Short answer: the JBL 4305P. It ranks #14 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $2200; the JBL 708P ranks #20 and costs $4000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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. Set against that: 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.
What the JBL 708P gets right: CEA2034 spinorama shows extremely good frequency response both on- and off-axis, with excellent horizontal directivity. The catch: A port resonance creates a mild rise around 600-900Hz.
Buy the JBL 4305P. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL 708P and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 4305P | JBL 708P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,200/pair | $4000 |
| Ranked | #14 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #20 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 82Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) | - |
| Maximum Output | ~93dB at 2m in-room before limiting (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Amplification | 300W system: 125W LF + 25W HF per speaker | - |
| Drivers | 5.25-inch pulp woofer; 1-inch annular compression driver | 8" woofer, 2409H 1" compression driver |
| Dimensions | 13.2H x 8.3W x 8.8D inches | 17.2"H x 9.8"W x 11.5"D (438 x 248 x 292 mm) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | - | 41Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | - | 25.1 lbs / 11.4 kg each |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
| Output Power | - | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
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- JBL 4329P vs Klipsch The Nines
- JBL 4329P vs Focal Twin6 Be
- Genelec 8040B vs Neumann KH 310 A
- JBL 708P vs Focal Twin6 Be
- Buchardt A500 vs JBL 4305P
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 (-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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JBL 708P: $4000 Bhphotovideo
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows extremely good frequency response both on- and off-axis, with excellent horizontal directivity. Bi-amplified 500W design (250W woofer, 250W compression driver) handles an 8” woofer and JBL’s 2409H compression tweeter.
Cons: A port resonance creates a mild rise around 600-900Hz. Vertical dispersion is narrower than horizontal, so staying within a few degrees of the tweeter axis matters. Distortion climbs at 96dB SPL, with the tweeter reaching about 2.5% THD at elevated levels.
Full JBL 708P review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 17.2"H x 9.8"W x 11.5"D (438 x 248 x 292 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" woofer, 2409H 1" compression driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 41Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| Weight | 25.1 lbs / 11.4 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons