Short answer: the JBL 306P MKII. It ranks #69 of 118 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $238; the KRK Rokit 7 G4 ranks #98, rated 3.9/5, and costs $334, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the JBL 306P MKII does well: A 6.94 ideal-subwoofer score and 46.9Hz measured -3dB extension make this a useful affordable nearfield monitor. Watch for: The 3.4dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz is less even than the JBL 308P MKII’s, with midrange resonances affecting neutrality.
Why pick the KRK Rokit 7 G4: The 7-inch format offers a middle ground between compact monitors and larger 8-inch cabinets. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL 306P MKII lacks. The tradeoff: Its balanced studio inputs need a suitable source connection rather than offering built-in consumer streaming.
Buy the JBL 306P MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality than the KRK Rokit 7 G4 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 306P MKII | KRK Rokit 7 G4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $238 per pair | $334.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #69 of 118 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #98 of 118 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | - |
| Dimensions | 16.1”H x 11.2”W x 12.9”D (408 x 285 x 328 mm) | 13.4”H x 8.9”W x 11.2”D (340.4 x 226.1 x 284.5 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 24kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 42Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 13.4 lbs (6.1 kg) each | 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) |
| Drivers | 6.5” woofer, 1” neodymium tweeter | 7” (178mm) woofer |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| DSP | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 112W total | 145w Per Speaker |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.06 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.94 | - |
| Inputs | XLR, 1/4” TRS | TRS, XLR |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- JBL 308P MKII vs JBL 306P MKII
Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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
JBL 306P MKII: $238 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the JBL 305P MKII (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.3/5) and the JBL 308P MKII (larger bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 4.4/5). See every JBL 3 Series generation.
Pros: A 6.94 ideal-subwoofer score and 46.9Hz measured -3dB extension make this a useful affordable nearfield monitor. The waveguide supports broad horizontal listening coverage, and basic boundary controls help with setup. Measured bass extension of 46.9Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 3.4dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz is less even than the JBL 308P MKII’s, with midrange resonances affecting neutrality. Hiss can matter at a quiet desk, while bass distortion limits demanding playback. A subwoofer improves bandwidth but does not remove the midrange irregularities. A narrow dip around 1.6kHz shows in the on-axis and listening-window curves.
Full JBL 306P MKII review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 112W total |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| 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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, 1/4” TRS |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.06 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.94 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 13.4 lbs (6.1 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T7V vs JBL 306P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 7 RP7G4 vs JBL 306P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Kali Audio LP-8 vs JBL 306P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
KRK Rokit 7 G4: $334.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Newer model: the KRK Rokit 7 G5, ranked higher, estimated 4/5, released Mar 2024. See every KRK Rokit generation.
Same family: the KRK Rokit 5 G4 (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.7/5) and the KRK Rokit 8 G4 (larger bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 3.9/5).
Pros: The 7-inch format offers a middle ground between compact monitors and larger 8-inch cabinets. Balanced inputs and room-adjustment controls make it practical for a simple studio installation.
Cons: Its balanced studio inputs need a suitable source connection rather than offering built-in consumer streaming. The cabinet still occupies appreciably more desk space than a compact monitor.
Full KRK Rokit 7 G4 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 145w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 8.9”W x 11.2”D (340.4 x 226.1 x 284.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 7” (178mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 7 G4 RP7G4 vs Adam Audio T7V Sound & Frequency Response Comparison More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 7 G4 RP7G4 vs Yamaha HS7 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 5 RP5G4 vs KRK Rokit 7 RP7G4 Sound & Frequency Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 7 RP7G4 vs JBL 306P MKII Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Head-to-Head Comparisons