Short answer: the JBL 708P. It ranks #64 of 118 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.2/5) at $3,798 and is still sold new; the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s ranks #79 (rated 4.0/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The JBL 708P is the deeper-bass option. Erin’s measurements give 43.9Hz -3dB extension and a 6.91 ideal-subwoofer score, with useful bass from a professional active monitor. Its bass reaches about 43.9Hz before falling 3dB, against 49.1Hz for the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s. Watch for: The 2.6dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz includes audible-relevance irregularities, with port-region features and vertical crossover sensitivity.
Why pick the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s: ASR measured 49.1Hz -3dB bass extension and a 5.75 ideal-subwoofer score. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL 708P lacks. The tradeoff: The 3.0dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz includes lower-midrange unevenness that can change vocal weight.
Buy the JBL 708P. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Emotiva Airmotiv 6s is discontinued.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 708P | Emotiva Airmotiv 6s | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,798 per pair | $800 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #64 of 118 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #79 of 118 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 49.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Dimensions | 17.2”H x 9.8”W x 11.5”D (438 x 248 x 292 mm) | 13.5” x 8.5” x 12.8” (343 x 216 x 324 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Frequency Response | 41Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 42Hz - 25kHz (+0/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 25.1 lbs (11.4 kg) each | 24.9 lbs (11.3 kg) each |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 2409H 1” compression driver | 6.5” AirMotiv low-frequency transducer, 60x32mm AirMotiv tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | Yes (built-in presets) |
| DSP | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) | 210W total (100W tweeter, 110W woofer) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.03 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.91 | - |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo (analog), XLR AES3 (digital) | XLR, RCA |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL 708P:
- Genelec 8351B vs JBL 708P
- JBL 708P vs Neumann KH420
- Genelec 8361A vs JBL 708P
- JBL 708P vs Genelec 8341A
- Neumann KH 150 vs JBL 708P
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 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 708P: $3,798 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the JBL LSR6328P (ranked higher, rated 4.6/5). See every JBL 7 Series generation.
Same family: the JBL 705P (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.9/5) and the JBL 708i (larger bookshelf, rated 3.7/5).
Pros: Erin’s measurements give 43.9Hz -3dB extension and a 6.91 ideal-subwoofer score, with useful bass from a professional active monitor. The waveguide and onboard processing make it a practical choice for a carefully installed studio system. Measured bass extension of 43.9Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 2.6dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz includes audible-relevance irregularities, with port-region features and vertical crossover sensitivity. High-level distortion remains a constraint. Its professional positioning and amplifier power do not make it automatically more neutral than the cheaper JBL 308P MKII. A port resonance adds a mild rise around 600 to 900Hz, and vertical dispersion is narrower than horizontal, so stay within a few degrees of the tweeter axis.
Full JBL 708P review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| 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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo (analog), XLR AES3 (digital) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.03 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.91 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 25.1 lbs (11.4 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Emotiva Airmotiv 6s: $800 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: ASR measured 49.1Hz -3dB bass extension and a 5.75 ideal-subwoofer score. The review found useful output capability, making it a credible option for ordinary nearfield playback with additional bass support when needed. Measured bass extension of 49.1Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 3.0dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz includes lower-midrange unevenness that can change vocal weight. Treble peaks also prevent a fully neutral balance. Equalization may help, but the substantially higher EQ-optimized score is not its native performance. A suckout between 300 and 600Hz in the listening window is followed by a peak from 600Hz up. Discontinued.
Full Emotiva Airmotiv 6s review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 210W total (100W tweeter, 110W woofer) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 49.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 13.5” x 8.5” x 12.8” (343 x 216 x 324 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 6.5” AirMotiv low-frequency transducer, 60x32mm AirMotiv tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (built-in presets) |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 25kHz (+0/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 24.9 lbs (11.3 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs M-Audio BX8 D3
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs Focal Alpha 65 EVO
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs JBL 4329P
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs JBL 306P MKII
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs Klipsch The Nines
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs ADAM Audio T8V
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs ADAM Audio T7V
- Emotiva Airmotiv 6s vs Kali Audio LP-8
- See all 20 comparisons