Short answer: the JBL 708P, if you are buying new. The Genelec 8050B ranks higher than it (#27 vs #39 of 68 powered bookshelf speakers, 4.4/5 vs 4.2/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the JBL 708P is still sold new at $4,000.
On the Genelec 8050B side: CEA2034 spinorama shows a very good on-axis response with excellent directivity. Set against that: A dip around 2kHz shows up in both the on-axis and predicted in-room measurements.
What the JBL 708P gets right: CEA2034 spinorama shows extremely good frequency response both on- and off-axis, with excellent horizontal directivity. The catch: A port resonance creates a mild rise around 600-900Hz.
Buy the JBL 708P, since the Genelec 8050B is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8050B | JBL 708P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3800 per pair Discontinued | $4000 per pair |
| Ranked | #27 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #39 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 35.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 43.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28.8Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Dimensions | 17.8”H x 11.3”W x 10.9”D (452.1 x 287 x 276.9 mm) | 17.2”H x 9.8”W x 11.5”D (438 x 248 x 292 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 41Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR/TRS combo (analog), XLR AES3 (digital) |
| Weight | 31.7 lbs (14.4 kg) each | 25.1 lbs (11.4 kg) each |
| Drivers | 8” (203mm) woofer | 8” woofer, 2409H 1” compression driver |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | No |
| DSP | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 270w Per Speaker | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| 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 |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.03 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.91 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Genelec 8050B compares with other leading options:
- Genelec 8050B vs Genelec 8351B
- Neumann KH420 vs Genelec 8050B
- Genelec 8361A vs Genelec 8050B
- Genelec 8050B vs Genelec 8341A
- Genelec 8050B vs Neumann KH 150
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
Genelec 8050B: $3800 per pair Discontinued B&H Photo Video eBay
Newer model: the Genelec 8350A. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we don’t have measurements to confirm that yet. It uses the same cabinet and woofer size, adding GLM room calibration and an AES/EBU digital input.
Pros: Measured -3dB extension of 35.2Hz gives the 8050B deeper native bass than many similarly ranked monitors. The 6.49 ideal-subwoofer score supports broadly balanced listening, with a waveguide and analog boundary controls for practical studio placement. Measured bass extension of 35.2Hz (-3dB).
Cons: A 2.7dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and a dip around 2kHz keep it below the strongest tonal performers. Port-related response features and high-level distortion also warrant attention. Unlike the SAM models, it does not provide GLM room calibration. Discontinued.
Full Genelec 8050B review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 270w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28.8Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 35.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 17.8”H x 11.3”W x 10.9”D (452.1 x 287 x 276.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 8” (203mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 31.7 lbs (14.4 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 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 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 →
| 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