--- product_id: 958988 title: "JBL Professional LSR305 First-Generation 5\" 2-Way Powered Studio Monitor (LSR305)" brand: "jbl" price: "SAR 312" currency: SAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 7 url: https://www.desertcart.com.sa/products/958988-jbl-professional-lsr305-first-generation-5-2-way-powered-studio store_origin: SA region: Saudi Arabia --- # 82W peak power output Balanced XLR & 1/4" TRS inputs Adjustable HF & LF trim controls JBL Professional LSR305 First-Generation 5" 2-Way Powered Studio Monitor (LSR305) **Brand:** jbl **Price:** SAR 312 **Availability:** βœ… In Stock ## Summary > 🎧 Mix Like a Pro, Hear Every Detail β€” Don’t Miss Out on JBL’s Legendary Studio Sound! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** JBL Professional LSR305 First-Generation 5" 2-Way Powered Studio Monitor (LSR305) by jbl - **How much does it cost?** SAR 312 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.sa](https://www.desertcart.com.sa/products/958988-jbl-professional-lsr305-first-generation-5-2-way-powered-studio) ## Best For - jbl enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted jbl brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - β€’ **Compact Yet Powerful:** 5" low-frequency driver and 1" soft dome tweeter pack big sound in a sleek, room-friendly footprint. - β€’ **Precision Audio Clarity:** Experience studio-grade neutral sound with JBL’s flagship-inspired design for mixing perfection. - β€’ **Dynamic Bi-Amplification:** Separate 41W Class-D amps for lows and highs deliver punchy bass and crisp highs without distortion. - β€’ **Wide Sweet Spot Coverage:** Enjoy consistent, accurate sound across a broad listening areaβ€”no need to be glued to the speakers. - β€’ **Flexible Pro Connectivity:** Seamlessly integrate with professional gear via balanced XLR and TRS inputs plus input sensitivity switch. ## Overview The JBL Professional LSR305 is a first-generation 5" 2-way powered studio monitor engineered for precise, neutral sound reproduction. Featuring bi-amplified Class-D 41W RMS drivers, balanced XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs, and adjustable HF/LF trims, it delivers a broad sweet spot ideal for nearfield mixing. Its design is inspired by JBL’s flagship M2 monitors, offering exceptional detail and dynamic range at an unbeatable value for home studios and professional setups alike. ## Description Bi-amplified Studio Monitor with Magnetically-Shielded 5” Low Frequency Transducer and 1” Soft-Dome High Frequency Transducer and Image Control Wave Guide. Class-D 41 Watt RMS Amplifier for LF, and 41 Watt RMS Amplifier for HF. Balanced XLR and ¼” TRS Inputs with Detented Level Control, HF and LF Trim Controls. LSR305 Includes US Power Cord. Review: Very good for the price: flat, neutral & professional - These are studio monitors. My review will talk about what they do, what they don't do, who should buy them, and the value. I'll mention a few small issues. So what are studio monitors? Basically, if you record or mix down your own music, you need a special pair of speakers to check your mix. You can't do that on headphones--your mix--the way the different tracks of music sound together--won't resolve spatially (there's no real space with headphones). So this special product was designed to address this issue, as well as provide a live playback in the studio, and so on. Studio monitors do not have an exact definition, and there are different kinds. If you go into a music studio, the monitors are usually set up wrong, anyway. And so it goes. These tend towards what I would call "near field" which means, well, you sit near them. Not really near, but near. High frequencies lose energy over distance, so if you sit too far away they will sound dull. How are they different from a pair of stereo speakers in a hifi system? Well, they are designed in most cases to be flat and neutral, and not impart an attractive EQ, color or bias to the sound. So as far as speakers go, they sound, well, flat and colorless. And that's good for checking your mixes, but not so good for easy listening. Ideally, they should be revealing and mostly unforgiving. You want the truth, just like the ad says. Also, since these are not shielded (more on this later) they are a dud for computer speakers. And, they are for a solo listener. You have to be in the focus point, they focus like a good camera lens--that makes them special, but also a specialty item. So, so far, they from my description they sound like the box they came in. But in fact, they are great. Because when set up properly, you--the listener--and the speakers form the three points of a triangle. And after a few experiments (depending on your room acoustic), when they are set up right, the stereo image snaps into focus, and you can use them exactly they way they should be used--to check a mix. Any little problem in the mix is revealed, and you can quickly find the best mix (assuming you know how to mix). Note that in this triangle, the speakers angle towards the listener, at around 30 degrees. If you move a foot to the right or left, the image snaps out of focus. So basically, if you are looking for studio monitors for mixing on a budget, look no further. These do the job and do it well. They do it better. There are a few minor issues, again, remembering that these are a bargain. First is that the bass port fires towards the back wall. This is always problematic, depending on the room you are in. Having said that, in the focus position in the triangle the bass is reasonably well controlled. Also, the bass really does hit around say 42-48 Hz--it won't hit the lowest note of a large church organ, but double bass or electric bass, pretty good. Next, there is a resonant frequency in the case. That is, if you tap on the case, it has a note. This is surprising for a JBL design, and I guess this in one area where they cut corners. You could open up the case and apply some damping material, but then you risk the warranty and you might make it worse. If I find an easy mod or see one I'll try to post it. Resonant nodes are a common problem in audio, and this is a present, but minor quibble. Much has been written about the tweeter of this speaker and the diffracting pattern supposedly borrowed from more expensive designs. First of all, almost all speakers make this claim of "porting" expensive design components to lower models. In this case, the high frequencies, according to the hype, are less directional--more evenly dispersed. Well, this is pretty much rubbish, it is a cheap plastic design, and the high frequencies are very directional. But the fact is, that's what you want in a studio monitor--you want to sit in the focus point and hear a very accurate representation of the mix. It's a decent sounding tweeter, but if you want good sounding speakers, get JBL "regular" speakers, not these, or the perennial favorite Bowers & Wilkins. These are studio monitors. Next on the minor annoyances list is the overall shielding and hum rejection. There are two inputs, one for phono jacks and one for XLR cables. Now, you can hook up an RCA or banana plug combo--using adapters--from a stereo and drive these speakers (these are powered speakers, so they work with or without an amp or preamp). But the fact is, they just don't work well. Drive them from a sound card, they just don't do the job, they pick up hum and the sound is a bit off. But drive them from, say, an RME interface, or anything with decent balanced XLRs (say a mid range Focusrite, or, my fave, Grace audio), flip the switch from "consumer" to "professional" input level (they are "consumer" by default, at least on my set) and be prepared to be surprised, they do pretty well. The noise goes away. They are also susceptible to hum from dimmers, or electromagnetic hum. The tweeter is just a little bit less bright than flat--that is, there is almost a hint of ribbon in the sound. Not a bad thing, but don't set your mix too bright to compensate. Lastly, there is a very slight color to the sound, a hint of dark chocolate, sometimes edging ever so slightly towards murk. No biggie, but a slight coloration. As another reviewer perspicaciously noted, the coloration is similar to the Audio Technica ATHM50 headphones, so they make a complimentary pair. Compared to my Sennheiser HD600s, they are slightly darker. JBL claims the speakers are "pre" broken in, mine settled in and sounded noticeably different after about twenty hours, so don't mix anything serious until they have moved some air, IMHO. Again, these are some problems, but if set up right with the right cables, you are in business. And so, recommended. And better than anything in the price range. Who are they for: the budget home recording studio Not for: not for home stereo, computer speakers, multiple listeners Other notes: You will need XLR cables, and longer power cords than the ones supplied. There's no protective grill. The speakers have a very wide range for such a small box. Since there is no shielding, they are not too heavy--save the boxes for transport owing to the exposed cones. Do not forget to follow the setup pattern indicated in the obtuse instructions--if they aren't angled in (a very common setup mistake), the highs will be seriously skewed. There's a minimalist EQ switch on the back, I recommend you don't use this. Have fun, and happy mixing. Review: 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. ## Features - The original first generation of the legendary JBL Professional 3 series Studio Monitors - The impressive performance of the 3 Series Reference Monitors is the result of JBL's development of its flagship M2 Master Reference Monitor - Increased HF Detail: You'll experience greater depth and ambience in recordings, and subtle details can be heard, even in a dense mix - Room-Friendly: This means you don't have to be right in front of the speakers to make accurate adjustments to your mix - Broad Sweet Spot: 3-Series speakers deliver neutral sound across an unusually large working space regardless of room acoustics - Flexible connectivity with balanced XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs, +4dBu / -10dBV input-sensitivity switch and adjustable volume control - Purchase includes: LSR305 studio monitor (x1), Power Cord (x1), quick set-up guide (x1), peel-off rubber pads (x4) - Pair with the JBL LSR310S Powered Studio Subwoofer to extend your LF range all the way down! - SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO:75dBA (A-Weighted), 70dBr (unweighted), relative to 2.83VRMS output ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B00DUKP37C | | Antenna Location | Adjustable,Volume Control | | Audio Driver Size | 5 Inches | | Audio Driver Type | Dynamic Driver | | Audio Output Mode | Stereo | | Brand | JBL | | Built-In Media | Purchase includes: 306P MKII studio monitor (x1), Power Cord (x1), quick set-up guide (x1), peel-off rubber pads (x4) | | Color | Black | | Compatible Devices | Desktop, Laptop | | Compatible with Vehicle Type | Car | | Connectivity Protocol | XLR | | Connectivity Technology | 1 x XLR, 1 x TRS Balanced | | Control Method | Remote | | Controller Type | Corded Electric | | Customer Package Type | Standard Packaging | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (525) | | Frequency Response | 24000 Hz | | Global Trade Identification Number | 00050036904599 | | Is Electric | Yes | | Is Waterproof | FALSE | | Item Dimensions D x W x H | 13"D x 10"W x 15"H | | Item Weight | 4.6 Kilograms | | MP3 player | No | | Manufacturer | JBL | | Model Name | LSR305 | | Model Number | LSR305 | | Mounting Type | Floor Standing | | Number Of Circuits | 2 | | Number of Audio Channels | 2.0 | | Number of Items | 1 | | Power Source | Corded Electric | | Series Number | 3 | | Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 75 dB | | Speaker Maximum Output Power | 82 Watts | | Speaker Size | 6.5 Inches | | Speaker Type | Subwoofer | | Subwoofer Connectivity Technology | Wired | | Subwoofer Diameter | 5 Inches | | Tweeter Diameter | 1 Inches | | UPC | 050036904605 050036904599 | | Unit Count | 1.0 Count | | Warranty Description | 90 days | | Warranty Type | Limited | | Wireless Technology | XLR | | Woofer Diameter | 5 Inches | ## Product Details - **Audio Output Mode:** Stereo - **Brand:** JBL - **Connectivity Technology:** 1 x XLR, 1 x TRS Balanced - **Frequency Response:** 24000 Hz - **Speaker Maximum Output Power:** 82 Watts ## Images ![JBL Professional LSR305 First-Generation 5" 2-Way Powered Studio Monitor (LSR305) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61ZxwoKJ-dL.jpg) ![JBL Professional LSR305 First-Generation 5" 2-Way Powered Studio Monitor (LSR305) - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Ls5qoEgKL.jpg) ## Questions & Answers **Q: is this the price for the pair?** A: I find it pretty funny that someone else answered "No, but you can buy two of them at twice the price" because I was writing to point out you can ALSO buy two of them at the SAME price, so, in a way, this IS the price for the pair, just not ordered at Amazon. B&H Photo is selling two of these speakers for the current Amazon price of one ($152.10) if you use code PRECYBER. **Q: How directional are these? I want to use them for general music/movies and can't have them on stands at ear level. will they fill a 10x10 room?** A: The horizontal dispersion of these is incredibly wide, but the vertical dispersion is much narrower - assuming 6' listening distance and the speakers sitting flat, you would start losing top end about 4' above the tweeters. This could be solved with some mopads or similar with an upward tilt though. As for filling a 10' x 10' room with sound, it will, but with nowhere near the bass impact they have in near-field. I use a pair of these for outdoor listening at low-moderate levels, and add 12dB of EQ below 110Hz, with a 30Hz 24dB/octave high pass filter, and they sound like much bigger speakers than they really are, but with the level of EQ applied obviously can't be pushed hard. In a room with careful placement to optimize bottom end, you could probably get away with 3-6dB of boost in the bottom end to get them filling the room. That said, adding the LSR310S would be the best solution for room filling sound with these monitors... **Q: hi, is this active or passive? can I plug them directly to the computer or do I need an amplifier to power them? I have an 8 channel passive mixer too** A: I wish one of them were passive and they sold them in pairs. Both are active, meaning 2 power supply. **Q: What cables do I need to connect this to my laptop or android phone? Are there cables available that are longer than 10 ft? Thanks!** A: There are no cables included with these monitors. You would need a cable with 2 male 1/4" TS or XLR to a 3.5mm TRS - http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CMP159-Stereo-Breakout-10-Feet/dp/B005HGM1D6/ref=pd_cp_MI_0 You then would split the two male TS' with one going to each speaker so in essence the 10' cable will become 20' when split. You're going to love these monitors!By the way, the red TS goes to the right channel. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good for the price: flat, neutral & professional *by D***E on November 7, 2014* These are studio monitors. My review will talk about what they do, what they don't do, who should buy them, and the value. I'll mention a few small issues. So what are studio monitors? Basically, if you record or mix down your own music, you need a special pair of speakers to check your mix. You can't do that on headphones--your mix--the way the different tracks of music sound together--won't resolve spatially (there's no real space with headphones). So this special product was designed to address this issue, as well as provide a live playback in the studio, and so on. Studio monitors do not have an exact definition, and there are different kinds. If you go into a music studio, the monitors are usually set up wrong, anyway. And so it goes. These tend towards what I would call "near field" which means, well, you sit near them. Not really near, but near. High frequencies lose energy over distance, so if you sit too far away they will sound dull. How are they different from a pair of stereo speakers in a hifi system? Well, they are designed in most cases to be flat and neutral, and not impart an attractive EQ, color or bias to the sound. So as far as speakers go, they sound, well, flat and colorless. And that's good for checking your mixes, but not so good for easy listening. Ideally, they should be revealing and mostly unforgiving. You want the truth, just like the ad says. Also, since these are not shielded (more on this later) they are a dud for computer speakers. And, they are for a solo listener. You have to be in the focus point, they focus like a good camera lens--that makes them special, but also a specialty item. So, so far, they from my description they sound like the box they came in. But in fact, they are great. Because when set up properly, you--the listener--and the speakers form the three points of a triangle. And after a few experiments (depending on your room acoustic), when they are set up right, the stereo image snaps into focus, and you can use them exactly they way they should be used--to check a mix. Any little problem in the mix is revealed, and you can quickly find the best mix (assuming you know how to mix). Note that in this triangle, the speakers angle towards the listener, at around 30 degrees. If you move a foot to the right or left, the image snaps out of focus. So basically, if you are looking for studio monitors for mixing on a budget, look no further. These do the job and do it well. They do it better. There are a few minor issues, again, remembering that these are a bargain. First is that the bass port fires towards the back wall. This is always problematic, depending on the room you are in. Having said that, in the focus position in the triangle the bass is reasonably well controlled. Also, the bass really does hit around say 42-48 Hz--it won't hit the lowest note of a large church organ, but double bass or electric bass, pretty good. Next, there is a resonant frequency in the case. That is, if you tap on the case, it has a note. This is surprising for a JBL design, and I guess this in one area where they cut corners. You could open up the case and apply some damping material, but then you risk the warranty and you might make it worse. If I find an easy mod or see one I'll try to post it. Resonant nodes are a common problem in audio, and this is a present, but minor quibble. Much has been written about the tweeter of this speaker and the diffracting pattern supposedly borrowed from more expensive designs. First of all, almost all speakers make this claim of "porting" expensive design components to lower models. In this case, the high frequencies, according to the hype, are less directional--more evenly dispersed. Well, this is pretty much rubbish, it is a cheap plastic design, and the high frequencies are very directional. But the fact is, that's what you want in a studio monitor--you want to sit in the focus point and hear a very accurate representation of the mix. It's a decent sounding tweeter, but if you want good sounding speakers, get JBL "regular" speakers, not these, or the perennial favorite Bowers & Wilkins. These are studio monitors. Next on the minor annoyances list is the overall shielding and hum rejection. There are two inputs, one for phono jacks and one for XLR cables. Now, you can hook up an RCA or banana plug combo--using adapters--from a stereo and drive these speakers (these are powered speakers, so they work with or without an amp or preamp). But the fact is, they just don't work well. Drive them from a sound card, they just don't do the job, they pick up hum and the sound is a bit off. But drive them from, say, an RME interface, or anything with decent balanced XLRs (say a mid range Focusrite, or, my fave, Grace audio), flip the switch from "consumer" to "professional" input level (they are "consumer" by default, at least on my set) and be prepared to be surprised, they do pretty well. The noise goes away. They are also susceptible to hum from dimmers, or electromagnetic hum. The tweeter is just a little bit less bright than flat--that is, there is almost a hint of ribbon in the sound. Not a bad thing, but don't set your mix too bright to compensate. Lastly, there is a very slight color to the sound, a hint of dark chocolate, sometimes edging ever so slightly towards murk. No biggie, but a slight coloration. As another reviewer perspicaciously noted, the coloration is similar to the Audio Technica ATHM50 headphones, so they make a complimentary pair. Compared to my Sennheiser HD600s, they are slightly darker. JBL claims the speakers are "pre" broken in, mine settled in and sounded noticeably different after about twenty hours, so don't mix anything serious until they have moved some air, IMHO. Again, these are some problems, but if set up right with the right cables, you are in business. And so, recommended. And better than anything in the price range. Who are they for: the budget home recording studio Not for: not for home stereo, computer speakers, multiple listeners Other notes: You will need XLR cables, and longer power cords than the ones supplied. There's no protective grill. The speakers have a very wide range for such a small box. Since there is no shielding, they are not too heavy--save the boxes for transport owing to the exposed cones. Do not forget to follow the setup pattern indicated in the obtuse instructions--if they aren't angled in (a very common setup mistake), the highs will be seriously skewed. There's a minimalist EQ switch on the back, I recommend you don't use this. Have fun, and happy mixing. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good Value for Money, But With Stands Becomes Great *by D***S on December 28, 2015* 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. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review *by T***O on February 26, 2018* A simple look online would prove the LSR305 is the best entry-level studio monitor, not just in terms of price, but also in terms of performance. Period. If you compile the reviews online, you'd basically get something like this: 1. JBL LSR305 2. Yamaha HS5 3. KRK Rokit 5 I was looking for the best beginner studio monitor for music production. I've researched, read, and watched lots of reviews and comparison tests (both sound and performance tests) against the top two contenders which are naturally the Yamaha HS5 and the KRK Rokit 5, and the JBL LSR305 comes through every single time. It easily beats the KRK Rokit 5 while the Yamaha HS5 comes in a close second (debatable, since the Yamaha is more expensive and you need a subwoofer; read on to find out why). Now, some reviews may give an edge to the Yamaha HS5 for being a Yamaha and for sounding very linear and "flat," (which is what you want in a studio monitor for accurate audio reproduction). This is certainly the case. So that's all good, right? It's as flat as it gets. However, it lacks considerable low-end. If you get the Yamaha, you would most definitely need a subwoofer to reproduce the lows. This means you'd need to shell out even more money for a subwoofer, which is counter-intuitive since you're in the market for an affordable entry-level studio monitor. Not the mention the Yamaha is the most expensive out of these three. Conversely, the KRK Rokit 5 is inferior to the Yamaha and the JBL in every single way. The quality in its audio reproduction just isn't there. It's basically, the opposite of the Yamaha. Not only does it have too much low-end, but worse than that, it lacks mids and highs. This results in a muddled, bass-heavy reproduction. Pricing is on par with the JBL though, and you might even get it for cheaper, so it has a slight price advantage. So you might think that the Yamaha HS5 is the best entry-level monitor because of its accuracy, but what if I told you the JBL LSR305 does NOT need a subwoofer and the mids and highs are as accurate as the Yamaha? This means you're also getting accurate bass. Ultimately, the JBL is really the best of both worlds because you get better bass than the Yamaha, the mids and highs are accurately represented (like the Yamaha and unlike the KRK), and it's cheaper than the Yamaha. On top of that, you wouldn't have paid extra cash for a subwoofer either. So you're pretty much getting more for less. Based on this, I would recommend the JBL. To be fair, I would also recommend the Yamaha, but not as highly as the JBL because it's more expensive and you still need extra gear. On the flipside, if go with the JBL, you don't need anything else. I've had these JBLs myself for over a year now, and they always deliver. It's perfect for listening to music, especially in lossless quality, but most importantly, mixes always come through. I don't think I've made a better investment for my hobby. I honestly can't recommend this studio monitor enough. Get the JBL, you won't regret it! --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - πŸ›’ **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** β€” Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** β€” Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - πŸ’° **No Hidden Fees** β€” All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - πŸ”„ **15-Day Free Returns** β€” Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - πŸ”’ **Secure Payments** β€” Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** β€” Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.com.sa/products/958988-jbl-professional-lsr305-first-generation-5-2-way-powered-studio](https://www.desertcart.com.sa/products/958988-jbl-professional-lsr305-first-generation-5-2-way-powered-studio) --- *Product available on Desertcart Saudi Arabia* *Store origin: SA* *Last updated: 2026-04-23*