Short answer: the Buchardt A10 for better sound quality, the JBL 308P MKII for the lower price. The Buchardt A10 ranks #12 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers, rated 4.7/5, at $4,300. The JBL 308P MKII ranks #34, rated 4.4/5, at $287.98, $4,012.02 cheaper.
What the JBL 308P MKII does well: Full size studio monitors with accurate sound and real bass from an 8 inch woofer, at a budget price. The tradeoff: Amplifier hiss may be noticeable in quiet, close-range use.
The Buchardt A10 is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. Active stand-mount speakers with accurate sound, deep bass for their size, and selectable DSP tunings to suit your room. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 7.28 against 5.88 for the JBL 308P MKII. Its bass reaches about 30Hz before falling 3dB, against 42.5Hz for the JBL 308P MKII. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL 308P MKII lacks. The catch: The rising treble balance can sound brighter on axis; toe-out or a different tuning may suit some rooms.
Buy the JBL 308P MKII when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Buchardt A10 when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Full size studio monitors with accurate sound and real bass from an 8 inch woofer, at a budget price.
Active stand-mount speakers with accurate sound, deep bass for their size, and selectable DSP tunings to suit your room.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 308P MKII | Buchardt A10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $287.98 per pair | $4300 per pair |
| Ranked | #34 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #12 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 21Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 10”W x 12.1”D (419.1 x 254 x 307.3 mm) | 14.6”H x 7”W x 9.6”D (370.8 x 177.8 x 243.8 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 28Hz - 40kHz (±1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” neodymium tweeter | 6.5” PURIFI Extended Stroke Driver with Ultra Low Distortion, Custom made with triple Voice Coil woofer, 19 mm / 0.74” Resonance Free Aluminum dome with CDC aluminum waveguide tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| DSP | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 112W total | 200w Per Speaker |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.88 | 7.28 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.69 | 8.00 |
| Inputs | XLR, 1/4” TRS | XLR |
| 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 |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | sealed |
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