Short answer: the Adam Audio T8V. It ranks #25 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $349.99; the JBL 306P MKII ranks #35 and costs $398, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Adam Audio T8V gets right: Quite balanced and neutral, very close to the Yamaha HS8. The catch: A crossover-region notch around 4.6kHz where tweeter and woofer interact, and a hole in the vertical response below the tweeter axis - keep the tweeter at or above ear height.
On the JBL 306P MKII side: CEA2034 spinorama shows a nice, smooth on-axis response with very good directivity control for a compact 6.5” monitor. Set against that: A narrow but noticeable dip around 1.6kHz shows up in the on-axis and listening-window curves.
Buy the Adam Audio T8V. 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 T8V | JBL 306P MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.99 | $398 |
| Ranked | #25 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #35 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 15.8"H x 9.8"W x 13.2"D (401.3 x 248.9 x 335.3 mm) | 16.1"H x 11.2"W x 12.9"D (408 x 285 x 328 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 39Hz - 24kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA | - |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs / 9.8 kg | 13.4 lbs / 6.1 kg each |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer | 6.5" woofer, 1" neodymium tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | No |
| DSP | No | No |
| Output Power | 90w Per Speaker | 112W total |
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- Adam Audio T7V vs Presonus Eris Studio 8
- Adam Audio T7V vs Edifier R2850DB
- JBL 308P MKII vs Adam Audio T7V
- Kali Audio LP-6 V2 vs Adam Audio T8V
- Adam Audio T8V vs Edifier R2850DB
The Two Speakers In Full
Adam Audio T8V: $349.99 Amazon
Pros: Quite balanced and neutral, very close to the Yamaha HS8. Deeper bass than the HS8
Cons: A crossover-region notch around 4.6kHz where tweeter and woofer interact, and a hole in the vertical response below the tweeter axis - keep the tweeter at or above ear height. Distortion is well controlled at 86dB SPL but gets messier at 96dB.
Full Adam Audio T8V review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 15.8"H x 9.8"W x 13.2"D (401.3 x 248.9 x 335.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Output Power | 90w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs / 9.8 kg |
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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