passive, Nearfield, Large, 2.1, Surround Sound, DSP-Powered, 2-Way, 3-Way |
What You'll Learn
Guitar Center
If you're looking to buy studio monitors in the Bay Area, Guitar Center should have some popular monitors set up to demo in the pro audio department.
While Guitar Center does not have any physical stores in the Bay Area, they do offer delivery and returns on orders over $199. Their website offers a range of studio monitors, including:
- Yamaha HS5 5" Powered Studio Monitor
- KRK ROKIT 5 Generation Five Powered Studio Monitor 5"
- M-Audio Forty-Sixty 6" Powered Studio Monitor
- ADAM Audio A7V 7" 2-Way Powered Studio Monitor
- PreSonus Eris Pro 8 Studio Monitor (2nd Gen)
- Kali Audio LP-UNF 4.5" 2-Way Powered Speaker Pair With Bluetooth
- Yamaha HS8 8" Powered Studio Monitor
You can also try out studio monitors at Best Buy.
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Best Buy
If you're looking for studio monitors in the Bay Area, Best Buy has a store in San Francisco on 13th and Harrison St. Alternatively, if you're based in Oakland, there's a Best Buy store in Emeryville.
You can check product availability on BestBuy.com, although it's worth noting that products displayed as 'Sold Out', 'In Store Only', or 'Check Stores' cannot be ordered by phone.
If you're unsure about which studio monitors to purchase, it might be worth trying them out in-store. One person on Reddit mentioned that Guitar Center usually has some popular monitors set up to demo in the pro audio department. However, they also noted that they are usually not set up in a good space, and it can be difficult to accommodate in a store.
Another option is to talk to someone in a reputable pro audio store, who can consider factors like your room dimensions and placement options when making recommendations.
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Sweetwater
The store offers nearly 40,000 square feet of top gear, including fully loaded demo studios and a massive band and orchestra gallery. You can shop from almost 1,000 top music brands of music equipment and quality instruments. Sweetwater's knowledgeable staff are ready to help you find the best gear for your needs and budget.
In addition to its Fort Wayne location, Sweetwater also has a presence in Mill Valley, California. The Sweetwater Saloon was a bar and music venue located at 153 Throckmorton Avenue in Mill Valley, with a 30-year history of live musical performances. After closing in 2007, it reopened as Sweetwater Music Hall in 2012, just a few blocks away from its original location.
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eBay
Powered Studio Monitors
This category includes monitors that have built-in amplifiers, making them ready to use by simply plugging them into a power source and audio source. Here are some options:
- Yamaha HS3 3.5" Black Powered Studio Monitors - These monitors are available as a pair and offer a compact solution for smaller studios or home use.
- PreSonus Eris 3.5 3.5-inch Powered Studio Monitors - This is the second generation of the PreSonus Eris series, available in both black and white, and can be purchased new or pre-owned.
- Behringer STUDIO 50USB 5" Powered Studio Monitors - These monitors come as a pair and feature USB connectivity for convenient audio input.
- JBL 104-BT (Pair) Compact Powered Active Studio Reference Monitors - These compact monitors offer Bluetooth connectivity and are designed for near-field reference monitoring.
- KRK RP5 Rokit 5 G4 Bi-Amp 5" Powered Pair Studio Monitors - KRK's Rokit 5 G4 monitors provide clear and accurate sound with built-in amplifiers, and they come with white speaker cones.
Active Studio Monitors
Active monitors are similar to powered monitors, but the term often refers to monitors with more advanced features and connectivity options. Here are some examples:
- Adam Audio T7V 7-Inch Powered Studio Monitor (Pair) - These monitors come with 25-foot XLR cables and offer a frequency response of 39Hz to 22kHz.
- PreSonus Eris 3.5 Studio Monitor (Pair) - PreSonus' Eris series is a popular choice, and this pair of active monitors can be found new or pre-owned on eBay.
- Yamaha HS7 Powered Active Studio Monitor Speaker (Pair) - Yamaha's HS7 monitors offer a 6.5-inch woofer and 1" dome tweeter, providing clear and accurate sound reproduction.
- KRK Classic 8 G3 8” Classic Studio Monitor - This monitor is an active, two-way design with a 1" soft-dome tweeter and an 8" glass aramid composite woofer.
- IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Compact Studio Monitors - These ultra-compact monitors offer Bluetooth connectivity and are designed to provide accurate sound reproduction in a portable package.
Pro Audio Studio Monitors
This category includes a range of studio monitors for professional use, with various features and specifications:
- Genelec G-One Speakers Pair - These studio monitors are made in Finland and are known for their excellent sound quality and design.
- Yamaha HS5 Powered Studio Monitor - Black (Pair) - Yamaha's HS5 monitors are a popular choice and can be found in both new and pre-owned conditions on eBay.
- KRK Rokit RP8 G3 Studio Monitor (PAIR) - KRK's Rokit series is another well-known option, and the RP8 G3 model offers an 8" glass aramid composite woofer and a 1" soft-dome tweeter.
- Neumann KH 120 A 5.25 inch Powered Studio Monitor - These studio monitors are available as a pair or individually, and they offer a compact design with a 5.25" woofer and advanced acoustic features.
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Pro audio stores
If you're looking for pro audio stores in the Bay Area, there are a few options to consider.
Guitar Center
The Guitar Center is a large chain store that carries a variety of studio monitors. They usually have some popular monitors set up in their pro audio department for customers to demo. However, some people have noted that the monitors are often not set up in an ideal space, which can make it difficult to genuinely compare models. Nevertheless, it may still be worth visiting to get a sense of the different options available.
Best Buy
Best Buy is another large chain store that offers a range of studio monitors from different brands and at various price points. They also carry home recording accessories, such as speaker wall mounts, audio devices, and A/V cables.
Music Lovers Audio
Music Lovers Audio is a high-end audio and home theater store with locations in Berkeley and San Francisco. They offer a wide selection of products, including floorstanding speakers, amplifiers, and network streamers. Music Lovers provides one-on-one support to help customers find the best solutions for their personal needs. They also offer delivery and setup services for their products.
Pro Audio|SF Bay Area
Pro Audio|SF Bay Area is a professional sound equipment repair and service provider. They have been in business since 1986 and are authorized service centers for major manufacturers, including Fender, Marshall, Korg, Roland, Yamaha, and QSC.
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy studio monitors in the Bay Area at Guitar Center or Best Buy.
Yes, you can also try eBay or Sweetwater.
Yes, Guitar Center should have some popular monitors set up to demo in the pro audio department. However, they may not be set up in a good space with optimal acoustics.
Buying from a physical store allows you to try out the monitors and compare different models. Additionally, you can talk to someone in a reputable pro audio store to get advice based on your specific needs, such as room dimensions and placement options.
When buying studio monitors, consider the size of the woofer, which determines the range and clarity of bass and lower midrange frequencies. Also, think about whether you want powered (active) or unpowered (passive) monitors, as well as the overall size and power based on your studio space.
