What are the most affordable active near-field monitors under £500?
This page compares 8 active near-field monitors with verified specifications and prices. Top options include KRK Rokit RP5 G4, M-Audio BX5 D3, KRK Rokit RP7 G4. Prices range from £75 to £168. All data is sourced from manufacturer documentation and specialist retailers.
| Product ⇅ | Price ⇅ | Frequency Response (Hz) ⇅ | Peak SPL (dB) ⇅ | Power Output (Watts) ⇅ | Driver Size (Inches) ⇅ | Crossover Frequency (Hz) ⇅ | DSP Processing (Boolean) ⇅ | Connectivity Options (Text) ⇅ |
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KRK Rokit RP5 G4
US
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£126.28 ≈ | 43 Hz - 40 kHz | 104 dB | 55 W | 5 in woofer, 1 in tweeter | — | DSP-driven graphic EQ with 25 settings and onboard LCD | Neutrik combo XLR/TRS input |
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The KRK Rokit RP5 G4 is a compact bi-amped powered studio monitor with Kevlar drivers, DSP-driven graphic EQ and a front-firing port for improved low-end. It suits home and project studio users needing accurate nearfield monitoring and onboard room-compensation options.
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M-Audio BX5 D3
US
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£88.92 ≈ | 52 Hz - 35 kHz | 110 dB SPL | 100 W (60 LF, 40 HF) | 5 in woofer, 1 in tweeter | 2.5 kHz | — | 1x XLR balanced input, 1x TRS 1/4 in balanced/unbalanced input |
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The BX5 D3 are 5 in two-way bi-amplified near-field studio monitors with Kevlar woofers and a silk-dome tweeter, offering accurate transient response and room-tailoring controls. They suit home and project studio producers needing compact, reference-grade monitors with good low-end extension.
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KRK Rokit RP7 G4
US
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£168.11 ≈ | 42Hz - 40KHz | 110 dB | 145 Watts | 7 in woofer, 1 in tweeter | — | DSP-driven Graphic EQ with 25 settings; onboard LCD visual EQ | Balanced TRS/XLR combo jacks |
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The KRK Rokit RP7 G4 is a 7 in near-field powered studio monitor with matched Kevlar drivers, Class D amplification, and an onboard DSP-driven 25‑setting graphic EQ with an LCD. It suits project and home studios needing an affordable, tunable reference monitor with tight low end and adjustable EQ presets.
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Mackie CR3-X
US
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£78.46 ≈ | 70Hz-20kHz | 97 dB | 50W Class AB | 3 in woofer, 0.75 in tweeter | 3.0 kHz | — | 2 x 1/4 in TRS, 1 x dual RCA, 1 x 1/8 in aux, 1 x 1/8 in headphones, bare wire pair link |
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Compact powered 2-way desktop monitors with 3 in woofers and 0.75 in tweeters, 50W total Class AB power and a 70Hz-20kHz response. Suited for home studios, content creators, and desktop listening where space and budget are limited.
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PreSonus Eris E3.5
US
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£74.71 ≈ | 80 Hz - 20 kHz | 98 dB (@ 1 meter) | 50W (25W per speaker) | 3.5 in LF, 1 in HF | 2.8 kHz | — | Balanced 1/4 in TRS, Unbalanced 1/8 in stereo, RCA |
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Compact 2-way active studio monitors with a 3.5 in woven-composite woofer and 1 in silk-dome tweeter, 50W total Class AB amplification, acoustic tuning controls, and multiple input options. Suited for small home studios, desktop setups, gaming, and multimedia use.
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Kali Audio LP-6 V2
US
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£148.69 ≈ | 39 Hz - 25 kHz | 115 dB | 80 W | 6.5 in woofer, 1 in tweeter | 1500 Hz | Boundary EQ with 8-way dip switch | 1 x XLR, 1 x TRS, 1 x RCA |
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The LP-6 V2 are bi-amped nearfield studio monitors with a 6.5 in woofer and 1 in soft dome tweeter, 80 W total power and onboard boundary EQ for room-placement tuning. They offer a flat response to 39 Hz, high maximum SPL and multiple balanced and unbalanced inputs, suited for home project studios and small professional setups.
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PreSonus Eris E8 XT
US
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£119.54 ≈ | 35 Hz - 20 kHz | 105 dB at 1 Meter | 140 W Class A/B (75 W LF + 65 W HF) | 8 in woofer; 1.25 in tweeter | 2.2 kHz | — | Balanced XLR, Balanced 1/4 in TRS, Unbalanced RCA |
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The Eris E8 XT is an 8-inch two-way active studio monitor with front-ported low end, an EBM waveguide, and acoustic tuning controls for room placement. It delivers deep lows to 35 Hz, 140 W bi-amplification, and flexible inputs, making it suited for home and project studios that need powerful nearfield monitoring.
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IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
US
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£149.43 ≈ | 45Hz - 22kHz (-10dB) | 107dB (pair, @50cm, averaged 100Hz-10kHz) | 50W RMS (total) - 70W peak (total) | 3 in woofer; 3/4 in tweeter | 3kHz | 56-bit digital signal processor, completely DSP controlled | 2 x RCA; TRS 1/8 in stereo input; Bluetooth A2DP; 4-pin speaker connector |
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Ultra-compact two-way bi-amped studio monitors with a 3 in woofer and 3/4 in tweeter, DSP-controlled crossover and EQ presets, and Bluetooth connectivity. Suited for bedroom/small project studios, mobile setups, and super nearfield monitoring where space is limited.
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