Short answer: the JBL 4305P for better sound quality, the Focal Solo6 ST6 for the lower price. The JBL 4305P ranks #15 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers at $2200. The Focal Solo6 ST6 ranks #23 at $1499, $701 cheaper.
On the JBL 4305P side: Erin measured a 45Hz F3 and heard solid 40–50Hz in-room extension—excellent for a compact 5.25-inch active monitor. The tradeoff: The limiter becomes conspicuous around 96dB: Erin measured about 8dB lost near 50Hz at the highest drive and achieved roughly 93dB unweighted at 2m in-room, so this is a near/midfield system rather than a high-output theater speaker.
What the Focal Solo6 ST6 offers: Beryllium inverted-dome tweeter over a 6.5” ‘W’ composite sandwich-cone woofer - a low-mass, low-distortion driver combination rarely found below far pricier monitors. Watch for: Bass alignment Q is on the higher side, which can correlate with a touch of extra bass fullness/looseness versus a more critically-damped alignment.
Buy the JBL 4305P if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Focal Solo6 ST6 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 4305P | Focal Solo6 ST6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,200/pair | $1,499.00 |
| Ranked | #15 of 48 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 48 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 46.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) | - |
| Maximum Output | ~93dB at 2m in-room before limiting (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 110dB peak at 1m |
| Amplification | 300W system: 125W LF + 25W HF per speaker | 130W total, bi-amped (80W Class G LF + 50W Class AB HF) |
| Drivers | 5.25-inch pulp woofer; 1-inch annular compression driver | 1" Beryllium inverted-dome tweeter, 6.5" "W" composite sandwich-cone woofer |
| Dimensions | 13.2H x 8.3W x 8.8D inches | 24.6 x 33.4 x 29.5cm (9.7 x 13.1 x 11.6 in) each, 13kg (28.6 lb) each |
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL 4305P: $2,200/pair Amazon JBL
Pros: Erin measured a 45Hz F3 and heard solid 40–50Hz in-room extension—excellent for a compact 5.25-inch active monitor. Tonality is neutral and non-fatiguing, vocal coloration is absent, imaging is precise, and the HDI horn maintains near-constant horizontal directivity above 2kHz. Each speaker is bi-amplified (125W LF + 25W HF), while USB, optical, balanced analog, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Bluetooth and 24/192 wired interconnect make this an unusually complete system. Grilles caused no meaningful response penalty.
Cons: The limiter becomes conspicuous around 96dB: Erin measured about 8dB lost near 50Hz at the highest drive and achieved roughly 93dB unweighted at 2m in-room, so this is a near/midfield system rather than a high-output theater speaker. A baffle discontinuity produces a 1–2kHz directivity mismatch that cannot be corrected uniformly in the vertical plane; stay within about +/-5° of tweeter height. Soundstage depth and layering trailed the KEF Reference 1 Meta, and wireless speaker linking caps resolution at 24/96.
Full JBL 4305P review and specifications →
| Amplification | 300W system: 125W LF + 25W HF per speaker |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.5Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 13.2H x 8.3W x 8.8D inches |
| Drivers | 5.25-inch pulp woofer; 1-inch annular compression driver |
| Maximum Output | ~93dB at 2m in-room before limiting (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) |
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Focal Solo6 ST6: $1,499.00 B&H Photo Sweetwater
Pros: Beryllium inverted-dome tweeter over a 6.5” ‘W’ composite sandwich-cone woofer - a low-mass, low-distortion driver combination rarely found below far pricier monitors. Directivity control is the tightest of this entire batch (directivity_spdi_stddev 2.87), and the listening-window response is smooth (smoothness_listening_window 0.380). Bi-amped 130W total (80W Class G woofer + 50W Class AB tweeter), each driver on its own amplifier. ‘Focus Mode’ switches the cabinet to a single-driver full-range reference signature for a second mix-translation check without extra hardware. Bass reaches 46.9Hz at -3dB / 38.1Hz at -10dB, solid for a 6.5” driver.
Cons: Bass alignment Q (lfq 0.826) is on the higher side, which can correlate with a touch of extra bass fullness/looseness versus a more critically-damped alignment. XLR-only balanced input, no unbalanced/TRS or digital connectivity. No automatic DSP room correction - tuning is limited to fixed analog shelving/high-pass switches. At $1,499 each ($2,998/pair), it’s a meaningful step up from typical prosumer active monitors.
Full Focal Solo6 ST6 review and specifications →
| Amplification | 130W total, bi-amped (80W Class G LF + 50W Class AB HF) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 24.6 x 33.4 x 29.5cm (9.7 x 13.1 x 11.6 in) each, 13kg (28.6 lb) each |
| Drivers | 1" Beryllium inverted-dome tweeter, 6.5" "W" composite sandwich-cone woofer |
| Maximum Output | 110dB peak at 1m |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons