Gearank

Many professionals and experienced studio owners swear by the Focal brand. While many of their products have premium price tags, the Alpha 50 makes their brand of quality more accessible.

What's unique about this monitor is its low directivity design, which goes against the usual sweet spot focused design that other manufacturers follow.

This means that the sound coming from its 5" woofer and 1" dome tweeter are distributed more across the room.

Another noteworthy feature of the Focal Alpha 50 is its automatic standby mode, which conveniently turns off the speaker after 30 minutes of inactivity.

Focal Alpha 50 Specifications:

• Driver: 5" Woofer, 1" Dome Tweeter
• Amplifier: 35W LF, 20W HF
• Inputs: 1 x XLR, 1 x RCA
• Frequency Response: 45Hz-22kHz (-3dB)
• Enclosure: Ported
• Controls: Sensitivity, LF Shelving, HF Shelving
• Dimensions: 12.3" x 8.7" 10.2"
• Weight: 16.1 lbs.

Pros

Most of the reviews rave about the speaker's uncolored, clear, lively, and balanced sound. Many describe the sound as tight and attested that this monitor helped reduce their ear fatigue when mixing long hours. Some even say that this bottom-of-the-line speaker (at least for Focal) can outclass more premium alternatives.

Cons

There are a few users who recommended getting a sub woofer to get the most out of the Focal Alpha 50. While some complained about the standby mode, and wish that it could be disabled.

Overall

If you want to dip your toes in Focal's signature sound and clarity, the Alpha 50 is a good starting point. It carries over the brand's best qualities like clarity and dynamic transparency over to a more affordable price point.

Although these used to be on our recommended list, there are now more highly rated options available in our guide to The Best Studio Monitors.