JBL LSR305 vs. LSR305p MKII (SlipStream, Controls, Appearance, etc.)

Do you get agitated when you don’t get the sound experience you want, or perhaps, you don’t get to experience the devices you like? If yes, then you probably have a lot to know about these things. 

However, if your answer is no, you must be aware of the wide variety of musical accessories available today for the users so that they can enhance their experience, whether it is for their professional work or for mere entertainment purposes. 

If you are thinking of investing in any such electronic device to make your working experience better, I must tell you that it is a long way before you can finally decide upon what to buy.

After all, you will first have to enlighten yourself regarding all these devices, how they work, which one better suits your needs, and of course, last but not least, how much do each of these costs? 

Let’s face it; the cost is a significant factor. While these devices do indeed offer a supreme user experience, they also cost a lot. Therefore, one should carefully analyze whether buying such things can be advantageous for their particular needs. 

You must be in a state of a frenzy right now because you know that it is not a piece of cake to make a purchase. However, you should not have much to worry about because this guide is all about helping you make the right choice.

Here are a couple of things you will need to learn in order to firm up on some basic knowledge of the subject.

• What are headphones, and how are they different from Speakers?
• What are speaker monitors?
• What variants are there in speaker monitors?

The above given three questions will help you figure out some much-needed knowledge about speakers.

Because this guide is originally about comparing two home studio monitors, namely JBL lsr305 vs. JBL 305P, we will ultimately get on to our subject. Still, first, we shall cover all the basics.

What Are Headphones, And How Are They Different From Speakers?

Headphones, as the name suggests, is a small device you put over your head and gain experience with some good music.

On the other hand, speakers are a bit different technology and are not only limited to your head or your ears but they can be used in a room with many people, for instance. 

Headphones and speakers have both been around for many decades now, and the debate as to which one is better is still ongoing. The truth is that there is no such thing as one being better than the other.

It all depends upon what best suits your needs. What is best for you might not be the best for somebody.

For instance, if speakers are good for your usage because you are a young adult and want to have a party-like vibe in your house all day, it is not necessary that they will also be good for a 55-year-old heart patient who wants to listen to soothing music every time.

While headphones do give you some privacy if you are on a call, they do not give the true experience of being in front of a band performance.

This is one of the main features of speakers, however, that they almost give you the feel of sitting in a band performance.

They make the sound so real that it is nearly impossible to distinguish between a live performance and one through speakers. When it comes to headphones, it is just an all-in-your-head feeling.

Also, if you want to host a party, having a loudspeaker can really lighten the mood of your friends. 

Moreover, the main difference between the two acoustic accessories, speakers and headphones, is that with the former, you can actually listen to the music with both your ears, whereas with the latter, you will be using one of your ears at one particular time to listen to music.

Although this difference is not quite distinguishable at first, you will certainly feel the difference when you pay attention to it.

That’s the reason why many musicians and other people in the audionics field like to work with speakers because it maximizes their user experience.

The quality of the sound and the bass tone is much better with speakers as compared to headphones.

Which One has Better Sound Quality, Speakers or Headphones?

Although the sound quality of both headphones and speakers depends significantly on their company and their specs, a generic answer can also be generated, to some extent.

Speakers tend to have better sound quality because of the audio imaging technology used in creating these speakers.

The audio imaging technique works in such a way that when the speaker says something, their voice propagates through the air first, bounces against the walls, and then reaches your ears.

This gives the speakers a massive advantage over headphones because the audio imaging technology makes the sound more realistic.

As far as the headphones are concerned, there is no bouncing of the sound waves involved, which means that the voice of the speaker is transmitted directly to your ears without propagating through the air first, giving the voice an enclosed in-the-box feeling. 

What are Studio Monitors?

Although the term ‘speaker monitor’ is a bit confusing to a person who is just beginning to enter the field of acoustics, they simply just refer to the loudspeakers that are used in big spaces such as theatres, and large commercial spaces, such as recording studios, and film-making organizations.

What Variants Are There In Home Studio Monitors?

Optimal frequency response is what matters the most in home studio monitors because this frequency response determines how nicely you will be able to mix the music in your studio.

Factors such as how big is your music studio and how far your neighbor contribute a lot to making the right choice when buying a set of home studio monitors.

For instance, if you are mixing the music in a small space, you may have to look for small speakers that do not overwhelm the space.

Similarly, if you are working in a large setup, small speakers won’t be any good because you will not accurately hear the sound now that it is being dispersed in a space that is too big for its capacity. 

Of course, you do not want to infuriate your neighbors as well when you are working in your home studio.

Taking into account the distance between you and your neighbors will be helpful because then, you can decide how prolific you can be in your studio and, at the same time, not make the life of your neighbors a living hell. 

If you live in a condo or a residential building, you will have to look for speakers that give the best sound quality even when used at low volume so that your work quality is not hindered 

While testing out these speakers in a retail store may not give the best estimate of how they will sound in your mixing studio, a good alternative is to rent them one by one and test them with the same recording in the same environment.

You can also record the different working of these speakers on your phone and then compare all of them, in the end, to decide which one to buy.

JBL LSR 305 Review

JBL has done a commendable job in producing user-friendly speakers so far. Not only are these speakers truly great at what they do, but they also don’t render you broke after you actually buy them.

With the combination of a great studio monitor and a reasonable price, there is nothing else that the consumers could ask for. 

Although the speakers in this series (JBL LSR) can not be connected without wire, it is still a great option for those passionate music makers who are seriously looking to bring a professional touch to their home studio.

JBL LSR 305 is undoubtedly one of the must-haves in your home studio, as it does not have an extraordinarily high price and provides the best usage for beginners and professionals alike. 

Appearance

Let’s talk about the physical appearance of these home studio speakers first. LSR 305 has a robust outside, with a bright glossy frame encircling the drivers and a sleek body covered with jet black plastic framing.

Truth be told, the appearance of these speakers is quite exceptional, doing more than justice to the price these speakers are offered at. 

Controls

When it comes to controls of LSR 305, the speakers are not very difficult to use. There are enough controls on the body to give you the full power of the bass tones, pitch, and other critical settings.

At the same time, the controls on the interface are also not overcrowded so as to cause confusion to the users. This is what makes these speakers truly great from the functionality point of view. 

Some of the most significant features of these speakers that make them stand out from other speakers in the same price range are that these monitors allow you to control high and low frequencies simultaneously and also a volume potentiometer.

Using this control, you can conveniently align the output provided by both speakers.

The Famous ICW Technology

If you have had the pleasure of thoroughly seeing LSR 305 somewhere, you must have noticed the round point which is surrounding the tweeters of the speakers.

To a layman, this may seem like an absurd attempt to give the monitors an elaborate look, but essentially, these rounded points serve a much bigger purpose that you have never thought of.

As it turns out, these rounded points are one of the main components of the Image Control Waveguide (ICW) technology.

The company launched this feature in one of its most expensive M2 Master Monitor, which was priced at $26,000 at that time; the company soon got the technology patented. 

Let’s try to understand what this technology actually does. The ICW technology breaks up the frequency it receives through its rounded points and disperses it in a greater area.

This is done so that a larger and wider acoustic experience can be given to the users. The technology is built on the premise that it renders a more accurate sound experience to the musicians while also not compromising with the quality of the sound.

Also, because this technology is actually about making changes in the exterior body of the speakers rather than making heavy changes on the inside, it has also been possible to keep the price of these speakers as low as possible.

Slip Stream

SlipStream is one of the many technologies used in making up this wonderful piece of home studio monitor called JBL LSR 305.

Using a double-flared bass port design, this technology gives the woofer in the speakers a minimized frequency extension.

