Short answer: the Kali Audio IN-8. It ranks #11 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $499; the JBL 708P ranks #20 and costs $4000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Kali Audio IN-8 offers: Three-way coaxial (coincident) driver in a front-ported cabinet, allowing near-wall placement without port noise issues; extensive dip switches handle boundary compensation. Watch for: Notable forwardness/brashness in the 4-5kHz range when listened to on-axis, needing about 10° of toe-out (Kali’s own recommendation for the coaxial design) plus some EQ to fully resolve.
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 Kali Audio IN-8. 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
| Kali Audio IN-8 | JBL 708P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.00 | $4000 |
| Ranked | #11 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #20 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 82Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 17.8"H x 10"W x 11.3"D (452.1 x 254 x 287 mm) | 17.2"H x 9.8"W x 11.5"D (438 x 248 x 292 mm) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA | - |
| Weight | 22.9 lbs / 10.4 kg each | 25.1 lbs / 11.4 kg each |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer | 8" woofer, 2409H 1" compression driver |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | No |
| DSP | No | No |
| Output Power | 140w Per Speaker | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 41Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
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- APS Klasik 2020 vs Genelec 8050B
- JBL 4329P vs Adam Audio T7V
- JBL 4329P vs Kali Audio LP-6
- Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs JBL 708P
- JBL 708P vs JBL 308P MKII
The Two Speakers In Full
Kali Audio IN-8: $499.00 Amazon
Pros: Three-way coaxial (coincident) driver in a front-ported cabinet, allowing near-wall placement without port noise issues; extensive dip switches handle boundary compensation, plus XLR/TRS/RCA inputs and a gain-matching volume knob. A built-in limiter makes it essentially impossible to push into mechanical distress - no cabinet buzzing, woofer bottoming, or audible failure even driven hard to 80-95dB in testing. Distortion stays below 1% THD at 86dB and under 3% at 96dB, largely thanks to that limiter. Frequency response and dynamic behavior stay essentially unchanged from 76dB up to 96dB/1m before the limiter engages around 96-102dB. Bass extends smoothly to about 50Hz. A clear step up in linearity over the original V1 version both on-axis and in estimated in-room response, and eliminates the hiss that drew complaints on the V1. Excellent soundstage depth, a benefit typical of coaxial designs, at $800/pair.
Cons: Notable forwardness/brashness in the 4-5kHz range when listened to on-axis, needing about 10° of toe-out (Kali’s own recommendation for the coaxial design) plus some EQ to fully resolve. A dip near the tweeter/voice-coil transition, likely a cancellation effect from the coincident driver’s geometry, is also improved by toeing off-axis. Bass rolls off below about 50Hz, so heavy low-bass material still needs a subwoofer. A minor resonance around 160Hz occasionally made low vocals sound a bit “hot,” though the reviewer rates it minor (about 2/10 in severity). Horizontal soundstage is narrower than non-coaxial alternatives, a typical trade-off of coincident driver designs. Vertical placement tolerance is fairly tight - usable to about ±10°, degrading past ±20°. Designed as a near/midfield monitor for roughly 1-3m listening distances, not intended as a home-theater speaker.
Full Kali Audio IN-8 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 17.8"H x 10"W x 11.3"D (452.1 x 254 x 287 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Output Power | 140w Per Speaker |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 22.9 lbs / 10.4 kg each |
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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