Short answer: the JBL 308P MKII. It ranks #34 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $287.98; the Palmer Orbit 11 ranks #61, rated 4.2/5, and costs $1,532, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the JBL 308P MKII: Full size studio monitors with accurate sound and real bass from an 8 inch woofer, at a budget price. Watch for: Amplifier hiss may be noticeable in quiet, close-range use.
The Palmer Orbit 11 is the deeper-bass pick. Affordable coaxial monitors with genuinely deep bass, even mids, and a cardioid baffle that cuts room reflections. Its bass reaches about 27.8Hz before falling 3dB, against 42.5Hz for the JBL 308P MKII. The catch: Its 7.10 ideal-subwoofer score is more modest than the narrow midrange span alone suggests; response outside that band and off-axis behavior also matter.
Buy the JBL 308P MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Palmer Orbit 11 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.
Full size studio monitors with accurate sound and real bass from an 8 inch woofer, at a budget price.
Affordable coaxial monitors with genuinely deep bass, even mids, and a cardioid baffle that cuts room reflections.
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 | Palmer Orbit 11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $287.98 per pair | $1,532 per pair |
| Ranked | #34 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #61 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 42.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 27.8Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 21.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 10”W x 12.1”D (419.1 x 254 x 307.3 mm) | 8.5” x 11.5” x 11.5” (217 x 293 x 292 mm) each |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 28Hz - 28kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” neodymium tweeter | 1” tweeter + 6.5” midrange (coaxial), 2x 8” woofers |
| App | No | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| DSP | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 112W total | 1000W peak / 400W RMS total; Tri-amped Class D |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.88 | 6.20 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.69 | 7.10 |
| Inputs | XLR, 1/4” TRS | XLR (balanced analog), AES3 (digital, via 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 | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Weight | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each | 30.6 lbs (13.9 kg) each |
| Maximum SPL | - | 116dB peak at 1m |
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