Indeed the coaxial design of these small JBLs is a big advantage: this way they can be positioned very close without phase issues, thus the room reflections get proportionately less distracting. Looks like a decent offering - built in PSU is a big plus in this price range, too. Thanks for your recommendation!
I bought this over a year ago, trust me for professional and home use these are amazing, try to use the balanced cables for the best quality and lift them to your head
such valuable content, is difficult to find the opinion of real profesional and it's even more difficult that they present in a clear and concise way. Keep on going man!
They are great little speakers. I had a set for my PC - just for decent sound (even for basic music listening). Since then I upgraded to a pair of Kef LS50 and a dedicated amp.
I've been using these for over a year since purchase. I use them to mix podcasts, TH-cam vids, and instructional videos, and they're quite good. I cross reference them with Rode headphones and airpods pro. I find them to be accurate and crisp. Excellent review! Keep it up! P.S. please make a video on the best practices for video and audio in a small studio set up at home🙏
first set of monitors and i used them for years. super amazing for their price. for mixing i would just say be careful with low end. as someone who works on bass heavy music i found myself often having my low end way too loud or way too quiet
I have had the 104 non-BT version for years, and they are each on a 12" pedestal on my desk. I use the balanced outputs from a Tascam 102i interface to drive the speakers. All audio to/from my Dell notebook computer is via USB to the 102i. In other words, I bypass the "less than optimum", to put it kindly, Dell sound card and parakeet speakers and love this setup. I use the headphone out from the 102i so that I can control the speaker and headphone volume levels independently. I have significant hearing impairment for a video guy so I will not comment other than "Dell...bad, JBL...good". It was a pleasant surprise today to see that you had reviewed these. Have a great week.
Great review Curtis, as always! It would have been good if they had given other options for power, such as powering it through one or two 9volts or being able to charge and use it without having to be plugged in...
Have bought these, and they just got delivered. The clarity and sound is perfect. I was actually looking for good set of speakers. So your video was right in time.
some much good going on with this speaker, but wish they had opted for a 3 way binding post over spring clips I think most people would have been ok with the size tradeoff to have a little bit of a cleaner setup.
Have had these speakers for over a year as my desktop monitors. Nice clean sound. Came from Makies CR5BT speakers.. Love these! And the price is unbeatable.
I have these. As you say, the bass is lacking, but I narrate videos, so no big deal. They sound very clear. My gripe is the power saving on them. They can switch off when you could do without it. Easy to sort out by touching the selector button in the front of the right hand speaker though. Good deal for the money and lots of connection options.
Thank you for this review. I've spent so much time researching monitors and audio interfaces for mixing podcasts and stand-up comedy. I think these are the monitors for me, and then I can figure out the audio interface situation another day (or never). Thanks.
so i have no clue , when or why but i have been watching your content for years and have even commented on your page, and as i happened to look it shows im not subscribed to your page, thats so odd, i know for a fact i was subbed to your page , but never the less keep up the good work
Hi there. Great review presentation👍👍 Any suggestions of eq setting tweaks to give flatter frequency response to improve accuracy? Especially for mixing music?
These actually might be ideal for me. About to move to Korea for a teaching gig for a year or two, but I don't want to lug/sell all my studio equipment from the states unless I'm confident I'll be staying there for many many years. These sound (haha) like they will be good for doin VO editing while I'm abroad and in general when I'm traveling for anything.
Excellent video as always! Are there any budget speakers you would recommend if you already have an audio interface and just want balance audio connections?
These would be my top recommendations for small monitors with balance inputs. If you want larger monitors, that's a different story, but for the size and price, these are my top pick as of today.
A warning for anyone planning to use these as 'travel monitors'. The speaker wire connectors are really poor quality and are prone to fall apart with repeated use. The spring pops out and the plastic push lever falls off. It's really annoying to put back together and becomes increasingly difficult as the assembly loosens over time. I'd recommend these only for use in fixed setups.
Are these speakers great for podcasts and recording music? I'm building my portable podcast show from home 🎤 (I know it's not studio grade but love the small form factor and simple setup)
Thanks! That was helpful indeed. Was looking for inexpensive monitors to pair with some Elektron gear I have, and these look like the exactly ones that fit well.
Hi there! I was wondering, do you think these are suitable to use with an Audio-Technica turntable (domestic use, not pro) ? I am looking for something affordable and quite small sized, I like the connectivity options these speakers offer, as well as the turntable that offers Bluetooth connection as well. Thanks!
Curtis, I think these are PERFECT for my needs! Thank you for the thorough video & great tips! I'm a Lefty & I'd like the control speaker to be on the left side. If I were to swap the red & white RCA plugs coming off the 3.5mm adaptor when I plug them into the unit,. could I have it on the left & have the audio perform correctly?
Hey Curtis. Love your channel. Been watching your videos and appreciate the quality that you bring to the public. =] Would like to hear your views on the iLoud Micros if and when it's possible. JBL has been delivering really great performance and innovation to the table especially in the pro-consumer space. Really thankful of the company too. They really do get the 'job done' =]
Hi Curtis, thanks for this review, I own theses and love them for the price. Do you think it would be worth connecting a sub. If so how would you do it? Thanks
I wish you could get your hands on the Vanatoo Transparent Zero. they are very interesting monitors. i would love you opinion on those. thank you Curtis, awesome as usual.
Hi Curtis, great vid. I have the JBL 104-BT and one question is bothering me. Do you have any difference in sound between the left and right monitors? I have different sound output in each channel, the left side sounds much more muffled or quieter and less crispy than the right side. Also, it would be nice if you can tell JBL to turn off or bind the sound of turning on and connecting to the volume knob. The sync you mention between sound and video is noticeable sometimes and, weirdly, the JBLs cannot keep up, I have a pair of Sennheiser PXC550, and those are always in sync.
I've been looking for some affordable ones, especially for travel. I have my current monitors on Gator Frameworks Clamp-on Studio Monitor Stands and love being able to dial in the height and angle
Thank you so much for this video. Exactly what I needed. Question: if you could get a used but good set of Yamaha HS8 for about the same price, would you go for those?
Depends on your goals. For travel? I'd go with the JBLs. For regular use at your regular desk? I'd definitely go for the Yamahas. Or some of the larger JBL Professionals. I used the JBLs with 8" woofers for work every day.
I don't know I mean it used to be that if you bought a speaker they would give you the frequency response and that was pretty much the only thing you would need to know to buy the speaker because it will tell you what it would sound like. And now everybody has to waste everyone's time simply talking about what the speaker will sound like because they don't have the information anymore. How is this possible?
Hey Curtis, thanks for this. I hear that the headphone jack in the front has a non-flat frequency response, and behaves like it's tilted (lack of bass, way too much high-end). Is that really the case?
Of course they are what they are, but it would be nice to have a subwoofer option. Even feeding it from an additional output (prefiltered on your DAW). That would make them a great cheap/portable option, or even cheap/portable 5.1 check set. I use Genelec but would like them as a sub set for some duties /// Any idea about which sub could match well with them?
Very professional review BUT still no sound test - despite all reasons given I want this as this is a major factor in me having to choose to buy them. I want to hear how they sound!!!
If you are fine with paying for patents, Qualcomm AptX has 32 ms (~ 1 frame). So a complete chain with AptX or other low-latency Bluetooth is close to, but not perfectly, frame accurate. Presuming most people don’t have AptX they’re setup never gonna go into this less bad mode… I don’t know what “normal” Bluetooth has, but I get a feeling it is many many frames (4-10?) with my phone. I dunno, maybe this is a topic you want to cover in a video? E.g. measure frame vs audio delay in a couple of different setups?
I just purchased a computer monitor with no integrated speakers to use with my PS5 Console. . I also use my console to watch movies So, . . . Could these help me with my gaming set up?
If you’re happy with the sound via Bluetooth for TV then go for it! Make sure to follow the included instructions for connecting via cable. I’m guessing you’re not getting the full output volume so be sure to follow the manual.
Do you think it would be appropriate in terms of frequency response for mixing a'capella choir music? Not the eastern orthodox church music, but with reasonable bass foundation reaching C2 sometimes which is 65Hz, although fundamental tone is not particularily strong at those notes. I guess for orchestral pieces it would not be enough.
@@curtisjudd they sound massive for the size and they do very well even with bass. Obviously they lack the punch of bigger boxes, but they're really flat and detailed. My main use is to edit talking head videos, so they're perfect for the task. I would recommend them any time for near field in small edition rooms, but they're a bit heavy and lack the connection diversity of others, like the JBLs if you're goal is to be on the move.
how does this compared to iLoud Micro? coz that monitor got tons of great reviews from audio & sound engineers & community. and both of them are pretty 'affordable'
about to buy it for a small sound art setup I realise there's no way to mount them.. that should be a cons really. Specially if the base as it is does not seems very steady :p
It would be nice, if not downright wonderfull, if you could power the system via USB-C also. It simplifies things, and the JBL's would have been ideal for my use, if they could work off some kind of USB-C Power Delivery (i.e. also from a Power Bank), that allows portable use everywhere.
It's a pet peeve of mine that manufacturers like JBL avoid paying licensing fees for proper Bluetooth protocol technologies that would reduce latency to acceptable levels (e.g., AptX Low Latency). What saves them a couple bucks (and preserves their proprietary egos), ruins the customer experience after it's too late (because they're hoping nobody notices), resulting in out-of-sync audio whenever viewed with computer/video content -- like, almost always these days.
Perhaps, but my guess is that they were looking to keep the price low to make these accessible to as many as possible. They have lots of other options for those with a larger budget.
@@curtisjudd Costing about a buck less per piece is transparent to consumers (a rounding error); JBL's decision to cause lag by avoiding a proper protocol, is just evidence of what they think of their customers' intelligence (no respect)...
I bought these because of your review. Thank you. But I have a serious problem with these: There is a startup sound that appears when you turn on the speakers and it is always at the same high volume - and it seems that it cannot be turned off. If this is really so - if it is really not possible to turn that off... they must be joking! I have a baby sleeping at night, and when I want to listen to sth quietly this turn on sound wakes up the kid. Is there a way to turn it off. I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THIS if I knew about this idiotic feature.
Good enough for spoken word. Actually sounds very similar to my Focal Solo 6 Be's when working on spoken word audio (which we covered in the video, assuming you watched it?)
@@curtisjudd i'm gonna take the JBL 305P MKII with the JBL LSR 310 S instead but my new desk will be white, so kinda disappointed i can't take enjoyment of theses white desktop speakers.
General idea is to make an equilateral triangle between your head and the speakers. Exact distance is not as critical as keeping things at the same distances.
@@curtisjudd thanks, does the height have importance and should the speakers be at ears level to have better perception ? Sound travels in "3d space" I believe that's why I'm asking.
They sound way better then Focals....all monitors are just Fugazzi lol . Buy the cheapest monitors folks,always , just pick the size of the speaker (its all in the room adoption). People dont hear like cats so nobody here cant notice the diference. Everybody just wana sell same and same things wraped in diferent story. Jbl is ql.
can you suggest a cheap audio mixer compatable with this speakers ? It says +4db is required for the trs output I am low on budget and just connecting with audio interface I find very inadequate sound
We didn’t have issues feeding audio from an audio interface. Most interfaces have a +4dBu output. Which interface are you using? I’d avoid adding another mixer.
Perfect review Curtis. These Monitors are actually insane been using them for the last 2 years, and I decided to even come up with a product animation do check it out on my channel.
Indeed the coaxial design of these small JBLs is a big advantage: this way they can be positioned very close without phase issues, thus the room reflections get proportionately less distracting. Looks like a decent offering - built in PSU is a big plus in this price range, too. Thanks for your recommendation!
👍
I bought this over a year ago, trust me for professional and home use these are amazing, try to use the balanced cables for the best quality and lift them to your head
👍
I've been using mine for over a year. Love the aesthetics and the sound.
Thanks for sharing your experince with them. 🔈
such valuable content, is difficult to find the opinion of real profesional and it's even more difficult that they present in a clear and concise way. Keep on going man!
Thanks., David.
They are great little speakers. I had a set for my PC - just for decent sound (even for basic music listening). Since then I upgraded to a pair of Kef LS50 and a dedicated amp.
I've been using these for over a year since purchase. I use them to mix podcasts, TH-cam vids, and instructional videos, and they're quite good. I cross reference them with Rode headphones and airpods pro. I find them to be accurate and crisp. Excellent review! Keep it up! P.S. please make a video on the best practices for video and audio in a small studio set up at home🙏
Glad they’re working well for you. Happy mixing!
first set of monitors and i used them for years. super amazing for their price. for mixing i would just say be careful with low end. as someone who works on bass heavy music i found myself often having my low end way too loud or way too quiet
Agreed. I’d opt for these more for video editors who monitor mostly dialogue.
I have had the 104 non-BT version for years, and they are each on a 12" pedestal on my desk. I use the balanced outputs from a Tascam 102i interface to drive the speakers. All audio to/from my Dell notebook computer is via USB to the 102i. In other words, I bypass the "less than optimum", to put it kindly, Dell sound card and parakeet speakers and love this setup. I use the headphone out from the 102i so that I can control the speaker and headphone volume levels independently. I have significant hearing impairment for a video guy so I will not comment other than "Dell...bad, JBL...good". It was a pleasant surprise today to see that you had reviewed these. Have a great week.
Thanks for sharing, Joe. 🔈
Great review Curtis, as always!
It would have been good if they had given other options for power, such as powering it through one or two 9volts or being able to charge and use it without having to be plugged in...
Yes, for production sound mixers 😊
@@curtisjudd 😜
Perfect review, everything I needed to know before purchasing presented in a relaxed way with great attention to detail. Thank you!
You're welcome!
As always, great content Curtis - keep it up - it's very much appreciated over here in Dubai.
👍
Have bought these, and they just got delivered. The clarity and sound is perfect. I was actually looking for good set of speakers. So your video was right in time.
👍
some much good going on with this speaker, but wish they had opted for a 3 way binding post over spring clips I think most people would have been ok with the size tradeoff to have a little bit of a cleaner setup.
👍
Have had these speakers for over a year as my desktop monitors. Nice clean sound. Came from Makies CR5BT speakers.. Love these! And the price is unbeatable.
👍
I have these. As you say, the bass is lacking, but I narrate videos, so no big deal. They sound very clear. My gripe is the power saving on them. They can switch off when you could do without it. Easy to sort out by touching the selector button in the front of the right hand speaker though. Good deal for the money and lots of connection options.
Thanks for sharing, Jay. Note that the documentation includes instructions on how to disable the power saving feature.
@@curtisjudd Nice one Curtis. I never knew that haha. This is why you are a sound engineer and I’m not lol
Thank you for this review. I've spent so much time researching monitors and audio interfaces for mixing podcasts and stand-up comedy. I think these are the monitors for me, and then I can figure out the audio interface situation another day (or never). Thanks.
👍
so i have no clue , when or why but i have been watching your content for years and have even commented on your page, and as i happened to look it shows im not subscribed to your page, thats so odd, i know for a fact i was subbed to your page , but never the less keep up the good work
Well, glad you are now!
Please compare to the Genelec 8010 AP. Would be awesome. The genelecs are even smaller. Since we are always traveling this is essential for us.
The iloud micro and iloud mtm could also be a great comparison for small portable speakers👍
That would be a fun comparison. Will do if I happen upon any I can borrow for that.
@@curtisjudd thank you!!
I would also be interested in such a comparison.
using them with my evo4 for a year or so and they are pretty good imo
👍
Hi there. Great review presentation👍👍 Any suggestions of eq setting tweaks to give flatter frequency response to improve accuracy? Especially for mixing music?
Totally depends on the room you use the speakers in, so there’s no recipe, unfortunately.
These actually might be ideal for me. About to move to Korea for a teaching gig for a year or two, but I don't want to lug/sell all my studio equipment from the states unless I'm confident I'll be staying there for many many years. These sound (haha) like they will be good for doin VO editing while I'm abroad and in general when I'm traveling for anything.
👍
Just ordered a pair. Thanks Curtis!
Happy monitoring!
Excellent review as always Curtis 👍
👍
Excellent video as always! Are there any budget speakers you would recommend if you already have an audio interface and just want balance audio connections?
These would be my top recommendations for small monitors with balance inputs. If you want larger monitors, that's a different story, but for the size and price, these are my top pick as of today.
A warning for anyone planning to use these as 'travel monitors'. The speaker wire connectors are really poor quality and are prone to fall apart with repeated use. The spring pops out and the plastic push lever falls off. It's really annoying to put back together and becomes increasingly difficult as the assembly loosens over time. I'd recommend these only for use in fixed setups.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Nigel.
Are these speakers great for podcasts and recording music?
I'm building my portable podcast show from home 🎤
(I know it's not studio grade but love the small form factor and simple setup)
Sure! Should do the job. Not tons of bass, but good for spoken word mixing and editing.
Thanks! That was helpful indeed.
Was looking for inexpensive monitors to pair with some Elektron gear I have, and these look like the exactly ones that fit well.
👍
Stellar review sir, thanks for this :)
👍
What's the best way to connect to them using a DJ controller
If the DJ controller has balanced outs, that'd be my preference.
@@curtisjudd thank you. Would you recommend these speakers for Deejaying house music? In a home room setting "near field"
Hi there! I was wondering, do you think these are suitable to use with an Audio-Technica turntable (domestic use, not pro) ? I am looking for something affordable and quite small sized, I like the connectivity options these speakers offer, as well as the turntable that offers Bluetooth connection as well. Thanks!
Probably fine, yes, noting that they are more clinical sounding. So if you want a very warm, bassy sound, these are not that.
Did you notice any speaker hiss or hum? I've read that JBL's other speakers have this issue due to lower class amplifiers.
My Focal monitors produce a bit more hiss than these did, if you put your ear right up next to them when not playing anything back.
@@curtisjudd awesome thanks!
Great review :)
Any buzzing or hiss at low volume?
Curtis, I think these are PERFECT for my needs! Thank you for the thorough video & great tips! I'm a Lefty & I'd like the control speaker to be on the left side. If I were to swap the red & white RCA plugs coming off the 3.5mm adaptor when I plug them into the unit,. could I have it on the left & have the audio perform correctly?
I think so, yes.
@@curtisjudd Thank you Curtis, I will get these!
Hey Curtis. Love your channel. Been watching your videos and appreciate the quality that you bring to the public. =] Would like to hear your views on the iLoud Micros if and when it's possible. JBL has been delivering really great performance and innovation to the table especially in the pro-consumer space. Really thankful of the company too. They really do get the 'job done' =]
Thanks Samuel. 👍
What are your top 3 headphones that you would recommend to edit dialog?
Sennheiser HD 400 pro for open back. And Sennheiser HD 300 Pro for closed back.
This is subjective, but mine are Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X, DT 880 Pro, and DT 770 Pro.
Thank you everyone for the suggestions
If I'm making hip-hop music which reference monitors do you recomend at this price point?
Headphones. Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro.
Hi Curtis, thanks for this review, I own theses and love them for the price. Do you think it would be worth connecting a sub. If so how would you do it? Thanks
Hmm, I’d probably wait until I was ready for a better set of monitors before adding a sub.
I wish you could get your hands on the Vanatoo Transparent Zero. they are very interesting monitors. i would love you opinion on those.
thank you Curtis, awesome as usual.
🙏
Hi Curtis, great vid. I have the JBL 104-BT and one question is bothering me. Do you have any difference in sound between the left and right monitors? I have different sound output in each channel, the left side sounds much more muffled or quieter and less crispy than the right side. Also, it would be nice if you can tell JBL to turn off or bind the sound of turning on and connecting to the volume knob.
The sync you mention between sound and video is noticeable sometimes and, weirdly, the JBLs cannot keep up, I have a pair of Sennheiser PXC550, and those are always in sync.
Sounds like there may be an issue - probably best to contact JBL support.
I've been looking for some affordable ones, especially for travel. I have my current monitors on Gator Frameworks Clamp-on Studio Monitor Stands and love being able to dial in the height and angle
Those stands sound pretty useful. 👍
Thank you so much for this video. Exactly what I needed. Question: if you could get a used but good set of Yamaha HS8 for about the same price, would you go for those?
if there’s nothing wrong with them, why not
Depends on your goals. For travel? I'd go with the JBLs. For regular use at your regular desk? I'd definitely go for the Yamahas. Or some of the larger JBL Professionals. I used the JBLs with 8" woofers for work every day.
Thanks. Small/inexpensive monitors are otherwise hard to select. Coax? Yes!
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Is it recomended to use it plugged to a yamaha mx61 keyboard and have a decent stereo sound to play in a home studio?
Should work.
I don't know I mean it used to be that if you bought a speaker they would give you the frequency response and that was pretty much the only thing you would need to know to buy the speaker because it will tell you what it would sound like. And now everybody has to waste everyone's time simply talking about what the speaker will sound like because they don't have the information anymore. How is this possible?
Hey Curtis, thanks for this.
I hear that the headphone jack in the front has a non-flat frequency response, and behaves like it's tilted (lack of bass, way too much high-end). Is that really the case?
These look great and fit my budget
👍
Of course they are what they are, but it would be nice to have a subwoofer option. Even feeding it from an additional output (prefiltered on your DAW). That would make them a great cheap/portable option, or even cheap/portable 5.1 check set. I use Genelec but would like them as a sub set for some duties /// Any idea about which sub could match well with them?
No idea. I stick with my Focals when I need a sub.
Very professional review BUT still no sound test - despite all reasons given I want this as this is a major factor in me having to choose to buy them. I want to hear how they sound!!!
How would you do that? It would be colored by any microphone and the room that they’re in.
Thank you for this super interesting review. How do they compare with Yamaha HS5 as they are in the same price range.
I haven't worked with the HS5s, but you'll need an audio interface or some other sort of monitor controller or DAC/amplifier.
Wait... I'm really confused right now
Are these way better than a pair of
15 bucks 5 watts pc speakers?
Depends on the 15 bucks 5 watt PC speakers. But I've never heard any of those sound anything like these JBLs.
Which one have a better sound quality, if compared with Harman kardon Onyx Studio 7?
Not sure, I haven’t tried the Harmans.
Should you turn off the speakers when not in use everytime or use sleep mode ?
Whichever you prefer.
i bought these and love them. how do i mount them on a stand in a way my cat doesnt topple them ?
Joe's sticky stuff.
If you are fine with paying for patents, Qualcomm AptX has 32 ms (~ 1 frame). So a complete chain with AptX or other low-latency Bluetooth is close to, but not perfectly, frame accurate. Presuming most people don’t have AptX they’re setup never gonna go into this less bad mode… I don’t know what “normal” Bluetooth has, but I get a feeling it is many many frames (4-10?) with my phone. I dunno, maybe this is a topic you want to cover in a video? E.g. measure frame vs audio delay in a couple of different setups?
I'm betting that would drive the price up a fair bit, but worth consideration. 300ms is not unusual for Bluetooth connections.
I just purchased a computer monitor with no integrated speakers to use with my PS5 Console. .
I also use my console to watch movies
So, . . . Could these help me with my gaming set up?
Yes, if the PS5 has a 3.5mm speaker output.
@curtisjudd
Great thanks
What about my monitor.. It has a headphone jack..
Could these speakers work on my monitor too?
Thanks again.
@@bean_flaregaming7384 Yes, should work.
Curtis do you happen to know of any bluetooth studio monitors suitable for music engineering?
I don’t.
What would be your recommendation for something just 1 step above these but still simple and convenient?
With the monitors I’ve used. And that’s a limited set, everything up from here requires an audio interface.
@@curtisjudd Thanks so much for responding! That’s beyond my skill set lol.
Porque cuando lo configuro en bluetooh suena mejor que mediante cableado?
Es recomendable para un Apple TV ?
If you’re happy with the sound via Bluetooth for TV then go for it! Make sure to follow the included instructions for connecting via cable. I’m guessing you’re not getting the full output volume so be sure to follow the manual.
Got these on sale 2 years back for Rs. 5,400 (65 USD)...at that price, zero complains.
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Is it good for home studio For music production?? Without acoustic room.. plz help
Better than other speakers at the same price that I’ve used.
@@curtisjudd thank u sir
Do you think it would be appropriate in terms of frequency response for mixing a'capella choir music? Not the eastern orthodox church music, but with reasonable bass foundation reaching C2 sometimes which is 65Hz, although fundamental tone is not particularily strong at those notes. I guess for orchestral pieces it would not be enough.
Not really, no.
Hi sir٫ please tell me What should I buy sound device mixpre 6 ii or Zoom F8n pro?
Both are good. I prefer the MixPre in most situations but the F8n Pro is very good as well.
@@curtisjudd thank you Sir, then I'll buy MixPre 6 ii.
Hi @curtis. how about watching movie using JBL 104? better than soundbar? i'm looking for booming bass when watching movie and clear dialogue.
No booming bass here.
@@curtisjudd thank you!
How would you say these compare to JBL's own venerable LSR305 powered speakers (now the 305P MKII)?
Great question, I haven’t used those.
I'm currently rocking iLoud MTM. How do you compare the sound against them? Thanks!
I haven’t tried the iLouds. How do you like them? How do your mixes translate?
@@curtisjudd they sound massive for the size and they do very well even with bass. Obviously they lack the punch of bigger boxes, but they're really flat and detailed.
My main use is to edit talking head videos, so they're perfect for the task. I would recommend them any time for near field in small edition rooms, but they're a bit heavy and lack the connection diversity of others, like the JBLs if you're goal is to be on the move.
how does this compared to iLoud Micro? coz that monitor got tons of great reviews from audio & sound engineers & community. and both of them are pretty 'affordable'
Good question. I haven’t had a chance to try them.
If I plug in mono to rca , does it output to both speakers?
Not sure, better check with JBL support.
about to buy it for a small sound art setup I realise there's no way to mount them.. that should be a cons really. Specially if the base as it is does not seems very steady :p
Thanks, didn’t consider mounting since their primary use case is on a desk.
I wished you would do a sound test
And record it through a microphone which colors the sound and captures the sound of my room?
@@curtisjudd Well you have a point
Works well in a studio On The Go?
Yes, but be careful with the clips for the cable connecting the two speakers. Not super durable.
Thanks 👍
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Would it be possible to add a simple desktop subwoofer?
Hmm, JBL doesn't have one for this set, but I suppose one could piece together a kit.
I got 2 pairs of JBL 104s for $75 each. I loved them so much that I bought the Bluetooth version for my DJ setup at home.
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It would be nice, if not downright wonderfull, if you could power the system via USB-C also. It simplifies things, and the JBL's would have been ideal for my use, if they could work off some kind of USB-C Power Delivery (i.e. also from a Power Bank), that allows portable use everywhere.
That's a clever idea. 👍
Headphones could give highest bang for the buck in monitoring included as a tool.
I believe one needs to get out of headphones at some point to check the mix.
These or Presonus Eris 3.5?
Not sure, haven’t tried the Presonus.
whats the material of casing, metal or plastic?
Plastic.
not a fan of power button on back. prefer front, and one that you flip and don't just press. it's more professional and user-friendly.
Good feedback.
It's a pet peeve of mine that manufacturers like JBL avoid paying licensing fees for proper Bluetooth protocol technologies that would reduce latency to acceptable levels (e.g., AptX Low Latency). What saves them a couple bucks (and preserves their proprietary egos), ruins the customer experience after it's too late (because they're hoping nobody notices), resulting in out-of-sync audio whenever viewed with computer/video content -- like, almost always these days.
Perhaps, but my guess is that they were looking to keep the price low to make these accessible to as many as possible. They have lots of other options for those with a larger budget.
@@curtisjudd Costing about a buck less per piece is transparent to consumers (a rounding error); JBL's decision to cause lag by avoiding a proper protocol, is just evidence of what they think of their customers' intelligence (no respect)...
5:55 "we also have them for substantially less...", WHERE?
We SAW them for about $25 less during the holidays at places like B &H. Back to normal prices now.
I bought these because of your review. Thank you. But I have a serious problem with these: There is a startup sound that appears when you turn on the speakers and it is always at the same high volume - and it seems that it cannot be turned off. If this is really so - if it is really not possible to turn that off... they must be joking! I have a baby sleeping at night, and when I want to listen to sth quietly this turn on sound wakes up the kid. Is there a way to turn it off. I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THIS if I knew about this idiotic feature.
Check with JBL to see if there's a way to turn that off. You could also plug headphones into the headphone jack so it doesn't wake the baby.
Pair it with a good subwoofer and you don't need to upgrade to anything else for nearfield listening.
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and Vs presonus Eris?
Haven’t worked with those yet.
FYI, Focal is pronounced as Fo - kell as it’s French😁
Thanks and apologies for my American English accent.
Jbl 530s
Reference :DDD
Good enough for spoken word. Actually sounds very similar to my Focal Solo 6 Be's when working on spoken word audio (which we covered in the video, assuming you watched it?)
Not Focal like focal length, but "Pho-Kal"~ Like the Vietnamese noodles and the state of California~
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How can a BLUETOOTH speaker be a 'reference monitor'? 😖
I address that in the video.
too bad there is no subwoofer.
Yeah, that is a shame.
@@curtisjudd i'm gonna take the JBL 305P MKII with the JBL LSR 310 S instead but my new desk will be white, so kinda disappointed i can't take enjoyment of theses white desktop speakers.
I got ripped off! My woofer measures only 3.5"!
LOL!
This units are not even close to Reference Monitoring, just a marketing term! like BOSE Music Monitor.
Did you watch the video and hear what I said?
For the positioning you said at arm's length but you didn't specify who's arms.
Can you be more precise? 😂
General idea is to make an equilateral triangle between your head and the speakers. Exact distance is not as critical as keeping things at the same distances.
@@curtisjudd thanks, does the height have importance and should the speakers be at ears level to have better perception ? Sound travels in "3d space" I believe that's why I'm asking.
I don't think I'd call those "reference" monitors.
For spoken word editing? I would say they’re good enough. For music, probably not.
They sound way better then Focals....all monitors are just Fugazzi lol . Buy the cheapest monitors folks,always , just pick the size of the speaker (its all in the room adoption). People dont hear like cats so nobody here cant notice the diference. Everybody just wana sell same and same things wraped in diferent story. Jbl is ql.
LOL!
Im sorry but you look like thin man from Charlie’s angels 😂
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can you suggest a cheap audio mixer compatable with this speakers ?
It says +4db is required for the trs output I am low on budget and just connecting with audio interface I find very inadequate sound
We didn’t have issues feeding audio from an audio interface. Most interfaces have a +4dBu output. Which interface are you using? I’d avoid adding another mixer.
@@curtisjudd m audio duo
Perfect review Curtis. These Monitors are actually insane been using them for the last 2 years, and I decided to even come up with a product animation do check it out on my channel.
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