Audio T Verdict
Studio 89 is a rather unusual Monitor Audio speaker. It sits outside the conventional Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum hierarchy and instead takes some seriously ambitious technology, including RDT III drivers and the MPD III transducer, and squeezes it into a beautifully narrow cabinet.
The twin bass-mid drivers arranged around the central MPD III give it considerably more scale than the compact dimensions suggest, while the narrow front baffle helps create a wonderfully open and spacious presentation.
Partner Studio 89 with a capable amplifier and the dedicated Monitor Audio stands and you have a genuinely high-end compact speaker for anyone who wants detail, precision and strong musical dynamics without filling the room with large cabinets.
Monitor Audio Studio 89
Studio 89 is a compact two-way bookshelf loudspeaker inspired by Monitor Audio's original Studio Series and launched as a thoroughly modern interpretation of the concept.
Its acoustic design draws on technology developed for Monitor Audio's flagship ranges, combining twin 4.25-inch RDT III C-CAM bass-mid drivers with an MPD III high-frequency transducer in an MTM configuration.
- Compact two-way bookshelf speaker
- MTM driver configuration
- MPD III high-frequency transducer
- Twin 4.25-inch RDT III bass-mid drivers
- RDT III multi-layer diaphragm technology
- Twin HiVe II slot ports
- Internally braced narrow cabinet
- Bespoke crossover network
- Rhodium-plated speaker terminals
- Dedicated Studio 89 Stand available
- High Gloss Black and High Gloss White finishes
- Supplied as a pair
Inspired by the Original Studio Series
The Studio 89 takes its name from 1989, the year Monitor Audio introduced its original Studio loudspeaker range.
Rather than simply recreating an older design, Monitor Audio has used that heritage as the starting point for a thoroughly modern compact speaker.
The result combines a distinctive narrow cabinet with technology derived from considerably more ambitious contemporary Monitor Audio loudspeakers.
MTM Driver Array
The Studio 89 uses an MTM, or Mid-Tweeter-Mid, driver arrangement.
The MPD III high-frequency transducer sits centrally between the two 4.25-inch RDT III bass-mid drivers, creating a vertically symmetrical driver layout.
Monitor Audio says this arrangement increases the available bass-mid cone area and voice-coil capability while also improving the speaker's interaction with the floor and ceiling.
The closely grouped drivers are designed to behave more like a coherent point source, helping create a spacious and enveloping soundstage from a particularly narrow cabinet.
Twin 4.25-Inch RDT III Drivers
Studio 89 uses two 108mm, or 4.25-inch, RDT III bass-mid drivers in each cabinet.
Using a pair of relatively small drivers allows Monitor Audio to keep the front baffle extremely narrow while retaining greater total radiating area than a conventional single-driver compact speaker.
The two drivers share responsibility for bass and midrange reproduction before handing over to the central MPD III transducer.
RDT III Diaphragm Technology
RDT III stands for Rigid Diaphragm Technology III and uses a lightweight three-layer cone construction.
The outer surface is made from Monitor Audio's C-CAM ceramic-coated aluminium magnesium, bonded to a Nomex honeycomb core with a woven carbon-fibre rear skin.
This construction is designed to combine very low mass with high rigidity, allowing the diaphragm to respond quickly while resisting unwanted deformation as frequency and output increase.
MPD III High-Frequency Transducer
High frequencies are handled by Monitor Audio's third-generation MPD III transducer.
MPD stands for Micro Pleated Diaphragm. Its finely pleated surface rapidly expands and contracts to move air rather than operating like a conventional dome tweeter.
The design is capable of extremely fast movement and exceptionally wide bandwidth, with Studio 89 extending to a specified 60kHz.
48Hz to 60kHz In-Room Response
Monitor Audio specifies an in-room -6dB frequency response of 48Hz to 60kHz.
The free-field figure is 53Hz to 60kHz.
That gives Studio 89 useful low-frequency extension for such a narrow compact enclosure while the MPD III provides an exceptionally broad upper-frequency range.
Twin HiVe II Slot Ports
Studio 89 uses a ported enclosure with twin velocity-reflex HiVe II slot ports.
Monitor Audio's HiVe II technology is designed to encourage fast and controlled airflow from the cabinet while reducing unwanted turbulence.
The ports are tuned to 58Hz and work with the twin RDT III drivers to extend low-frequency output from the compact enclosure.
Speaker Placement
Studio 89 is a ported speaker, so give it some breathing space from the rear wall and experiment with positioning. Moving the speakers closer to room boundaries will generally increase bass reinforcement, while bringing them further into the room can improve low-frequency definition and stereo imaging.
New Crossover Design
Monitor Audio developed a new crossover specifically for Studio 89, with the bass-mid drivers handing over to the MPD III transducer at 2.4kHz.
The crossover uses carefully selected polypropylene and polyester capacitors together with air-core and low-loss laminated steel-core inductors.
Monitor Audio also subjected the network to extensive listening and component selection during development to balance measurement performance with the final acoustic presentation.
86dB Sensitivity
Studio 89 has a free-field sensitivity of 86dB at 2.83V/1m.
Nominal impedance is 6 ohms, with Monitor Audio specifying a minimum impedance of 4.2 ohms at 220Hz.
These are reasonably amplifier-friendly figures, although the quality of the electronics still matters greatly with a loudspeaker this revealing.
Amplifier Matching
Monitor Audio recommends amplification rated between 50 and 300 watts RMS into 4 ohms with a music signal.
Studio 89 itself has a continuous power-handling specification of 150 watts RMS into 6 ohms using pink noise with a 6dB crest factor.
A high-quality amplifier with good control and current capability will generally be more important than simply selecting the biggest wattage figure.
Choosing an Amplifier
Studio 89 uses technologies derived from Monitor Audio's more ambitious loudspeakers and is revealing enough to show differences between electronics. A demonstration with suitable amplifiers is therefore well worthwhile, particularly when comparing tonal balance, bass control and the openness of the MPD III transducer.
113dB Maximum Peak SPL
Monitor Audio specifies a maximum peak sound pressure level of 113dB from a single speaker at one metre, Z-weighted.
That gives Studio 89 useful dynamic headroom despite its compact dimensions and helps the twin-driver arrangement reproduce larger-scale music with greater ease than the cabinet size might suggest.
Exceptionally Narrow Cabinet
One of Studio 89's most obvious design features is its extremely narrow 157mm-wide cabinet.
The slim front baffle reduces the physical area immediately surrounding the drive units while the MTM arrangement allows Monitor Audio to maintain useful cone area vertically.
Monitor Audio also carefully braces the cabinet internally to increase structural rigidity.
Compact Dimensions
Including the rear speaker terminals, each Studio 89 measures:
- Height: 340mm
- Width: 157mm
- Depth: 361mm
- Weight: 7.6kg each
The unusually narrow width helps Studio 89 remain visually discreet while its relatively generous depth provides the internal volume required by the twin bass-mid drivers.
Rhodium-Plated Speaker Terminals
Studio 89 uses precision-machined rhodium-plated speaker terminals.
The high-quality connection hardware reflects the overall positioning of Studio 89 as a premium compact loudspeaker and provides a secure connection for suitable terminated or bare speaker cable.
Bespoke Studio 89 Stand
Monitor Audio offers a dedicated stand designed specifically for Studio 89.
The top plate uses laser-cut steel, the central column is extruded aluminium and the base is die-cast aluminium, creating a rigid mechanical support for the speaker.
Studio 89 can also be securely fixed to the stand rather than simply resting on the top plate.
Why Use the Studio 89 Stand?
The dedicated stand provides a stable support and positions Studio 89 at an appropriate height for seated listening. It also gives you much more freedom to optimise the distance from the rear wall, speaker spacing and toe-in than placing the speakers directly onto furniture.
Carpet or Hard-Floor Setup
The dedicated Studio 89 Stand includes adjustable feet with chrome-plated spikes for carpeted floors and domed rubber feet for hard flooring.
This allows the stand to be stabilised properly without forcing one support solution to suit every type of floor.
High Gloss Black or High Gloss White
Monitor Audio currently offers Studio 89 in two finishes:
- High Gloss Black
- High Gloss White
The black version makes a deliberate visual reference to Monitor Audio's original Studio 15 with its distinctive contrasting driver treatment, while the white version provides a cleaner alternative for lighter interiors.
Studio 89 or Gold 100 6G?
At this level, Studio 89 and Gold 100 6G offer two quite different approaches to a premium compact loudspeaker.
Studio 89
- Two-way MTM design
- Twin 4.25-inch RDT III drivers
- MPD III transducer
- 48Hz in-room bass extension
- Exceptionally narrow cabinet
- Bespoke Studio 89 Stand available
Gold 100 6G
- Large three-way design
- 8-inch HDT C-CAM bass driver
- Dedicated 3-inch midrange
- MPD III transducer
- 32Hz in-room bass extension
- Greater low-frequency scale
Studio 89 is the more compact and visually distinctive option, while Gold 100 6G provides substantially deeper bass and the benefits of a dedicated three-way architecture. Which is preferable will depend on room size, system matching and the presentation you prefer.
Supplied as a Pair
The Monitor Audio Studio 89 is supplied as a stereo pair.
One pair therefore provides the left and right speakers required for a conventional two-channel Hi-Fi system.
Key Features
- Monitor Audio Studio 89
- Premium bookshelf speakers
- Supplied as a pair
- Two-way design
- MTM driver configuration
- MPD III high-frequency transducer
- Twin 4.25-inch RDT III bass-mid drivers
- C-CAM outer cone skin
- Nomex honeycomb cone core
- Woven carbon-fibre rear cone skin
- Twin HiVe II slot ports
- 58Hz port tuning frequency
- 2.4kHz crossover frequency
- 53Hz to 60kHz free-field response
- 48Hz to 60kHz in-room response
- 86dB sensitivity
- 6-ohm nominal impedance
- 4.2-ohm minimum impedance at 220Hz
- 113dB maximum peak SPL
- 150W continuous power handling
- 50 to 300W recommended amplifier into 4 ohms
- Internally braced cabinet
- Rhodium-plated speaker terminals
- Dedicated Studio 89 Stand available
- High Gloss Black finish
- High Gloss White finish
- 340 x 157 x 361mm dimensions
- 7.6kg each
- Five-year manufacturer warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Monitor Audio Studio 89 still current?
Yes. Studio 89 remains part of Monitor Audio's current loudspeaker range.
Is Studio 89 a bookshelf or stand-mount speaker?
Monitor Audio officially classes Studio 89 as a bookshelf speaker. For a dedicated Hi-Fi installation, the matching Studio 89 Stand provides the purpose-designed support.
Are Studio 89 speakers sold as a pair?
Yes. Studio 89 is supplied as a stereo pair.
Is Studio 89 a two-way speaker?
Yes. It uses two RDT III bass-mid drivers and one MPD III high-frequency transducer in an MTM arrangement.
What does MTM mean?
MTM stands for Mid-Tweeter-Mid. The tweeter sits centrally between two matching bass-mid drivers to create a vertically symmetrical driver array.
What size bass-mid drivers does Studio 89 use?
Each speaker uses two 4.25-inch, or 108mm, RDT III bass-mid drivers.
What is RDT III?
RDT III is Monitor Audio's three-layer rigid diaphragm technology, combining a C-CAM outer skin, Nomex honeycomb core and woven carbon-fibre rear skin.
What tweeter does Studio 89 use?
Studio 89 uses Monitor Audio's MPD III Micro Pleated Diaphragm high-frequency transducer.
How low does Studio 89 play?
Monitor Audio specifies an in-room -6dB response extending to 48Hz and a free-field response extending to 53Hz.
What is the sensitivity?
86dB at 2.83V/1m in free-field conditions.
What is the nominal impedance?
6 ohms.
What is the minimum impedance?
Monitor Audio specifies 4.2 ohms at 220Hz, measured across the 20Hz to 20kHz range.
What amplifier power does Monitor Audio recommend?
Monitor Audio recommends 50 to 300 watts RMS into 4 ohms with a music signal.
What is the power handling?
Studio 89 has a continuous power-handling specification of 150 watts RMS into 6 ohms using pink noise with a 6dB crest factor.
What is the maximum peak SPL?
Monitor Audio specifies 113dB from a single speaker measured at one metre, Z-weighted.
Is Studio 89 ported?
Yes. It uses twin HiVe II velocity-reflex slot ports tuned to 58Hz.
What is the crossover frequency?
The crossover between the twin bass-mid drivers and MPD III transducer is set at 2.4kHz.
Does Studio 89 have a dedicated stand?
Yes. Monitor Audio offers the bespoke Studio 89 Stand, designed specifically to support and position the speaker.
How large is each Studio 89?
Including the speaker terminals, each cabinet measures 340mm high, 157mm wide and 361mm deep.
How much does each speaker weigh?
7.6kg.
Which finishes are available?
High Gloss Black and High Gloss White.
What warranty does Studio 89 have?
Monitor Audio specifies a five-year manufacturer warranty.
Related Monitor Audio Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy Monitor Audio From Audio T?
Studio 89 is compact, but it is revealing enough to deserve careful amplifier matching, proper stands and thoughtful positioning. Audio T can demonstrate the speakers with suitable electronics and help you compare them with alternatives such as the Gold Series before deciding which combination works best in your room.
- Monitor Audio demonstrations
- Amplifier matching
- Studio 89 Stand advice
- Speaker positioning guidance
- Room-size advice
- System matching
- Source component matching
- Subwoofer integration where appropriate
- In-store demonstrations where appropriate
- Home demonstrations where appropriate
- Part-exchange options where applicable
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to arrange a Monitor Audio Studio 89 demonstration or discuss suitable amplification and speaker stands.