Short answer: the JBL 305P MkII, and it’s cheaper too. It ranks #18 of 108 medium powered bookshelf speakers at $319, while the HS5 ranks #66 at $399.98. Both are budget studio monitors, but the measurements favor the JBL clearly.
The 305P MkII measures better across the board. Its spinorama preference score is 5.38 against 3.70 for the HS5, and it reaches 43Hz at -10dB where the HS5 reaches only 68Hz. The extra bass extension comes with an 81W amplifier per speaker against 45W, so it also has more room to play loud.
The HS5 is a bass-light monitor with a midrange boost. Measurements show excess midrange and thin upper bass, so it is not the more neutral of the two. Its appeal is familiarity: it is a long-standing mixing reference that many engineers already know how to translate from.
Practical differences worth knowing: the 305P MkII is rear-ported, so it wants breathing room from the wall behind it, and some units have a faint amp hiss audible at very low levels. The HS5 has XLR inputs only, while the JBL adds TRS.
Buy the 305P MkII for the better measured balance, deeper bass and lower price. Buy the HS5 only if you specifically want the sound many studios already mix on, or if rear clearance for a port isn’t available.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Budget studio monitors with balanced sound and wide coverage that keeps the stereo image stable across a desk.
A popular 5 inch studio monitor with balanced inputs and room placement controls for a home studio.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 305P MKII | Yamaha HS5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $319.00 per pair | $399.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #18 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #66 of 108 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) | 11.2”H x 6.7”W x 8.7”D (284.5 x 170.2 x 221 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 49 Hz - 20 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 58Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS | XLR |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) each | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) each |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer | 5” (127mm) woofer |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Amplifier Power | 81w Per Speaker | 45w Per Speaker |
| Sensitivity | 91.1dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.38 | 3.70 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.52 | 6.32 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
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