Sterling Audio Mx5 5 Powered Studio Monitor Review

The Sterling MX5 (and MX3) Studio Monitors sound great, offer a small footprint and are ultra-affordable for abode studios and commercial spaces on a budget.

The gap between commercial studios and home recording spaces used to exist huge, both in price and in sound quality. Thankfully these days, there are some great choices in studio monitors; Sterling'south MX5's won't beat upwardly your depository financial institution account, and they'll deliver quality sound for your tracking and mixing sessions.

Inside the polished MDF enclosure is a 5" depression frequency driver as well as a 1" silk domed tweeter that uses a Neodymium magnet, which in the speaker world delivers plenty of clarity. Vocals and timbrally-complex instruments came through clearly, without any loss of subtle nuance. The rear panel has the usual RCA, XLR and one/4" TRS connections, too as 3-position high frequency and low frequency filters. A rear bass port is likewise located hither, then exist sure to place these a few inches away from walls.

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With 70 watts of power, in that location is plenty of squeamish clear headroom, fifty-fifty at loftier volumes. The howdy and lo filters really allow for the ability to tune the speakers to the room, regardless of the music being tracked through them. The depression-cease is very present and tight, so dubstep bass drops should not exist an issue with these. 1 frequency range that did pop out a lot was the lower mid-range, which is slap-up for most music in that area, but might crave some additional adjustment for lighter acoustic music to sit better in a mix.

Sterling MX5 Studio Monitor

Mixing at lower volumes wasn't a hindrance, either. In nearly cases existence able to mix or track for a long time, and not have to strain to hear, or even worse cope with high volumes means less ear fatigue. The MX5s also accept a great field of dispersion, meaning the listener doesn't need to be right in the middle or "sweet spot" to hear everything. This is cracking, especially for project studios that aren't located in an optimal physical space.

The street price is currently $149 each, which should exist well within any abode studio's budget. A commercial studio could certainly utilize a prepare of these during long tracking sessions, too every bit for a 2nd set of reference monitors to test various mixes. Size-wise, they don't take up too much space, and it's tough to observe fault in a set of speakers that deliver this much for such a reasonable toll.

We were also able to test out the iii-inch version, the MX3s (street price $99 per pair), which offered front-cease headphone monitoring as well as a principal front volume knob. Sound wise, yous lose a niggling with the smaller drivers and enclosure, but honestly, bang-for-buck, we can't aid but recommend the MX3s to any studio where not only is budget a business organization, but space is at an ultra, ultra premium. An even better use for these would be "road monitors," especially if your ring likes to appoint in mobile recording while on bout. A laptop, a USB interface and a small pair of MX3s would make up a pretty potent portable recording rig for just about anyone (and not accept upwards a ton of room in the van). As with the big brother MX5, the MX3 excels in bass frequencies, where other monitors of its size simply pump out a lot of muddled low-end. Nosotros were pleasantly surprised with the clarity of the bass coming from our DAW's demo tracks, and besides the stereo imaging from such a pocket-sized unit.

All in all, the new MX line (which also includes a tertiary model, the larger MX8s) from Sterling is quite a bargain, and comes highly recommended.

For more on these monitors, head to http://sterlingaudio.net/mx5/

Sterling MX5 studio monitors can be purchased at Guitar Center and through Musician'due south Friend.

PROS:

Not bad sound, excellent sound field dispersion. Neat price.

CONS:

Lower mid frequencies tend to be a chip more nowadays.

Cost:

$149 each

Sterling MX5 Features

• 5" Low frequency driver with proprietary cone design

• 4-Layer vox coil provides greater motor strength for outstanding low-frequency performance

• 1" Silk dome tweeter features lightweight neodymium magnets

• 70 Watts of high-efficiency, depression-distortion Class A/B distension

• Bi-amp Form A/B design ensures superior transient response and natural bass presence

• Unique dual-axis WaveGuidanceVH technology and rear console port

• High and low filters to custom tune monitors to your listening preference and environment

• Polished ebony front baffle with Sterling LED iconography

• Studio form internal components with protective electrical blueprint

• Professional person balanced XLR, one/4" TRS inputs and unbalanced RCA inputs

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Source: https://performermag.com/home-recording/best-studio-monitors/sterling-audio-mx5-studio-monitors-review/