Short answer: the JBL 708P for on- and off-axis consistency, the Neumann KH 150 for easier placement. The 708P’s CEA2034 spinorama shows extremely good response on and off axis with excellent horizontal directivity, though a port resonance adds a mild rise around 600-900Hz and its narrow vertical dispersion means staying within a few degrees of the tweeter axis. The KH 150 counters with a 0.69 listening window smoothness score and 39.6Hz extension.
What the Neumann KH 150 offers: Neumann’s Mathematically Modelled Dispersion waveguide produces a listening window smoothness score of 0.69 with a steadily narrowing directivity index through the treble, and the 6.5 inch woofer reaches a genuine 39.6Hz extension point. Watch for: The sound power directivity index has the widest standard deviation of any speaker in this batch, 3.89, meaning off axis energy tracks the on axis response a little less consistently than the tightest speakers here as frequency rises.
Buy the Neumann KH 150. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL 708P and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Neumann KH 150 | JBL 708P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,398 per pair | $4000 per pair |
| Ranked | #8 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #39 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | ported | - |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter, 6.5” woofer | 8” woofer, 2409H 1” compression driver |
| Dimensions | 13.6”H x 8.9”W x 10.7”D (345 x 225 x 273 mm) | 17.2”H x 9.8”W x 11.5”D (438 x 248 x 292 mm) |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs (8.0 kg) each | 25.1 lbs (11.4 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 245W total (145W woofer, 100W tweeter, 10% THD+N) | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz-20.4kHz +/-3dB | 41Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 39.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 43.9Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.7kHz | - |
| Warranty | 2 years | - |
| Country | Germany | - |
| Maximum SPL | 118.7dB @ 1m half space (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.65 | 5.03 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.38 | 6.91 |
| Inputs | XLR (balanced analog), RCA S/PDIF (digital) | XLR/TRS combo (analog), XLR AES3 (digital) |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | Yes | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Neumann KH 150 compares with other leading options:
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- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH 150
- Neumann KH420 vs Neumann KH 150
- Genelec 8361A vs Neumann KH 150
Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 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
Neumann KH 150: $3,398 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: An exceptionally tight 1.0dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz supports neutral vocals and instruments. The measured ideal-subwoofer score is 8.38, with -3dB bass extension to 39.6Hz. DSP and optional MA 1 alignment offer useful control over room-related response errors. Measured bass extension of 39.6Hz (-3dB).
Cons: A two-way nearfield monitor cannot match the largest three-way systems for deep-bass output at distance. Keep the tweeter near ear height to avoid crossover-related changes off the vertical axis. MA 1 calibration requires additional equipment, and studio connections are less convenient than a consumer streaming system.
Full Neumann KH 150 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 245W total (145W woofer, 100W tweeter, 10% THD+N) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 39.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | Yes |
| Country | Germany |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.7kHz |
| Dimensions | 13.6”H x 8.9”W x 10.7”D (345 x 225 x 273 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter, 6.5” woofer |
| Enclosure | ported |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz-20.4kHz +/-3dB |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR (balanced analog), RCA S/PDIF (digital) |
| Maximum SPL | 118.7dB @ 1m half space (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.65 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.38 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs (8.0 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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