Have you ever wondered why are speakers called monitors? Well, it’s because they were originally designed to function as audio monitors in studios.
This is what sets a monitor speaker apart from other types of hi-fi speakers you might have at home.
Related Article: How to Connect Speakers to Your Computer Monitor
What is a monitor speaker?
A monitor speaker is a speaker that was originally designed for use in studios. They are used to help producers, engineers, and musicians hear their sound with more clarity.
The word “monitor”
has a long history
The term “monitor” was first used in the 1800s as a word to describe someone who examines or oversees something. It was also used to describe people who regulate the flow of water in canals, rivers, and dams. The word “monitor” originally came from the French word “monitore” which means watchman.
Where does the word come from?
The term “monitor” comes from the Latin word monitāre, which means “to warn.” The term was first used by the Romans about 2,000 years ago. When someone would be on patrol, they were responsible for looking out for any dangers or threats and warning others if something happened.
For example, a monitor could help other ships avoid being hit by enemy fire in naval battles.
These days, monitors are still being used as security guards to watch over people and protect them. In fact, the word “monitor” is sometimes used interchangeably with the word “security guard.”
What is it?
The term “monitor” is sometimes confused with the words “speaker” and “mount.” However, they are not the same. A monitor refers to a piece of audio equipment that monitors audio levels in a recording or live performance situation.
So why do people call speakers monitors? In an effort to reduce confusion, most manufacturers use the term “monitor speakers” on their products. Let’s explore the history of the word “monitor” so we can better understand its meaning now
What makes a good monitor speaker?
This is what sets a monitor speaker apart from other types of hi-fi speakers you might have at home.
The most important thing that defines whether or not a speaker is a good monitor is its frequency response. A good monitor will cover the full spectrum of human hearing, from 20Hz all the way up to 20kHz.
A monitor speaker also doesn’t need to have any additional features that aren’t related to audio reproduction – like built-in amplifiers.
How do monitors change the sound of music?
To take a closer look at how monitors affect sound, let’s contrast them with regular home speakers.
It also has to be able to produce an accurate sound, without any added coloration from the speaker itself.
In contrast, regular home speakers are more likely to be tuned for one specific type of audio. This makes them perfect for listening to music on your iPod or playing a video game with rich sound effects.
That’s where monitors come in handy.
Why are speakers called monitors?
The term “monitor” is sometimes confused with the words “speaker” and “mount.” However, they are not the same. A monitor refers to a piece of audio equipment that monitors audio levels in a recording or live performance situation. A monitor speaker is a speaker system designed for this purpose, and a mount is something you put your monitor speaker on for stability and security.
So why do people call speakers monitors? In an effort to reduce confusion, most manufacturers use the term “monitor speakers” on their products. Let’s explore the history of the word “monitor” so we can better understand its meaning now.
The term was first used in 1885 when Thomas Edison said his phonograph was a “a kind of monitor.” The word quickly became associated with sound systems that were used to listen to audio recordings during performances. And while other names were suggested over the years (such as monophonic), the word stuck because it was easy to pronounce and write down without any errors—so it just kind of stuck around in modern day language.
Nowadays, if you’re referring to speakers specifically, usually people will say “monitors.” But don’t worry about getting confused with another type of speaker system—monitor speakers are specially designed for live sound mixing and music production monitoring purposes!
Is there a difference in meaning between speaker and monitor?
The term “monitor” is sometimes confused with the words “speaker” and “mount.” However, they are not the same. A monitor refers to a piece of audio equipment that monitors audio levels in a recording or live performance situation. A monitor speaker is a speaker system designed for this purpose, and a mount is something you put your monitor speaker on for stability and security.
So why do people call speakers monitors? In an effort to reduce confusion, most manufacturers use the term “monitor speakers” on their products. Let’s explore the history of the word “monitor” so we can better understand its meaning now.
Who needs monitor speakers?
Monitor speakers are designed specifically for the studio environment. They’re used by audio engineers and musicians in the studio to help them know if their songs need more bass, vocals or general mixing tweaks. A good monitor speaker needs to be able to produce sound at a wide range of frequencies, with a high level of transparency and balance.
The best models for the money.
In our quest to find the best monitor speakers on the market today, we looked at many different models. We found that there are a number of great options available in this category. However, if we had to choose one (and only one) model as the best, it would be the JBL LSR305.
The JBL LSR305 is an excellent option for a home recording studio. With its professional sound quality and sturdy build, you can use them for high-quality audio or video production. They’re also perfect for vocal monitoring in live performance venues. And with a high SPL capability, they can handle low-frequency sounds even when they’re cranked up pretty high. This makes them excellent candidates for small to midsized music venues where sound is crucial to success.
The best budget monitor
The JBL LSR305 speaker is the best budget monitor. It is priced at around $200 and it has an amazing frequency response. When you buy this speaker, you get a lot for your money.
Another great option is the Yamaha NS-10M. This speaker costs around $500, but it has a very good reputation in the audio world and it’s considered one of the best available monitors on the market today.
The best midrange monitor
The Mackie CR3 and the M-Audio AV42 are both great choices that offer excellent sound reproduction across an extended range of frequencies. The KRK Rokit 6 G3 is another strong choice as it offers a high degree of transparency in its output.
For example, the Mackie CR3 has a built-in mixer while the M-Audio AV42 has a desk stand. The KRK Rokit 6 G3 has the widest frequency response range of all three models.
FAQs
Monitor speakers are designed to offer a more accurate sound representation of your mix. If your mixes aren’t translating well on other speakers, you might want to start using a monitor speaker. Monitor speakers also have a wider frequency range than regular hi-fi speakers and can be used for live performance, studio work or as part of an audio system.
The key to using your monitor speaker effectively is setting it up correctly. Make sure it’s in an area where there’s plenty of room for the sound waves to bounce around, like the corner of a room. Avoid placing your speaker behind any large objects like furniture that could block the sound waves and make them weaker.
You should look for any features that indicate a high level of transparency and accuracy: low distortion, flat frequency response, wide dynamic range and minimal coloration. You should also consider what type of environment you’re going to be using these monitors in: whether they’ll be doing double duty as both studio monitors and hi-fi speakers (and if so, how large they should be) or just being used strictly as studio monitors. Remember that most professionals agree that bigger isn’t necessarily better–a smaller size can often provide better clarity because it reduces resonances from cabinet surfaces and improves clarity from the tweeter at high frequencies.
A monitor speaker is designed to be used in studio monitoring applications. It provides accurate sound reproduction of audio sources with low distortion and high dynamic range. A speaker is designed for use at live events, clubs, etc.
A mount is something you put your monitor speaker on for stability and security, while a stand can refer to various things like the other speakers that you might have in your sound system or it can refer to something that holds your microphone upright
Conclusion
A monitor is a speaker. The word monitor comes from the Latin verb monitum, which means “to warn.” So, a monitor is a speaker that warns listeners about the quality of the audio.
The term monitor is also used in computer science, where it refers to a device that displays the output from a computer, and in electronics, where it refers to a device that boosts and regulates power.
A monitor is also a person who stands by and observes.
That’s why speakers are called monitors. They stand by and observe the sound quality.
