Short answer: the Genelec 8361A for consistent vertical response, the JBL 708P for horizontal directivity. The 8361A’s three-way coaxial layout gives nearly identical vertical response whether you sit or stand, but it costs about $10,900 and GLM is extra. The 708P measures extremely well with excellent horizontal directivity, though a port resonance lifts 600-900Hz and its vertical dispersion is narrower, so stay near the tweeter axis.
What the Genelec 8361A offers: Three-way coaxial design: 5” mid-range with an inset 1” metal dome tweeter, flanked symmetrically above and below by two 10” front-loaded woofers, giving nearly identical vertical response whether you’re sitting or standing. Set against that: $10,900 per pair; Genelec’s GLM room-correction add-on (measurement mic plus software) is another ~$450 and wasn’t used in this review.
On the JBL 708P side: CEA2034 spinorama shows extremely good frequency response both on- and off-axis, with excellent horizontal directivity. The tradeoff: A port resonance creates a mild rise around 600-900Hz. Vertical dispersion is narrower than horizontal, so staying within a few degrees of the tweeter axis matters.
Buy the Genelec 8361A when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the JBL 708P when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8361A | JBL 708P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10900 per pair | $4000 per pair |
| Ranked | #6 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #39 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 22.5”H x 14”W x 13.6”D (571.5 x 355.6 x 345.4 mm) | 17.2”H x 9.8”W x 11.5”D (438 x 248 x 292 mm) |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR/TRS combo (analog), XLR AES3 (digital) |
| Drivers | Dual 263 x 137 mm woofers, 5.1” coaxial with tweeter midrange, 1” (25mm) coaxial tweeter | 8” woofer, 2409H 1” compression driver |
| Weight | 70.3 lbs (31.9 kg) each | 25.1 lbs (11.4 kg) each |
| App | Yes (GLM) | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) | No |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 43kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 41Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 1000w Per Speaker | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| Maximum SPL | 118dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.76 | 5.03 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.08 | 6.91 |
| 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 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Genelec 8361A compares with other leading options:
- Genelec 8351B vs Genelec 8361A
- Genelec 8361A vs Neumann KH420
- Genelec 8361A vs Neumann KH 150
- Dutch & Dutch 8C vs Genelec 8361A
- Genelec 8361A vs Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Active Pro
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
Genelec 8361A: $10900 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: The coaxial design combines consistent imaging with substantial output capability. ASR measured a 1.8dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz, 33.7Hz -3dB extension and a 8.08 ideal-subwoofer score. Low distortion and restrained compression support its use at greater distances than smaller nearfield monitors. Woofers above and below the coaxial driver give nearly identical vertical response whether you sit or stand. Measured bass extension of 34Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Its larger size buys headroom, not uniformly better tonality than the smaller Ones models. Some lower-midrange unevenness remains, and listening angle can affect perceived treble balance. The cabinets are very heavy and expensive; GLM setup and suitable stands need to be budgeted separately.
Full Genelec 8361A review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 1000w Per Speaker |
| App | Yes (GLM) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 22.5”H x 14”W x 13.6”D (571.5 x 355.6 x 345.4 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 263 x 137 mm woofers, 5.1” coaxial with tweeter midrange, 1” (25mm) coaxial tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 43kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Maximum SPL | 118dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.76 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.08 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 70.3 lbs (31.9 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Genelec 8361A vs Neumann KH420
- Genelec 8361A vs Genelec 8351B
- Genelec 8361A vs Neumann KH 150
- Genelec 8361A vs Dutch & Dutch 8C
- Genelec 8361A vs Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Active Pro
- Genelec 8361A vs Buchardt A500
- Genelec 8361A vs Neumann KH 310 A
- Genelec 8361A vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
- See all 30 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