Small desktop monitors (active/powered)

[Richard Dale]

1 minute ago, bluesman said:

I also love the A2s.  If size is critical, they're just right.  But as those who know me can attest, I think the JBL 305s are among the best value in audio.  They sound great, accept both balanced and unbalanced inputs, have useful trim pots, and are quite powerful (2x41W amps in each).  They're often on sale discounted to $100 or less at musical instrument stores - I got one pair for $100 each and one pair for $89 each at Guitar Center.  Both the originals and the second series now on the shelves are excellent, and they're so similar that I couldn't tell the difference between them (I have a pair of each).  They're about twice as big as the A2s, but the SQ is so much better that I'd make room for them.  So I did 🙂

I have a pair of JBL 305s. I think they are great fun and go very loud for very little money. But I don't think the bass is any good despite my best efforts. I put them on IsoAcoustics stands and drove them with a high quality Chord Hugo DAC and still the bass is very ill-defined. I think they are good value for what they cost, but to me they fall a long way short of 'best value in audio'.