Short answer: the JBL 708P for neutrality, the Focal Twin6 Be for high output. The Twin6 Be is a high-output 2.5-way with an inverted beryllium tweeter and two 6.5-inch W-composite drivers, one reinforcing only 40-150Hz, but its response and directivity are not as uniformly neutral as newer waveguided three-way monitors. The 708P is extremely good on and off axis, with a mild port-resonance rise around 600-900Hz.
On the JBL 708P side: CEA2034 spinorama shows extremely good frequency response both on- and off-axis, with excellent horizontal directivity. Set against that: A port resonance creates a mild rise around 600-900Hz.
Buy the JBL 708P. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal Twin6 Be and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 708P | Focal Twin6 Be | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4000 per pair | $4,400 per pair |
| Ranked | #39 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #62 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 48.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 39.1Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 17.2”H x 9.8”W x 11.5”D (438 x 248 x 292 mm) | 9.8” x 19.7” x 13.4” (250 x 500 x 340 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Frequency Response | 41Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 40Hz - 40kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 25.1 lbs (11.4 kg) each | 48.5 lbs (22 kg) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 2409H 1” compression driver | 1” inverted beryllium tweeter; dual 6.5” W-cone drivers |
| App | No | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| DSP | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) | 150W LF + 100W LF/MF + 100W HF |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.03 | 4.04 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.91 | 6.06 |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo (analog), XLR AES3 (digital) | Balanced XLR with +4dBu/-10dBV sensitivity |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| 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 |
| Bass Extension | - | 40Hz manufacturer specified; Erin measured strong low-frequency linearity |
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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 708P: $4000 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
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 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 →
| 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
Focal Twin6 Be: $4,400 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: The dual-woofer arrangement offers useful output capability for studio work, with a 48.3Hz measured -3dB point in the horizontal test. Its professional controls and format can suit a dedicated monitoring installation. Measured bass extension of 48.3Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The horizontal measurement scores 6.06 with an ideal subwoofer and spans 2.9dB from 300Hz to 5kHz. Off-axis variation limits tonal consistency across listening positions. Orientation matters, and neither the beryllium tweeter nor the additional woofer makes its measured balance class-leading. Erin suspected intermodulation-related roughness even though harmonic distortion measured low.
Full Focal Twin6 Be review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 150W LF + 100W LF/MF + 100W HF |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension | 40Hz manufacturer specified; Erin measured strong low-frequency linearity |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39.1Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.8” x 19.7” x 13.4” (250 x 500 x 340 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 1” inverted beryllium tweeter; dual 6.5” W-cone drivers |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 40kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR with +4dBu/-10dBV sensitivity |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.04 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.06 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 48.5 lbs (22 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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