Short answer: the Kali Audio IN-UNF for better sound quality, the JBL One Series 104 for the lower price. The Kali Audio IN-UNF ranks #38 of 42 powered bookshelf speakers at $699. The JBL One Series 104 ranks #40 at $129, $570 cheaper.
On the Kali Audio IN-UNF side: Ingenious ultra-nearfield system: a desk-mounted bass module uses two opposed 4.5-inch woofers below 280Hz, while the satellites use time-aligned 4-inch/1-inch coincident drivers. Set against that: This is a very specialized system rather than a general desktop-speaker recommendation.
The case for the JBL One Series 104: Heavy internal EQ from the amplifier meaningfully compensates for otherwise poor raw driver measurements. The tradeoff: Measuring the passive drivers alone (bypassing the amplifier’s EQ) showed “no bass, no low mids, and highly irregular highs” - a disaster by the reviewer’s description.
Buy the Kali Audio IN-UNF if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL One Series 104 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 42 powered bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kali Audio IN-UNF | JBL One Series 104 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $129 |
| Ranked | #38 of 42 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #40 of 42 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | Bass module: two opposed 4.5" woofers; satellites: 4" coincident midrange with 1" textile-dome tweeter | 4.5" coaxial low-frequency driver, 0.75" soft dome tweeter |
| Output Power | 100W LF + 60W mid/HF per channel (continuous) | 60W total Class D (30W per speaker) |
| Inputs | USB-C, optical, 3.5mm, balanced TRS | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (manufacturer specified; Erin did not publish an anechoic F3) | 45Hz with the amplifier’s DSP bass boost active (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (manufacturer specified; Erin did not publish an anechoic F10) | 35Hz with the amplifier’s DSP bass boost active (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 21kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossovers | 280Hz LF-to-midrange; 2.8kHz midrange-to-HF | - |
| Dimensions | Bass module: 11.6"H x 19.4"W x 5.25"D; satellites: 6.25" diameter | 9.7H x 6W x 4.9D in (per manufacturer, 104-BT) |
| Max SPL | 103dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) | - |
| DSP | Yes (placement/boundary and tonal trims) | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| Weight | - | 4.5 lbs / 2.06 kg (master), 3.8 lbs / 1.73 kg (slave) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (fixed, amplifier-applied) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Kali Audio IN-UNF: $699 Kali Audio
Pros: Ingenious ultra-nearfield system: a desk-mounted bass module uses two opposed 4.5-inch woofers below 280Hz, while the satellites use time-aligned 4-inch/1-inch coincident drivers. It is specifically engineered around the desk and, set up to Kali’s supplied placement template, sounded much better than it initially did to Erin; his moving-mic measurement at arm’s length closely matched the system’s predicted response. DSP provides placement, boundary and tonal trims, while USB-C, optical, 3.5mm and balanced TRS inputs cover desktop and studio sources. The round satellite enclosure avoids conventional baffle-edge diffraction, and the coaxial satellites image best aimed directly at the listener.
Cons: This is a very specialized system rather than a general desktop-speaker recommendation. The sizeable bass module must stay on the desk and prescribed satellite spacing can conflict with dual or ultrawide monitors; Erin and Joe N Tell both preferred Kali’s LP-6/IN-series alternatives for their own desks. A bump around 100-130Hz and a possible 1.2kHz diffraction feature appeared in Erin’s exploratory anechoic data, but he explicitly cautioned that those measurements do not replicate the required desk geometry. Bass falls away around 40-50Hz despite the separate bass unit. Erin did not publish comparable anechoic F3/F10, sensitivity or impedance figures because the system is designed around a fixed desk arrangement.
Full Kali Audio IN-UNF review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (manufacturer specified; Erin did not publish an anechoic F10) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (manufacturer specified; Erin did not publish an anechoic F3) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Crossovers | 280Hz LF-to-midrange; 2.8kHz midrange-to-HF |
| DSP | Yes (placement/boundary and tonal trims) |
| Dimensions | Bass module: 11.6"H x 19.4"W x 5.25"D; satellites: 6.25" diameter |
| Drivers | Bass module: two opposed 4.5" woofers; satellites: 4" coincident midrange with 1" textile-dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 21kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | USB-C, optical, 3.5mm, balanced TRS |
| Max SPL | 103dB peak at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 100W LF + 60W mid/HF per channel (continuous) |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Dynaudio LYD 5
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Pioneer DJ VM-50
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Klipsch The Fives
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs NHT Pro M-00
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Audioengine A5+ Classic
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Edifier S1000MKII
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Edifier S1000W
- Kali Audio IN-UNF vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- See all 14 comparisons
JBL One Series 104: $129 Amazon
Pros: Heavy internal EQ from the amplifier meaningfully compensates for otherwise poor raw driver measurements, and casual listening on undemanding content sounded like a scaled-down JBL 305P Mark II - well above typical computer-speaker quality for the price. Solid build quality for a $90-130 powered pair with dual built-in amplifiers.
Cons: Measuring the passive drivers alone (bypassing the amplifier’s EQ) showed “no bass, no low mids, and highly irregular highs” - a disaster by the reviewer’s description. Even with the amplifier’s correction applied, there’s an on-axis cancellation around 7.4kHz from the coaxial driver design, and JBL’s own published frequency-response graph uses a compressed 95dB vertical scale that hides real deviations the reviewer’s 50dB-scale CEA-2034 measurement reveals. Female vocals and “lisping” content became bright and annoying; the reviewer’s verdict was “can’t recommend it though if you want a true hi-fi experience.”
Full JBL One Series 104 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz with the amplifier's DSP bass boost active (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz with the amplifier's DSP bass boost active (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 9.7H x 6W x 4.9D in (per manufacturer, 104-BT) |
| Drivers | 4.5" coaxial low-frequency driver, 0.75" soft dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (fixed, amplifier-applied) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 60W total Class D (30W per speaker) |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs / 2.06 kg (master), 3.8 lbs / 1.73 kg (slave) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL One Series 104 vs NHT Pro M-00
- JBL One Series 104 vs Dynaudio LYD 5
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