Short answer: the Adam Audio T7V. It ranks #26 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $289.99; the JBL 306P MKII ranks #35 and costs $398, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Adam Audio T7V gets right: Quite balanced and neutral, very close to the Yamaha HS8. The catch: On-axis response is a bit wider than ideal for a nearfield monitor, and narrow vertical dispersion means you need to sit at tweeter height to get the intended tonal balance, per Audioholics’ measurements.
The case for the JBL 306P MKII: CEA2034 spinorama shows a nice, smooth on-axis response with very good directivity control for a compact 6.5” monitor. The tradeoff: A narrow but noticeable dip around 1.6kHz shows up in the on-axis and listening-window curves.
Buy the Adam Audio T7V. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL 306P MKII and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the JBL 306P MKII. It ranks near the bottom of the 40 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Adam Audio T7V | JBL 306P MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $289.99 | $398 |
| Ranked | #26 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #35 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | approx. 65Hz, extrapolated from the reviewer’s directly-computed -6dB point of 45.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approx. 45Hz, extrapolated from the reviewer’s directly-computed -6dB point of 45.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 13.7"H x 8.3"W x 11.5"D (348 x 210.8 x 292.1 mm) | 16.1"H x 11.2"W x 12.9"D (408 x 285 x 328 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 39Hz - 24kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA | - |
| Weight | 15.7 lbs / 7.1 kg | 13.4 lbs / 6.1 kg each |
| Drivers | 7" (178mm) woofer | 6.5" woofer, 1" neodymium tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | No |
| DSP | No | No |
| Output Power | 70w Per Speaker | 112W total |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Adam Audio T7V: $289.99 Amazon
Pros: Quite balanced and neutral, very close to the Yamaha HS8. Deeper bass than the HS8
Cons: On-axis response is a bit wider than ideal for a nearfield monitor, and narrow vertical dispersion means you need to sit at tweeter height to get the intended tonal balance, per Audioholics’ measurements. Frequency response below 1kHz also looks a bit ragged in the digitized ASR analysis - not as smooth out of the box as some rivals, though it’s said to respond well to EQ.
Full Adam Audio T7V review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approx. 45Hz, extrapolated from the reviewer's directly-computed -6dB point of 45.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | approx. 65Hz, extrapolated from the reviewer's directly-computed -6dB point of 45.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 13.7"H x 8.3"W x 11.5"D (348 x 210.8 x 292.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 7" (178mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Output Power | 70w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 15.7 lbs / 7.1 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review Measurements
- Audioholics Review Measurements
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T7V vs Yamaha HS7 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Adam Audio A7X vs Adam Audio T7V sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T7V vs Yamaha HS7 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Adam Audio T7V sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Adam Audio T7V vs Adam Audio A5X sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Tannoy Gold 7 vs Adam Audio T7V sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T5V vs Adam Audio T7V Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Kali LP-6 vs Adam Audio T7V Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 7 G4 RP7G4 vs Adam Audio T7V Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T7V vs JBL 306P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Reddit Search for Adam Audio T7V Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL 306P MKII: $398 Bhphotovideo
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a nice, smooth on-axis response with very good directivity control for a compact 6.5” monitor. Dual 56W Class D amps keep the design affordable at $398 per pair while following JBL’s well-regarded 300-series voicing.
Cons: A narrow but noticeable dip around 1.6kHz shows up in the on-axis and listening-window curves. Distortion runs classically high for this series, reaching around 5% near 200Hz at 96dB SPL. Amplifier hiss is audible from roughly 2 feet away, and the monitor runs out of headroom at higher volumes.
Full JBL 306P MKII review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 16.1"H x 11.2"W x 12.9"D (408 x 285 x 328 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" woofer, 1" neodymium tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 24kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 112W total |
| Weight | 13.4 lbs / 6.1 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons