Features:

  • Flexible connectivity with balanced XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs, +4dBu / -10dBV input-sensitivity switch and adjustable volume control
  • Broad sweet spot: neutral frequency response across a wide area allows you to fine-tune your mix even while listening off-axis
  • Updated HF and LF transducers: new design improvements result in optimized damping for superior transient response and impressive deep bass with lower harmonic distortion
  • New boundary EQ: restores neutral low frequency response when speakers are placed on the work surface and adjacent to walls
  • Pair with the JBL LSR310S Powered Studio Subwoofer to extend your LF range all the way down!Input Sensitivity:92dB / 1m (-10dBV Input)
The dimensions provided by Amazon are incorrect!

These sound incredible but I'm sure you knew that. Not going to cover that as everybody else has but there's one thing I wanted to point out. Dimensions as listed by Amazon, not sure if they're packaging or speaker dimensions but they're both wrong either way: 12.3 x 10.4 x 14.3 inches Real dimensions of the speaker: Height: 11.75 inches Width: 7.33 inches Depth: 9.5 inches Hope this helps somebody. EDIT: Wrote this review a little under a year ago and since Amazon has changed the listed dimensions to (15 x 13 x 10 inches). This is still incorrect but probably more closely resembles the box in which each speaker comes in which I still have.

Phenominal Speakers - Best I've owned so far

I thought BOSE sounded fine and never really tried anything else (figured that I wasn't missing out all that much) and any speaker considered 'good' would cost $2000+ and required a larger cabinet to fill a room. I always wanted to try a set of studio monitors for listening to music and decided that these were the ones based on just about every review (all highly positive) I read and, at this price, why not?! Intended to use this only for my Turntable but the sound out of these things are so stellar I'm using it for all my music playing. Hooked up my COWON x7 and it's amazing to listen to mp3's and flac files through these speakers they sound fantastic. The BOSE is currently unplugged and going into storage until I can figure out what to use it for (not for serious music listening, that's for sure). The clarity of these monitors are simply astounding and the bass is phenomenal. I agree with another reviewer here for regular casual music listening (pretty loud) a sub woofer isn't needed. Like him, I tried a sub woofer and like the sound better with just the monitors themselves. The low end on these things are fantastic and quite amazing considering they are only 5" woofers. Still sound clean and accurate a higher volumes. Don't feel the need to get any extra bass and I really, really like bass heavy music. Some people inidcate an audible hiss from their speakers -- I hear nothing like that from mine. Perfectly silent. I did buy TISINO Dual RCA to XLR Male Cable, 2 XLR to 2 RCA/Phono Plug (no phase shifting benefit whatsover, just liked the xlr connector) and these excellent cables are a perfect compliment for these speakers. I'm sure the audiophiles dropping $10K on speakers would say these aren't 'all that', but as a definite non-audiophile level fussy person I think these are 'all that' and more.

Hands down best sounding speaker for the $$$

If you can catch these on sale, these are hands down the best speakers you can get for the $$$. Now let me start off by admitting that by all accounts the Yamaha HS8s are more accurate studio monitors, and virtually every direct comparisons between the JBL LSR308 and the Yamaha HS8s favor the Yamaha that I've seen. However, I don't think that's a fair comparison any more because these speakers regularly go on sale now. On sale you can get these JBLs for about 1/3 the price of the Yamahas (since the newer model has been released). These went on sale twice after Black Friday, but I've yet to see the Yamahas go on sale. With that significant a price difference I don't think you can compare the 2 sets of monitors fairly. If your budget allows for $600+ or you need monitors for professional work get the Yamaha. Many professional musicians use the Yamaha series in their smaller personal studios. However, if you're looking for something more budget friendly these are an absolutely amazing value. Personal note, it took a few days for my ears to adjust to the sound, but once they did they impressed me even more. These have great imaging and reveal a lot of detail. Much more so than any other speaker I've heard in this price range. 14 MONTH UPDATE: "These have great imaging and reveal a lot of detail. Much more so than any other speaker I've heard in this price range" I'd stand by that statement with this clarification....as great as they are, they aren't quite the level you need for doing serious audio work. I am in the process of ripping a lot of old vinyl to FLAC. I've also learned a good deal (vs when I bought these) about sound quality and music production software... I've been using some basic "mastering" techniques...mainly small EQ changes (1db or less), very light compression and limiting (generally less than 2db GR). My focus has been preserving the dynamics as much as possible while trying to get the volume up on old vinyl so there isn't a huge/jarring volume drop off from old rips playing vs newer music as personal playlists play. I am able to compare some vinyl rips on the JBLs vs a Bang & Olufsen system (the B & O isn't hooked up to computer so I need audio files of vinyl). The B & O system is much more accurate and flat. (keep in mind it's also a LOT more expensive). Honestly was quite surprised as the B & O being hifi...I thought it would color the sound to a more pleasing spectrum, but they actually are much more neutral as I said. The B & O system revealed a lot of flaws throughout the full spectrum range that I wasn't hearing in the JBLs. The "problem" with the JBLs is that poorly EQ'ed/mastered/whatever songs still sound really good. A track that sounded great on the JBLs would be revealed by the B & O system to have muddy or boomy low mid and sub bass, harsh highs, or tinny/thin sounding mids. It's enough of an issue that I'm honestly a bit frustrated as I don't trust the JBLs at all at this point for any post-rip processing, and debating if it's even worthwhile to rip anything until I get a better ripping setup (primarily better monitors and maybe even some mild computer room treatment). So in summary, the problem with the JBLs is that they actually sound too good for music production. They are a phenomenal value for a general purpose speaker, but for music production you want a speaker that doesn't hide flaws (and even worse, make those flaws sound good), you want to hear what's wrong with the mix. So if you're doing serious audio work, save your $$$ get something else. The $600-1k price point seems to be where you start to get fairly consistent positive reviews of studio monitors by actual working professionals (ie not some "snake oil audio youtuber"). Genelec, Yamaha, Neumann, Focal, DynAudio, etc. all make pretty good options, and the ultimate choice is a bit of personal taste. Also, don't be afraid to go used as that will greatly increase your buying power. That said....If you're simply looking for a general purpose speaker for a desktop computer, you can't beat these for the price.

Good Value for Money, But With Stands Becomes Great

Using these on my desktop in my home office / hobbyist DAW. Currently running a Schiit Mjolnir 2 straight to to the LSR305 pair over balanced / XLR connection. All trim settings are currently set to flat. Speakers are currently sitting on Iso Acoustics stands, which make a huge improvement in sound. My listening position is about 3 feet / 1 meter from the speakers -- true nearfield. Previous speakers were Dynaudio Audience 42, which were purchased about 10 years ago for about $850 a pair. There are a few things the Dynaudios are better at (treble is a little smoother, midrange a little lusher, overall max volume a tad higher, box a tad smaller and more solid, better fit and finish), but overall the JBL LSR305s are better at pretty much everything else (low frequency extension, dynamic punch, quickness, decay, dispersion, more detailed and revealing) and have replaced the EISA award-winning Audience 42 in my desktop system. The JBLs are much closer to the speed and dynamics of the Martin Logan electrostatics in my main living room rig. Overall, the JBL LSR305 pair beats the Dynaudio Audience 42s convincingly on rock, disco, electronica, dance, and pop. No contest at all. For acoustic, classical, and jazz, it's more of stalemate, with the Dyns being darker, lusher, and smoother and the JBLs being more dynamic (both micro- and macro-) and more 'live' sounding; it's hard to say which I prefer for these genres. Tube-rolling the Mjolnir 2 may add a touch of lushness back. Also, the JBLs are more revealing of lossy and dynamic compression artifacts in MP3s, whereas the Dynaudios were more forgiving. Some songs that were borderline on the Dyns have become noticeably inferior on the JBLs. Not more fatiguing...just noticeably more 'meh'. As for the stands: adding the Iso Acoustics stands is amazing upgrade, especially for the price. Cabinet resonances go down, bass gets tighter, imaging improves immensely. But boundary reflections go down, so you have have to reposition / re-EQ to get tonality back where you want it. However, stands are essential to get the most if you're going to use it on a desktop. Little nits that still need work: 1. The top-most octave has more air than I'm used to. I have to decide if I like this, or if I want to dial it back either via the trim controls or other EQ. 2. Imaging -- the center-fill and phantom center is really really good, the best I've heard on a desktop. However, I haven't got the soundstage beyond the boundaries of the left and right speakers yet. However, this could be a result of positioning / placement, how close I sit, etc. Will need to fiddle around a little more. 3. The box could be a bit deader. Just to be clear, I don't hear it audibly resonating, buzzing, or otherwise making noise. But I can tell, compared to the best mini monitors I've heard or owned, it's a bit more acoustically live which means the magical sensation of 'the boxes disappearing' isn't happening 100%. More like 70%. (For the record, the best box speaker disappearing act I've heard was the original NHT Super Zero, but those little guys only went down to about 80 Hz and the box was teeny tiny, but solid as a brick). We'll see if / how much the Iso Acoustics stands improve this. 4. The hiss: others have reported this, I didn't ever notice this or hear it until I read about it. And, yes, my copies have hiss, too when nothing is playing, but I can only hear it if I put my ears about 3" from the drivers. It's not otherwise noticeable. 5. Subwoofer or not? I've heard the matching 10" LSR310s subwoofer integrated with the LSR305 at a local Guitar Center it's a great pairing for the money for music and for nearfield listening. Do I need it? No. In my ~10' x 10' home office / hobby mixing studio, the 305s put out a musically satisfying amount of bass. Kick drums are wicked fast and dynamic, electric bass is tight and groovy. For mixing, it's great, as the 43 Hz extension covers the lowest note on a bass guitar. What's missing is the last 5% of visceral impact...feeling it in my body...that 5" drivers just can't do. But with bass, less is often more and there is a fine line where more bass just turns into more problems. I've told myself I'll live with these guys for at least a month, getting them more broken in, before I make a decision about adding a subwoofer. I paid ~$250 for my pair. Sometimes you can get it even cheaper. This is an *astounding* value. The fact that it can go toe-to-toe in a near field setting with (albeit a bit vintage) Dynaudios that cost almost 4x the price is an impressive testament to JBLs engineering of these monitors. I'm tempted to get a 2nd pair and hook it up to an Airport Express for easy Airplay streaming in other rooms of my house. If I ever had to move to an apartment, condo or other setting where I could no longer have my beloved Martin Logan electrostats, I could be pretty damn happy long term with a pair of JBL LSR305 and a great set of headphones.

Best Studio Monitors under $250. You won't be dissapointed.

The best studio monitors at this price level, PERIOD. They produce sound accurately and clearly for film and music production. The response is flat enough where it counts and they combo as great speakers for enjoying any kind of entertainment partnered with a sub. I use them every day, and I couldn't be happier. I've used plenty of monitors, and these are my go to's at my home studio and at the office. HOW THEY COMPARE They aren't as clear and flat as the Yamaha HS5's but they have much clearer lows and mids, lacking that 'tinny' quality and sound more accurate to how people enjoy entertainment without sacrificing clarity. They aren't as bass heavy KRK Rokit 5G3's, but they also aren't as muddy as the KRK Rokit 5G3's and have a much clearer treble response. They kill the M-Audio BX8's in every single way—the BX8's are muddy, dull, and hard to listen through. Terrible, really, do not buy M-Audio for accurate audio, and I'd say the same thing for the Mackie CR4's. The Presonus Eris E8's just aren't it either. The only opponent I'd say these have are the Adam Audio A7X's, which have a much lower bass frequency response and a much more accurate high response, and are just the best monitors I've ever used all around. The thing is, the Adam Audio A7X's are $750 EACH. You can often pick these up for less than $250 a pair. So just do it. Buy the LSR305's now. Save up. These are the speakers you've always wanted and you've never heard anything like them. What are you even waiting for?

The hype is justified but make sure to use a truly balanced preamp

Jumped on the MKIIs Thanksgiving sale ($90 each) for desktop use with my PC as source. Being a skeptical sort, I was apprehensive of the incessant hype from various forums for the SLR305 predecessors, chiefly cause, well, none of the many youtube AB sound demos (for what they're worth) wowed me at all, and I read issues of hissing and bright Class D treble nasties, which I can't stand. Thankfully, I get none of these from the MKIIs. I'd summarize their sound as follows: imaging is big, separation is very good, bass is dynamic, mids are well-balanced; not recessed, not thin, not sticking out, not syrupy, just well-behaved, and treble is detailed, extended, polite, sweet and never harsh. Hmm, I'm really impressed overall. A couple nitpicks, yeah I'd have preferred they'd kept the more industrial matte baffle instead of this new gloss plastic front trim. Also, the +4db / -10db sensitivity switch is more like a recessed slider for which you need like a micro screwdriver to adjust - it's not like the eq or boundary switches and doesn't "click" at either end; you need to futz to set it properly. Why not just use a normal switch? Finally, you really want to run these fully balanced to get the most out of the onboard amps. I first hooked up my full home rig source (USB-AES converter > balanced DAC-preamp) to the +4db XLR inputs with the JBL volume pots set to max and the sound is fantastico! No hiss, tons of detail and presence at all volume levels. But I could barely fit all this on my desk. So unfortunately, I have to be pragmatic and right now am running 3.5mm unbalanced stereo direct from the PC to the JBL's TRS jacks set to -10db. Got to be honest, running unbalanced TRS is a massive step down from balanced XLR. It's still fine, but nowhere near what the JBLs are capable of. I tried running the JBLs at "5" volume and max out the PC and this sounded much worse than running the JBLs at max with the Windows mixer down at a piddly "5" (out of 100). The first way round robs the sound of tons of detail and body. You lose fine volume control this way, and you're effecting the old school no-no truncation from windows decimating the digital source, but still the speakers sound better like this. I'll continue fiddling, but be aware, if you can run these truly balanced with a good preamp at +4db sensitivty, do that, please.

Best Studio Monitors for the $

I should preface by saying these are my first pair of studio monitors for my own personal use, but I have used the LSR305's in a different environment before. That being said, I chose these over the competing monitors in this price range (Rokit, Yamaha, Mackie) because of their incredible low end response. I seriously doubt you'll find a better pair of studio monitors for the price, JBL has outdone themselves again. I will note that I experience a "hiss" or white noise when these are powered on and connected via my Focusrite Scarlett. Many people have complained about this on the LSR305's but I don't really notice it all that much.

Clarity Beyond Comprehension

Cons: The shiny gloss plastic is a dust magnet, finger print magnet, and scratch magnet. Pros: Literally everything else. These are incredible speakers with clarity that I haven't ever experienced, I wish I had more words for these but simply put: just buy them. Words cannot adequately describe how accurate these monitors reproduce the entire song with separation between each instrument. It feels like I'm listening to songs for the first time, but I've heard them for years. Incredible.

Bigger than expected

Amazing dynamic range, a lot bigger in size than I expected though (See attached picture; JBL LSR305, 308, and 310).

Sounds great, hissing noise due to built in amp

Do not pay more than $160 for these, the price dropped after the M2 came out. Even the 305s go for $75 - $130 each Good lows. Better to buy 2 of these instead of something like a JBL LSR305 pair + sub. Some hissing noise if you turn up the amp / volume on the speaker. Doesn't bother that much at 1 feet away, but noticeable. Turn down the speaker volume and raise it on your PC if that's what you're using it for. These things are enormous. I have the largest desk Ikea sells and if you're using a big monitor or an ultra-wide you might not be able to fit 2 them on your desk. Stands are expensive so I have them partially hanging off. I also don't get the angle that I want until I get monitor stands or a new desk obviously. Make sure to buy 2 from this product page, it is not sold in pairs and you'll have to wait for it to be in stock. Need to buy your own cable. The included rubber feet are pathetic so you'll need to buy your own isolation pads too.

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