BEST JBL 305 mk2 upgrade in 2024

[Narwi]

hey, I've been using 305 mk2 for a long time, I've written many songs on them, I would like to buy something that will retain the JBL character but be a step forward. What can you recommend me?


Maybe ? :

Adam t5v
Genelec 8030c
Jbl 308 mk2

 

[staticV3]

Hi @Narwi! Welcome to ASR.

What's your budget?
Any size constraints?
Used or new?
What's your listening distance?
Are you using a subwoofer?
Which country are you located in?

 

[Kyle_PL]

If You want "retain character" don't change anything!

If You want make move forward (in neutrality) try some digital DSP monitor with room correction and subwoofer alignment:
1) Genelec 8330A + Genelec 7350A + GLM calibration kit
2) Neumann KH120II + Neumann 750DSP + MA1 calibration kit (You need interface with mic phantom input here)
... or other like that, ... or:
3) Your JBL 305 MK2 + LSR310S Subwoofer + ik multimedia ARC STUDIO

 

[Narwi]

Jeżeli chcesz „zachować swój charakter”, nie zmieniaj niczego!

Jeśli chcesz zrobić krok naprzód (w kierunku neutralności) wypróbuj cyfrowy monitor DSP z korekcją pomieszczenia i wyrównywaniem subwoofera:
1) Genelec 8330A + Genelec 7350A + zestaw kalibracyjny GLM
2) Neumann KH120II + Neumann 750DSP + zestaw kalibracyjny MA1 (tutaj potrzebny jest interfejs z wejściem fantomowym mikrofonu)
...lub coś podobnego.

Thanks !

 

[DVDdoug]

The JBL 308 seems obvious. Since it should have similar sound you won't have to re-learn what a good mix sounds like on your setup.

I haven't heard the 308 but I don't remember ever reading anything bad about it...

And/or if your mixes include bass you probably should have a subwoofer.

 

[Narwi]

Cześć @Narwi! Witamy w ASR.

Jaki jest twój budżet?
Czy są jakieś ograniczenia co do rozmiaru?
Używany czy nowy?
Jaka jest Twoja odległość słyszenia?
Czy używasz subwoofera?
W jakim kraju się znajdujesz?

So maybe I'll write down more or less what I'm looking for - 6 inches is the maximum size, I don't have a budget, we can set it at $5,000 per pair, I have an Atc scs 70 subwoofer but it doesn't work in my room, I've explored the whole room with REW, I have active traps and absorbers, I use ARC studio. I live in Poland, I have access to everything. Could you recommend something? I really like JBL 305 because I've made a lot of tracks on them and I want something similar.

I worked in a larger room for a long time on:

Barefoot mm26
Footprint
Atc Scm 25, 20
Focal Trio 6be
Genelec 8351

All these speakers played great in a larger room, now I have a small 175 ft2, of course I had them here for a while but they played very badly.

 

[staticV3]

6 inches is the maximum size

And yet you're considering the 8 inch 308P?

I don't have a budget, we can set it at $5,000 per pair, I have an Atc scs 70 subwoofer but it doesn't work in my room

Would your work benefit from proper bass extension? Or is that not really useful to you?

 

[Narwi]

A mimo to pod uwagę pod uwagę 8-calowy model 308P?


Czy Twoja praca skorzystałaby na rozszerzonym basu? Czy to nie jest dla Ciebie zbyt trudne?

I am considering 8 inches, but only JBL because it is a similar signature and is more linear than 305.

I don't feel like I need more bass than the 305 has, in this room I can hear up to 35hz

 

[Ellebob]

If you want a similar signature that would be an upgrade why not the 705 or 708?

 

[kemmler3D]

Agree, if you want the JBL sound, upgraded, but still small - if you can do $5K/pair then why not the 705p or even 4305p?

 

[analogonly]

Go all in--JBL 4367.

 

[mcdn]

If you’re comfortable with some light DIY you can massively improve the panel resonances and make it sound much clearer. Fill the front panel voids with polyester resin and glue 40mmx15mm hardwood strips to the inside of the wooden panels - https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/cheap-and-effective-mods-for-lsr305p.57759/

 

[Narwi]

Thanks people , I must test 308 and 705 and find better update

 

[Blumlein 88]

Thanks people , I must test 308 and 705 and find better update

I've used the mk 1 305s and have some mk ii 308s in my home theater setup. I also have used both for mixing recordings. I mix in more of a mid-field than near field situation. I know such subjective comparisons are tough, but I'd say the 308 is better in every way, and not worse in any way. Maybe a general 10% improvement. Some areas are barely better, but nothing is worse. You will know it is better, nothing will bother you, it is of a very similar character. It is not a knock your socks off, big jump in what you get. Now I think the 305s are pretty good anyway, so this isn't really faint praise. OTOH, when I listen using F208s which are my front right and left channels vs the 308s there is a much bigger jump in quality to the F208 which you would expect. The larger speakers can do some things the small ones cannot, but in general maybe a 40% improvement in what you hear. You will need some good recordings or you may not hear that much difference.

 

[Narwi]

Używałem mk 1 305 i mam kilka mk ii 308 w moim kinie domowym. Używałem też obu do miksowania nagrań. Miksuję bardziej w średnim polu niż w bliskim polu. Wiem, że takie subiektywne porównania są trudne, ale powiedziałbym, że 308 jest lepszy pod każdym względem i nie gorszy w żaden sposób. Może ogólna poprawa o 10%. Niektóre obszary są ledwo lepsze, ale nic nie jest gorsze. Będziesz wiedział, że jest lepszy, nic cię nie zawiedzie, ma bardzo podobny charakter. To nie jest coś, co zwali cię z nóg, duży skok w tym, co dostajesz. Teraz myślę, że 305 są całkiem dobre, więc to nie jest naprawdę słaba pochwała. Z drugiej strony, kiedy słucham używając F208, które są moimi przednimi prawymi i lewymi kanałami w porównaniu z 308, jest znacznie większy skok jakości w porównaniu z F208, czego można by się spodziewać. Większe głośniki potrafią robić rzeczy, których małe nie potrafią, ale ogólnie może to być 40% poprawa tego, co słyszysz. Będziesz potrzebować dobrych nagrań, inaczej możesz nie usłyszeć dużej różnicy.

Thanks !

 

[Looneybomber]

The JBL305 uses a traditional dome tweeter in a waveguide. The JBL705 uses a compression driver in a waveguide. They will sound different. How different, I have no idea. The JBL HDI3800 uses a similar compression driver and I preferred my Revel F206 with a dome tweeter over the JBL. Your opinion could differ.