Best KRK Studio Monitors: Honest Review on 8 Models!

Best KRK Studio Monitors

Introduction

For a generation of bedroom beat makers, DJs, and synth-obsessed youth, the iconic yellow and black speaker has become the go-to monitor. Many have learned to mix exclusively using KRK’s unique and instantly recognizable sound.

Thanks to their accessibility and distinctive sonic character, KRK monitors have made a huge impact on today’s studio landscape. Beyond their versatility and wide frequency range, they’re often praised for sounding great in a variety of settings—a strength that’s sometimes underrated.

KRK Systems was founded in 1986 by an industry visionary who had worked on films like “Brainstorm” and “The Doors.” Frustrated by the lack of quality monitors on the market, he started building his own. His high-end studio monitors quickly caught the attention of other engineers and producers, and soon KRK became a company in its own right.

Anyone in the field will recognize KRK’s precise and defined sound, which accurately reproduces the booming kicks and deep sub-bass so essential to modern electronic music.

KRK monitors are particularly well-suited for these new sonic textures, thanks to their extended low-frequency response and wide soundstage. This clarity in the lower harmonics makes it easier to work with multi-band compression and 808 sub-bass.

That’s a brief introduction to the KRK brand, its origins, and how it made its mark in the world of studio monitors. Next, we’ll take a closer look at their most popular models—the ones that fly off the shelves—so stick around!

1. KRK GoAux 4

In recent years, the market for budget-friendly, travel-ready studio monitors has been steadily growing, and KRK has expanded its lineup with the GOAUX 4. KRK’s technology goes above and beyond what most other portable speakers offer by providing practical solutions to common problems faced when mixing on the go. They have managed to surpass the achievements of most other portable speakers in this space.

Along with the speakers, the package includes a carrying bag, speaker stands, and several useful accessories for mobile mixing. This makes it a complete, grab-and-go solution for mixing wherever you are. Thanks to its reasonable price, well-rounded package, and flexible positioning options, the GOAUX 4 stands out as one of the best mobile studio monitors available today.

The KRK GoAux 4 system comes with many accessories and remains truly portable at just 4.3kg in total. In addition to the speakers, you get an angled stand for each one—an essential feature when using speakers on a desk, and something many other compact speakers lack.

The GoAux 4 speakers are bi-amped and deliver a total of 100 watts (33 watts RMS to the woofer and 17 watts RMS to the tweeter). Connectivity is versatile, with options including 1/4″ TRS balanced, RCA, USB type B, and 1/8″ Aux, plus an input for a measurement microphone. Bluetooth is also built in, so you can connect just about any device you need.

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2. KRK V4 S4

The V4 S4 speakers are front-ported, meaning bass frequencies are projected from the front rather than the back, as is common with rear-ported studio monitors. This design helps reduce bass build-up if your speakers are placed close to a corner. Additionally, the S4 provides several options for room correction.

For connectivity, the V4 S4 offers both unbalanced 1/4″ and XLR inputs. Alongside brushed aluminum accents, the speaker enclosure closely resembles its larger siblings. Both the woofer and tweeter are made from Kevlar, enhancing durability.

The rear panel houses the input and mains connections, along with a screwdriver-adjustable control for setting the input gain anywhere between +6dB and -30dB. The input sockets are Neutrik combi jack/XLR connectors that accept balanced XLRs and TRS jacks, as well as unbalanced TS jacks.

While the V4 S4 doesn’t offer a frequency balance adjustment, we found that it wasn’t necessary. The frequency balance is impressively flat and neutral, with a specified frequency response of 65Hz to 20kHz (within dB limits).

Although it might not satisfy users with higher demands—particularly those needing more sub-bass reproduction—the KRK V4 S4 remains an excellent choice if you’re upgrading from entry-level monitor speakers.

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3. KRK RP5 RoKit Classic

The KRK Rokit 5 G4 is one of the most popular studio monitors in the industry, found in everything from small bedroom setups to cutting-edge professional studios. Thanks to its layered 5″ glass aramid driver for the low end and a 1″ soft dome tweeter for the highs, it delivers a very balanced sound right out of the box. As part of KRK’s renowned ROKIT line, you’d expect nothing less.

We connected them easily to the Evo4 interface using the XLR balanced inputs, but the monitors also offer RCA and 1/4″ TRS connections if you need them. There are plenty of adjustment options: high-frequency controls range from -2 dB to +1 dB, and low-frequency controls run from -1 dB to +2 dB, making it easy to tailor the sound to your room’s acoustics.

While there is a flat setting—an obvious starting point—the user has a lot of flexibility to adjust not just for the room, but also for the style of music they’re working with. The automatic standby function is a nice touch: if there’s no signal for more than 30 minutes, the monitors go into sleep mode, so you don’t have to keep turning them on and off.

When a signal returns, they wake up automatically, although it takes a few seconds for them to power back on. Overall, the KRK Rokit 5 is a solid choice for nearfield studio monitors. The bass response does seem slightly boosted, so once you get comfortable with these monitors, be sure to adjust your mixes accordingly.

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4. KRK V6 S4

KRK’s V-Series 4 combines the best of modern technology with the heritage that has made KRK an industry leader in professional studios for over 30 years. With the KRK V6-S4—a two-way, full-range studio reference monitor—you can record, mix, and master with professional performance and accuracy.

This monitor features a lightweight 6.5″ Kevlar woofer and a 1″ Kevlar tweeter, both designed by KRK. Thanks to Kevlar construction in both drivers, these monitors deliver superb midrange and high-end definition, tight low-end control, a wide sweet spot, and impressive imaging.

The 155W bi-amped Class D amplifier provides excellent transient response and delivers up to 115 dB of sound pressure level (SPL). The KRK bass reflex enclosure uses an optimized front-ported design to prevent boundary coupling, allowing for flexible positioning within your room.

