Short answer: the HEDD Type 20 MK2 on measured sound quality, the JBL 308P MKII on price. The HEDD Type 20 MK2 ranks #18 of 67 powered bookshelf speakers at $4800. The JBL 308P MKII ranks #22 at $249, $4551 cheaper.
What the JBL 308P MKII offers: A 1.8dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 6.89 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. Watch for: 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.
What the HEDD Type 20 MK2 offers: The measured ported configuration reaches 35.2Hz at -3dB and scores 6.92 with an ideal subwoofer. A 2.4dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz supports broadly balanced mids, while ported operation reduces deep-bass strain compared with the sealed setting in the review. Watch for: These results are for ported operation, not every bass or phase setting. Horizontal asymmetry and vertical crossover behavior make orientation and listening position important. Distortion rises at higher output, and linear-phase processing can add latency for live monitoring.
Buy the JBL 308P MKII if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the HEDD Type 20 MK2 if sound quality matters more than the price.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 308P MKII | HEDD Type 20 MK2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $498 per pair | $4800 per pair |
| Ranked | #22 of 67 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #18 of 67 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 32Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 26Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 16.5"H x 10"W x 12.1"D (419.1 x 254 x 307.3 mm) | 14.1"H x 11"W x 13.3"D (358.1 x 279.4 x 337.8 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 32Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | not published by manufacturer | 34 lbs (15.4 kg) each |
| Drivers | 8" woofer, 1" neodymium tweeter | 7" honeycomb composite woofer, 4" honeycomb composite midrange, HEDD AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter |
| App | No | Yes (HEDD CTRL) |
| EQ | No | Yes (Desk filter, shelf filters) |
| DSP | No | Yes (96kHz/32-bit) |
| Amplifier Power | 112W total | 900W (3x300W) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.08 | 5.34 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.89 | 6.92 |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| Inputs | - | XLR (Analog/AES) |
| Outputs | - | XLR (AES pass-through) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 120dB @ 1m (per pair) (manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How HEDD Type 20 MK2 compares with other leading options:
- AsciLab C8C vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
- Mesanovic CDM65 vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
- Genelec 8351B vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
- Genelec 8361A vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
- Neumann KH 150 vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 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: $498 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A 1.8dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 6.89 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 82Hz (-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.
Full JBL 308P MKII review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 112W total |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.08 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.89 |
| Weight | not published by manufacturer |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HEDD Type 20 MK2: $4800 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: The measured ported configuration reaches 35.2Hz at -3dB and scores 6.92 with an ideal subwoofer. A 2.4dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz supports broadly balanced mids, while ported operation reduces deep-bass strain compared with the sealed setting in the review. Measured bass extension of 32Hz (-3dB).
Cons: These results are for ported operation, not every bass or phase setting. Horizontal asymmetry and vertical crossover behavior make orientation and listening position important. Distortion rises at higher output, and linear-phase processing can add latency for live monitoring.
Full HEDD Type 20 MK2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 900W (3x300W) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (HEDD CTRL) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 32Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | Yes (96kHz/32-bit) |
| Dimensions | 14.1"H x 11"W x 13.3"D (358.1 x 279.4 x 337.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 7" honeycomb composite woofer, 4" honeycomb composite midrange, HEDD AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Desk filter, shelf filters) |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR (Analog/AES) |
| Maximum SPL | 120dB @ 1m (per pair) (manufacturer specified) |
| Outputs | XLR (AES pass-through) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.34 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.92 |
| Weight | 34 lbs (15.4 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons