Short answer: the Yamaha HS5 for better sound quality, the JBL One Series 104 for the lower price. The Yamaha HS5 ranks #13 of 58 powered bookshelf speakers at $339.98. The JBL One Series 104 ranks #56 at $129, $210.98 cheaper.
What the Yamaha HS5 offers: Very neutral. Excellent for mixing and anything needing a neutral output. Watch for: Not quite as deep of bass as some of the others in this size class. Slight midrange boost.
What the JBL One Series 104 offers: Heavy internal EQ from the amplifier meaningfully compensates for otherwise poor raw driver measurements, and casual listening on undemanding content sounded like a scaled-down JBL 305P Mark II - well above typical computer-speaker quality for the price. Solid build quality for a $90-130 powered pair with dual built-in amplifiers. Watch for: Measuring the passive drivers alone (bypassing the amplifier’s EQ) showed “no bass, no low mids, and highly irregular highs” - a disaster by the reviewer’s description. Even with the amplifier’s correction applied, there’s an on-axis cancellation around 7.4kHz from the coaxial driver design, and JBL’s own published frequency-response graph uses a compressed 95dB vertical scale that hides real deviations the reviewer’s 50dB-scale CEA-2034 measurement reveals. Female vocals and “lisping” content became bright and annoying; the reviewer’s verdict was “can’t recommend it though if you want a true hi-fi experience.”
Buy the Yamaha HS5 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL One Series 104 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the JBL One Series 104. It ranks near the bottom of the 58 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha HS5 | JBL One Series 104 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $339.98 | $129 |
| Ranked | #13 of 58 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #56 of 58 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 88Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 45Hz with the amplifier’s DSP bass boost active (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 35Hz with the amplifier’s DSP bass boost active (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 11.2"H x 6.7"W x 8.7"D (284.5 x 170.2 x 221 mm) | 9.7H x 6W x 4.9D in (per manufacturer, 104-BT) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR | - |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg each | 4.5 lbs / 2.06 kg (master), 3.8 lbs / 1.73 kg (slave) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer | 4.5" coaxial low-frequency driver, 0.75" soft dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (fixed, amplifier-applied) |
| Output Power | 45w Per Speaker | 60W total Class D (30W per speaker) |
| DSP | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 24, 2026 at 6:53 AM 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
Yamaha HS5: $339.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Very neutral. Excellent for mixing and anything needing a neutral output.
Cons: Not quite as deep of bass as some of the others in this size class. Slight midrange boost.
Full Yamaha HS5 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 88Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 11.2"H x 6.7"W x 8.7"D (284.5 x 170.2 x 221 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Output Power | 45w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
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- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Yamaha HS5 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL One Series 104: $129 Amazon eBay
Pros: Heavy internal EQ from the amplifier meaningfully compensates for otherwise poor raw driver measurements, and casual listening on undemanding content sounded like a scaled-down JBL 305P Mark II - well above typical computer-speaker quality for the price. Solid build quality for a $90-130 powered pair with dual built-in amplifiers.
Cons: Measuring the passive drivers alone (bypassing the amplifier’s EQ) showed “no bass, no low mids, and highly irregular highs” - a disaster by the reviewer’s description. Even with the amplifier’s correction applied, there’s an on-axis cancellation around 7.4kHz from the coaxial driver design, and JBL’s own published frequency-response graph uses a compressed 95dB vertical scale that hides real deviations the reviewer’s 50dB-scale CEA-2034 measurement reveals. Female vocals and “lisping” content became bright and annoying; the reviewer’s verdict was “can’t recommend it though if you want a true hi-fi experience.”
Full JBL One Series 104 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| 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) |
| Output Power | 60W total Class D (30W per speaker) |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs / 2.06 kg (master), 3.8 lbs / 1.73 kg (slave) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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