Short answer: the JBL 4305P for deeper in-room bass from a compact monitor; the 308P MKII for a flat on-axis curve. The 4305P scores a 45Hz F3 and solid 40 to 50Hz in-room extension, though its limiter becomes conspicuous around 96dB with about 8dB lost near 50Hz. The 308P is essentially flat from 45Hz to above 15kHz with almost no directivity error and a resonance around 18kHz.
Buy the JBL 308P MKII. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $1,201.99 less than the JBL 4305P.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 4305P | JBL 308P MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.99 per pair | $298 per pair |
| Ranked | #28 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #22 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 42.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Maximum SPL | ~93dB at 2m in-room before limiting (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 300W system: 125W LF + 25W HF per speaker | 112W total |
| Drivers | 5.25-inch pulp woofer; 1-inch annular compression driver | 8” woofer, 1” neodymium tweeter |
| Dimensions | 13.2H x 8.3W x 8.8D inches | 16.5”H x 10”W x 12.1”D (419.1 x 254 x 307.3 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.44 | 5.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.45 | 7.69 |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo, 3.5mm Aux, Optical, USB-B, Ethernet | XLR, 1/4” TRS |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | Yes |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | Yes | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Weight | Primary 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg), Secondary 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.1 | No |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL 4305P: $1,499.99 per pair Amazon JBL eBay
Pros: The measured 1.5dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz supports even mids, with a 7.45 ideal-subwoofer score and 45.4Hz -3dB bass extension. Integrated consumer connectivity makes this a more convenient living-room system than many studio monitors. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Crossover-region directivity changes mean the narrow on-axis span does not describe every listening angle. Limiting becomes relevant at high output, particularly with bass-heavy music. It suits near- to midfield listening better than the largest high-output systems here. Erin measured about 8dB lost near 50Hz at the highest drive level and reached roughly 93dB unweighted at 2m in-room.
Full JBL 4305P review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 300W system: 125W LF + 25W HF per speaker |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.1 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.2H x 8.3W x 8.8D inches |
| Drivers | 5.25-inch pulp woofer; 1-inch annular compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo, 3.5mm Aux, Optical, USB-B, Ethernet |
| Maximum SPL | ~93dB at 2m in-room before limiting (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.44 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.45 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | Primary 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg), Secondary 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL 308P MKII: $298 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
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