This past week I officially entered the realm of home-studio digital audio production.
I say “officially” because until now, I’ve been attempting to mix using no-name “dj headphones” and bookshelf audio speakers. In a word, that was “stupid.”
Enter new JBL 305P Mark-II studio monitor speakers at $218/pr
To quote my review on Sweetwater, “…it’s like taking pillows off your ears. I can mentally ‘see’ the instruments in the ‘space’ of the sound-field mix, and I can hear every minute adjustment that I make in post.”
Even with no isolators for the speakers and no room treatments, in a really lopsided room layout, it didn’t matter. (Well, yeah it does, but the point is…) I hooked up these speakers, set them both to 50% volume, opened up my latest DAW project and discovered immediate, total, immersive sonic nirvana with clarity and detail like I’ve never heard before.
It’s like taking pillows off your ears … I can hear every minute adjustment that I make in post.
Literally the very first mix I made with the JBLs sounded 100x better working with my DAW, but most importantly – and miraculously (to me) – my mixes finally sounded decent when played back thru any other speakers. Glory be !!!
There’s just one problem
Okay, there is a valid complaint about these speakers: the shiny front facia. It’s butt-ugly and visually distracting, attracts dust, and is a hassle to keep clean. That’s about it – and what’s behind the glossy plastic has legitimately been improved.
The JBL 305P Mk2 is the GOLD standard studio monitor at this price point
Okay sure, the class-D amp isn’t as “dead-quiet” as class-A/B amps are, but come on… these are entry level monitors; which means the level of “hiss” from these speakers will be (for all practical purposes) basically irrelevant (and probably unnoticeable) for most setups anyway.
But you know how it goes… I didn’t know ANY of this until I bought a pair. Once I did, everything became clear. But what pushed ME over the edge to finally BUYING a set of studio monitors?
The following video was the final testimony that convinced me to buy these speakers. As the man says: JBL 305P Mk2’s are the GOLD standard for studio monitors at this price point.
Why are JBL 305P’s SO good?
The best answer I have for this question is the Wikipedia article on “Studio Monitors.” James B. Lansing (of Altec-Lansing fame) was THE pioneer in high-end audio reproduction in the early 20th century; first working directly for the BBC and later co-founding Altec-Lansing. In later years, A/L’s “Voice of the Theater” and Duplex 604 speakers would literally set the standard in industrial/commercial sound reinforcement for decades – but the quest for highly accurate nearfield studio sound is where it all started, and the 305P may be the ultimate bang-for-the-buck monitor ever available.
Go On… Getcha’ Some!
If you’re looking for your first set of legitimate studio monitors, these are only $218 a pair w/ free shipping everywhere. IMO, this is the singular best value ever in the world of studio monitors.
