Budget Studio Monitors: Any tips?

$200 for a pair of monitors is really pushing it, though I imagine there must be some around at that price. But personally, I would recommend stepping up even to USD$300 for a pair, which could get you a pair of the new 2nd generation KRK RP5G2s. KRK is known throughout the studio world (even amongst studio engineers etc) as providing a LOT of quality for your dollar. I've heard people who work in pro studios recommend them as affordable quality time and time again. Sure, they're not the top gear around, but for that you need to spend crazy money. For your dollar I personally think they're very hard to beat, particularly against their similarly priced counterparts from behringer / m-audio / etc.

I can't vouch for the 5's, but I'd imagine they must be very similar in audio quality reproduction to the KRK 8s, just with a bit less bass response. You'll always get this on the monitors with smaller woofers. But as long as you check out your mixes on a variety of systems to get a feel for how much bass you're unable to hear on smaller woofers, you should be ok.

Also, make sure you check out what connectors / cables you'll need, and that your audio outs are compatible.

Yeah I know what you mean. When I was getting my setup put together a few years back, I was trying to get something affordable, but that would last me as a home musician for many years to come - and which ideally I could use for listening to music etc too. I was looking at the Behringer Truths at the time, trying to save some cash, but the local studio guy I was buying from highly recommended the KRKs over any of the other brands around that price range. I only had to pay a little more, and haven't looked back. I actually have mine running through a mixer, and usually mix with the EQ levels quite flat, but then when watching TV, movies, playing games, or listening to music, I have the bass level up higher and they sound freakin great.

I'm not certain that 5" woofers could do that for you? I guess they could? Maybe I'm just spoiled by years of using my RP8s for everything. I love the sound of them. I listened to my old Sony mini system the other week, and couldn't stand it!! Be warned - once you have a crystal clear audio setup, you can't go back :P

Do you have a good soundcard/interface that you're going to run to them as well? That will ensure every note and instrument is crystal clear for you.

Of course, I don't use mine to anywhere near their potential - despite the clarity, most of my mixes are hurried, disorganized, and end up hideously muddy, but hey I have fun with it, so its all good ;) But for those that learn their art with more patience and bring more skill to it, the tools can open up a whole other level for them.