Short answer: the JBL 708P. It ranks #39 of 68 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $4000. The Barefoot Footprint 01 ranks #44, rated 4.1/5, at $3199, $801 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Barefoot Footprint 01: Measured bass reaches 35.2Hz at -3dB, giving substantial low-end weight. The catch: The 6.70 ideal-subwoofer score and 2.9dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz indicate tonal unevenness relative to the strongest monitors.
What the JBL 708P does well: Erin’s measurements give 43.9Hz -3dB extension and a 6.91 ideal-subwoofer score, with useful bass from a professional active monitor. Watch for: The 2.6dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz includes audible-relevance irregularities, with port-region features and vertical crossover sensitivity.
Buy the JBL 708P. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $801 with the Barefoot Footprint 01 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Barefoot Footprint 01 | JBL 708P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,199 per pair | $4000 per pair |
| Ranked | #44 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #39 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 3-way active, sealed woofer/midrange chambers, machined aluminum baffle | - |
| Drivers | 1" ring-radiator tweeter, 4" aluminum-cone midrange, 2x 8" paper-composite woofers (Dual-Force opposed) | 8" woofer, 2409H 1" compression driver |
| Dimensions | 14.0H x 9.5W x 13.0D in | 17.2"H x 9.8"W x 11.5"D (438 x 248 x 292 mm) |
| Weight | 35.1 lbs (15.9 kg) each | 25.1 lbs (11.4 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 650W total per speaker (500W LF, 150W HF), bi-amped | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| Frequency Response | 36Hz-45kHz (+/-3dB) | 41Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Country | United States | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.48 | 5.03 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.70 | 6.91 |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR/TRS combo (analog), XLR AES3 (digital) |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 82Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL 708P compares with other leading options:
- Genelec 8351B vs JBL 708P
- JBL 708P vs Neumann KH420
- Genelec 8361A vs JBL 708P
- JBL 708P vs Genelec 8341A
- Neumann KH 150 vs JBL 708P
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Barefoot Footprint 01: $3,199 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Measured bass reaches 35.2Hz at -3dB, giving substantial low-end weight. Its active multiway format and opposed bass drivers offer a compact professional system, with a 5.48 standalone preference score reflecting useful full-range capability.
Cons: The 6.70 ideal-subwoofer score and 2.9dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz indicate tonal unevenness relative to the strongest monitors. Driver count and opposed-woofer construction do not guarantee neutral room sound. Careful placement and correction remain worthwhile.
Full Barefoot Footprint 01 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 650W total per speaker (500W LF, 150W HF), bi-amped |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 14.0H x 9.5W x 13.0D in |
| Drivers | 1" ring-radiator tweeter, 4" aluminum-cone midrange, 2x 8" paper-composite woofers (Dual-Force opposed) |
| Enclosure | 3-way active, sealed woofer/midrange chambers, machined aluminum baffle |
| Frequency Response | 36Hz-45kHz (+/-3dB) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.48 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.70 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 35.1 lbs (15.9 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL 708P: $4000 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Erin’s measurements give 43.9Hz -3dB extension and a 6.91 ideal-subwoofer score, with useful bass from a professional active monitor. The waveguide and onboard processing make it a practical choice for a carefully installed studio system. Measured bass extension of 82Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 2.6dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz includes audible-relevance irregularities, with port-region features and vertical crossover sensitivity. High-level distortion remains a constraint. Its professional positioning and amplifier power do not make it automatically more neutral than the cheaper 308P MKII.
Full JBL 708P review and specifications →
| AES Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 17.2"H x 9.8"W x 11.5"D (438 x 248 x 292 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" woofer, 2409H 1" compression driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 41Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo (analog), XLR AES3 (digital) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.03 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.91 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 25.1 lbs (11.4 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons