JBL LSR305 Powered Monitors

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by jmlz1987, Jan 8, 2016.

  1. jmlz1987

    jmlz1987 New

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2016
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    BC, Canada
    Anxiously awaiting the courier to drop off my new LSR305s today. I love listening on headphones but to have the whole room fill with music can't be beat.

    It was a pain trying to source these in Canada, especially with our dollar tanking below record this week. Most reviews I've seen (Z-Review, /r/audiophile buying thread) commonly refer these to one of the best models in it's category for price.

    Any current/previous owners of these want to elaborate on their findings? I'll update my post when I've had some time to set them up later this weekend.
     
  2. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,923
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
    Take a listen and report back to us :)
     
  3. jmlz1987

    jmlz1987 New

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2016
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    BC, Canada
    I would if I remembered to buy XLR to RCA cables... sigh. Bought a few Monoprice ones from Amazon with next day delivery.
     
  4. Darsus

    Darsus Insatiable bowels - Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2015
    Likes Received:
    69
    Trophy Points:
    28
    I'm not the owner, but have listened to them. Fantastic speakers for the price, I'm sure you'll enjoy them. :)
     
  5. PoochZag

    PoochZag The Shadow knows - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,272
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Boston
    These are the only real speakers I have or ever had. Connected to Gungnir Multibit via Mjolnir 2 preamp by XLR which is probably overkill, but whatever. I enjoy them, and was really impressed with this "center image" thing speaker people always talk about. I use them rarely, both because I really only can when I'm home alone, and I prefer the intimacy and detail of all my headphones, especially the higher end open ones. They're a fun change of pace, for music and especially gaming, with good bass on their own. A steal at $99 USD each, but even more too IMO
     
  6. jmlz1987

    jmlz1987 New

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2016
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    BC, Canada
    Finally have them hooked up! Disastrous ordeal with Amazon.ca next day but they refunded my shipping.

    Purchased the JBL305s from AVShop.ca (Missauga, ON based) after a brief chat with their customer service dept. Top notch service and shipping would've been quicker had it not been during the holiday season (free anyways, and gave me time to get my AMP/DAC combo anyways). As much as everyone screams these can be picked up on the cheap I did about 3 months of looking at prices and for us Canucks, the lowest I ever say it go was 200/ea. I picked these up at 216.00 CDN each for a total of 472.50 after insurance/taxes. Math-wise even buying from Amazon.com and doing the exchange + duty calculations would've been near the same, but with more complications.

    Setup: S/PIDF PC > Bifrost Uber > Asgard 2 > JBL 305s via XLR to RCA

    Anyways, onto the first impressions... take note I don't have near any experience as most of you do so I'll try to explain in my words what I hear.

    Upgrading from a Logitech 2.1 box setup, all I can say is WOW clarity! I had to look around to find out where the sound was coming from at first, unlike my old 2.1.

    The sound stage places the music near center and forward of my sitting position, which is where I think most people would want it, right? If I turn my head left or right you will hear lingering vocal/instruments which I found very interesting as I've never experienced this phenomenon before.

    Highs aren't scratchy or clippy at all, very smooth almost like silk to my ears. I must have some spiky headphones because I haven't heard it like this before. Only listened to Top40/EDM for the moment, and experienced no fatigue after 4 hours constant listening. +/- 2dB HF trim is present as well.

    Mids aren't overpowering or too quiet, they sounds present and layer well with the low end. I've never had issues with mids so can't write much more in this section for now.

    Lows, well, I don't have the JBL LSR310 sub, but from what I've heard others say, it really isn't super necessary (plus there's +/- 2dB EQ for LF if you are so inclined)

    I wrote this before looking at the measurement spectrum, and lo-behold, the curve is pretty flat with no spikes (courtesy of NO Audiophile)
    [​IMG]

    Due to having to reorganize my cable layout around my desk (ensuring I'm not pulling over 12A on my electrical chain and feeling for heat buildup on the powerbars) as well as trying to do some tidying.

    Aside, holy crap David Bowie passed on :(. I'll be listening to him tonight in remembrance.

    [​IMG]

    Final setup pic. Excuse the makeshift monitor stands for now, couldn't find anything else around the house.

    Thanks to all you at SBAF/CS for your help directly and in-directly with my questions, concerns, suggestions and finally deciding on this setup. Cheers!
     
  7. lukeap69

    lukeap69 Pinoy Panther

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    71
    Trophy Points:
    28
    This sounded awesome on my LS50. Let me know what ya think...

     
  8. jmlz1987

    jmlz1987 New

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2016
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    BC, Canada
    Love it! Will be adding to my test track playlist, thanks for the suggestion.
     
  9. lukeap69

    lukeap69 Pinoy Panther

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    71
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Nice. Enjoy!
     
  10. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,084
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Does anyone have any direct experience with both these and the Emotiva Airmotiv 4s or 5s?
     
  11. Rex Aeterna

    Rex Aeterna Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    212
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Cinnaminson, nj
    They are really nice sounding speakers. Im not fan of small monitors usually but, the jbl models are one few I actually liked I would defiantly use them in a smaller acoustically controlled room for small projects or for multimedia purposes.

    Finally jbl sells the jbl m2 parts online which I'm happy bout cause I plan on buying pair of jbl d2 compression drivers in the near future and see how they sound mounted to old school dampened and bolted Altec Lansing 511b horns for a studio project.
     
  12. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    91
    Trophy Points:
    28
    hi how are these for movie watching and can you just hook one up with the tv directly or do you need a dac etc ?
     
  13. MrTie

    MrTie Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    815
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    A.B.E. - PA
    @kirayamato if your tv has volume controllable analog audio outs they will hook up just fine. I think they would work great in small to medium living room if you're not trying to push Reference levels.
     
  14. aufmerksam

    aufmerksam Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,337
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    E. Lansing, MI
    This will also depend on how big your screen is, which affects how far you sit from your screen. The farther you get from speakers like this, the more you will need to factor room acoustics, etc.
     
  15. ggabriele3

    ggabriele3 New

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2015
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    8
    I've heard that some people have problems with persistent hiss from these speakers. Are you hearing any of that?
     
  16. chakku

    chakku Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2015
    Likes Received:
    676
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NZ
    The hiss is probably louder than you'd expect but I don't hear it unless it's really silent in my room. Even just my computer being on is enough to really drown it out.
     
  17. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    91
    Trophy Points:
    28
    its just for by bedroom and its really small i just want better sound quality and be able to hear dialogue well with more clarity so will one be enough or do you need two how does it work anyone know?
     
  18. aufmerksam

    aufmerksam Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,337
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    E. Lansing, MI
    I would say if you are bothering to get one, you should definitely get two, unless you have mono audio on all your films...
     
  19. Thomas Crown

    Thomas Crown New

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    8
    I'm interested as well in these, I've seen this video on youtube

    and I was impressed by the jbl sound.
    I would like to use them connected to my m51 as a stereo receiver/preamp for movies, so my question is, being a total noob, is it correct to leave them always with the volume at max and adjust the volume only on the preamp?

    Thanks
     
  20. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,923
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
    That'll work of course, but the question is does the M51 do digital or analog attenuation?
     

Share This Page