The JBL 305P MKII is one of the top-rated powered studio monitors within its price range and they are highly praised by their satisfied users. As a powered studio monitor, it comes with a built-in Class D amplifier (Bi-amp). Even with an integrated amp, the JBL 305P MKII price tag is still very modest and this enables the speaker to fit most listeners’ budgets. Their small footprint and without the need to get additional power amplifiers will make them suitable for listeners with tight spaces.
Being a small active speaker also means it may not be able to dig deep into the bass extension, thus unable to provide the subsonic bass frequencies which you may need for your work or music listening pleasure. This is where an active subwoofer comes into play, it could help supplement the bass performance and we will need to find out which ones are an ideal match for the JBL 305P MKII.
Table of Contents
Sonic Characteristics of JBL 305P MKII and Your Subwoofer Requirements
As mentioned earlier, the JBL 305P MKII is bi-amplified, its 1″ (25mm) HF driver unit is been driven with 41 Watts of power, and the 5″ (126mm) LF driver unit is powered with 41 Watts. The frequency range is rather impressive for an active studio monitor of this price and size, it is at 43Hz-24kHz (-10dB). JBL 305P MKII is also loud enough for nearfield listening and will be suitable for small listening rooms. Based on these specs, you can tell when it comes to subsonic bass reproduction, these powered studio monitors are not ideal.
The upper bass performance of the JBL 305P MKII is good, there is just enough punch, and can sound rather pronounced at times. More importantly, there is accuracy in its bass response and the delivery is agile as well. The very deep bass performance is not as prominent though and this is as expected. If you want to make the overall bass reproduction sound slightly more pronounced, you can always position the JBL 305P MKII nearer to walls as the studio monitor has a rear-firing bass port. This may affect the overall tonality so you might want to try different speaker positions.
More Details at Amazon – JBL Studio Monitor 305PMKII
JBL 305P MKII is designed and made for studio use, even though it is neutral and precise when it comes to sound reproduction, it may not be flat enough for some professionals. This also makes it an excellent choice for casual music listeners who have limited budget and space but still want good sound quality for the money. Compared to other studio monitors in the same price range, the JBL 305P MKII has a higher bass output and if you don’t need the missing subterranean bass frequencies, just the speakers alone should suffice.
If you have some inkling on how deep you want the subwoofer to reach down into the bass extension then you should aim for those which could deliver this level of subsonic bass reproduction. Usually, subwoofers that could reproduce such a level of performance will not be cheap and you should work out a budget you are comfortable with. This will help filter out subwoofers that cost more than you are willing to afford. If the ones within your budget are unable to deliver the bass frequencies you require, you should wait it out and save more till you could afford the sub you need.
Since a subwoofer will be taking up a lot of space, you might want to see how much space you could allocate. If space is a luxury, you should go for a compact size subwoofer. For small subwoofers, we recommend placing them near your sitting position. The type of connection the subwoofer has can be part of your requirements too. You should list out more requirements on your own, and create a thorough checklist. When you have a better understanding of what you require from a sub, please take a look at the list of the best subwoofers to match with your JBL 305P MKII studio monitors.
JBL 305P MKII Specifications
- Type: 2-Way (Rear-firing bass port)
- Frequency Range: 43Hz-24kHz (-10dB)
- Drivers: 1″ (25mm) HF Driver, 5″ (126mm) LF Driver
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 298mm x 185mm x 231mm | 11.75″ x 7.3″ x 9.9″
- Weight: 4.73kg (10.4lbs)
Best Subwoofers to match with JBL 305P MKII
The Yamaha HS8S is a studio subwoofer that will match well with the JBL 305P MKII and is an ideal choice for professionals. It is an 8″ downward-firing subwoofer and has an impressive frequency range for its size which is at 22Hz to 150Hz. The amplifier power of the HS8S is up to 150 Watts and will be enough for nearfield listening sessions or small listening rooms. The overall bass reproduction is clean and accurate, it is agile as well and doesn’t overwhelm the upper registers. It may not be impactful enough for casual users.
More Information at Amazon – Yamaha HS8S Subwoofer
JBL Professional LSR310S is an amazing studio subwoofer choice to go for, not to mention, this is a sub designed by the same company as the JBL 305P MKII. Furthermore, both are made for professional use and we can expect seamless studio-grade overall sound reproduction from them. The articulate bass performance of the JBL Professional LSR310S is agile and precise with well-textured low ends, complementing the JBL 305P MKII active monitors really well. It has a modest price tag and definitely worth your time to audition them.
More Details at Amazon – JBL LSR310S Channel Studio Subwoofer
PreSonus Eris Sub 8 is an entry-level studio subwoofer that is friendly to our wallets and will be ideal for listeners who have a tight budget. Eris Sub8 has an 8″ front-firing driver and uses a Class AB amplifier with up to 100 Watts of peak power. The frequency response is 30Hz-200Hz which is good enough for most music genres. It is also loud enough for nearfield listening and will pair well with the JBL 305P MKII studio monitors. We will suggest hearing them out first before making your final decision.
More Info at Amazon – PreSonus Eris Sub 8 Studio Subwoofer
The SVS SB-1000 Pro will be a top entry-level consumer-grade subwoofer to match up with your JBL 305P MKII studio monitors. This is a modestly priced sealed subwoofer with a 12″ front-firing driver and is powered by a Sledge STA-325D amplifier (MOSFET output). The RMS power is at 325 Watts and the Peak power is up to 820+ Watts peak with a frequency response of 20Hz to 270Hz (+/-3dB). Just based on the specs alone, the SVS SB-1000 Pro is providing plenty of value to its users and can keep pace with the 305P MKII powered monitors.
More Information at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro (Black Ash)
Genelec 7040A will be an exceptional subwoofer choice for listeners who have tight spaces and have the budget as well. This is a really compact and slim studio-grade subwoofer with a small 6.5″ driver. You can easily fit the Genelec 7040A in almost any studio with or without much space. The frequency response is 30Hz to 90Hz (-6dB) and will be well-suited for JBL 305P MK II studio monitors. The bass performance of 7040A is incredibly nimble and the precision is equally remarkable. It can easily keep pace with the 305P MK II monitors.
SVS PB-1000 Pro is a consumer-grade ported subwoofer with an exceptional bass performance for the money. It may just be an entry-level ported sub but the frequency response is really outstanding, it is from 17Hz-260Hz which will be great for listeners who need a sub to produce below 20Hz low frequencies. This is a sub with a 12″ driver and has up to 820+ Watts Peak power. The overall bass output and max SPL are higher than some of the sealed subs in the same price range. You can also switch the SVS PB-1000 Pro to “Sealed” mode.
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro Ported Sub
To Sum It Up
If you are using the JBL 305P MK II studio monitors mainly for work, we will suggest going for studio-grade subwoofers but if you are also using them for casual music listening, going with a consumer-grade sub can be a better option. Whether you choose a studio or consumer subwoofer, it is highly recommended to hear them out first before making your purchase. As you need to know if the subwoofer sounds good when matched with your JBL 305P MK II.
