Short answer: the Genelec 8351B if sound quality matters most, the JBL 308P MKII if price matters most. The Genelec 8351B ranks #4 of 113 powered bookshelf speakers, rated 4.8/5, at $9,900. The JBL 308P MKII ranks #34, rated 4.4/5, at $298, $9,602 cheaper.
What the JBL 308P MKII does well: 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. The catch: Amplifier hiss may be noticeable in quiet, close-range use.
The Genelec 8351B is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. The vertical ASR measurement scores 7.75 with an ideal subwoofer and reaches 35.2Hz at -3dB. Its bass reaches about 33Hz before falling 3dB, against 42.5Hz for the JBL 308P MKII. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL 308P MKII lacks. The tradeoff: Bass distortion increases at higher playback levels, so a subwoofer remains useful for demanding material.
Buy the JBL 308P MKII if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Genelec 8351B if sound quality matters more than the price.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 308P MKII | Genelec 8351B | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $298 per pair | $9,900 per pair |
| Ranked | #34 of 113 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #4 of 113 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 33Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 28Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 10”W x 12.1”D (419.1 x 254 x 307.3 mm) | 17”H x 11.3”W x 10.9”D (431.8 x 287 x 276.9 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 32Hz - 40kHz (±1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” neodymium tweeter | 8.6” woofer, 5” coaxial with tweeter midrange, 0.75” (19mm) coaxial tweeter |
| App | No | Yes (GLM) |
| EQ | No | Yes (via GLM software) |
| DSP | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 112W total | 550w Per Speaker |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.88 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.69 | - |
| 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 | 31.1 lbs (14.1 kg) each |
| Maximum SPL | - | 113dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH420
- Genelec 8351B vs Genelec 8361A
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH 150
- Genelec 8351B vs Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Active Pro
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH 310 A
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM 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 308P MKII: $298 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the JBL LSR308 (ranked lower, estimated 4.2/5).
Same family: the JBL 305P MKII (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.3/5) and the JBL 306P MKII (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 4.1/5).
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
Genelec 8351B: $9,900 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the Genelec 8351A (ranked lower, estimated 4.6/5).
Same family: the Genelec 8331A (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.8/5), the Genelec 8341A (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 4.8/5), the Genelec 8361A (larger bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 4.8/5) and the Genelec 8381A (floorstanding, estimated 4.9/5).
Pros: The vertical ASR measurement scores 7.75 with an ideal subwoofer and reaches 35.2Hz at -3dB. Coaxial midrange and treble help maintain consistent sound as the listening angle changes. Low measured distortion at ordinary listening levels and GLM calibration make it a strong precision-monitoring choice. Measured bass extension of 33Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass distortion increases at higher playback levels, so a subwoofer remains useful for demanding material. Upper-treble distortion in the test also cautions against assuming unlimited output. Calibration hardware adds to an already expensive system, and the quoted result is for the measured vertical orientation.
Full Genelec 8351B review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 550w Per Speaker |
| App | Yes (GLM) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 33Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 17”H x 11.3”W x 10.9”D (431.8 x 287 x 276.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 8.6” woofer, 5” coaxial with tweeter midrange, 0.75” (19mm) coaxial tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 40kHz (±1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Maximum SPL | 113dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 31.1 lbs (14.1 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH420
- Genelec 8351B vs Genelec 8361A
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH 150
- Genelec 8351B vs Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Active Pro
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH 310 A
- Genelec 8351B vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
- Genelec 8351B vs SHIVAUDYO Point Zero
- Genelec 8351B vs Yamaha HS8
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