Short answer: the JBL 308P MKII. It ranks #34 of 113 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $298; the Klipsch The Sevens ranks #105, rated 3.7/5, and costs $849.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The JBL 308P MKII is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. 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. Its bass reaches about 42.5Hz before falling 3dB, against 49Hz for the Klipsch The Sevens. The tradeoff: Amplifier hiss may be noticeable in quiet, close-range use.
What the Klipsch The Sevens does well: Erin reported 49Hz -3dB extension, with useful bass for ordinary music listening. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL 308P MKII lacks. The catch: The review found a recessed 2-4kHz region and upper-treble emphasis, producing a scooped balance that a simple treble reduction did not fully fix.
Buy the JBL 308P MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Klipsch The Sevens and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 308P MKII | Klipsch The Sevens | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $298 per pair | $849.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #34 of 113 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #105 of 113 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 10”W x 12.1”D (419.1 x 254 x 307.3 mm) | 16.375”H x 8.125”W x 13.1875”D |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 39Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” neodymium tweeter | 6.5” high-excursion woofer, 1” titanium tweeter on Tractrix horn |
| App | No | Yes (treble/mid/bass EQ, subwoofer output, dynamic bass mode) |
| EQ | No | - |
| DSP | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 112W total | 200W total (400W peak) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.88 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.69 | - |
| Inputs | XLR, 1/4” TRS | HDMI, Phono, 3.5mm, USB, Optical, Bluetooth |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | Yes |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | 22.3 lbs (10.1 kg) (primary), 19.8 lbs (9 kg) (secondary) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear flared port |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
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 7, 2026 at 9:25 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
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
Klipsch The Sevens: $849.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Klipsch The Sevens II, ranked higher, estimated 3.8/5.
Same family: the Klipsch The Fives (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.3/5) and the Klipsch The Nines (larger bookshelf, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5).
Pros: Erin reported 49Hz -3dB extension, with useful bass for ordinary music listening. HDMI, phono, USB, optical and Bluetooth connections make the system convenient for TV and music, while app controls and a subwoofer output provide adjustment options. Bass reaches about 36Hz at -10dB, delivering a controlled thump near 40Hz in-room without strain. Measured bass extension of 49Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The review found a recessed 2-4kHz region and upper-treble emphasis, producing a scooped balance that a simple treble reduction did not fully fix. Relatively narrow horizontal coverage limits consistency across seats.
Full Klipsch The Sevens review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 200W total (400W peak) |
| App | Yes (treble/mid/bass EQ, subwoofer output, dynamic bass mode) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.375”H x 8.125”W x 13.1875”D |
| Drivers | 6.5” high-excursion woofer, 1” titanium tweeter on Tractrix horn |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | Yes |
| Inputs | HDMI, Phono, 3.5mm, USB, Optical, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Outputs | Subwoofer |
| RCA Input | No |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 22.3 lbs (10.1 kg) (primary), 19.8 lbs (9 kg) (secondary) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear flared port |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch The Sevens vs EVE Audio SC305
- Klipsch The Sevens vs Focal Twin6 Be
- Klipsch The Sevens vs Edifier R2850DB
- Klipsch The Sevens vs Edifier S3000Pro
- Klipsch The Sevens vs Klipsch The Sevens II
- Klipsch The Sevens vs Presonus Eris Studio 8
- Klipsch The Sevens vs Kali Audio LP-8
- Klipsch The Sevens vs Adam Audio T7V
- See all 36 comparisons