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When you’ve got a resume that reads like Howie Weinberg’s, you can afford to be picky about your gear. With more than 8,600 mastering credits, 21 GRAMMY® Awards, and countless iconic albums under his belt—think Nirvana’s Nevermind and Beastie Boys’ Licensed to Ill—Weinberg knows exactly what he wants from his monitors.
And for him, that’s KRK. Learn more at Gibson.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Gibson TV, and Instagram.
The Soundtrack to a Mastering Legend’s Workflow
Howie Weinberg has seen it all, working with artists across hip-hop, alternative, rock, R&B, and EDM. He’s got that rare blend of talent and taste that keeps top-tier musicians coming back for more. After 40 years in the game, Weinberg still runs the show from his personal studio in Laurel Canyon, CA. And he doesn’t just love his space for the acoustics—it’s about the vibe. “The house was an old hunting lodge, built in 1910; it has a lot of energy and a great vibe. I have a personal studio here that’s as nice as any commercial space I’ve worked in, along with two other studios on the property. It’s very California.”
At the heart of his setup? KRK’s V-Series 8 (V8) monitors. These aren’t just another pair of studio speakers to Weinberg—they’ve been part of his journey since the beginning. “I was one of the first people to use KRK monitors. The founder introduced me to the 7000 Series, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” he explains. “They nailed that sound again with the V-Series. These V8s sound so good.”
Weinberg appreciates the compact nature of the V-Series for client listening situations. “Artists can sometimes get overwhelmed by gigantic monitors, so it’s good to have a nice, tight option like the V-Series,” he explains. “These monitors sound perfect; they’re not tiring, and they have really good imaging. I like that they tell me the truth on all frequencies. They have well-made amps, so they can also play super loud when people want; they can crank.”
Mixing and Mastering On-the-Go
Weinberg’s work doesn’t stop when he’s away from the studio. For sessions outside his Laurel Canyon space, he brings along the KRK GoAux mobile monitoring system. Whether he’s visiting clients or checking on projects remotely, the GoAux system gives him the same trusted reference, no matter where he is. “If I’m not in the studio, my assistant sends me files to review. I listen to them on the GoAux, and they sound great,” he says.
Weinberg also likes to use the GoAux for demos in less traditional environments, saying, “When artists want to hear their music outside the studio, I bring the GoAux. Whether it’s a living room or a programming room, the mix translates perfectly.” With both wired and Bluetooth options, the GoAux gives him flexibility without compromising sound quality. “They come in a great case, they’re lightweight, and they punch way above their size.”
He even keeps a pair of KRK V4s at his beach house for quick checks while away. “Those little speakers are fantastic—especially with their low-end. You’d think with small monitors, you might miss the bass, but these hit hard,” Weinberg adds.
Headphones That Do More Than Look Good
No pro studio is complete without a set of reliable headphones, and Weinberg keeps KRK KNS 6402 headphones in his rotation. What stands out to him is the accuracy. “Most pro headphones try too hard—they pump too much sound. But these KRKs give me an honest mix,” he says. “They cover both the top and bottom end really well. Plus, they’re affordable, which is rare for something that sounds this good.”
Like the rest of his gear, the KRK KNS headphones are a go-to tool for Weinberg whether he’s working at home or on the move. “I own a lot of headphones, but the KNS are the ones I keep coming back to,” he admits.
The Secret Sauce: Gear That’s Consistent
For Weinberg, part of what makes KRK essential is how well their products translate across different environments. “That’s the key with speakers—they need to sound consistent everywhere,” he says. “KRK just gets it right. I know exactly what I’m getting, whether it’s my V8s, GoAux, or V4s.”
He’s also a fan of KRK’s customer support, something many companies fall short on. “Every time KRK drops a new product, they send it to me to try. Not many companies do that,” Weinberg says. “They’ve built a reputation for making high-end, reliable gear, and it shows.”
Albums That Defined Generations
From Nirvana and Madonna to Run DMC, Metallica, and The Killers, Weinberg has put his stamp on some of the most influential albums of all time. His Spotify playlist reads like a history lesson in music, packed with tracks from artists across every genre and era. Weinberg’s ability to adapt his mastering style to fit different genres has made him a legend—and KRK monitors have been with him for the ride the entire way.
KRK: Trusted by the Pros
For over three decades, KRK has been delivering high-quality monitors, subwoofers, and headphones, catering to both home studios and professional setups. Known for their flat frequency response and unmatched accuracy, KRK has become a staple in the industry. Now a part of Gibson Pro Audio, the company continues to innovate with products like the V-Series and GoAux systems.
Weinberg sums it up best: “KRK speakers are flat, even, and reliable. They give me the sound I need to do my job at the highest level.” Whether he’s dialing in a hit record or just listening to music on the beach, KRK delivers the goods every time.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
