Short answer: the JBL 308P MKII for measured flatness and output, the Focal Solo6 ST6 for driver pedigree. The 308P MKII’s spinorama is essentially flat from 45Hz to above 15kHz with almost no directivity error, though a resonance around 18kHz and a slight dip around 1.4kHz appear, and its limiter creates anomalies around 96dB with clean output topping out near 105dB SPL. The Solo6 ST6 brings a beryllium tweeter over a 6.5” ‘W’ cone, but its bass alignment Q runs high.
On the Focal Solo6 ST6 side: Beryllium inverted-dome tweeter over a 6.5” ‘W’ composite sandwich-cone woofer - a low-mass, low-distortion driver combination rarely found below far pricier monitors. Watch for: Bass alignment Q is on the higher side, which can correlate with a touch of extra bass fullness/looseness versus a more critically-damped alignment.
Buy the JBL 308P MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal Solo6 ST6 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Solo6 ST6 | JBL 308P MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,998 per pair | $298 per pair |
| Ranked | #30 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #22 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 42.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB peak at 1m | - |
| Amplifier Power | 130W total (80W LF + 50W HF); Bi-amped (Class G LF + Class AB HF) | 112W total |
| Drivers | 1” Beryllium inverted-dome tweeter, 6.5” “W” composite sandwich-cone woofer | 8” woofer, 1” neodymium tweeter |
| Dimensions | 24.6 x 33.4 x 29.5cm (9.7 x 13.1 x 11.6 in) each, 13kg (28.6 lb) each | 16.5”H x 10”W x 12.1”D (419.1 x 254 x 307.3 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.32 | 5.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 | 7.69 |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR, 1/4” TRS |
| 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 | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 40kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 28.7 lbs (13 kg) | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL 308P MKII compares with other leading options:
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- JBL 308P MKII vs Genelec 8351B
- JBL 308P MKII vs Neumann KH420
- Genelec 8361A vs JBL 308P MKII
Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 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
Focal Solo6 ST6: $2,998 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: ASR measured a tight 1.6dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and a 7.34 ideal-subwoofer score, supporting accurate midrange monitoring. The beryllium tweeter and Focus mode offer a useful professional workflow, with Focus serving as an alternate mix-check presentation. Its beryllium inverted-dome tweeter and 6.5-inch W composite sandwich-cone woofer are a low-mass, low-distortion pairing. Measured bass extension of 46.9Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The measured -3dB point is 46.9Hz, so deep-bass work benefits from a subwoofer. The standard-mode score does not apply to Focus mode. There is no automatic room-calibration system, and premium driver materials alone do not establish superior sound.
Full Focal Solo6 ST6 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 130W total (80W LF + 50W HF); Bi-amped (Class G LF + Class AB HF) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 24.6 x 33.4 x 29.5cm (9.7 x 13.1 x 11.6 in) each, 13kg (28.6 lb) each |
| Drivers | 1” Beryllium inverted-dome tweeter, 6.5” “W” composite sandwich-cone woofer |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 40kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB peak at 1m |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.32 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 28.7 lbs (13 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL 308P MKII: $298 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A 1.8dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 7.69 ideal-subwoofer score support unusually good tonal balance for an accessible studio monitor. Measured -3dB extension of 42.5Hz supplies useful musical bass, and the waveguide helps maintain consistent horizontal coverage. Measured bass extension of 42.5Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Amplifier hiss may be noticeable in quiet, close-range use. Bass distortion and output limits matter when playing loudly, despite the 8-inch woofer. Keep the tweeter near ear height; vertical crossover behavior is less forgiving than the best coaxial designs. A resonance around 18kHz and a slight dip around 1.4kHz.
Full JBL 308P MKII review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 112W total |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 10”W x 12.1”D (419.1 x 254 x 307.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” neodymium tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, 1/4” TRS |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.69 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons