Short answer: the JBL 305P MKII. It ranks #11 of 64 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $319; the Kanto YU6 ranks #53 and costs $380, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL 305P MKII offers: A fantastic value in studio monitors. Extremely close to the Focal Alpha 50 EVO, almost indistinguishable. Surprisingly deep and wide soundstage. Good horizontal dispersion (~70 degrees). Has a proper limiter that controls output cleanly rather than crudely cutting bass, and holds up well under sustained loud playback with minimal thermal compression. Watch for: Possible slight hissing from the amps at low levels. Rear ported, can be an issue close to walls. A port resonance around 1.6kHz is audible and distracting on some tracks. Midrange is somewhat scooped rather than flat for a studio monitor, and treble runs about 1.5dB hot - Erin’s Audio Corner recommends using the -2dB treble shelf switch. Vertical dispersion narrows around the crossover, so try to stay within about 10 degrees of the tweeter axis.
What the Kanto YU6 offers: A popular active desktop pair with a built-in phono preamp, aptX Bluetooth, and dual optical inputs, positioning it as an easy all-in-one desktop or small-room setup. Watch for: ASR’s independent measurement found a very rough on-axis response: an average deviation of 1.007dB and on-axis smoothness of just 0.204, despite the speaker’s popularity, with a moderate -0.09dB per octave downward tilt and predicted in-room smoothness of just 0.28. Bass rolls off early too, with a Harman in-room extension estimate of only 58Hz.
Buy the JBL 305P MKII. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Kanto YU6 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Kanto YU6. It ranks near the bottom of the 64 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 305P MKII | Kanto YU6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $319.00 | $380.00 |
| Ranked | #11 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #53 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 11.7"H x 7.3"W x 9.1"D (297.2 x 185.4 x 231.1 mm) | 6.9W x 8.1D x 10.7H in each |
| Frequency Response | 49 Hz - 20 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS | Bluetooth aptX, RCA phono preamp, 2x optical |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg each | 11.4 lbs (active), 8.7 lbs (passive) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer | 1" silk dome tweeter, 5.25" Kevlar woofer |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | - |
| Output Power | 81w Per Speaker | - |
| Sensitivity | 91.1dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Enclosure | - | 2-way active, MDF cabinet |
| Power Output | - | 200W peak Class D (100W RMS total) |
| Country | - | Canada (design) |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 25, 2026 at 6:19 AM 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
JBL 305P MKII: $319.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A fantastic value in studio monitors. Extremely close to the Focal Alpha 50 EVO, almost indistinguishable. Surprisingly deep and wide soundstage. Good horizontal dispersion (~70 degrees). Has a proper limiter that controls output cleanly rather than crudely cutting bass, and holds up well under sustained loud playback with minimal thermal compression.
Cons: Possible slight hissing from the amps at low levels. Rear ported, can be an issue close to walls. A port resonance around 1.6kHz is audible and distracting on some tracks. Midrange is somewhat scooped rather than flat for a studio monitor, and treble runs about 1.5dB hot - Erin’s Audio Corner recommends using the -2dB treble shelf switch. Vertical dispersion narrows around the crossover, so try to stay within about 10 degrees of the tweeter axis.
Full JBL 305P MKII review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7"H x 7.3"W x 9.1"D (297.2 x 185.4 x 231.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 49 Hz - 20 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS |
| Output Power | 81w Per Speaker |
| Sensitivity | 91.1dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: LIVE! JBL 305P MkII Powered Studio Monitor Review
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs JBL 305P MKII sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 305P MKII vs Yamaha HS5 6-Track Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review JBL 305P MKII vs KRK Classic 5 CL5G3 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 305P MKII vs Adam Audio T5V 6-Track Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Adam Audio A5X vs JBL 305P MKII sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Kali Audio LP-6 V2 (2nd Wave) vs JBL 305P MKII sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier MR4 vs JBL 305P MKII sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Kali Audio IN-5 vs JBL 305P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 308P MKII vs JBL 305P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Neumann KH80 DSP vs JBL 305P MKII Sound & Frquency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: JBL 305P MKII vs PreSonus Eris E5 6-Track Comparison
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for JBL 305P MKII Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Kanto YU6: $380.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A popular active desktop pair with a built-in phono preamp, aptX Bluetooth, and dual optical inputs, positioning it as an easy all-in-one desktop or small-room setup.
Cons: ASR’s independent measurement found a very rough on-axis response: an average deviation of 1.007dB and on-axis smoothness of just 0.204, despite the speaker’s popularity, with a moderate -0.09dB per octave downward tilt and predicted in-room smoothness of just 0.28. Bass rolls off early too, with a Harman in-room extension estimate of only 58Hz.
Full Kanto YU6 review and specifications →
| Country | Canada (design) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 6.9W x 8.1D x 10.7H in each |
| Drivers | 1" silk dome tweeter, 5.25" Kevlar woofer |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, MDF cabinet |
| Inputs | Bluetooth aptX, RCA phono preamp, 2x optical |
| Power Output | 200W peak Class D (100W RMS total) |
| Weight | 11.4 lbs (active), 8.7 lbs (passive) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons