Review: JBL LSR305 Speakers

JBL's LSR305 monitors are small desktop speakers that sound great no matter where you put them in your home. With built-in amps, these "active" speakers only require an outlet for power, and an output source for audio.

The LSR305s take either a 1/8-inch plug or XLR as inputs, so with the right interconnect cable you can hook them into your laptop, TV, stereo, smart phone, you name it. The XLR inputs can be used for more serious audio equipment and applications too. Plunk them on your desktop, and your office is now a high-performance sound space. Put them on either side of your TV at home, and you have a great alternative to a sound bar, with a more convincing soundstage and stereo image to boot.

With a 5-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter, the LSR305s have a 43Hz to 24kHz frequency response – respectable enough on the low-end, and crystal clear and detailed on the high end – a must-have characteristic in a good studio monitor. A port on the back of the speakers helps out with bass response, but while the 5-inch woofers are crisp and accurate, the power is still somewhat limited. If you paired these speakers with the right subwoofer, you could have an impressive little system for under 500 clams.

Because the LSR305 is primarily designed for audio engineers and music producers, it has a fairly neutral sound, lacking much color or warmth. But after listening to a wide variety of music, I was impressed with the overall performance and balance, particularly with rock and jazz. Even at low volumes, the clarity and detail really stands out, and vocals sound perfectly natural and textured. The monitors also have a broad sweet spot, so even when you're moving around the room, the sound image stays fairly consistent. The built-in 41-Watt, Class-D power amplifiers provide a convincing punch, but you're in no danger of blowing the doors down.

Considering their price, it's really hard to find much fault with these speakers. They have a clean, transparent sounding high end, making long listening sessions a pleasure. Producing a convincing stereo image even at close distances, they perform well as a studio rig, in a desktop or home system, or even as TV speakers. Put them to the test in a larger room, hooked into an iPod or stereo, and they can hold their own. This type of versatility and performance isn't easy to come by, much less in a pair of speakers in this price range.

Photos: Alex Washburn/WIRED