Short answer: the Pioneer DJ VM-50. The JBL One Series 104 leans on heavy amplifier EQ to compensate for raw drivers that measured with “no bass, no low mids, and highly irregular highs” on their own, a result the reviewer called a disaster. The VM-50’s default axial response is not reference-flat either, but its 96kHz DSP and constant-directivity horn at least give you controls to work with.
Buy the Pioneer DJ VM-50. It is rated higher for sound quality; the JBL One Series 104 is no longer sold new.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Pioneer DJ VM-50 | JBL One Series 104 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $338 per pair | $129 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #25 of 68 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #64 of 68 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 45Hz with the amplifier’s DSP bass boost active (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 35Hz with the amplifier’s DSP bass boost active (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter in horn; 5.25” aramid-fiber woofer | 4.5” coaxial low-frequency driver, 0.75” soft dome tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 30W LF + 30W HF; Class D | 60W total Class D (30W per speaker) |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo and RCA | 1/4” TRS, RCA, 3.5mm Aux |
| DSP | Four LF and four HF EQ settings | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.64 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.00 | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Dimensions | 7.8” x 11.8” x 10.1” (198 x 300 x 256 mm) (W x H x D) | 9.7H x 6W x 4.9D in (per manufacturer, 104-BT) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 36kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) | 4.5 lbs (2.06 kg) (master), 3.8 lbs (1.73 kg) (slave) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (fixed, amplifier-applied) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Pioneer DJ VM-50:
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs Genelec 8331A
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs Neumann KH120 MKII
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs Genelec 8030C
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Pioneer DJ VM-50
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs Dynaudio LYD 5
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Pioneer DJ VM-50: $338 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Erin’s Klippel measurements give scores of 4.64 standalone and 7.00 with an ideal subwoofer, with a -3dB point around 60Hz. The existing review reports low distortion and little sustained compression, supporting practical clean playback beyond what the tonal score alone captures. Separate bass and treble voicings and balanced inputs make adjustment straightforward. Measured bass extension of 61Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The default response spans 3.5dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, and the upper-midrange/treble balance varies with angle. EQ-switch selection and aiming therefore matter. Bass below about 50Hz is reduced, so it is not a full-range substitute for a monitor-and-subwoofer system. Its output evidence supports nearfield use, not unrestricted home-theater levels.
Full Pioneer DJ VM-50 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 30W LF + 30W HF; Class D |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 61Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Four LF and four HF EQ settings |
| Dimensions | 7.8” x 11.8” x 10.1” (198 x 300 x 256 mm) (W x H x D) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter in horn; 5.25” aramid-fiber woofer |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 36kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR/TRS combo and RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.64 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.00 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs Airpulse A100
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs KEF LSX II LT
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs Audioengine A5+ Classic
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs Kali Audio IN-5
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs Adam Audio T5V
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs Kali Audio SM-5
- Pioneer DJ VM-50 vs Kanto YU6
- See all 53 comparisons
JBL One Series 104: $129 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: ASR’s powered-system measurement gives -3dB bass around 72Hz, and the compact coaxial layout is convenient for a small desk. Its internal equalization is part of the working speaker and should be included when assessing it, rather than judging the passive drivers with that correction bypassed. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Even with the active system measured properly, scores are only 1.36 standalone and 4.08 with an ideal subwoofer. The 4.9dB midrange span and a high-frequency cancellation around 7.4kHz indicate significant unevenness; the review also found some vocals bright and irritating. These are results for the original 104, not a verification of the later 104-BT. Discontinued.
Full JBL One Series 104 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W total Class D (30W per speaker) |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| 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) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| 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) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | 1/4” TRS, RCA, 3.5mm Aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs (2.06 kg) (master), 3.8 lbs (1.73 kg) (slave) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL One Series 104 vs Edifier R1280T
- JBL One Series 104 vs NHT Pro M-00
- JBL One Series 104 vs Edifier R1280DB
- JBL One Series 104 vs Edifier R1700BT
- JBL One Series 104 vs Audioengine HD4
- JBL One Series 104 vs Kali Audio IN-UNF
- JBL One Series 104 vs Edifier S1000MKII
- JBL One Series 104 vs Edifier S1000W
- See all 41 comparisons