Short answer: the JBL 306P MKII. Both are rated 4.1/5 for sound quality (#70 and #74 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers), and the JBL 306P MKII costs $498 against $598 for the Kali Audio LP-8 V2, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
The case for the Kali Audio LP-8 V2: An affordable 8 inch studio monitor with bass deep enough for music without a subwoofer and low hiss at a desk. Watch for: The 3.8dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 6.68 ideal-subwoofer score show less even tonality than the smaller Kali Audio LP-6 V2.
Why pick the JBL 306P MKII: A very affordable nearfield studio monitor with useful bass, wide coverage, and simple boundary controls. The catch: The 3.4dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz is less even than the JBL 308P MKII’s, with midrange resonances affecting neutrality.
Buy the JBL 306P MKII. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $100 less than the Kali Audio LP-8 V2.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Kali Audio LP-8 V2 | JBL 306P MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $598 per pair | $498 per pair |
| Ranked | #74 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #70 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, ported | - |
| Drivers | 1” soft dome tweeter, 8” woofer | 6.5” woofer, 1” neodymium tweeter |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 10”W x 11.3”D (419 x 254 x 286 mm) | 16.1”H x 11.2”W x 12.9”D (408 x 285 x 328 mm) |
| Weight | 19.8 lbs (9 kg) each | 13.4 lbs (6.1 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 100W total, bi-amped (60W LF, 40W HF) | 112W total |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA | XLR, 1/4” TRS |
| Country | United States (design) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.94 | 5.06 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.68 | 6.94 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 37Hz - 25kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 39Hz - 24kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 46.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 38.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
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