JBL has been well-trusted as a leading audio equipment manufacturer ever since its inception in 1946. Behind the entirety of its portfolio is a dedication to science and research which lies at the heart of each of JBL’s products.
The 305P Mk2 do a good job at carrying this legacy on, and I personally think they’re one of the better options available for budget studio monitors.
Final verdict
The JBL 305P Mk2 are excellent monitor speakers and are fairly easy to recommend to anybody. While they won’t necessarily please any hardcore (snobby) audiophile, those of you looking for a fatter low end will be pleasantly surprised.
All in all, I’m happy to recommend the JBL 305P Mk2. These are great budget studio monitors, with a lot of bass, and a smooth, realistic sound.
What I like
- Smooth, realistic sound.
- Great for mixing on a budget.
What I don’t like
- Slight hiss at low volumes.
Why you should trust this review
As a producer and audio engineer for over 15 years, I’ve laid fingerprints on a wide range of gear in all sorts of setups.
I’ve learned how to stretch a budget, working with everything from second-hand monitors from a buddy to cheap pawn shop desktop speakers.
I’ve mixed on consumer-grade models, repurposed radio speakers, high-end monitors, and everything in between.
This hands-on experience, along with years of problem-solving in different recording environments, has taught me what monitors are worth investing in – and which aren’t.
Power and frequency response 4.0
So, the JBL 305P Mk2 has a frequency response of 49 Hz – 20 kHz at -3 dB, and 43 Hz – 20 kHz at -10 dB. This is perfectly standard as far as entry-level studio monitors are concerned, or at least in the ballpark average.
What’s more important is how neutral the response curve actually is, and fortunately, the JBL is relatively flat. For the most part, these monitors are reliable, accurate, and pleasant to listen to with some pretty wide sweet spots.
Regarding any issues, I’ll note that there is some “boominess” in the low end, as well as a slight hiss coming from the tweeters. The hiss primarily presents itself when listening at low volumes, slowly disappearing as the volume increases. This isn’t a huge issue for me considering that it’s so commonplace for a large number of different manufacturers.
As is normally the case with mid-sized monitors, a studio subwoofer could definitely enhance the overall performance of the 305P Mk2 but isn’t entirely necessary depending on the circumstance.
I/O and controls 4.5
On the back of the JBL 305P Mk2, you’ll find balanced XLR and TRS inputs, a volume control knob, as well as several tuning options to cater to your room and placement correction needs.
Of these options is first a LF Boundary EQ switch (-3 dB, -1.5 dB, and 0 dB), and then a HF switch (-2 dB, 0 dB, +2 dB).
Printed right next to the tuning switches is a graph that shows exactly how the switches will affect the sound of the monitor, which I felt was a nice touch. There’s also a switch for the input sensitivity (+4 dB and -10 dB).
Build quality 3.5
For a budget-priced monitor, the 305P Mk2 has a solid, hefty feel to it. All the knobs feel great, and as far as I could tell, there wasn’t any noticeable give to the XLR and TRS inputs.
The one issue that I have with the build of the 305P Mk2, is a definite buzzing sound emanating from the metal rear cabinet. It could have been easily accommodated with a better enclosure or something similar, but then again, this is a budget monitor – best not to expect perfection.
Besides that minor issue, I felt that the speaker was well-designed.
Compared to other studio monitors
All in all, the 305P Mk2 are solid budget monitors and I have no issue recommending them. The real question, of course, is whether it’s the right choice for you. So, here are some options to look over and compare with.
JBL 305P vs 306P
Although a rather obvious comparison, it is an important one to make.
The 305P work far better as nearfield monitors, and while they may not have the extended range as you would find with the 306P, they are more practical for smaller spaces and up-close monitoring. Whichever is more suitable for you is the best choice.
See the JBL 306P Mk2’s current price
JBL 305P vs Kali Audio LP-6 V2
In all honesty, when comparing the LP-6 to the 305P, there isn’t any contest. The Kali is by far the better monitor. Far flatter in its frequency response, and therefore is much more reliable.
Read the full Kali Audio LP-6 V2 review
JBL 305P vs KRK Rokit 5
The KRK Rokits have dominated the world of bedroom producing for years now, and they deserve the reputation for the most part.
The KRKs tend to get a lot of flack from the tech world due to how many colorations they inflict on the sound of a mix, but considering how many others swear by them, it cancels out. Get the KRKs if you want some monitors with some serious bass in them.
Read the full KRK Rokit 5 G5 review
Who are the JBL 305P Mk2 studio monitors best suited for?
The JBL 305P Mk2 monitors are a terrific choice for everyone looking for decent mixing monitors on a budget.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon
