Short answer: the JBL 308P MKII for on-axis flatness; the Adam Audio T8V for an easy tonal balance. The T8V is quite balanced and neutral, very close to the Yamaha HS8, but a crossover notch around 4.6kHz and a hole below the tweeter axis mean you must keep the tweeter at or above ear height. The JBL is essentially flat from 45Hz to above 15kHz.
What the JBL 308P MKII offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows an essentially flat on-axis response from 45Hz to above 15kHz, with almost no directivity error. Watch for: A resonance shows up around 18kHz and a slight dip around 1.4kHz.
Buy the JBL 308P MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Adam Audio T8V and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 308P MKII | Adam Audio T8V | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $298 per pair | $719.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #22 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #54 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 39.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 33.2Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 10”W x 12.1”D (419.1 x 254 x 307.3 mm) | 15.8”H x 9.8”W x 13.2”D (401.3 x 248.9 x 335.3 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 33Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” neodymium tweeter | 8” (203mm) woofer |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| DSP | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 112W total | 90w Per Speaker |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.88 | 4.65 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.69 | 6.31 |
| Inputs | XLR, 1/4” TRS | XLR, RCA |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| 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 |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | 21.6 lbs (9.8 kg) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL 308P MKII:
- AsciLab C8C vs JBL 308P MKII
- Mesanovic CDM65 vs JBL 308P MKII
- JBL 308P MKII vs Genelec 8351B
- JBL 308P MKII vs Neumann KH420
- Genelec 8361A vs JBL 308P MKII
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL 308P MKII: $298 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A 1.8dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 7.69 ideal-subwoofer score support unusually good tonal balance for an accessible studio monitor. Measured -3dB extension of 42.5Hz supplies useful musical bass, and the waveguide helps maintain consistent horizontal coverage. Measured bass extension of 42.5Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Amplifier hiss may be noticeable in quiet, close-range use. Bass distortion and output limits matter when playing loudly, despite the 8-inch woofer. Keep the tweeter near ear height; vertical crossover behavior is less forgiving than the best coaxial designs. A resonance around 18kHz and a slight dip around 1.4kHz.
Full JBL 308P MKII review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 112W total |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 10”W x 12.1”D (419.1 x 254 x 307.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” neodymium tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, 1/4” TRS |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.69 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Adam Audio T8V: $719.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Measured -3dB extension of 39.6Hz gives useful bass depth for an affordable large monitor. Analog inputs and basic shelf controls offer uncomplicated studio integration. Measured bass extension of 39.6Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 6.31 ideal-subwoofer score and 3.0dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz show less even tonal balance than stronger budget alternatives. Treble emphasis and crossover-region vertical cancellation make listening height important. Deep bass and an AMT tweeter do not by themselves imply accurate sound. A notch around 4.6kHz, where tweeter and woofer interact, and a hole below the tweeter axis mean the tweeter should sit at or above ear height.
Full Adam Audio T8V review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 90w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33.2Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 39.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 15.8”H x 9.8”W x 13.2”D (401.3 x 248.9 x 335.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 8” (203mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.65 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.31 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs (9.8 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Sercan Solmaz: Adam Audio T8V vs Yamaha HS8 vs KRK Rokit 8 (STUDIO SPEAKER SOUND TEST)
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T8V vs KRK Rokit 8 G4 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison More from DSAUDIOreview →
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons