Will 350$ active studio speakers seriously output music in the same quality as a 3k $ system? Are my speakers worth it? JBL L82

[Ellebob]

The 308s have better bass extension but that is often a common difference between active and passive.

 

[RobL]

Their spins together:
L82

308P

 

[ShadowFiend]

Hey, thanks. So to sum it all, I can play music louder on L82s without the level of distortion I would get on 308 with the same volume (i never go past 11am on volume anyways), and with better dynamics and pronunced microdetails? Does this justify the price difference between the two, or just the L82 msrp in general? Isnt the hiss a matter of eq and dsp anyways? L82s feels very cheap compared to manufacturing materials too, but have much cooler retro looks for me

Yes. It is not about the volume only, but also the clean of sound at that volume.

Does this justify the price difference between the two, or just the L82 msrp in general?

Justified is on each person's perspective. For me, yes.

Isnt the hiss a matter of eq and dsp anyways? L82s feels very cheap compared to manufacturing materials too, but have much cooler retro looks for me

Hiss is because the amplifier of tweeter in LSR308 has too much gain and self noise. It is built in on LSR308 so no eq, dsp can fix.

 

[CaptainBeyond]

As I thought. No straightforward answers and everyone tells different things which are contrary to each other. I honestly can't imagine any other field in which it is so hard to gain reliable and valuable info and there is so much desinformation, myths and bs. Been through IT, sports - nowhere near the audio gear

Yes. It is not about the volume only, but also the clean of sound at that volume.

Justified is on each person's perspective. For me, yes.

Hiss is because the amplifier of tweeter in LSR308 has too much gain and self noise. It is built in on LSR308 so no eq, dsp can fix.

Someone other can refer to this and confirm? So the JBL pushed impaired product on the market which nonetheless is so popular?
So at lower volume the 308 presentation will be as clean and detailed as L82s on higher volume? Im asking cause as I mentioned I don't listen loud anyways.
Why exactly eq and dsp can't fix the hiss?
Isnt my amp pushing too much gain into L82 HF channel too btw? Had issues with hiss and sibilance I fixed exactly with dsp and eq and ever since all is perfect.
Isn't hi-fi or high-end gear exactly about with the "airy sound" and "broad, detailed soundstage"aka too much treble for waxy old ears anyways?

 

[ShadowFiend]

As I thought. No straightforward answers and everyone tells different things which are contrary to each other. I honestly can't imagine any other field in which it is so hard to gain reliable and valuable info and there is so much desinformation, myths and bs. Been through IT, sports - nowhere near the audio gear
Someone other can refer to this and confirm? So the JBL pushed impaired product on the market which nonetheless is so popular?

Why exactly eq and dsp can't fix the hiss?
Isnt my amp pushing too much gain into L82 HF channel too btw? Had issues with hiss and sibilance I fixed exactly with dsp and eq and ever since all is perfect.
Isn't hi-fi or high-end gear exactly about with the "airy sound" and "broad, detailed soundstage"aka too much treble for waxy old ears anyways?

There are nothing called impaired product on LSR308. Product is designed based on many factors, and the most important factors are manufacturing cost and relative performances compared to competitors at the target price.

At the target price, 500$/pair, many things need to be scaled down. In speaker, the easiest way is quality of low frequency driver and cabinet.

So at lower volume the 308 presentation will be as clean and detailed as L82s on higher volume? Im asking cause as I mentioned I don't listen loud anyways.

You seems to misunderstand. My opinions is L82 with decent amplifier will sound clean than LSR308 at the same volume aka sound intensity.

 

[EJasonC]

Between the JBL, KRK, & Yamaha models mention in your original post, I chose Yamaha HS Series. I'm not using it in a Recording Studio setting as may very well be their intended design. Instead, I use strictly for music and movies in my small office; for my intended purposes is very satisfying for near/mid field listening. The system is fed by an SMSL DAC with balanced cables. It replaced a pair of passive speakers and powered subwoofer driven by a very respectable AVR. From my experience with this setup, an all active balanced pro audio studio monitor system is an excellent option over traditional passive speakers. For me there is no turning back!

