# Equipment Check: El Stray Studio Canonical URL: https://elstraymastering.com/2020/06/02/equipment/ Markdown URL: https://elstraymastering.com/blog/equipment.md Page type: post Last modified: 2026-05-05T15:37:31 Source: El Stray Mastering public website ## Summary A direct look at the monitoring, conversion, headphones, and room decisions behind the mastering studio. ## Content 4 min read Studio Gear & Monitoring El Stray Mastering ## All of the audio equipment is ultra high end mastering grade… ESM studio is powered by PRISM SOUND, DUTCH & DUTCH, APPLE, FOCAL and ADAM AUDIO S-Series. The mixing room is treated with ISO ACOUSTICS, GIK ACOUSTICS and custom made panels by CUTSWIFT CARPENTRY to get the best possible sound from the equipment. Dutch & Dutch studio monitors are mounted on custom mass-loaded professional speaker stands, filled with inert resonance dampening material. Made by CUSTOM DESIGN. Monitoring Dutch & Dutch 8c Full range monitoring with room-aware accuracy and low-end reach. Conversion Prism Sound A clean monitoring path so small changes can be judged without doubt. Room Treatment and placement ISO Acoustics, GIK Acoustics, custom panels, and mass-loaded stands. Prism Sound is renowned in the mastering industry for an ultra-clear, super-deep sound. ### Access every detail. A quality soundcard, DAC, or ADA is absolutely paramount to extracting the very best sound from your system. Many people underestimate the importance of a good interface and this can often be the largest bottleneck in your sound quality. At the end of the day, this is what you are listening to. The equipment only matters if it helps the engineer hear the record clearly. ### Dutch & Dutch 8c monitoring. Dutch & Dutch 8c full range studio monitors extend from below 30hz to over 20khz, with an unbelievable +/-0.5dB frequency response from 35Hz to 20k for truly accurate audio reproduction. Unrivalled industry-leading accuracy, and room-removal technology allows ESM to hear only your track, and not the room. Speakers Below 30Hz to over 20kHz The monitoring reaches low enough to judge sub, weight, and club-facing decisions properly. Response +/-0.5dB from 35Hz to 20kHz The point is not hype. It is hearing small balance changes with consistency. Headphones Focal Clear Professional A second reference for detail, phase, stereo spread, clicks, pops, and close-up checks. The main monitors are there for translation, low-end confidence, and full-range judgement. ### Headphones are a second reference, not the whole truth. Focal Clear Professional monitoring headphones are used as an alternative reference but also for zooming in on aspects of a mix. They are also great for sense checking phasing and stereo spread when mixing down, to ensure complete headphone compatibility. In extreme cases where there are cracks, pops or glitches in a track, these are much easier to detect on a pair of headphones. Headphones help with detail, faults, stereo checks, and close listening without replacing the room. High end headphones are only as good as the amplifier that feeds them. ### The chain has to stay trustworthy. The Topping A70 Pro is a proprietary Class A/B spec extremely neutral sounding headphone amplifier which carries a staggering 17 watts of power and -147db of dynamic range. This means it is amongst the most dynamic, with some of the lowest distortion and noise, and with industry leading headroom when put next to near enough any measured headphone amp on the market currently. Good stuff. The practical point is simple: monitoring decisions are only useful when the chain is quiet, repeatable, and honest enough to show what is really happening in the record. Prism Ultra-clear and deep The interface is part of what the engineer is listening through, not a background accessory. Stands Custom Design Mass-loaded stands help keep the monitoring stable and reduce unwanted resonance. Headphone amp Topping A70 Pro A neutral, powerful headphone chain helps close listening stay controlled. ### The point is translation. Gear is useful when it makes judgement more reliable. The room, conversion, monitors, headphones, stands, and treatment all exist so small decisions can be made with confidence, then checked against the way music actually leaves the studio. Read more about the room or send a release question if you want to know whether your own mix is ready for the final pass. Keep reading ## Related guides worth reading next. Related guide What is the Best Mastering Software or DAW? Related guide Perceived Benefits of Analogue Summing Related guide The Best Studio Monitors Under 400 Pounds For a second listen before booking, send the current mix, references if you have them, and the part you are unsure about. Ask the studio Stereo Mastering Stem Mastering Vinyl Mastering Full Mix and Master Direct replies from the room doing the work. Read about the studio. ## Key Internal Links - https://elstraymastering.com/2024/10/06/best-studio-monitors-under-1200/ - https://elstraymastering.com/2026/02/27/the-best-audio-interface-you-can-buy-at-any-price-point/ - https://elstraymastering.com/about-el-stray/ - https://elstraymastering.com/contact/ - https://elstraymastering.com/2021/01/05/best-mastering-software-or-daw/ - https://elstraymastering.com/2022/12/05/percieved-benefits-of-analogue-summing/ - https://elstraymastering.com/2024/10/05/the-best-studio-monitors-under-400/ - https://elstraymastering.com/product/stereo-mastering/ - https://elstraymastering.com/product/stem-mastering/ - https://elstraymastering.com/product/vinyl-mastering/ - https://elstraymastering.com/product/full-mix-and-master/