LSR

Wondering what LSR actually stands for in the name JBL LSR 305? Well, we have the answer for you.

LSR, more commonly known as Linear Spatial Reference Technology, allows for a 72-axis measurement of the speakers, which can be fitted in nearly every spot very conveniently.

Like the ICW technology, the LSR technology has also been patented by the company soon after its first launch.

By now, we must say that with all the latest technologies incorporated in these home studio monitors, these speakers give the best value for money if compared with any other speakers within the same price range.

Connectivity

When it comes to the connectivity of these speakers, they can be connected to a smartphone as well as a professional DAC. It is because these speakers have 1/4″ and XLR inputs that allow both ranges of signals.

Whether it is a local -10 dB signal or a professional +4 dB signal, these speakers heartily welcome all. This multiple connectivity option is one of those factors that contribute significantly to the versatility of this model.

JBL LSR 305 CONS

Like every other piece of work, these studio monitors also have a few, if not many, drawbacks that we should shed light upon so as to guarantee that our readers are fully informed and do not end up making the wrong decision for their purchase. 

While these speakers are truly extraordinary in their functionality, and the value for money is extremely high, their mid-range bodies are not that robust.

In particular, when playing a specific genre of music, such as shrill sound, you will find that these speakers do not work at their optimum best.

Because of this shortcoming, some musical instruments, such as guitar or piano, may not give you the same excitement as you might experience with any other speaker. 

Secondly, some users have also reported a strong hissing sound at low volumes, which is quite devastating at times.

What is JBL LSR 308?

Although this version has been discontinued for unknown reasons, it was one of the most powerful additions to the LSR series.

LSR 308 was a bi-amplified (Class-D 56 Watt RMS Amplifier for LF and 56 Watt RMS Amplifier for HF), magnetically shielded speaker using the same ICW technology that we studied in LSR 305.

What are JBL LSR 310s?

JBL LSR 310s is a 10-inch powered subwoofer that helps you take the low frequencies further down.

Making the best use of the patented SlipStream technology and the 200-watt amplifier, LSR 310 now adds deep, robust, and powerful bass tones to your sound productions.  

JBL LSR 305 VS 305P MKll

If we want to talk about the performance of the two home studio monitors in question (JBL LSR 305 and JBL LSR 305P MKll), let me tell you that they are highly similar, apart from a few minor tweaks here and there.

The MKll version is basically a new version of the LSR 305, and not much has been changed in the two versions. 

Let’s look at some of the specs these monitors have to offer.

Just like the LSR 305 version, the ICW (Image Control Waveguide) is one of the biggest hallmarks of the 305 MKll version. This technology only widens the sweet spot of the sound if you want to understand it in a simpler way.

With refined transducers and a 5″ powered studio monitor, JBL once again brings extraordinary detail to your home studio with their newest version in the LSR series. 

JBL 305p Mkll Best Settings

Some of the best settings of the MKll series are the same as the 305 version, which includes a patented SlipStream technology, ICW technology, a sleek modern design that turns out to be an outstanding addition to your home studio, HF trim switch, and bi-amplified class-D amplifiers.

Final 305P MKll Review

If you are considering buying a studio monitor and are stuck between LSR 305, and 305P MKll, the latter is definitely the best choice.

Although both the speakers are more or less, there are a few differences that make the recent version of these home studio monitors stand out in comparison with the older version.

As JBL is always committed to producing better and more efficient speakers in an affordable price range, this new version is just another successful attempt at what the company does best.

That’s the reason why the speakers in this series are used not only by professionals in the field of acoustics but also newbies. 

In the MKll version, series three transducers have been incorporated, which help you hear more accurately and mix in a more prolific manner.

With a long throw 5″ woofer used in these speakers, you are not going to need sub-woofers to make your experience better.

All that being said, the company has outperformed itself by releasing MKll at such an affordable price and with commendable functionalities at the same time. 

Frequently Asked Questions