 

[DavidMcRoy]

I agree with the sentiment that EQ for room compensation (and to correct minor frequency response errors in your existing speakers) is the most effective move to make. Beyond that, a properly integrated subwoofer or two down the road is smart, and comes with the huge benefit of improving your JBL L32s' headroom.

 

[RDoc]

As I thought. No straightforward answers and everyone tells different things which are contrary to each other. I honestly can't imagine any other field in which it is so hard to gain reliable and valuable info and there is so much desinformation, myths and bs. Been through IT, sports - nowhere near the audio gear


Someone other can refer to this and confirm? So the JBL pushed impaired product on the market which nonetheless is so popular?
So at lower volume the 308 presentation will be as clean and detailed as L82s on higher volume? Im asking cause as I mentioned I don't listen loud anyways.
Why exactly eq and dsp can't fix the hiss?
Isnt my amp pushing too much gain into L82 HF channel too btw? Had issues with hiss and sibilance I fixed exactly with dsp and eq and ever since all is perfect.
Isn't hi-fi or high-end gear exactly about with the "airy sound" and "broad, detailed soundstage"aka too much treble for waxy old ears anyways?

Rather than listen to opinions, use the resources people have shown you, the actual measurements of the speakers. If you don't know how to read a spinorama plot, look at amir's review of the JBL 305 https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...mkii-and-control-1-pro-monitors-review.10811/ or many other explanations.

This is Audio Science Review, so follow the science.

 

[Krit]

The models I considered so far, are (used):

JBL 308P MKII

Yamaha HS-8

KRK Rokit RP8 G5

Will really budget 350$ active studio monitors wont be indistinguishable in a blind test with a higher end „audiophile” 3k $ system?

Nope proper 3k system will completely destroy any of those if you know what you are purchasing and even all 3k systems will not sound the same there will be significant differences between them.

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

I have been using the JBL LSR308 for more than 7 years... They are beyond surprising.. Once you remove the low bass from the midwoofer, there is a substantial jump in quality. A pair of LSR308 with a pair of subwoofers, may provide a surprising high level of accurate and full range (20 to 20,000 Hz) reproduction in a medium sized listening room. This speaker level of performance belies its price. about $400/pair on Amazon ... Not perfect but you may find yourself paying multiple that asking price if you want to do better...

 

[Philbo King]

I think the acoustics of room will have a far bigger effect on the sound than the difference between the 2 types of JBLs. But the 308mkii is intrinsically flatter over freq. I have a pair and love them; mixes translate effortlessly. The hiss thing, AFAICT, is a crapshoot. Mine are dead quiet, but I've seen mention of some that were not.

 

[Dullnesslab]

I often hear mastering compromises or errors in that kind of music when I listen it on full range monitors like I have. I attribute them to lack of proper monitoring capabilities. See my comments in other thread. All serious music production studios have rooms with main monitor class speakers, now often in full 7.x.4 setup for Atmos. And please do not reference measurements made at 85dB SPL. Show them at 105dB, which would be a common peak level when listening at 85dB average.

Sorry, but you're talking nonsense! If 85 dB is the sound pressure at RMS power, then the peak levels would be 6 dB higher, which is definitely not 105 dB!

 

[Beave]

Sorry, but you're talking nonsense! If 85 dB is the sound pressure at RMS power, then the peak levels would be 6 dB higher, which is definitely not 105 dB!

Huh? At RMS power? You seem to be mixing (pun!) up peak vs RMS power in an amp and peak vs average acoustic levels in a recoding.

 

[Dullnesslab]

Huh? At RMS power? You seem to be mixing (pun!) up peak vs RMS power in an amp and peak vs average acoustic levels in a recoding.

An amplifier's peak and RMS power are related to the speaker's SPL. The change in SPL is directly proportional to the change in input power.

To increase the SPL by 6 dB, 4x the amplifier's power is required, which will result in twice the amplitude and voltage. U(peak) = 2 x U(RMS) A crest factor of 6 dB applies to both rules. Avp1 mentioned average values of 85 dB SPL, if I'm not mistaken? So why the peak levels at 105 if they should be around 91?
Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Axo1989]

An amplifier's peak and RMS power are related to the speaker's SPL. The change in SPL is directly proportional to the change in input power.
View attachment 510988
To increase the SPL by 6 dB, 4x the amplifier's power is required, which will result in twice the amplitude and voltage. U(peak) = 2 x U(RMS) A crest factor of 6 dB applies to both rules. Avp1 mentioned average values of 85 dB SPL, if I'm not mistaken? So why the peak levels at 105 if they should be around 91?
Correct me if I'm wrong.

When playing back recorded music—and absent compression in the playback system—peak levels for a given average SPL will be a function of the recorded material.

For example, playing Charli xcx latest Wuthering Heights soundtrack just now not especially loud I'm getting ave 78 and peak 92 (about 10 minutes worth). That's typically low dynamic range pop music but still twice your 6 dB rule which describes a different function. A different genre would exceed that just as @Beave suggests.

 

[Dullnesslab]

When playing back recorded music—and absent compression in the playback system—peak levels for a given average SPL will be a function of the recorded material.

Got it! It seems I had the wrong address because I didn't quite understand what he meant.

 

[ScienceMajorSellout]

I can't help but see this topic and not mention used Behringer Truth B2031A active monitors for $200 a pair used all day long. 265 bi-amped watts per speaker. Incredibly flat frequency response. Somebody here did a fantastic review on it. Smart enough to upgrade it with a 25 cent resistor. You just get a Bluetooth preamp or cheap streamer used for $40. Or even just a USB dongle and a 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter and your damn phone can be the preamp/streamer. If I could go back in time to when this disease started Feb '25, I'd have bought these as my first speakers and a WiiM and just enjoyed them for a few months instead of buying new (used) speakers every month. I accidently cranked it once and the ports were blowing my hair more than my brand new Rockville D12 does with my JBL S2S-EX passive subwoofer. Very disappointing and I even took a little Schiit headphone/pre amp and tried to bump up the AVR's signal so I could get ignorant with it without my mains going over 70dB. It definitely improved the SPL but I think there's more. Rockville claims 1,400 continuous so I at least expected to see a hundred watts on my outlet meter. Never saw past 28!! I'll try a Crown next but my goal is ignorant bass without hurting my ears. Sorry I'm digressing but thinking back to those Behringers blowing my hair all over the place for $200 and with a very flat measurement is a great lesson.

 

[john61ct]

IMO speakers are worth spending half or more of the total system cost.

The electronics side of things in many ways are pretty solved, objective measurements can be given very high weighting compared to individual preferences.

But speakers, NO, ideally you listen to them for hours or days before committing funds. The objective measurements help you narrow things down, a much smaller factor.

Or you "buy and try" sell them off, at a loss if necessary until you find the pair that makes you sit up and smile.

And of course that's just the start, adding a sub, doing EQ room correction, slowly improve things as budget allows...

But the "is X improvement 'worth' spending $Y" is 100% individual context, wealth level and subjective preferences NO ONE but you can make such judgements for you.

As I said Im trying to cut out from the individual preferences - just cold common sense, logic and economics and trying to save myself time and hassle

 

[solderdude]

Will 350$ active studio speakers seriously output music in the same quality as a 3k $ system? ​

Not very likely . If they would output the same 'sound quality' why would studio's not simply using those instead of expensive monitors and just apply some EQ ?
It is similar to the often heard mantra that if you EQ a $ 30.- headphone to the same response on a specific test fixture as the HD800S you basically get a HD800S for peanuts.

Are my speakers worth it? JBL L82​

For some people they will for others they won't.
When you are happy with them and can't appreciate the differences with expensive monitors then there is no point in forking out that much money.
Rest assured there will always be 'better' gear one already has. Could even be at a lower price point.

 

[Waxx]

The JBL L82 is not really a clean neutral speaker, and for me seriously overpriced, so it's easy to do better cheaper, but not maybe for 350€ a pair. But there are many that measure a lot better for that money, or equal good for a lot cheaper. Elac, Kali, Adam, Ascilabs, JBL, Revel, ... all make speakers for less than 3K that are a lot better than that L82, that don't have to be active or ment as studio monitors (that are nearfield speakers). Check the database here and the reviews of Erin and the spinorama site for objective data about them.