Short answer: the Genelec 8030C. It ranks #3 of 58 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $1590; the JBL 705P ranks #22 and costs $1998, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL 705P offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows flat response with excellent directivity, similar to its larger 708P sibling. Bi-amplified 500W design (250W woofer, 250W compression driver) into a 5” woofer and JBL’s 2409H compression tweeter. Watch for: A cancellation around 750Hz (likely port-related) and a bit of boosted response at the 1.75kHz crossover show up in the on-axis curve. Sits right around the ear’s most sensitive hearing range near 100Hz, so that region is partially audible even at modest levels.
What the Genelec 8030C offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows a near-flat on-axis response with smooth directivity - “very nice overall.” Predicted in-room response is excellent aside from one minor dip. Reasonably wide horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees that doesn’t narrow even above 10kHz. At 106dB SPL/1m, bass distortion measures much lower than a comparable passive speaker-plus-amplifier combination (Revel M106) tested the same way. Compression is purely instantaneous/amplitude-related rather than thermal, with max SPL before compression reaching 111dB SPL at 200Hz (96dB plus 15dB of headroom). The reviewer found it immediately musical, with reference tracks “translating” beautifully out of the box, and EQ correction of its one measured flaw improved detail with no downsides. Overall conclusion: excellent value, a rare combination of measured accuracy and genuinely engaging sound. Watch for: A minor but measurable dip between 2-3kHz shows up in both on- and off-axis measurements. Vertical directivity varies significantly with frequency, so listening height needs to stay right at the tweeter/ear axis for accurate tonal balance. Distortion at 106dB SPL/1m is elevated in the 500Hz-2kHz range compared to the Revel M106 comparison, even though bass distortion is much better. Compression headroom drops substantially at low frequencies - only about 105dB SPL max at 50Hz (a 0.5dB compression point) versus 111dB SPL at 200Hz, roughly a 6dB difference. As a near-field monitor, it has genuinely limited headroom in the deep bass - the reviewer noted severe distortion on deep-bass-heavy tracks at anything beyond modest listening levels.
Buy the Genelec 8030C. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL 705P and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 705P | Genelec 8030C | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1998 | $1590 |
| Ranked | #22 of 58 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #3 of 58 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 59Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 10.6"H x 5.9"W x 10.8"D (268 x 151 x 274 mm) | 11.7"H x 7.4"W x 7"D (297.2 x 188 x 177.8 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 36kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 54Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 12.6 lbs / 5.7 kg each | 11 lbs / 5 kg each |
| Drivers | 5" woofer, 2409H 1" compression driver | 5.1" woofer, 0.75" metal dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (Bass tilt, treble tilt, room response) |
| DSP | No | - |
| Output Power | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) | 100W (50W woofer + 50W tweeter) |
| Inputs | - | XLR |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| Max SPL | - | 110dB @ 1m |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Kali Audio SM-5 vs Neumann KH80 DSP
- Kali Audio SM-5 vs Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus
- Kali Audio SM-5 vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII
- Genelec 8030C vs Neumann KH120 MKII
- Genelec 8030C vs Genelec 8330A
Prices on this page were last checked August 24, 2026 at 6:53 AM 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL 705P: $1998 Bhphotovideo eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows flat response with excellent directivity, similar to its larger 708P sibling. Bi-amplified 500W design (250W woofer, 250W compression driver) into a 5” woofer and JBL’s 2409H compression tweeter.
Cons: A cancellation around 750Hz (likely port-related) and a bit of boosted response at the 1.75kHz crossover show up in the on-axis curve. Sits right around the ear’s most sensitive hearing range near 100Hz, so that region is partially audible even at modest levels.
Full JBL 705P review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 10.6"H x 5.9"W x 10.8"D (268 x 151 x 274 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" woofer, 2409H 1" compression driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 36kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| Weight | 12.6 lbs / 5.7 kg each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Genelec 8030C: $1590 Bhphotovideo eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a near-flat on-axis response with smooth directivity - “very nice overall.” Predicted in-room response is excellent aside from one minor dip. Reasonably wide horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees that doesn’t narrow even above 10kHz. At 106dB SPL/1m, bass distortion measures much lower than a comparable passive speaker-plus-amplifier combination (Revel M106) tested the same way. Compression is purely instantaneous/amplitude-related rather than thermal, with max SPL before compression reaching 111dB SPL at 200Hz (96dB plus 15dB of headroom). The reviewer found it immediately musical, with reference tracks “translating” beautifully out of the box, and EQ correction of its one measured flaw improved detail with no downsides. Overall conclusion: excellent value, a rare combination of measured accuracy and genuinely engaging sound.
Cons: A minor but measurable dip between 2-3kHz shows up in both on- and off-axis measurements. Vertical directivity varies significantly with frequency, so listening height needs to stay right at the tweeter/ear axis for accurate tonal balance. Distortion at 106dB SPL/1m is elevated in the 500Hz-2kHz range compared to the Revel M106 comparison, even though bass distortion is much better. Compression headroom drops substantially at low frequencies - only about 105dB SPL max at 50Hz (a 0.5dB compression point) versus 111dB SPL at 200Hz, roughly a 6dB difference. As a near-field monitor, it has genuinely limited headroom in the deep bass - the reviewer noted severe distortion on deep-bass-heavy tracks at anything beyond modest listening levels.
Full Genelec 8030C review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7"H x 7.4"W x 7"D (297.2 x 188 x 177.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.1" woofer, 0.75" metal dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Bass tilt, treble tilt, room response) |
| Frequency Response | 54Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Max SPL | 110dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 100W (50W woofer + 50W tweeter) |
| Weight | 11 lbs / 5 kg each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons