I had these exact speakers, but i upgraded to lsr308s. The bass DEFINITELY DOES NOT cut at 80hz. The rated frequency response is actually pretty accurate. I'd say the lowest note I could hit with a sine wave was a sub bass note E, with F being a bit more comfortable. I'd actually say that for a 5" woofer, I've rarely heard on par bass response to these. These ones definitely provide solid, yet accurate low end.
And the volume knobs on the back can easily be set all the way up. Since they are powered monitors, they are built to be able to go to max volume without distortion, through the manufactured configuration of the speakers and amp. Most often with powered monitors, the manufacturer won't let the speakers get to a level where they could distort or damage themselves. I've cranked mine all the way before for a party, and man, they sure can take it, easily.
They have been used by pros all over the world. For the price. Exceptional. JBL makes some of the best speakers on earth. You should look into their history. I'm not saying these are the best studio monitors on earth. But for the price. They are very good.
Rear port works great if you can point them into a 3 point corner. Aim them to your position at your station. You should be as close to center position of an X Y Z axis point as you can get.
Actually, rear ported monitors can do just fine close to a wall and if they are near a wall, the closer the better. Plus there's a LF trim to compensate for any boundary issues. Saying rear ported monitors suffer near a wall as a statement of fact just isn't true in many cases
These have been my sole pair of monitors and I've struggled to get mixes to translate to other systems. They are flattering. They don't scream at you if something's wrong with the mix. Maybe i'm still learning how to use them.
@@phasor50ince your review is 5 y.o. and I used these monitor for some years, I’ll tell you were right about the jbls… in my opinion they are too clean and round that you can’t hear things correctly, so any detail is lost… Another problem is that they lack of loudness, there’s like a gap in the mids and high’s that made me boost those frequency like crazy for the first 2-3 years I owned these speakers 😂 I’ll buy soon some CLEAR hs8 and I’ll use these speakers in my living room or throw them away in the trash. p.s. they do sound good and nice but just for production or listening to music… for example I don’t hear reverbs or delays correctly and I got used to not hearing things 😂
I own these pair of speakers. The imaging in these speakers are like 3D you can actually feel where the singer or the instrument is located in front of you. I use these for mixing with my ATH-M40x which I think the Headphone equivalent of LSR305...
If you use these on a desk or console, absolutely spend $100 on a pair of IsoAcoustics stands. The upgrade in performance is very significant-- better bass definition, better imaging, much less congestion. If yours are sitting directly on the desk or on foam, books, blocks, etc, you simply haven't heard what these monitors can do.
I don't know where the reviewer got 80-100 for the lower frequency of these speakers but they will go deeper even down in the 40s but won't have much authority and could exhibit port chuffing that low. These are designed to be studio monitors with a flat response unlike most consumer speakers that usually have a curved frequency response that appeals to most ears. This flat response usually lends itself to a tighter more refined bass response which might have given the reviewer the impression they don't get any lower than 80 but they do. If you're going to use them applications other than studio monitor he was correct, they do need a sub which was designed for lower frequencies. That will allow the sub to take the load off the 305s in the lower range and allow it to preform better in the mid and upper range.
yeah, my groundloop was only audible when there was load on the cpu or GPU, but when it was on, IT WAS ON...i fixed it by plugging a little DAC into my PC-Soundcard, via optic cable. I can highly recommend them, Dynavoice Mini-DAC I and II. Anybody that says that these 20-25 dollar parts somehow cut your experience or "steal soundinformation" simply has no clue. As long as all you need is 2x RCA outputs youre good, no matter if your speakers cost 300 or 3000 dollars.
You're using them horizontally, aimed at your stomach, and placed directly reflecting off a desktop surface. Get them vertical, pointed at your head, and at least isolated from your desk. The way you have them now is so detrimental to acoustic performance.
By the way, if for any reason you want to use them horizontally, at least position them so that their tweeters are on the outsides, since the majority of the stereo sound of the sound is best heard in the higher frequencies (just like for the opposite reason, subwoofers are often produced in mono).
Jay’s take: Hey, would these monitors sound good and give the,so hyped stereo image etc. place them horizontally instead? Just wanted to know your opinion as I read someplace else that the monitors perform best if placed vertically. Thx!
hiss does not go away with bal input, his is here when no audio cables are connected so great for the price but 305 has this tweeter hiss problem (like 90% of entry level powered speakers with shitty class D amp, mackie cr4 first gen has class AB amp that does not hiss but sound is worse than 305). kali lp6 v2 or adam f5 are a bit more expensive but their hiss is inaudible
I own a pair. you could buy one on sale for $100 at guitar center, and has very similar frequency response to L88 which was about 8 times biggerin volume and had very flat frequency response. soft dome tweeter misses JBL high frequency sparkle but many listeners would actually prefer. it does go down to 40 Hz no problem, so no need for a sub woofer. I'm listening to this video on them right now, best entry level speakers no doubt.
We shouldn't have to guess what you meant. Say what you mean or annotate. To be accurate, you should have said 41 w for each driver, not each speaker. The speaker has two drivers. At least get your vocabulary lcorrect-next, it would help to have something of value to say. It would also help for you to orient your speakers the way they were designed to be used-vertically, and off the desk surface, not as here 7:00. I think you are out of your depth-at least for reviewing speakers. Sorry.
ugh, that port technology isnt describing the rear ports rather the front flare from the HF tweeters. the reason the flare like that is to widen the sweet spot of the listener. They are effective. usually if I move my head front of back just a little, it really throws the phase off. but keep in mind, my B monitors are mackie CR3's not great. but not the worst either
Hi Jay, nice video. I'm gonna buy the 305's. I'm gonna connect them to my pc. Which is the right solution ? Connect them with the Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 (audio interface) or with the JBL nano patch plus which comes in a bundle with the 305's ? Thank you
Thanks! So, If you need the audio interface and are looking for an all-in-one solution (interface/dac/headphone amp), it looks like the Behringer will do what you want, just hook the LSR305s up to the 1/4" outputs on the back and use the volume knob to control the signal going to them. The downside to this is that it's an audio interface + dac + amp, all-in-one, so you'll be sacrificing the audio quality of the dac and amp, compared to a standalone dac/amp solution. If you're just looking for a volume control, then the Nano Patch+ looks like a solid little piece of hardware and will work perfectly for controlling the volume coming from a DAC (or other source like a phone/PC).
Thanks for posting this. It's very informative. Instead of using a Go Rack, can I connect the speakers directly to the DAC using an XLR male to RCA Male cable directly to the DAC?
For sure, I use the JBL 305P's and even though I mainly use them for music production and mixing they can for sure give you theater level sound experience. I also noticed that if you go further away from them the bass becomes more bigger, and with that waive guide you'll definitely hear sounds all around. I was watching the "Purge 2" just for background noise cause it gets quite where I live, but when the gun shots part came in I was extremely amazed on how much low end they put out for a 5 inch speaker, can't imagine that 8 inch in my room though, overall definitely worth the purchase.
These speakers go down to 45 hz with authority,I don't know why you say that they cut off at 80/90 hz.They get above 100 dB in overall spl....imaging is best in class and above....best speakers you can buy at that price range.to find a better sounding monitors you need to go up in class($) quite a bit....
I know this is the LSR305 and not he MKii, but I have the MKii 305ps and an 80 inch desk with these guys on stands on each end. I can sometimes hear things behind me and definitely off to the side. You may have them a little close (which you mentioned) I guess th Elacs can do the same and not need as much space.
I would say the best entry level monitor speakers since I went through a similar issue couple of days ago. I like the jbl for instrumentals, but for the overall package I think the HS5 would be better option for the entry level monitor speakers. And if you want next level with a bit more bass. HS7.
HS5 have no bass, they disappear at 80hz, they should only be used with a subwoofer (or two). HS5 are hard to listen, they are harsh, they don't give pleasure, they are analytical and sterile. They should be used in a studio. LSR305 are good for pleasure and also for mixing.
Guys, if you are mixing for full range listening, you need a sub, so just get over it and get one! These are just way too sloppy for me to mix with. I suggest headphones or MagnePan electrostatics, if you want to hear what's going on.
Very informative video! I saw you had the speakers fairly close to your wall in your desktop setup, doesn't the bass reflect on this since the port is on the back? That is my main hesitation about buying these. My desk is only 60cm deep (I'm european) and the speakers are about 25cm deep, so that would leave me a maximum of +/- 25cm (9.85 inches) of space (considering the cables) between the wall and the port (I would like it to be less than that). Would that be sufficient to not have a lot of bass reflecting of my wall? Thanks!
If you're listening loudly, it could be an issue. I don't tend to crank up the volume that much at my desk, so the bass reflections aren't an issue for me. You're looking at about the same amount of space behind the speakers that I have.
I'm need honest advice, I'm playing Rock music like Metallica. I used ableton live 9 with positive grid fx pro. Which speaker will have the flat response and give accurate sound?
ADAM T5V is also a contender. Speaker reviews are always biased, some like a boomy sound some like an analytical sound. I settled with the T5V and my Moog Subsequent still sounds like a Moog.
How would compare them soncially to one another as the price point is quite a bit higher with the Adams - Ive Used Yamahas HS5s and Rokit5s but im now leaning towards getting these JBLS
Yes you can, I have my 305P's connected to my audio interface powered by my laptop through USB, I would recommend getting balanced cables like TRS or XLR cables to get the best sound quality from them.
can I connect this to TV with digital optical adapter through 3.5mm jack? Two speakers of course. I would also have them turn on all the time, so I'm worried about some hiss.
No you're not going to get distortion if you turn the volume to maximum that's where you wanted to be if you're controlling the volume from a source or preamp otherwise something's not right with the design Transformers to small
Yep they are fantastic. They're also very lightweight, even lighter than the new high rated Mackies while providing a bit more wattage. They beat A5+ TV/PC speakers in sound. Only the fabled Swan MkIII can compete in value.
Can I use this speakers for Hi-fi music listening purpose also? You think it will do a good job? (I have marantz pm7004 with monitor audio bronze6 speakers at home, but im away from a long period of time so i was thinking at this JBL monitors)
Can these be plugged in with an adapter directly into a macbook pro without quality loss? I know an adapter exists but I read in some forums in needs an audio interface for best quality. Others said the MacBook Pro sound card will be good enough to drive them just fine. Thanks for your help!
You can get a 3/8 in. to dual mono 1/4 in. cable and just plug that into your Mac. Just be aware that you're double amping the signal, so you might have to play with your levels a little to avoid clipping. I'm not sure that there is, but if there's a setting in the Mac to output a line-level signal, use that.
I've gots lots of adapters. You need lots of education. Listen to it different ways and get your own education. Talk is just talk. Bad equipment is bad equipment.
@@tikemyson4685 it really depends on the sub genre of hip hop. But a lot of bass can be a good thing if mixed well and not over done. Its one of the key elements to dark trap beats
i want to ask u if u know. I have a pc of desk with mac, and a foscusrite 2i2 and i buy the monitors JBL 305. The monitors are in 9/10 of volumen in the back, and i dont hear loudness. Is not common. I think something is happening with my focusrite. I feed my LSR305 with balanced cables xlr-plug balance. Thankss
These have THE bass, no idea what's he talking about. They go deep at about 40-41Hz and even lower at higher volume. I had hum, but solved by feeding them into ungrounded power socket. They hiss a little because of the amp, but it's very faint even with volume at 17/20. They never clipped no matter the power signal I threw at them. Speakers usually clip when there are cheap, thin cables in the system.
If you had listened to any other speakers/headphones that are actually capable of extending further into the sub-bass region, you would know that these don't do that. Also, it's a horrible idea to bypass the ground of an electronic that's meant to be grounded. And the hiss can come from interference picked up by the source cables. I can hear a difference between single-ended and balanced. You're right about the clipping, I have gotten these things really freaking loud without any clipping.
You need speakers with 12 or 15 inch woofers built into the speaker to actually get sub-bass. It seems you don't have experience with speakers. Even $20 in-ear or headphones can do below 40hz, but for speakers, you need to get towers at $2000 or more. I do have towers with two 7 inch woofers and they go to 40hz and JBL managed to do 43hz with one 5 inch woofer, that's a big achievement. From 6 studio monitors I heard with 5 inch driver, LSR305 outperformed all of them. They easily sound like 6.5 inch speakers. LSR305 hiss no matter if you connect source cables or not, it's the amplification noise and it's very faint. Even $10000 studio monitors hiss, so JBL is not the exception.
My Elacs go deeper than the LSR305s. I'm not saying that the LSR305 doesn't do what bass it does well, it just rolls off pretty early on, so it doesn't extend very far. Some bookshelf speakers are made to be used as standalone units and try to do all of the frequency range as best they can, the LSR305 is made to be used with a sub. When using a sub, you don't want a overlap in frequencies, so the bookshelfs cutoff before the sub kicks in. It's not a bad thing, it's just the way that it is.
Gravenox is right though, these speakers actually start rolling off at about 48hz They even reach 43hz pretty audibly. Here's the measured frequency response. noaudiophile.com/JBL_LSR305/JBL_LSR_305_Random.jpg 80-100hz is way too high. Good review though.
Best speaker for the money for sure - great bass - however they are too bright - But the class D amp sounds great. - very professional and studio ready.
, @5:10, you say they are a little thin, well all I can say of course, they only have a 5 inch woofer, I recomend you buy the 8 inch model and or buy the subwoofer in the lineup
Good, so I got the point across enough for people who would want a bassier/warmer sound to know they should go with the large woofered model or get a dedicated sub.
Unless you can afford at minimum 2 of these then i would not think about the sub because it wil drown this 1 speaker out unless you turn it all the way down and then you will not be any different than with 2 of these. the lsr310s is a beast of a sub.
It s god damn perfect monitors, i have just bought it, perfect sound for metal music it s a blast alright. Recomended for home studio absolutly!!!! For that price is awsome
For good acoustic music, even complex music, these are crap. They scramble everything. These are a cheap speaker that sounds like a cheap speaker. But then, I'm a broadcaster and an audiophile and recording engineer. What would I know?
I do like both Pioneer and JBL. But it's just that how do you get the left speaker connected to the right so I can only use one cable to connect to the computer?
would these be loud enough for a kitchen party? don't really want to buy a small PA system just for a NYE party. I'll be playing a set of turntables via an Allen & Heath Xone 23 mixer through them
Yeah, these things can get pretty loud, I think they'd be fine for a kitchen part. They would even work for a house party, just wouldn't fill out the sound as much as a larger set of speakers.
Is it the end of the world if I have them CLOSE to a wall? Not right against it but I'd say a good 5 or 6 inches away? What does it take away if it is that close?
No, it's not the end of the world. If they're in a room and you're turning them up to a decent volume, the bass will be boomier and can muddy up the rest of the frequencies. If you're at a desk, the same thing will happen to lesser extent (assuming you use a lower volume, since you're closer). I have mine on my desk, about 6 inches from the wall, and they've been fine.
Roby robert If you can, buy old lsr308, they now cost 150$ each, I did it and it is better, better bass extension, great sound. In bhphoto I could not find 305.
Just buy a used Airport Express and connect to the JBL's with RCA to 1/4 inch pin connector. Feed and adjust volume from iTunes Library on an iPhone, iPad, or PC for a nice wireless experience at 16/44.1. That's it.
good work thanks never like jbl klipsch fan but if the highs are too "high" for some people here, I consider buying. was thinking of the powered klipschs but around 500 €.....
That's the great thing about the recent growth of this hobby, there are soooo many choices, we can chose what sounds good to us :) I would like to get my hands on some Klipsch speakers someday.
Jay's Take i had the la scala, amcron ic/dc 300, and transcriptor/sme/decca london handselected. and about 3000 lps. in another life. still running around my brain. so imagine my research. american brains prefer bass. european brains search for highs. different genetic programmation thats why for ex british/german speakers sound different from us-stuff. neuro-biology. nobody in the world of "reviewers" seems to know or realize this....... tanx for your answer. like your clear style I guess no way.
ps and by the way: would be very curious to see YOUR vid on klipsch/jbl actives. but to be correct, the klipsch coast about twice as much. too bad they don't produce the 14 in an active version. could be a big seller. size and weight.....
I don't think it has much to do with genetics. My ancestry is almost entirely from the UK with a little bit of French and a little bit of Swedish; and I prefer the darker tones. I do think people are born with different formations of cilia in their inner ear, which causes different amounts of sensitivity to different frequencies, but there's really no reason to pay attention to this specifically, as it can be subsumed by tonal preference. I think if there is a neurological factor, it's likely cultural and has more to do with how the brain developed than with genetic predisposition. But hey, I'm neither a doctor nor a scientist, so I could be way off.
they are decent enough in low end for a 5 inch, and the highs are pleasent enough too, the problem is the mid range, difficult to get a proper mix there
Do I REALLY need a DAC or external Amp ? Cannot i connect speakers Trough XLR directly to my computer ? Explain me please. Aren't the speakers getting Double times amplified ? So they have a shorter life or smth like that
You can connect them with a 3.5mm to trs or xlr converter. Think connecting DAC or Audio Interface as doing the same thing that you did from your computer but better. (you can control volume from your computer, same from DAC or Audio Interface) because those things are made to play audio, and computers usually have bad sound cards and that can produce weird noises, interference (think like hum or hiss noises but loud). I use a small Mackie mixer, and I like it better that way. I can connect instruments, audio sources, etc.
Depends on the size, JBL would be a better option since they have more low-end compared to the 5 inch and 7 inch HS speakers, but when it gets to the HS8s then it be a better choice and more expensive. Edit: not sure on those models of Yamaha though
Only with a Powered Subwoofer. That type of music demands a Separate Powered Sub. Very difficult to find Full Range speakers that will handle that broad of a frequency range.
No, I just leave mine on all the time. Except when I'm not at home for longer periods of time, but then I switch off most of my electronics with one or two switchable power bars, anyway.
Bill Parker You can pull it 2-3 feet and that will sound great. But treat the room, that way you will have clean sound, not really affected by the room.
I want to buy these monitors for producing and mastering electronic dance music (dubstep,trap,house, etc) with scarlett 2i2 2nd generation.I need your honest advice about this monitors,should i get it or not? thanks ,cheers
I have the JBL LSR305s. My friend has the KRK rokit 6 g3s. I would recommend the KRK Rokit 6s cause they'll get you more bass response when you're mastering electronic dance music.
Look I'll give you a short lesson into the art of mastering. It's goal is to translate a song so that it will sound the best on the variety of speakers it will be played on. So for electronic dance music you can expect it to be played with a subwoofer. If you don't plan on purchasing a sub woofer I would go with the krks since those fit best with electronic dance music. Maybe you should read more online what others use for studio monitors while mastering and why. Before you rush into your purchase..
thank you for constructive answer.i know what is your point ,but i afraid u are wrong.krks are well known for hi-fi-ish sound because they are coloring the sound too much.they are not good for mixing because they don't translate good on other systems because of their inaccuracy.if they have Plenty of bass ,that doesnt mean they are more accurate in lows then jbl's.I would rather buy some good studio headphones and jbl then only krk rokit 6.i hope this makes more sense now
I looked at and listened to, Live at GC, the M-Audio BX5s, Sterling MX5s and these JBLs. The specs on the Sterling's were best, but the Sound from the JBLs was much more "Even". I went with the JBLs and a Powered Sub.
And it actually sounds like plastic. I'm not into how speaker materials are supposed to behave but I have a set of ears and I was put off right away by the plastic-sounding plastic tweeter - quite shocked to be honest as I read a lot of good things about this speaker. Left the store wondering what's wrong with people's hearing?
These are not best at all.. Some people with bad ears are going to like them. That's most people, 85%. I can't mix or listen on them. These are a cheap speaker.
![FNAF vs TF2 - Episode 2 [SFM]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/z5b3V2-VLb0/mqdefault.jpg)
I had these exact speakers, but i upgraded to lsr308s. The bass DEFINITELY DOES NOT cut at 80hz. The rated frequency response is actually pretty accurate. I'd say the lowest note I could hit with a sine wave was a sub bass note E, with F being a bit more comfortable. I'd actually say that for a 5" woofer, I've rarely heard on par bass response to these. These ones definitely provide solid, yet accurate low end.
And the volume knobs on the back can easily be set all the way up. Since they are powered monitors, they are built to be able to go to max volume without distortion, through the manufactured configuration of the speakers and amp. Most often with powered monitors, the manufacturer won't let the speakers get to a level where they could distort or damage themselves. I've cranked mine all the way before for a party, and man, they sure can take it, easily.
And if you get distortion, that is your preamp or audio interfaces fault.
They have been used by pros all over the world. For the price. Exceptional. JBL makes some of the best speakers on earth. You should look into their history. I'm not saying these are the best studio monitors on earth. But for the price. They are very good.
Rear port works great if you can point them into a 3 point corner. Aim them to your position at your station. You should be as close to center position of an X Y Z axis point as you can get.
I have these and 10 subwoofer they have enough bass for me even before getting my subwoofer I can’t complain they are awesome
Actually, rear ported monitors can do just fine close to a wall and if they are near a wall, the closer the better. Plus there's a LF trim to compensate for any boundary issues. Saying rear ported monitors suffer near a wall as a statement of fact just isn't true in many cases
These have been my sole pair of monitors and I've struggled to get mixes to translate to other systems. They are flattering. They don't scream at you if something's wrong with the mix. Maybe i'm still learning how to use them.
Update: They are actually great, it was my ears at fault, you just have to get used to these speakers. Definitely useful.
@@phasor50ince your review is 5 y.o. and I used these monitor for some years, I’ll tell you were right about the jbls…
in my opinion they are too clean and round that you can’t hear things correctly, so any detail is lost…
Another problem is that they lack of loudness, there’s like a gap in the mids and high’s that made me boost those frequency like crazy for the first 2-3 years I owned these speakers 😂
I’ll buy soon some CLEAR hs8 and I’ll use these speakers in my living room or throw them away in the trash.
p.s. they do sound good and nice but just for production or listening to music… for example I don’t hear reverbs or delays correctly and I got used to not hearing things 😂
People have recorded the frequency response on these. They definitely don't fall off much at 80hz. They hit pretty hard down to the 50s. for sure.
Jay is just talking. He doesn't know what he is doing. And his ears don't work.
I feed my LSR305 with RCA
to XLR cables from my Asgard 2's pre-outs and I hear zero hiss.
You probably have less interference or maybe better/shorter SE cables. So you're using SE from the Asgard, but balanced on the speaker?
Jay's Take exactly. There are RCA male to XLR male cables being sold on Monoprice and I hear zero noise using those.
Would you mind putting a link to those? I'll be needing them for my magni 2 uber to lsr305's soon lol
The hiss is an artifact of the speaker's class D amplifier...common for this type of amp.
@Onixpected (DeFy Touch)
you mean RCA out of the soundcard to XLR into the monitors right?
i'm confused^
I own these pair of speakers. The imaging in these speakers are like 3D you can actually feel where the singer or the instrument is located in front of you. I use these for mixing with my ATH-M40x which I think the Headphone equivalent of LSR305...
hey how is the bass of these speakers and are they better than rokit 5
Rokit speakers has more bass and its less neutral... it sounds a bit muddier.
It really depends on the room given the fact that these have rear ports.
Same setup!
Watching porn is a plessure on them. Yes i bought them just for this
If you use these on a desk or console, absolutely spend $100 on a pair of IsoAcoustics stands. The upgrade in performance is very significant-- better bass definition, better imaging, much less congestion. If yours are sitting directly on the desk or on foam, books, blocks, etc, you simply haven't heard what these monitors can do.
They are not meant to be placed horizontally. You can have them upside down vertically, but not horizontally.
I don't know where the reviewer got 80-100 for the lower frequency of these speakers but they will go deeper even down in the 40s but won't have much authority and could exhibit port chuffing that low. These are designed to be studio monitors with a flat response unlike most consumer speakers that usually have a curved frequency response that appeals to most ears. This flat response usually lends itself to a tighter more refined bass response which might have given the reviewer the impression they don't get any lower than 80 but they do. If you're going to use them applications other than studio monitor he was correct, they do need a sub which was designed for lower frequencies. That will allow the sub to take the load off the 305s in the lower range and allow it to preform better in the mid and upper range.
yeah, my groundloop was only audible when there was load on the cpu or GPU, but when it was on, IT WAS ON...i fixed it by plugging a little DAC into my PC-Soundcard, via optic cable. I can highly recommend them, Dynavoice Mini-DAC I and II. Anybody that says that these 20-25 dollar parts somehow cut your experience or "steal soundinformation" simply has no clue. As long as all you need is 2x RCA outputs youre good, no matter if your speakers cost 300 or 3000 dollars.
Helpful vid! I'm moving soon and will hopefully have enough room on/by/near my desk to have speakers, and I've been looking at these.
Thanks! They are pretty fantastic speakers for the price. Like I said, there's a reason everyone recommends them ;)
I used them as computer speakers. PC via USB > Schiit Bifrost 2 via balanced xlr > Schiit Freya+ via balanced xlr > JBL monitors.
You're using them horizontally, aimed at your stomach, and placed directly reflecting off a desktop surface. Get them vertical, pointed at your head, and at least isolated from your desk. The way you have them now is so detrimental to acoustic performance.
By the way, if for any reason you want to use them horizontally, at least position them so that their tweeters are on the outsides, since the majority of the stereo sound of the sound is best heard in the higher frequencies (just like for the opposite reason, subwoofers are often produced in mono).
Jay’s take: Hey, would these monitors sound good and give the,so hyped stereo image etc. place them horizontally instead? Just wanted to know your opinion as I read someplace else that the monitors perform best if placed vertically. Thx!
I went from the krk to jbl and the jbls are so much more clear
hiss does not go away with bal input, his is here when no audio cables are connected so great for the price but 305 has this tweeter hiss problem (like 90% of entry level powered speakers with shitty class D amp, mackie cr4 first gen has class AB amp that does not hiss but sound is worse than 305). kali lp6 v2 or adam f5 are a bit more expensive but their hiss is inaudible
I just got a pair of the 6" still in the box. Are they too much for a desk setup? I am a guitarist with a small bedroom studio setup.
I own a pair. you could buy one on sale for $100 at guitar center, and has very similar frequency response to L88 which was about 8 times biggerin volume and had very flat frequency response. soft dome tweeter misses JBL high frequency sparkle but many listeners would actually prefer. it does go down to 40 Hz no problem, so no need for a sub woofer. I'm listening to this video on them right now, best entry level speakers no doubt.
they got a 41 watt amp for each speaker
41 watt class D amp for soft dome
41 watt class D amp for woofer
BlackgoldTwinduck You know what I meant
yeye not hating tho im just saying, maybe add an annotation to that part
We shouldn't have to guess what you meant. Say what you mean or annotate. To be accurate, you should have said 41 w for each driver, not each speaker. The speaker has two drivers. At least get your vocabulary lcorrect-next, it would help to have something of value to say.
It would also help for you to orient your speakers the way they were designed to be used-vertically, and off the desk surface, not as here 7:00.
I think you are out of your depth-at least for reviewing speakers. Sorry.
82W Speaker!
ugh, that port technology isnt describing the rear ports rather the front flare from the HF tweeters. the reason the flare like that is to widen the sweet spot of the listener. They are effective. usually if I move my head front of back just a little, it really throws the phase off. but keep in mind, my B monitors are mackie CR3's not great. but not the worst either
Hi Jay, nice video.
I'm gonna buy the 305's. I'm gonna connect them to my pc. Which is the right solution ? Connect them with the Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 (audio interface) or with the JBL nano patch plus which comes in a bundle with the 305's ?
Thank you
Thanks!
So, If you need the audio interface and are looking for an all-in-one solution (interface/dac/headphone amp), it looks like the Behringer will do what you want, just hook the LSR305s up to the 1/4" outputs on the back and use the volume knob to control the signal going to them. The downside to this is that it's an audio interface + dac + amp, all-in-one, so you'll be sacrificing the audio quality of the dac and amp, compared to a standalone dac/amp solution.
If you're just looking for a volume control, then the Nano Patch+ looks like a solid little piece of hardware and will work perfectly for controlling the volume coming from a DAC (or other source like a phone/PC).
Thanks for posting this. It's very informative. Instead of using a Go Rack, can I connect the speakers directly to the DAC using an XLR male to RCA Male cable directly to the DAC?
Better to take a good D/A converter with balanced outputs like Korg DS-DAC-100 (or better) than analog amps.
The patented technology isn't for the rear port, it's for the waveguide shape on the front around the tweeter.
Straight from the LSR305 product page: "JBL’s Patented Slip Stream™ low frequency port design"
+Jay's Take Guess I was wrong, wonder what exactly they trademarked in that port...
That's what I mean, it's a freakin' tube that's common to so many speakers, lol.
Is it better when I use them with an external souncard like the Scarlett2i2 out of my laptop or DJ-Controller or isn't it necessary?thnx
Are these good as HT speakers? Will they sound good in an average sized room from 7/8 feet away?
For sure, I use the JBL 305P's and even though I mainly use them for music production and mixing they can for sure give you theater level sound experience. I also noticed that if you go further away from them the bass becomes more bigger, and with that waive guide you'll definitely hear sounds all around. I was watching the "Purge 2" just for background noise cause it gets quite where I live, but when the gun shots part came in I was extremely amazed on how much low end they put out for a 5 inch speaker, can't imagine that 8 inch in my room though, overall definitely worth the purchase.
These speakers go down to 45 hz with authority,I don't know why you say that they cut off at 80/90 hz.They get above 100 dB in overall spl....imaging is best in class and above....best speakers you can buy at that price range.to find a better sounding monitors you need to go up in class($) quite a bit....
Informative.. thanks for sharing bro..👍🏾👍🏽👍🏼
I know this is the LSR305 and not he MKii, but I have the MKii 305ps and an 80 inch desk with these guys on stands on each end. I can sometimes hear things behind me and definitely off to the side. You may have them a little close (which you mentioned) I guess th Elacs can do the same and not need as much space.
I would say the best entry level monitor speakers since I went through a similar issue couple of days ago. I like the jbl for instrumentals, but for the overall package I think the HS5 would be better option for the entry level monitor speakers. And if you want next level with a bit more bass. HS7.
HS5 have no bass, they disappear at 80hz, they should only be used with a subwoofer (or two).
HS5 are hard to listen, they are harsh, they don't give pleasure, they are analytical and sterile. They should be used in a studio.
LSR305 are good for pleasure and also for mixing.
Guys, if you are mixing for full range listening, you need a sub, so just get over it and get one!
These are just way too sloppy for me to mix with. I suggest headphones or MagnePan electrostatics, if you want to hear what's going on.
Very informative video! I saw you had the speakers fairly close to your wall in your desktop setup, doesn't the bass reflect on this since the port is on the back? That is my main hesitation about buying these. My desk is only 60cm deep (I'm european) and the speakers are about 25cm deep, so that would leave me a maximum of +/- 25cm (9.85 inches) of space (considering the cables) between the wall and the port (I would like it to be less than that). Would that be sufficient to not have a lot of bass reflecting of my wall? Thanks!
If you're listening loudly, it could be an issue. I don't tend to crank up the volume that much at my desk, so the bass reflections aren't an issue for me. You're looking at about the same amount of space behind the speakers that I have.
Ok, I wanna use them for listening to music at my appartment so I won't be turning up the volume to extremes either. Gonna get these, thanks!
very helpfull ...thanks a lot for the review !!!
Thank You so much!
plus 4 is balanced (pro) level ~ minus 10 is consumer level
yes and independent of XLR or 1/4" TRS cable. It is the source type that matters.
I have these speakers. They are great. Good for mixing. I’d get these if you’re considering to buy 5” speakers
Does controlling the main volume from an audio interface over a balanced connection to monitors degrade audio quality? Please help.
I'm need honest advice, I'm playing Rock music like Metallica. I used ableton live 9 with positive grid fx pro. Which speaker will have the flat response and give accurate sound?
ADAM T5V is also a contender. Speaker reviews are always biased, some like a boomy sound some like an analytical sound.
I settled with the T5V and my Moog Subsequent still sounds like a Moog.
How would compare them soncially to one another as the price point is quite a bit higher with the Adams - Ive Used Yamahas HS5s and Rokit5s but im now leaning towards getting these JBLS
fyi.. the quarter inch (TRS) inputs accept balanced (sleeve, ring, tip) input cables also
I was not aware of this, good to know. Thanks!
Can I hook these up to a mixer/audio interface and control the volume that way instead of a pre-amp? I would be connecting my laptop and mixer by usb.
Yes you can, I have my 305P's connected to my audio interface powered by my laptop through USB, I would recommend getting balanced cables like TRS or XLR cables to get the best sound quality from them.
@@lush.k3ys804 That's great Thanks dude
can I connect this to TV with digital optical adapter through 3.5mm jack? Two speakers of course. I would also have them turn on all the time, so I'm worried about some hiss.
can I use the JBL 305 P with just TRS cable to my phone? or do I need an amplifier
great demo.
No you're not going to get distortion if you turn the volume to maximum that's where you wanted to be if you're controlling the volume from a source or preamp otherwise something's not right with the design Transformers to small
would it be crazy to just use one reference monitor if you're only mixing vocals or do I have to have the pair? (assuming I wont do any panning)
If you're mixing everything as mono, I don't see why using only one speaker would be an issue.
Yep they are fantastic.
They're also very lightweight, even lighter than the new high rated Mackies while providing a bit more wattage.
They beat A5+ TV/PC speakers in sound.
Only the fabled Swan MkIII can compete in value.
These sound like cheap speakers because they are.
I'm saving up for this speakers, or the KRK or another if they sound better for me in the store
Can I use this speakers for Hi-fi music listening purpose also? You think it will do a good job? (I have marantz pm7004 with monitor audio bronze6 speakers at home, but im away from a long period of time so i was thinking at this JBL monitors)
Definitely, if these are where your budget is at, they're arguably some of the best "hi-fi" speakers for the money.
Ty.
How can I connect it to my av receiver? And the kind of kable I should use
Please help me out
Thanks
Can these be plugged in with an adapter directly into a macbook pro without quality loss? I know an adapter exists but I read in some forums in needs an audio interface for best quality. Others said the MacBook Pro sound card will be good enough to drive them just fine. Thanks for your help!
You can get a 3/8 in. to dual mono 1/4 in. cable and just plug that into your Mac. Just be aware that you're double amping the signal, so you might have to play with your levels a little to avoid clipping. I'm not sure that there is, but if there's a setting in the Mac to output a line-level signal, use that.
@@JaysTake
What kind of gadget you got that's 3/8"?
I've gots lots of adapters. You need lots of education. Listen to it different ways and get your own education. Talk is just talk. Bad equipment is bad equipment.
thanx for the video!!
what size woofers should i get for producing heavy 808 trap beats? 5 - 6 inch or 8 inch?
That's the problem, you hiphop producers put too much bass in your tracks, can't even hear any instrumentation
@@tikemyson4685 it really depends on the sub genre of hip hop. But a lot of bass can be a good thing if mixed well and not over done. Its one of the key elements to dark trap beats
@@Nitroh- well, that was such a good comeback i can't argue with it, good point.
i want to ask u if u know. I have a pc of desk with mac, and a foscusrite 2i2 and i buy the monitors JBL 305. The monitors are in 9/10 of volumen in the back, and i dont hear loudness. Is not common. I think something is happening with my focusrite. I feed my LSR305 with balanced cables xlr-plug balance. Thankss
These have THE bass, no idea what's he talking about. They go deep at about 40-41Hz and even lower at higher volume.
I had hum, but solved by feeding them into ungrounded power socket. They hiss a little because of the amp, but it's very faint even with volume at 17/20. They never clipped no matter the power signal I threw at them. Speakers usually clip when there are cheap, thin cables in the system.
If you had listened to any other speakers/headphones that are actually capable of extending further into the sub-bass region, you would know that these don't do that. Also, it's a horrible idea to bypass the ground of an electronic that's meant to be grounded. And the hiss can come from interference picked up by the source cables. I can hear a difference between single-ended and balanced. You're right about the clipping, I have gotten these things really freaking loud without any clipping.
You need speakers with 12 or 15 inch woofers built into the speaker to actually get sub-bass. It seems you don't have experience with speakers. Even $20 in-ear or headphones can do below 40hz, but for speakers, you need to get towers at $2000 or more.
I do have towers with two 7 inch woofers and they go to 40hz and JBL managed to do 43hz with one 5 inch woofer, that's a big achievement.
From 6 studio monitors I heard with 5 inch driver, LSR305 outperformed all of them. They easily sound like 6.5 inch speakers.
LSR305 hiss no matter if you connect source cables or not, it's the amplification noise and it's very faint. Even $10000 studio monitors hiss, so JBL is not the exception.
My Elacs go deeper than the LSR305s. I'm not saying that the LSR305 doesn't do what bass it does well, it just rolls off pretty early on, so it doesn't extend very far. Some bookshelf speakers are made to be used as standalone units and try to do all of the frequency range as best they can, the LSR305 is made to be used with a sub. When using a sub, you don't want a overlap in frequencies, so the bookshelfs cutoff before the sub kicks in. It's not a bad thing, it's just the way that it is.
Gravenox is right though, these speakers actually start rolling off at about 48hz They even reach 43hz pretty audibly. Here's the measured frequency response.
noaudiophile.com/JBL_LSR305/JBL_LSR_305_Random.jpg
80-100hz is way too high. Good review though.
Jay has no ears. These have decent bass. The time-alignment is all messed up.
Best speaker for the money for sure - great bass - however they are too bright - But the class D amp sounds great. - very professional and studio ready.
Bright is not the problem. They are not time-aligned.
One of the problems with Class-D is that they often have a bright, less warm sound type!
can you recommend a set of entry-level powered speakers that has optical input? thanks :)
, @5:10, you say they are a little thin, well all I can say of course, they only have a 5 inch woofer, I recomend you buy the 8 inch model and or buy the subwoofer in the lineup
Good, so I got the point across enough for people who would want a bassier/warmer sound to know they should go with the large woofered model or get a dedicated sub.
Unless you can afford at minimum 2 of these then i would not think about the sub because it wil drown this 1 speaker out unless you turn it all the way down and then you will not be any different than with 2 of these. the lsr310s is a beast of a sub.
It s god damn perfect monitors, i have just bought it, perfect sound for metal music it s a blast alright. Recomended for home studio absolutly!!!! For that price is awsome
For good acoustic music, even complex music, these are crap. They scramble everything. These are a cheap speaker that sounds like a cheap speaker. But then, I'm a broadcaster and an audiophile and recording engineer. What would I know?
"They are stated to go down to 42 decibels" - it's 42 Hz not 42 decibels lol
You have to use de esser for recordings
Finally a fantastic review!
I do like both Pioneer and JBL. But it's just that how do you get the left speaker connected to the right so I can only use one cable to connect to the computer?
you cant, they are made to make stereo image, so two cables has to come out from the pc
Use a soundcard, two cables from speakers to the soundcard, one cable from soundcard to pc
would these be loud enough for a kitchen party? don't really want to buy a small PA system just for a NYE party.
I'll be playing a set of turntables via an Allen & Heath Xone 23 mixer through them
Yeah, these things can get pretty loud, I think they'd be fine for a kitchen part. They would even work for a house party, just wouldn't fill out the sound as much as a larger set of speakers.
Jay's Take cheers, just ordered a set!
Is sad that your have a Heath & Allen and use JBL LSR 305s for speakers. These speakers are garbage. But then, who's going to know?
Is it the end of the world if I have them CLOSE to a wall? Not right against it but I'd say a good 5 or 6 inches away? What does it take away if it is that close?
No, it's not the end of the world. If they're in a room and you're turning them up to a decent volume, the bass will be boomier and can muddy up the rest of the frequencies. If you're at a desk, the same thing will happen to lesser extent (assuming you use a lower volume, since you're closer). I have mine on my desk, about 6 inches from the wall, and they've been fine.
if i buy one JBL LSR-305 single speaker is it give good sound output.... have a budget issue
If you have one ear then that's absolutely fine, let me know how it goes buddy
@@zaemirum7040 You mean one speaker for one ear is ok then what about 7.1 sound system ?
i think this is perfect for you LoL
Jbl lunched the new model, 305p MK II. What to do? To buy the old lsr305 or the new model?
Roby robert If you can, buy old lsr308, they now cost 150$ each, I did it and it is better, better bass extension, great sound. In bhphoto I could not find 305.
Where can I buy more stands like that for these kind of bookshelf speakers? Any good brands?
not in the desert
Just buy a used Airport Express and connect to the JBL's with RCA to 1/4 inch pin connector. Feed and adjust volume from iTunes Library on an iPhone, iPad, or PC for a nice wireless experience at 16/44.1. That's it.
good work
thanks
never like jbl
klipsch fan
but if the highs are too "high"
for some people here,
I consider buying.
was thinking of the powered klipschs
but around 500 €.....
That's the great thing about the recent growth of this hobby, there are soooo many choices, we can chose what sounds good to us :)
I would like to get my hands on some Klipsch speakers someday.
Jay's Take i had the la scala, amcron ic/dc 300, and transcriptor/sme/decca london handselected.
and about 3000 lps. in another life.
still running around my brain.
so imagine my research.
american brains prefer bass.
european brains search for highs.
different genetic programmation
thats why for ex british/german speakers sound different from us-stuff.
neuro-biology.
nobody in the world of "reviewers" seems to know or realize this.......
tanx for your answer.
like your clear style
I guess no way.
ps and by the way:
would be very curious to see YOUR vid on klipsch/jbl actives.
but to be correct, the klipsch coast about twice as much.
too bad they don't produce the 14 in an active version.
could be a big seller. size and weight.....
pps: cost ?!
I don't think it has much to do with genetics. My ancestry is almost entirely from the UK with a little bit of French and a little bit of Swedish; and I prefer the darker tones.
I do think people are born with different formations of cilia in their inner ear, which causes different amounts of sensitivity to different frequencies, but there's really no reason to pay attention to this specifically, as it can be subsumed by tonal preference.
I think if there is a neurological factor, it's likely cultural and has more to do with how the brain developed than with genetic predisposition.
But hey, I'm neither a doctor nor a scientist, so I could be way off.
i have mine hooked up via xlr's to a schiit magnius and still get hiss. not sure what else to do about it
thats what i heard perfect stero when i placed my old bx5's on iso acoustic isolation stands. was like holy sheit lol
Great Review !!
Thank you!
Would about 4-5 in of space between the back of the speaker and the wall be too tight? Need to place these within a bookshelf.
Jacob Sharp At least 1 feet, if not set the LF trim to -2db
they are decent enough in low end for a 5 inch, and the highs are pleasent enough too, the problem is the mid range, difficult to get a proper mix there
Do I REALLY need a DAC or external Amp ? Cannot i connect speakers Trough XLR directly to my computer ? Explain me please. Aren't the speakers getting Double times amplified ? So they have a shorter life or smth like that
You can connect them with a 3.5mm to trs or xlr converter.
Think connecting DAC or Audio Interface as doing the same thing that you did from your computer but better. (you can control volume from your computer, same from DAC or Audio Interface) because those things are made to play audio, and computers usually have bad sound cards and that can produce weird noises, interference (think like hum or hiss noises but loud).
I use a small Mackie mixer, and I like it better that way. I can connect instruments, audio sources, etc.
Sorry bad english.
Can I use the open XLR to run a sub woofer?
great video
Thanks!
LSR or Yamaha MSP5 for music production ?
Magarant Thapa Are Personus good?
Depends on the size, JBL would be a better option since they have more low-end compared to the 5 inch and 7 inch HS speakers, but when it gets to the HS8s then it be a better choice and more expensive.
Edit: not sure on those models of Yamaha though
thank you
Are these good for recording and mixing dub/reggae/rock?
Only with a Powered Subwoofer. That type of music demands a Separate Powered Sub. Very difficult to find Full Range speakers that will handle that broad of a frequency range.
Any idea where to get a goRack or something that does the same sort of thing in 2018 in the UK?
Good review. Thxs!
Hi,Can i use them istening music in living room 3X5 meters and audience distance about 2 meters from them?
I can't use them for anything. They are not time-aligned, just plastic parts. Cheap.
I DONT KNOW WHAT TO BUY!!!??
I have an opportunity do buy either these, or Focal Alpha 50's ( which will actually cost me less than JBLs)
HELP!!
MaChKuLjA get the alphas
Hi dude,
What are those supports for audio monitors???? Please
so you have to power them both on and off all the time?
No, I just leave mine on all the time. Except when I'm not at home for longer periods of time, but then I switch off most of my electronics with one or two switchable power bars, anyway.
So how far away from the wall do you need to have these for the best sound?
Bill Parker You can pull it 2-3 feet and that will sound great.
But treat the room, that way you will have clean sound, not really affected by the room.
How it is .. as compared to Rokit 5 G3
I paid $198 for a brand new pair. Best bang for the buck period.
i paid more for 1 hour with a lady. you won
Where'd you find that deal??
Can i use bluetooth adapter on these ?
I want to buy these monitors for producing and mastering electronic dance music (dubstep,trap,house, etc) with scarlett 2i2 2nd generation.I need your honest advice about this monitors,should i get it or not? thanks ,cheers
I have the JBL LSR305s. My friend has the KRK rokit 6 g3s. I would recommend the KRK Rokit 6s cause they'll get you more bass response when you're mastering electronic dance music.
i don't need "more" ,i just need accurasy and deepness,not that muddy low end krk bass.but thank you for your answer,i will get jbl anyways
Lol muddy? Have you ever listened to krk studio monitors in person? You sound inexperienced..
Look I'll give you a short lesson into the art of mastering. It's goal is to translate a song so that it will sound the best on the variety of speakers it will be played on. So for electronic dance music you can expect it to be played with a subwoofer. If you don't plan on purchasing a sub woofer I would go with the krks since those fit best with electronic dance music. Maybe you should read more online what others use for studio monitors while mastering and why. Before you rush into your purchase..
thank you for constructive answer.i know what is your point ,but i afraid u are wrong.krks are well known for hi-fi-ish sound because they are coloring the sound too much.they are not good for mixing because they don't translate good on other systems because of their inaccuracy.if they have Plenty of bass ,that doesnt mean they are more accurate in lows then jbl's.I would rather buy some good studio headphones and jbl then only krk rokit 6.i hope this makes more sense now
Too late. I love my M-Audio BX5s. I don't need the added sub but I love the lowest lows.
I looked at and listened to, Live at GC, the M-Audio BX5s, Sterling MX5s and these JBLs. The specs on the Sterling's were best, but the Sound from the JBLs was much more "Even". I went with the JBLs and a Powered Sub.
come on , its a plastic cone , lots of monitors with that , somehow i doubt they can give image like Yamaha NS-10M even tho 10M doesnt have wave guide
Plastic. No time-alignment at all. Unusable.
And it actually sounds like plastic. I'm not into how speaker materials are supposed to behave but I have a set of ears and I was put off right away by the plastic-sounding plastic tweeter - quite shocked to be honest as I read a lot of good things about this speaker. Left the store wondering what's wrong with people's hearing?
is it compatible with a scarlett solo 2nd gen? im a little lost at the cables
Yep, you would use the RCA outs on the Solo. You would need RCA to TS cables, since the 305s use a TS connector.
Are these good for rap music$
so weird this is the first speaker that people are reccomending both as a studio monitor for mixing as well as for normal listening???
These are not best at all.. Some people with bad ears are going to like them. That's most people, 85%. I can't mix or listen on them. These are a cheap speaker.
Comparing these to the KEF X300A ?
no he doesnt