Short answer: the Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus. It ranks #12 of 42 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $499.99; the JBL 705P ranks #18 and costs $1998, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus: Genuinely neutral tonal balance in a small desktop-class powered speaker - a rarity in this size and price range, where the reviewer says most competitors have a scooped mid-range, one-note bass. The tradeoff: An 8th-order Butterworth high-pass at 58Hz sharply limits bass below that point - F3 measures 92Hz and F10 53Hz, so kick drum fundamentals and true low end need a subwoofer.
On the JBL 705P side: CEA2034 spinorama shows flat response with excellent directivity, similar to its larger 708P sibling. Set against that: A cancellation around 750Hz (likely port-related) and a bit of boosted response at the 1.75kHz crossover show up in the on-axis curve.
Buy the Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL 705P and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus | JBL 705P | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $1998 |
| Ranked | #12 of 42 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #18 of 42 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 4" aluminum cone woofer, 4" long-throw passive radiator, 1" soft dome tweeter | 5" woofer, 2409H 1" compression driver |
| Output Power | 120W total (Class D) | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth (aptX HD), USB (24-bit/96kHz), Toslink Optical (24-bit/96kHz), 3.5mm Analog | - |
| Dimensions | 8.5"H x 5.5"W x 6"D | 10.6"H x 5.9"W x 10.8"D (268 x 151 x 274 mm) |
| Weight | 7 lbs each | 12.6 lbs / 5.7 kg each |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 92Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 88.5dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| DSP | Yes (8th-order Butterworth high-pass at 58Hz) | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 39Hz - 36kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Kali Audio IN-5
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Yamaha HS5
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Presonus Eris E5
- JBL 705P vs Edifier S1000MKII
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus
The Two Speakers In Full
Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus: $499.99 Amazon
Pros: Genuinely neutral tonal balance in a small desktop-class powered speaker - a rarity in this size and price range, where the reviewer says most competitors have a scooped mid-range, one-note bass, and piercing V-shaped highs. Flexible mounting: flip the cabinet orientation to angle the tweeter up for flat-desktop placement or level for stand-mount ear height. Subwoofer output with auto-sense, so it engages automatically when a sub is connected. Wide input selection - Bluetooth aptX HD, USB (24-bit/96kHz), Toslink, and 3.5mm analog. Distortion stays reasonable (below 3%) up to about 88dB, and multitone distortion at max output (96dB) is the only real weak point.
Cons: An 8th-order Butterworth high-pass at 58Hz sharply limits bass below that point - F3 measures 92Hz and F10 53Hz, so kick drum fundamentals and true low end need a subwoofer. Very sensitive to ear height relative to the tweeter: sitting even slightly above the tweeter axis scoops out the 2-4kHz upper mid-range. Multitone distortion at maximum output (96dB) is high enough to add noticeable vocal graininess - stick closer to 88dB for clean output. The reviewer’s only real gripe is wishing it extended lower, which he acknowledges is an unreasonable ask for a speaker this size.
Full Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 92Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| DSP | Yes (8th-order Butterworth high-pass at 58Hz) |
| Dimensions | 8.5"H x 5.5"W x 6"D |
| Drivers | 4" aluminum cone woofer, 4" long-throw passive radiator, 1" soft dome tweeter |
| Inputs | Bluetooth (aptX HD), USB (24-bit/96kHz), Toslink Optical (24-bit/96kHz), 3.5mm Analog |
| Output Power | 120W total (Class D) |
| Sensitivity | 88.5dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 7 lbs each |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus vs Kali Audio IN-5
- Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus vs Yamaha HS5
- Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus vs KRK Rokit 5 G4
- Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus vs Adam Audio T5V
- Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus vs Presonus Eris E5 XT
- Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus vs JBL 305P MKII
- Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII
- Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM
- See all 23 comparisons
JBL 705P: $1998 Bhphotovideo
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows flat response with excellent directivity, similar to its larger 708P sibling. Bi-amplified 500W design (250W woofer, 250W compression driver) into a 5” woofer and JBL’s 2409H compression tweeter.
Cons: A cancellation around 750Hz (likely port-related) and a bit of boosted response at the 1.75kHz crossover show up in the on-axis curve. Sits right around the ear’s most sensitive hearing range near 100Hz, so that region is partially audible even at modest levels.
Full JBL 705P review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 10.6"H x 5.9"W x 10.8"D (268 x 151 x 274 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" woofer, 2409H 1" compression driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 36kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 500W total (250W woofer, 250W tweeter) |
| Weight | 12.6 lbs / 5.7 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons