Short answer: the B&W 805S. It ranks #86 of 105 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $2500; the JBL 4319 ranks #98 and costs $4000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the B&W 805S gets right: Bass and dynamic performance are strong for the cabinet size, playing very loud with well-controlled bass distortion. Watch for: CEA2034 spinorama shows directivity breaking down badly starting around 1kHz and staying poor to 3kHz - a wide crossover-region flaw the reviewer called “clearly flawed execution” that leaves vocals sounding recessed and masked without EQ correction.
What the JBL 4319 offers: High sensitivity around 90dB and controlled bass distortion mean the large 12” woofer plays loud with copious bass and modest amplifier power needs. The tradeoff: CEA2034 spinorama shows a pronounced 800Hz dip and a comb-filtering pattern in the woofer response consistent with a delayed reflected source, plus poor and uneven vertical directivity.
Buy the B&W 805S. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL 4319 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 105 bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&W 805S | JBL 4319 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2500 Discontinued | $4000 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #86 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #98 of 105 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1" aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5" woven Kevlar cone mid/bass | 12" Differential Drive dual-voice-coil woofer, 5" inverted-dome midrange, 1" compression tweeter (3-way) |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 16.5H x 9.4W x 13.8D in | 23.5H x 14.25W x 12D in (with grille) |
| Weight | 25.4 lbs / 11.5 kg each | 35.9 lbs / 16.3 kg each |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 22kHz +/-3dB (-6dB at 42Hz and 50kHz) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum) | - |
| Power Handling | 50-120W | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported |
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- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs B&W 805S
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The Two Speakers In Full
B&W 805S: $2500 Discontinued
Pros: Bass and dynamic performance are strong for the cabinet size, playing very loud with well-controlled bass distortion. Horizontal beamwidth stays reasonably smooth through -6dB. Build quality has enough of a “quality feel” that the reviewer said it kept the speaker from the lowest possible rating.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows directivity breaking down badly starting around 1kHz and staying poor to 3kHz - a wide crossover-region flaw the reviewer called “clearly flawed execution” that leaves vocals sounding recessed and masked without EQ correction. A high 4kHz crossover point appears to leave the tweeter’s small sub-enclosure resonating audibly during playback. Discontinued, superseded by the 805 Diamond/805 D4 series. Discontinued.
Full B&W 805S review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 16.5H x 9.4W x 13.8D in |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5" woven Kevlar cone mid/bass |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 22kHz +/-3dB (-6dB at 42Hz and 50kHz) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum) |
| Power Handling | 50-120W |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 25.4 lbs / 11.5 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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JBL 4319: $4000 Discontinued
Pros: High sensitivity around 90dB and controlled bass distortion mean the large 12” woofer plays loud with copious bass and modest amplifier power needs. Impedance dips are well controlled, so it isn’t a hard speaker to drive despite its size. User-adjustable midrange and treble level controls are built into the back panel.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows a pronounced 800Hz dip and a comb-filtering pattern in the woofer response consistent with a delayed reflected source, plus poor and uneven vertical directivity. The reviewer described the sound as “boxy and closed in with some brightness” and could not recommend it “unless you like looking at it more than listening to it.” At 23.5” tall, it’s closer to a small tower than a typical bookshelf speaker. Discontinued. Discontinued.
Full JBL 4319 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 23.5H x 14.25W x 12D in (with grille) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 12" Differential Drive dual-voice-coil woofer, 5" inverted-dome midrange, 1" compression tweeter (3-way) |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 35.9 lbs / 16.3 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons