How to Set Up Studio Monitors
Updated Nov 12, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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Set studio monitors on stands or pads at ear height, angled toward you, with the same distance between each monitor and your listening spot. Connect them to your interface with balanced XLR or TRS cables, or RCA where that is all the monitor offers, and set the level on each monitor, adjusting the rear controls for the wall behind them.
Place the monitors on stands or pads
Set each monitor on a stand or an isolation pad so vibration from the desk does not reach the cabinet. Raise the monitors until the tweeters sit level with your ears when you sit at the desk, and angle each monitor toward your listening spot so the drivers point at you. Keep the monitors the same distance from your listening spot and the same distance apart, and leave space behind them so the rear ports and controls stay clear of the wall.
Connect the monitors to your interface
Connect the interface outputs to the monitor inputs with the cable the monitor accepts: balanced XLR or TRS where the interface offers it, RCA or a stereo mini cable where it does not. Use the same cable type on the left and right monitors so the signal path matches on each side. Push each connector in until it seats, and route the cables away from power cables so they do not pick up hum. Turn the monitor level down before you switch anything on.
Set the level on each monitor
Start with the level knob on each monitor turned down, then raise the interface output to its normal listening level. Raise the level on the left monitor until it sounds right from your listening spot, then match the right monitor to it so the image stays centred between the monitors. If a monitor has rear controls, leave them centred until the monitors are placed, then adjust them after you listen. Check the level again after any change to placement.
Adjust the rear controls for your room
The switches on the back of a monitor adjust bass and treble for where the monitor sits. If a monitor sits against a wall, cut the bass a little so the wall does not add weight to the low end. Adjust the treble control a step at a time and listen after each change, then note the setting that works so you can return to it after moving the monitors.
Check the setup with a familiar mix
Play material you know well and listen from your listening spot, not from beside a monitor. The mix should sit centred between the monitors, with each part clear from where you sit. If the image pulls to a side, check the level on each monitor and the distance from each monitor to your spot. Move a monitor a little, listen again, and keep the setting that sounds right.
What you need
Yamaha HS4 Powered Studio Monitor in Black
A pair of 4.5-inch monitors with 26 W output, XLR/TRS combo, RCA and stereo mini inputs, plus room control and high trim controls, with cables and an anti-slip pad included.
- Woofer size: 4.5 in
- Power: 26 W
- Low-frequency reach (Hz): 60 Hz
- 1 year warranty stated
YAMAHA Hs5 Powered Studio Monitor
A pair of 5-inch bi-amplified monitors with 45 W LF plus 25 W HF, XLR and TRS inputs, and a 54 Hz to 30 kHz frequency response.
- Woofer size: 5 in
- Power: 70 W, the most here
- Low-frequency reach (Hz): 54 Hz
(2) JBL 305P MkII 5" 2-Way Active
A pair of 5-inch monitors with dual 41 W Class-D amplifiers, XLR and 1/4-inch TRS inputs, Boundary EQ and HF Trim, and a 43 Hz low-frequency reach.
- Woofer size: 5 in
- Power: 41 W
- Low-frequency reach (Hz): 43 Hz
Mackie CR3.5 Studio Monitors
A pair of 3.5-inch monitors with 50 W output, a tone knob and a location switch, RCA and TRS inputs, and isolation pads and cables in the box.
- Woofer size: 3.5 in
- Power: 50 W
- 1-year warranty stated
These come from our ranked list Best Studio Monitors, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Do studio monitors need a subwoofer?
Not for setup. The monitors here reach down to 43 Hz, 54 Hz and 60 Hz on their own, so start without a subwoofer and add a subwoofer later only if the low end of your mixes needs it.
What cable do I use for studio monitors?
Use a balanced XLR or TRS cable where your interface offers it. RCA or a stereo mini cable works where the monitor offers those inputs instead.
Why does one monitor sound louder than the other?
Check the level knob on each monitor first, since matched levels keep the image centred. Then check the distance from each monitor to your listening spot, since a monitor closer to you sounds louder.
Ranked studio monitors lists
More how-to guides
Product details come from each Amazon listing and can change. Check the listing before you buy.