Short answer: the JBL 708P. It ranks #64 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $3,798. The Barefoot Footprint 01 ranks #72, rated 4.1/5, at $2,999, $799 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 $799 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 | $2,999.00 per pair | $3,798 per pair |
| Ranked | #72 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #64 of 119 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) | - | 43.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Barefoot Footprint 01 (measured by Audio Science Review) and JBL 708P (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
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 October 14, 2026 at 2:38 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: $2,999.00 per pair Amazon $2,999.00 B&H Photo Video $3,199 eBay
Same family: the Barefoot Footprint 02 (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, estimated 4/5).
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 →
| Released | 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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
- Barefoot Footprint 01 vs Fluid Audio Image 2
- Barefoot Footprint 01 vs JBL 4329P
- Barefoot Footprint 01 vs Dynaudio Core 47
- Barefoot Footprint 01 vs Cambridge Audio L/R X
- Barefoot Footprint 01 vs ADAM Audio A7V
- Barefoot Footprint 01 vs Barefoot Footprint 02
- Barefoot Footprint 01 vs Genelec 8040B
- Barefoot Footprint 01 vs Focal Solo6 ST6
- See all 9 comparisons
JBL 708P: $3,798 per pair B&H Photo Video $1,899.00 eBay
Older model: the JBL LSR6328P (ranked higher, rated 4.6/5). See every JBL 7 Series generation.
Same family: the JBL 705P (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.9/5) and the JBL 708i (larger bookshelf, rated 3.7/5).
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 43.9Hz (-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 JBL 308P MKII. A port resonance adds a mild rise around 600 to 900Hz, and vertical dispersion is narrower than horizontal, so stay within a few degrees of the tweeter axis.
Full JBL 708P review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| 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