Short answer: the JBL 4305P for low-end extension; the Yamaha HS8 for neutral mixing. The 4305P reaches a 45Hz F3 with solid 40 to 50Hz in-room extension, but its limiter becomes conspicuous around 96dB, losing about 8dB near 50Hz at the highest drive. The HS8 is good for mixing and anything needing neutral output, with a slight midrange boost.
What the JBL 4305P gets right: Erin measured a 45Hz F3 and heard solid 40–50Hz in-room extension (excellent for a compact 5.25-inch active monitor). The catch: 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.
Buy the Yamaha HS8. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $702.01 less than the JBL 4305P.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 4305P | Yamaha HS8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.99 per pair | $797.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #28 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #24 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 34.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Maximum SPL | ~93dB at 2m in-room before limiting (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 300W system: 125W LF + 25W HF per speaker | 120w Per Speaker |
| Drivers | 5.25-inch pulp woofer; 1-inch annular compression driver | 8” woofer, 1” dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 13.2H x 8.3W x 8.8D inches | 15.4”H x 9.8”W x 13.1”D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.44 | 5.85 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.45 | 7.58 |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo, 3.5mm Aux, Optical, USB-B, Ethernet | XLR |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| 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) | 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.1 | No |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| 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
Yamaha HS8: $797.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: ASR measurements support broadly neutral sound: a 2.3dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 7.58 ideal-subwoofer score. Measured -3dB bass extension of 43.9Hz gives useful weight for music, with straightforward analog connections and room-adjustment controls. Measured bass extension of 43.9Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Its response and off-axis behavior are not as refined as the leading monitors. Vertical positioning around the crossover matters, and a subwoofer remains useful for deep bass. Basic rear-panel controls do not replace measured room correction.
Full Yamaha HS8 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 120w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 15.4”H x 9.8”W x 13.1”D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.85 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.58 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons