Short answer: the JBL 306P MKII. It ranks #35 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $398; the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s ranks #39 and costs $400, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL 306P MKII side: CEA2034 spinorama shows a nice, smooth on-axis response with very good directivity control for a compact 6.5” monitor. Set against that: A narrow but noticeable dip around 1.6kHz shows up in the on-axis and listening-window curves.
What the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows lots of bass energy below 300Hz and the ability to play louder than a JBL 305P MKII comparison unit. Watch for: A suckout between 300-600Hz on the listening window is followed by a peak from 600Hz up.
Buy the JBL 306P MKII. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 40 powered bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 306P MKII | Emotiva Airmotiv 6s | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $398 | $400 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #35 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #39 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 72Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 16.1"H x 11.2"W x 12.9"D (408 x 285 x 328 mm) | - |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 24kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 42Hz - 25kHz (+0/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 13.4 lbs / 6.1 kg each | 24.9 lbs / 11.3 kg each |
| Drivers | 6.5" woofer, 1" neodymium tweeter | 6.5" AirMotiv low-frequency transducer, 60x32mm AirMotiv tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (built-in presets) |
| DSP | No | No |
| Output Power | 112W total | 210W total (100W tweeter, 110W woofer) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Adam Audio T7V vs Klipsch The Sevens
- Kali Audio LP-6 vs Klipsch The Sevens
- Adam Audio T8V vs Klipsch The Sevens
- Edifier R2850DB vs JBL 306P MKII
- Edifier R2850DB vs Emotiva Airmotiv 6s
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL 306P MKII: $398 Bhphotovideo
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a nice, smooth on-axis response with very good directivity control for a compact 6.5” monitor. Dual 56W Class D amps keep the design affordable at $398 per pair while following JBL’s well-regarded 300-series voicing.
Cons: A narrow but noticeable dip around 1.6kHz shows up in the on-axis and listening-window curves. Distortion runs classically high for this series, reaching around 5% near 200Hz at 96dB SPL. Amplifier hiss is audible from roughly 2 feet away, and the monitor runs out of headroom at higher volumes.
Full JBL 306P MKII review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 16.1"H x 11.2"W x 12.9"D (408 x 285 x 328 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" woofer, 1" neodymium tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 24kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 112W total |
| Weight | 13.4 lbs / 6.1 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Emotiva Airmotiv 6s: $400 Discontinued
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows lots of bass energy below 300Hz and the ability to play louder than a JBL 305P MKII comparison unit. Bi-amped design with 100W (tweeter) plus 110W (woofer) drives a 6.5” AirMotiv low-frequency transducer and AMT-style tweeter.
Cons: A suckout between 300-600Hz on the listening window is followed by a peak from 600Hz up. The built-in EQ options don’t fix this - one preset has the same dip plus a 3-7kHz peak. Vertical response droops at the 2.5kHz crossover. The reviewer’s verdict: there’s no reason to buy a speaker with a suckout in the upper bass if you have a choice. Discontinued.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv 6s review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | No |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 6.5" AirMotiv low-frequency transducer, 60x32mm AirMotiv tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (built-in presets) |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 25kHz (+0/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 210W total (100W tweeter, 110W woofer) |
| Weight | 24.9 lbs / 11.3 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs Klipsch The Sevens
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs Adam Audio S2V
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs Genelec 8341A
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs Focal Twin6 Be
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs Edifier R2850DB
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs Kali Audio LP-6
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs Klipsch The Nines
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs Adam Audio T7V