With 49 DSP-driven EQ presets, you can adjust the sound to match your personal taste as well as your room or desk setup. The solid aluminum front baffle and EVA foam pad act as a built-in stabilizer, enhancing transient response and imaging.

A 1″ Kevlar dome tweeter and woven Kevlar woofer power these V Series near-field monitors, which are driven by dedicated Class D amplifiers. The V Series can handle listening environments ranging from 85 to 230 watts. The V Series 4 is an ideal choice for recording studios, broadcast studios, sound design studios, and audio production houses—making it a go-to monitor for any professional setting.

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5. KRK Rokit 8 G4

Compared to the previous generation of studio monitors from KRK Systems, the Rokit 8 is a significant upgrade. These monitors look much better while still keeping the iconic yellow and black color scheme that KRK Systems is known for. If you’re looking for a well-powered studio monitor reference, the Rokit 8 G4 could be the perfect fit for your acoustic environment.

The Rokit 8 features a Kevlar cone woofer with a full cover, as well as a 1-inch Kevlar dome tweeter. The woofers enhance the low end by boosting lower frequencies. Thanks to its bi-amp design, the KRK studio monitor provides separate sound output for the drivers and woofers.

On the back of the unit, there’s an LCD screen with a stepped, continuous, push-button rotary encoder that lets you control EQ, level, and system settings. You can fine-tune your ROKIT G4 with 25 possible EQ combinations in the page-based menu, making it easy to adjust the sound to your taste or to fix room and placement issues. You can also adjust the overall output level as needed.

The Rokit G4 offers a frequency response ranging from a low of 36Hz up to a high of 40kHz. When it comes to great speakers, sound quality is always the top priority—and you’ll definitely be pleased with the sound these deliver.

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6. KRK S8G4

With the S8.4 powered studio subwoofer, KRK delivers sonic accuracy in a compact design. The Class-D power amplifiers enhance transient response, control, and punch, while the glass-aramid woofer provides tight, defined bass. Adjusting the subwoofer is easy with the four-position selectable crossover.

You’ll find plenty of connection options on the back, including XLR, 1/4″, and RCA (red/white) inputs, with frequency response down to 30Hz. You can fine-tune the bass for your setup using the crossover dial, polarity and input sensitivity switches, as well as the volume control. Placement is simple, and you can easily set the right amount of bass for your space.

Since subwoofers function differently from regular speakers, it can be difficult to tell exactly where the bass is coming from. The goal is to fill out the low end without pulling away from your stereo image, so a ‘non-directional’ sub works perfectly. The great part is you can hide it out of sight if needed, and it will still perform just as well.

This sub engages the low end in a direct, tight, and controlled way—never flabby or muddy. It handles extreme 808s with precision when needed and stays clean when you want it to. You can even use an optional footswitch to bypass the sub while you work, a feature not often found on other subs.

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7. KRK S10.4

The KRK S10.4 is a fourth-generation powered studio subwoofer designed to deliver tight, defined bass with impressive transient response, control, and punch. It’s an excellent choice for audio engineers, studio musicians, and audio enthusiasts who want a high-quality active subwoofer to extend the low frequencies of their monitor setup. Adding this subwoofer to your 2.1 or 5.1 surround system will noticeably improve your mixing and listening experience.

The S10.4 features a 10″ glass-aramid composite woofer, offering a frequency response of 33 to 130 Hz and a peak SPL of 117.2 dB, powered by a 160W Class-D amplifier. With XLR, 1/4″, and RCA inputs and outputs, you have complete flexibility when connecting additional subs and monitors.

Matching the subwoofer settings to your existing monitors is easy, thanks to the selectable four-position crossover. The S10.4 works well with any studio monitor, but it pairs especially well with KRK’s Rokit and VXT series.

The curved design with a front-facing bass port adds versatility, while features like a ground lift help prevent ground loops. You also get polarity and input sensitivity controls for even more customization. The rugged MDF enclosure and stainless steel grille ensure maximum strength and protection. In terms of value, the S10.4 is one of the best subwoofers available.

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8. KRK 12sHO

For over 25 years, mixing and mastering professionals have trusted KRK monitors for their accuracy. Now, with KRK’s new subwoofers, you can extend that legendary precision all the way down to the lowest limits of human hearing, enhancing your sound with powerful, natural bass.

Whether you’re mixing in 2.1 or 5.1 surround, or simply looking to upgrade your current monitors, the KRK S-series makes it easy to achieve a rich, vivid, professional mix. When paired with nearfield speakers, the 400-watt KRK 12sHO subwoofer can extend your low-end response down to 29Hz, delivering impressive dynamic range. For the best results, subwoofers are often matched with full-range monitors from the same brand, such as the KRK VXT and Expose series.

If you have large, powerful near-field studio monitors, adding a high-quality, powerful subwoofer is essential. The 12sHO is designed to meet this need, offering clean, accurate low-frequency reproduction, including the detailed bass content of the LFE channel.

Demanding mix environments require more than what traditional low-frequency drivers and amplifiers can provide. That’s why KRK created the 12sHO—HO stands for “High Output”—to handle even the most challenging mixing situations with ease.

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Conclusion

We’ve highlighted some great active speakers and subwoofer options from KRK if you’re looking for detailed, accurate sound. Whether you want impressive low frequencies, clear mid-range, or crisp highs, KRK has you covered with speakers that deliver top-notch sound quality. If we were choosing a setup for our studio based on room size, we’d go with the KRK V6 S4 monitors paired with the KRK S10.4 subwoofer.

If you have any questions about our KRK brand review or want more information, please leave a comment below. We’re happy to help and provide more detailed answers.