Short answer: the Kali Audio LP-8 V2, if you are buying new. The Thomann Swissonic A306 ranks higher than it (#54 vs #74 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers, 4.3/5 vs 4.1/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Kali Audio LP-8 V2 is still sold new at $598.
Why pick 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. The catch: 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.
What the Thomann Swissonic A306 does well: Affordable studio monitors with useful bass and tone controls that make a capable budget setup when carefully tuned. Watch for: The published result is not the flat-control setting: it specifically uses -2dB treble.
Buy the Kali Audio LP-8 V2 new; the Thomann Swissonic A306 is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Kali Audio LP-8 V2 | Thomann Swissonic A306 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $598 per pair | $250 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #74 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #54 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, ported | - |
| Drivers | 1” soft dome tweeter, 8” woofer | 6.5” woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 10”W x 11.3”D (419 x 254 x 286 mm) | 8.8”W x 14.2”H x 11.1”D (224 x 361 x 282 mm) |
| Weight | 19.8 lbs (9 kg) each | 13.6 lbs (6.17 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 100W total, bi-amped (60W LF, 40W HF) | 100W bi-amplified total (50W + 50W, Class D) |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA | XLR (balanced), RCA (unbalanced) |
| Country | United States (design) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.94 | 5.41 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.68 | 7.29 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| 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) | 43Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | - | 89.9dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DSP | - | Yes (rear-panel treble/bass trim, wall/near-wall placement switches) |
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